Get Pure Water With A Countertop Water Filter
Water filtering systems come in many forms, but most have a reputation for being expensive and difficult to install. A countertop water filter is a low cost, low maintenance way to start filtering pure water into your home through the tap. Tap water quality varies depending on your area, but a couple signs that you have sub standard water is a bad smell or taste. It might not be visible to the naked eye, but water from the city lines can be contaminated with heavy minerals, chlorine and even chemicals like trace amounts of prescription drugs and pesticides. Only a high quality filter can remove these unwanted substances.
The best part about owning a countertop water filter is that it provides high quality water filtration comparable to a full home system yet costs considerably less. The filters that a counter top unit uses will cost less in the long term than other systems such as reverse osmosis. Government regulations and research back much of the technology that makes up these filters to provide pure water for drinking, cooking or cleaning.
Just a few months of purchasing bottled water could make up most of the bill for a counter top water filter. Making that initial purchase can save a lot of money because it is practically a free, renewable resource.
Filters
It is a great idea to promote more water drinking for you and your family, but the only way to make sure it is safe to drink is to control the filtration yourself. Home based water filtration uses powerful filter cartridges to trap substances, only letting clean water run through. Most cartridges use a core made out of carbon which is highly effective at trapping particulates and chemicals like chlorine. Your city water line is treated with chlorine to help kill bacteria as it travels through the system. This can cause a distinctive taste and odor in sufficient quantities. Fortunately this can be trapped by the filter. Carbon technology is widely used in the filtration industry and is very safe. Carbon is tasteless and odorless, which means that no offensive tastes will be expelled by the filter. However, as the filter collects debris it will eventually reach a threshold and need to be replaced. Replacement times vary by the unit and the amount of use, but generally last several months to a year for a family of four.
Manufacturers make filters with different levels of filtration. It is a good idea to look over the substances the filter is capable of removing before purchasing. Generally, the more you pay the better the filter. Also, it is wise to go with a trusted brand name for best results. Offshoots from China may not be up to quality standards. Here is a list of substances you should look out for when making a purchase:
Unwanted Water Substances
- lead
- mercury
- cryptospridium
- giardia
- VOCs
- MTBEs
- THMs
- Chloramines
- Chlorine
Connecting The Filter
You may be wondering how countertop water filters connect to your current water supply. It is actually quite simple and takes only a few minutes- no plumbing experience or complicated hardware is required. A special diverter valve connects to your faucet by removing the old head and threading on the new. When you want fresh water to drink, a small button or lever is pressed which diverts the water coming out of the tap and sends it through the filter. Fresh water is then sent out of the filter and back up to the sink nozzle for you to enjoy. Some countertop units distribute the water directly from the filter base. An unobtrusive two way tube stays connected to your faucet neck at all times. This is an efficient way to distribute fresh water because the filter is only in use when needed, thereby extending the lifespan of the cartridge.
Product Highlights
Maintenance Free Countertop Water Filter
This remarkable filter requires no maintenance for the consumer, and does not require filter replacement for the lifespan of the unit. It can filter about 20,000 gallons of water before needing to be replaced. The unit must be thrown out at the end of its lifespan, but is quite cost effective to purchase a new one when the time comes. The extended life comes at a cost, however. The filter is not capable of filtering out a high level of contaminates and is mainly designed to eliminate odors and flavors caused by chlorine.
Aquasana Complete Filtration System
The Aquasana can deliver a maximum of 30 gallons of clean water per hour. This system reqires two replaceable filter cartridges, but removes many more contaminates than a long term, no maintenance model. Unwanted substances such as lead, chlorine, prescription drugs, cysts, VOC’s and more. It’s easy to set up and is built right here in the United States. At an estimated cost of 10 cents per gallon, it definitely saves consumers money of high quality, clean water.