The Best Water Filters For You

Cheap water filters do very little to purify drinking water. About the only thing they are good for is costing consumers a lot of extra money when purchasing replacement filters. Yet a high quality filter will give the owner years of service, thus saving money. Generally, if it costs less than a couple hundred dollars, then put it back on the shelf. Let's take a look at a few simple steps to take when buying the best water filters to ensure that they will be cost efficient, highly effective and last for years to come.

When shopping for the best water filters, choose one that will reduce contaminants to at least one micron; less if possible, as the smaller the number, the better the filtration. Too much filtering though and you will remove the minerals that are good for your bones and teeth. These units will typically combine several types of filters.

If you inspect loose carbon filters, you'll discover that they're really germ factories. They allow oxygen to exist within the filter, which enables and increases the growth of germs. Although this kind of filter is very inexpensive to purchase, it is pricey in the long run, since the filters must be replaced frequently.

Distillation is of use when filtering microorganisms, solids, residue and natural or chemical pollutants that won't dissipate on their own. There are some chemical contaminants, such as MTBE, that will evaporate, so distillation isn't of use.

Ultraviolet (UV) light is sometimes utilized together with other filters to kill bacteria, and has been shown to be a very effective tool. The light impacts an organism's DNA, so it cannot replicate. If it cannot replicate, it is harmless.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a filter which reduces levels of radium, fluoride and numerous other contaminants to a sizable extent, although it does have its limitations. There are a good number of pollutants contained in water that will effortlessly get through an RO filter. Reverse osmosis is also utilized along with other filters to be very effective, however the process does remove the good for you minerals as well. RO by itself is capable of minimizing pollutants such as arsenic, radium, nitrates, nitrites and barium lead, in addition to giardia and selenium that are contained in tap water.

When choosing the best water filters, performance is the key factor and is actually the most important thing to look for in any water filtration system. Do your research and don't waste your money on an ineffective water purifying system that simply does not work. Carefully read the packaging to determine which contaminants the filter will reduce, as stated by the manufacturer. The label on the product package should indicate this information based on standards set by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International (a public health and safety company).

Residential water filters have come a long way. At one time they were large units that hooked directly into your main water source. Now you can get anything from a refrigerator pitcher to a reverse osmosis water filter. You'll get water that tastes great and is also better for you.