Many homeowners in Anaheim, CA have concerns about the water they drink and use on a daily basis. The best way to ensure that your water is clean and healthy is through a water purification system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns consumers that not all filters on the market are the same. Let us explore the differences along with 10 tips that will help you choose your ideal system.
1. Focus on a POE Water Purifier
There are two main types of water purifiers for the home: point of use (POU) and point of entry (POE). An example of a POU water filter is the one installed as part of your refrigerator or a sink-top cannister filter. POU filters are relatively inexpensive and effective. The downside is that they only really help with drinking water, and you’re limited to a single tap. A POE, or whole-house water purification system, functions between the main water line and your home’s plumbing system. That means that all the water throughout your home is clean. You get filtered water from your showerheads, in your toilets and through your water heater and washing machine. These systems do cost more up front, but they provide better value long term. They can last upward of 25 years with regular maintenance.
2. Decide if You’ll Need Water Softening
Water filtration is not the same as water softening. While filtering removes pollutants and contaminants from the water, it doesn’t necessarily remove minerals. A water softener replaces calcium and magnesium with either sodium or potassium. The level of calcium and magnesium in your water determines its hardness. If you have moderately hard water, it can be problematic. This degrades your plumbing system over time and shortens the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers and so on. Some water purifiers have an integrated water softening stage. This is usually good enough for minor water hardness problems. With harder water, you may need to install a discrete POE water softener. A third option is to install a reverse osmosis (RO) system with a remineralization filter.
3. Choose a Flow Rate That Meets Your Peak Demand
Since all the water flows through your water purifier before entering your home, the water purifier is a bottleneck. The flow rate of a water purifier is the gallons per minute (GPM) it provides. If you choose a GPM that’s too low, you’ll experience low water pressure during high usage. This is why it’s so important to involve a professional plumber early in your decision-making process. You want a high enough flow rate for your household’s peak demand. To determine that, we’ll add up the GPM requirements of all the fixtures and appliances that you’ll be using during that time.
4. Consider a Prefilter
Prefiltration is a type of mechanical filtration used to protect your water purification system and its more expensive filter media. The prefilter is generally inexpensive and replaced at a more frequent rate. If you have a water purifier with a sediment filter and activated carbon, you probably don’t need this item with municipal water. You will likely need it if you have well water. All RO systems need a prefilter. Experts also recommend a prefilter regardless of water type if you have a water softener or UV purification.
5. Know the Pore Size of Your Sediment Filter
A sediment filter traps dirt, rust, metals and many other particles. The pore size of a sediment filter determines the particles the system can trap. The ideal pore size will depend on the overall filter media you have. Experts typically recommend a pore size no bigger than one micron. The CDC also advises noting absolute pore size and mean pore size. If a filter has a mean pore size of one micron, some of its pores will be bigger than that. If you want to rely on your sediment filter to trap cysts and protozoa, target a pore size of 0.5 microns. If you want the sediment filter to trap chemicals too, target 0.2 microns. That said, there are often more cost-effective ways to target those pollutants.
6. Opt for an Activated Carbon Stage
Activated carbon or charcoal is an inexpensive material that is extremely effective. It has many microscopic pores that provide it with a great capacity to absorb. This substance is the most effective way to remove bad smells and tastes from your drinking water. It’s also highly effective at absorbing chemicals and gases. This includes:
- Chlorine
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
- Chloramines
- Pharmaceuticals
7. Get an Alkaline Filter For Acidity
PH indicates how alkaline or acidic water is. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a pH for drinking water between 6.5 and 8.5. Water with a pH less than 6.5 is acidic. It’s particularly bad for your plumbing and can leach toxic metals into the water past the water purifier. Acidic water isn’t common with municipal water. It is more common with well water; in which case, you’ll need an alkaline filter. Some consumers opt for an alkaline filter simply for the perceived health benefits.
8. Combat Pathogens and Parasites With UV Light
While you can combat pathogens and parasites with a sediment filter, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is much more effective. Many water purifiers provide UVGI via an ultraviolet (UV) lamp. Those lamps are often good for an entire year before needing to be replaced. They neutralize viruses, bacteria, cysts, protozoa and much more.
9. Check Filter and Filter Media Certification
The CDC recommends only using water purifiers and filter media that are independently tested and certified. NSF International is one of the most respected organizations in this regard. You’ll find their label on many water purification products. They also host the NSF database online.
10. Understand the Maintenance and Filter Replacement Schedule
The general recommendation is to schedule professional maintenance for your water purification system once a year. During this appointment, our team will clean the system. We’ll also check all gauges, meters, connections, valves and so forth. Small preventative repairs can make a big difference in equipment lifespan and your total cost of running your unit. You should also check if the system has any special maintenance requirements. It’s also important to consider the filter media. Price and replacement schedule will have a big effect on total costs. Avoid systems that have proprietary filter media. Check the media lifespan. The best systems use cartridges and lamps that you only need to change out once a year.
Water Purification System Installation
Splash Plumbing has served Anaheim and the surrounding areas since 1998. We’re a licensed plumbing contractor that serves both residential and commercial clients. Our company performs a full range of plumbing repairs and is available 24/7 for emergencies. We pipe and repipe gas, water and sewer lines. Our plumbers install and service tanks, tankless water heaters and water purification systems. Our company also specializes in drain cleaning, leak detection, backflow testing, rooter services, sump pumps and sewer services. You can also count on us for property management, including for HOAs. Call Splash Plumbing today or contact us online with questions or to book an appointment.
