Drinking plenty of water is important for everyone, but if you have hard water, unpleasant-tasting water, or contaminated water, you may avoid water or waste a lot of money on bottled water. To save money, consider installing a water filtration system so you can drink and enjoy your tap water. If you are in the market for something that will improve your tap water, check out these four common types of water filtration systems.
- Reverse Osmosis
Osmosis is the process of liquid molecules passing through a semipermeable membrane. Reverse osmosis water filtration systems use similar science to clean water. The water is pushed through the membrane, which catches contaminates. The clean water is sent to a holding tank to be used when you need it and all contaminates are washed away.
Reverse osmosis filters improve the taste of your water by removing many impurities such as nitrates, pesticides, sulfates, bacteria, and arsenic. The systems are also easy to clean because they have hardly any moving parts that may hide dirt and grime.
- Activated Carbon
Activated carbon is made by heating or steaming the carbon. This expands the carbon by creating tiny pores. Rather than blocking particles as with reverse osmosis, activated carbon systems use the pores to absorb all the particles, only allowing the water to pass freely. This results in better-tasting water and better-smelling water.
How well your system works depends on the size of the pores, which are measured in microns because of their small size. Smaller pores can catch smaller bits of impurities while larger ones may allow these contaminates to pass and reach your drinking water. You can speak with your water-filtration provider to find out what type of contaminates are common in your area so you can determine which size is right for your home’s water.
- Alkaline Ionizers
Alkaline ionizers use electrolysis to alter the pH of the water. This purifies the water and destroys many contaminates. As an added benefit, the systems also split the water into acidic water and alkaline water. Ideally, your water should have a pH of at least 7, which means the water is neutral: not too acidic and not too basic.
Unfortunately, a lot of tap water and bottled water have lower pH levels, which make them acidic. Drinking acidic water can destroy your tooth enamel and irritate your mouth. Plus, many Americans naturally consume a lot of acidic foods and beverages such as soda. If you are worried about the pH of your water, an alkaline ionizer is a great choice because it can provide water with high pH levels to counteract an acidic diet.
- UV Filters
UV water filters use UV light to kill microorganism, so you will need to occasionally change the bulb. Many homeowners prefer UV filters because they are low-maintenance, affordable, and chemical-free. Plus, they tend to be more effective than chemical-based filters. The filtration process is fast, so you don’t have to worry about installing a storage tank for clean water. The system simply cleans the water as needed.
The biggest drawback to a UV water filtration system is that it only kills microorganisms. This can help keep sickness at bay, but it may not help with the taste of your water. It also can’t fix hard water issues because heavy metals, salts, chlorine, and other contaminates can still reach your drinking water.
Which system you need largely depends on your own needs. If your water doesn’t have many contaminates but has a lot of microorganisms, a UV filter may be a great choice; on the other hand, reverse osmosis filters can trap microorganisms and other particles. If you would like to know more about water filtration systems, contact us at A & B Marketing today.
