Modern plumbing brings water into the home with just a simple turn of a knob, tempting homeowners into thinking that the water that flows through their faucets is safe enough to drink and cook with. However, a house water filtration system plays an important role in eliminating dangerous contaminants that could cause a variety of health conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract, reproductive system, immune system, and nervous system. Selecting and installing an advanced house water filtration system is especially important for individuals with weakened immune systems and pre-existing conditions.
Here are a few steps every homeowner should take when considering a house water filtration system.
Test your water for contaminants.
Water may travel through mountains, rocks, dirt, and a treatment center before reaching the home. Along the way, it can pick up sediment, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants, such as iron and sulfur. Because some contaminants don’t affect the taste of water, homeowners should have their water tested for contaminants. A few types of contaminants that may be present in tap water include iron, sulfur, lead, arsenic, nitrates, and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).
This is a key step in identifying the types of contaminants that a house water filtration system should filter out.
Find out the flow rate of your faucets.
It’s important to determine the flow rate of your faucets because installing a whole house water filtration system with a low flow rate could interrupt water flow and lead to low water pressure.
To measure your water flow, record how much time it takes to fill a five-gallon container with water. Divide the five gallons by the recorded time and then multiply by 60.
For example, five gallons divided by 30 seconds is equal to .17. Multiplying .17 by 60 equals 10.2 gallons per minute.
Decide on the type of water filter based on the contaminants.
Once you’ve figured out the flow rate of your faucets and tested your water supply for contaminants, it’s time to search for a water filtration system. Be sure to check the system’s quality standards, such as certifications from third-party organizations like the Water Quality Association, IAPMO R&T, and Underwriters Laboratories.
If you’ve got any questions, don’t hesitate to call Roger the Plumber. We’re happy to provide water filtration system recommendations and install your new system.