Have you thought about what is in your water lately? If not, it might be time to consider it. If you are like most, you're using water in your home daily and in so many ways, like cooking, drinking, showering, and washing your hands. But some water can be harsh and harmful to your skin and body.
One issue we deal with in Southwest Missouri is hard water, which causes unsightly scale buildup staining your fixtures, faucets, and showerheads. Hard water scale can clog plumbing and damage your water-consuming fixtures, appliances, and equipment, wearing them down over time. Finding water with as many as 10.5 grains of minerals per gallon in Southwest Missouri is not unusual!
Water softeners are a great way to remove hard minerals like calcium, magnesium, and other minerals from water. A water softener system will make your water feel better and help your home's fixtures, appliances, and equipment last much longer. Along with water softeners, a water filtration system will prevent sediment buildup and prolong the life of your plumbing system.
Something else to consider is the acidity or alkalinity of your home's water. pH is a unit of measurement that tells us how much hydrogen (and how active the hydrogen ion) is in a liquid.pH stands for "potential of hydrogen." Solutions with a pH less than 7 are acidic, and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic (alkaline). Our bodies have a natural pH of 7.4, and we must keep it at that ideal pH of 7.4 so our bodies function ideally. Everything we ingest has its pH level and can affect our body's pH. Our bodies constantly work to restore the delicate balance, temporarily disrupted whenever we eat or drink something too acidic or too alkaline.Also, our skin is the body's largest organ and absorbs water when we shower, bathe, and wash our hands. Hard water is known for irritating skin, leaving stains on glasses and silverware, and causing limescale buildup because of its more alkaline pH. Many homeowners choose to soften their water with a water softener system, since soft water pH is slightly more acidic. Some homeowners can tolerate the standard municipal water treatment. But heavy metals, chemicals, and dangerous organisms can slip into your home if you do not have a house water filtration system to filter them out.
The best home water treatment systems will remove all the contaminants in your water. A whole house water filter is a great way to ensure that all the water in your home is clean and safe. A whole house water filter is installed on your main water line, so when water enters your home, it is filtered and ready to use. Several types of whole house water filters are available, and we will discuss a few below.
A reverse osmosis water filtration system provides clean drinking water. Reverse osmosis home water filtration systems filter out dissolved pollutants. They remove chlorine and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from well and city water. These home water filter systems also remove minerals. Some minerals extracted are not necessarily harmful to you; some can be pretty good for you. But reverse osmosis will remove all minerals good for you, and unhealthy ones too.The reverse osmosis filtration process uses a semipermeable membrane to eliminate chlorine and tap water's other harmful contaminants. Having passed through the membrane, the water goes through several additional filters to remove other particles like dirt, sand, and rust. The resulting water is cleaner than regular tap water.A reverse osmosis system needs dedicated faucets and drain lines. The filtering process takes a while. So reverse osmosis water filters often have a tank to hold filtered water. Ensure the tank is large enough for the amount of filtered water your household will use for drinking and cooking. The tankless reverse osmosis systems are more expensive, but do not require a holding tank.
Consider using activated carbon if you're considering installing a home water filtration system in your home. Activated carbon is a porous granular material that can easily handle contaminants. Granular activated carbon can range in pore size from 0.5 to 10 microns. Its large surface area also helps retain contaminants.Activated carbon filters are available in point-of-entry (PoE) and point-of-use (PoU) models. A PoE house water filtration system treats all the water coming into the house. In contrast, a PoU filter system treats water at a particular point, such as the kitchen sink faucet.An activated carbon filter has two primary mechanisms for removing contaminants from water: adsorption and catalytic reduction. The first process removes organics and residual disinfectants. Activated carbon's adsorption efficiency increases with molecular weight, because larger molecules adsorb more effectively in the water. However, to achieve maximum efficacy, activated carbon should have a large surface area to allow the migration of molecules.
A whole house water filtration system should incorporate a point-of-entry (PoE) filter. The point-of-entry (PoE) filter prevents hazardous particles from entering the home. It also offers a separate faucet for drinking water. In either case, the whole house filtration system must meet strict guidelines regarding the ratio of water to carbon and the contaminant concentration.
A water softener is a water treatment system that removes hard minerals from your water. Most systems can remove up to 75 grains of hardness per gallon, which is significantly more than the average hardness level for most areas. They are also energy-efficient, requiring a small amount of salt to recharge regularly.A water softener will improve the efficiency of your plumbing system by removing hard water minerals. Water with fewer minerals will be easier on pipes, and detergents and soaps will work more effectively. A water softener can also improve water flow throughout your home.A water softener fills the water with a salt-based solution or potassium-based solution. Many use water softeners in their sinks, showers, and laundry hookups. Although water softeners aren't necessary for all home areas, they are an excellent choice for homes with moderate water usage.Water softeners work through an ion exchange process to remove hard minerals from water. The salt draws these minerals into a resin within the softener, exchanging them for sodium ions. Once the resin beads are saturated with the minerals, they can no longer bind the hard minerals in the water.A water softener may add small traces of salt to your water. An 8-ounce glass of softened water contains about the same salt as one slice of bread. While that doesn't seem like a lot, it could be too much for someone on a strict sodium-free diet.
A carafe (or pitcher) water filter is not a whole house filter. It works by reducing chemical substances in the water. They filter chlorine, lead, herbicides, and other contaminants and remove organic matter and essential minerals. The benefits of using a carafe filter are numerous, including its cost-effectiveness.Some filters can be attached to a kitchen faucet and used to filter water to drink.The drawback to these water filters is that they filter water slowly, usually only for a small amount of water.
Continuous disinfection systems for home water treatment use a combination of chemical processes and UV light to eliminate germs. They are the cornerstone of high-quality water. Many filtration systems are available, including UV sterilizers, chemical dosing systems, and physical treatment.When purchasing a water treatment system, it is essential to understand the different types of house water filtration systems available. Some systems use chlorine to kill bacteria and viruses. Chlorine is an excellent disinfectant when used at the proper concentrations. But it is not effective if used at a low concentration.Before purchasing a water treatment system, it is vital to assess the quality of your current water supply. Simple inspections may reveal odor problems, bacteria, or hardness problems. More comprehensive testing may reveal toxic substances or other contaminants. In addition to removing health hazards, water treatment systems can also eliminate nuisance problems.A continuous disinfection system works by continuously adding a certain amount of chlorine to the water. This solution can be a chemical feed pump, injection device, or tablet. The longer the contact time between the chlorine and the water, the more effective the disinfection process is.
There are various acid-neutralizing systems available for home water treatment. Some neutralize only one type of water, while others treat multiple types of water simultaneously. These systems are effective, versatile, and cost-efficient. Whether you use a chemical feed system or a simple acid neutralizer depends on your needs. Both systems require maintenance and may require a professional to install them. Inspect acid neutralizing systems annually to ensure proper performance.When selecting an acid neutralizer for whole house water filtration, you should consider the pH level of the water. The media in an acid neutralizer tank will take care of the pH level. Still, the size of the tank is also essential. A 1.5-cubit-foot tank is perfect for a single or two-person household, while a 2.5-cubit-foot tank is best for a family of four or more.An effective whole house filtration system should neutralize acidic water and prevent it from entering the home water supply. The whole house water filter prevents the accumulation of harmful acid levels in pipes and fixtures. In addition, an effective neutralizer system should control the backwash and keep the mineral bed clean.
Another type of acid-neutralizing system is a proportional pH neutralizing system. This type of acid neutralizer uses a specialized pump to inject a precisely calibrated dose of soda ash solution into water. The solution ensures the water pH level is consistent throughout the home. Water entering the system flows through a special panel, which determines the flow rate and sends a signal to the injection pump. Injecting the correct amount of neutralizing solution into the water flowing into the system will raise the water's pH level to a safe level.
If you're concerned about the quality of your home's water, please get in touch with us. We can test your water and recommend the best house water filtration system for your needs. A little investment now can save you a lot of money and headaches down the road. Your family's health and safety are worth it!
Lorenz Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning has been dealing with water for over 40 years. And has the knowledge, passion, and expertise to ensure you have the cleanest water in your home. They'll listen to what your needs and concerns are about your water, and share the best recommendations for your home. Lorenz Plumbing Heating and Air will only do what's right for you. That's just another reason they're YOUR friends at Lorenz. Call today for a free water quality report, so that you can begin the journey to safe and great-tasting water.
