subject: Under Sink Water Filters - Tips to Make Your Shopping Easier [print this page] Finding effective under sink water filters can be difficult. The manufacturers don't always make it easy for the consumer to understand exactly what their undersink water filter will do for them or who it is designed for. Here are some tips to make the shopping just a little easier for you.
Effective Contaminant Removal for Private Well-Owners
If you have a private well, you need to know what contaminants, if any, are present before you purchase under sink water filters. Some groundwater is still relatively pure, but if you have a bad taste or odor, then you've got a problem.
It is advisable for all well-owners to have testing conducted on a regular basis, even if their water tastes and looks great. Not only will this help you find an effective undersink water filter, it also allows you to maintain a record in case industrial or commercial activity causes changes in the quality of your tap-water.
Effective Contaminant Removal for Homes Serviced by a Public Provider
The majority of homes in the US and other areas of the world are serviced by a public provider. The contaminants present in publicly treated supplies include chlorine, THMs, VOCs, benzene, Atrazine, lindane, alachlor, MTBE, cysts, lead and copper. In addition, traces of prescription drugs have shown up in numerous tests conducted around the world.
It's not impossible to find an undersink water filter that removes all of these things, but it can be difficult. Most of the under sink water filters reduce chlorine and odors, but the other chemical contaminants pass on through. Look at the manufacturer's website and view product performance data before you buy. You should see these contaminants listed and the extent to which they are removed.
Price & Filter Life
Price is a big tip-off. Effective products cannot be purchased for less than $100. Cheaper price tags indicate cheaper quality. There is one undersink water filter on the market that costs nearly $800, but there is simply no need to pay that much.
Product performance data will also give you information about the lifespan of the filtration cartridges. The best under sink water filters are good for 500 gallons or six months. Products that are only good for 100 gallons may need to be replaced every 30 days or so, increasing your cost of use and your effort.
Four Necessary Filtration Steps
The better undersink water filter includes multiple stages to reduce the widest range of contaminants, as well as special filtering media to trap chemicals like THMs, VOCs and MTBE. Most systems do not include all of the necessary steps, which are:
Granular carbon to reduce chlorine and other chemicals
A carbon and multi-media block to further reduce chemicals and trap more elusive compounds
Submicron filtration channel to remove cysts
Ion exchange to trap traces of lead, copper and other metals, exchanging them for potassium and sodium ions
Hopefully, this information will make it easier for you to find effective and affordable under sink water filters. There's no doubt that we need them.
Under Sink Water Filters - Tips to Make Your Shopping Easier
