What to consider about a home water filter

Concerns about the purity of drinking water have lead many people to begin using home water filters. Do you need one?

By Sherry Holetzky How clean is your water? Would you feel better about the water your family drinks if it was filtered? There are many products available today that help provide pure, healthy water to the home. Keep the following in mind when deciding which type of filtering system or product best suits your needs:

Price

Home water filters come in so many different styles and price ranges that it may be difficult to select one. Just because a filtering product or system costs more does not necessarily mean it is better. Water filtering pitchers, which are quite reasonably priced and easy to use, offer great results. Filters must be changed occasionally, but they are also reasonably priced. Don't waste money on fancy names or fancy features you may never use.

Ease of use and maintenance

Determine how difficult a home water filter is to use and to take care of. Remember that changing cartridges and filters is part of the bargain. If these items are difficult to replace, you are less likely to keep up with the maintenance, as well as less likely to continue using the product. A water-filtering device that can simply be screwed onto the faucet is perfect for those looking for convenience. The cartridges do require more frequent changes than some other products, but they are inexpensive to purchase and so simple to replace that even a child can do it.

Will the water filter you choose remove fluoride along with impurities?

A reverse osmosis filter will remove fluoride from your water. However, it is an excellent system and also removes chemicals that cause lime scale. Speak to your dentist about a fluoride supplement if you choose a reverse osmosis filtering system.

Do you want to filter all the water in your home?

Filters that attach to the tap can be switched on to filter drinking water, and switched off to wash dishes, etc. Some people are not comfortable with filters that only filter water from one source, or only filter water some of the time. If you want to make sure that all the water coming into your home is purified, you will need to invest in a water purification system that is linked to the main water line into the home. This type of system can be costly, and the installation usually requires hiring a professional, for an added cost. For many people, such a system is well worth the expense since it is guaranteed to provide clean, healthy water to every area of the home.

A home water filter is simpler and cheaper than buying bottled water

Sure, an easy fix would be to purchase bottled water. The question is do you really know what you are getting? Is the water tested? Also, consider the fact that purchasing bottled water can quickly add up to the price of a home water filter. A filter will pay for itself in no time. There is also the matter of carrying gallons of water home from the store and finding somewhere to store them.