Author: Brent Craig

Article: When shopping for a water filter to provide clean drinking water in the home, few consumers consider the idea of filtering all the water that enters the house. The common objections are that the price is too high, and that there is no need to filter water that is just being used for washing dishes or pouring down a drain. But what is often not considered is the overall benefit of using a whole house water filter to the entire family's health.

Chemical Soup from the City

Depending on the municipality's treatment program, water that is supplied to homeowners is often heavily spiked with chemicals, and has high instances of mercury, copper and lead. Most concerned homeowners will consider a filter on the kitchen sink, or a refrigerator filter, in order to provide clean drinking water for their family. But without a whole house water filter, there are other issues to consider as well.

One of the main dangers, and most common chemical found in treated water, is chlorine. Most municipalities are careful to monitor chlorine levels in water, but what may be fine for a municipal board, could be shocking to the average citizen. Chlorine is an excellent bacteria killer, but it can also have a damaging effect on human organs. Families that are trying to encourage drinking more water as a health measure can be inadvertently exposing themselves to increased risk of chemical damage.

Silent Stalker in the Shower

One of the most surprising dangers is that chlorine, when heated to steam, easily vaporizes and becomes airborne. Chlorine molecules are readily absorbed by the lungs, and transferred to the bloodstream. What this means is that the steam created by a nice hot shower, or even the dishwasher, is loaded with chlorine gas! Asthmatics and those that suffer from other respiratory illnesses may be at risk just by enjoying a hot bath or shower.

Similarly, chlorine strips proteins from skin and hair, and leaves skin dry and flaky, and hair brittle and lifeless. Think of swimming in a public pool; often municipal water supplies use the same high levels of chlorine to treat the water. A whole house water filter purifies bath and shower water the same as it does drinking water.

Your favorite clothing too, washed in harsh chemicals, can be worn out before its time. Even houseplants suffer from water that has not been filtered. The smell and taste of the water that comes out of the tap may seem inoffensive, but once you have compared it to properly filtered water you are likely to never want to go back.

Whole House Water Filter Solution

A whole house water filter is connected directly to the source of water into the home, also known as the point-of-entry. In this way, chlorine and other contaminants in the water are blocked before they enter the home. The filter is large, and capable of filtering hundreds of gallons of water, so that it is unnoticeable on the line. There are two main types of whole house water filters available on the market; activated charcoal, and reverse osmosis. The advantage to an activated charcoal filter is that it filters all the water that passes through it, wasting none. Reverse osmosis utilizes a backwashing system that requires approximately a four to one ratio of unfiltered to filtered water. That means higher water bills. However, reverse osmosis requires very little maintenance, and activated charcoal filters must be changed, usually every six months. The cost of the filters can be high, so this must be offset against the normal water bills with this kind of whole house water filter.

Deciding on a Whole House Water Filter

Ultimately, the homeowner must investigate each system of whole house water filter and decide which is best for his or her family. The main questions are: How good is the water supplied to the home, and how much water does the home use regularly? If the price of water is low in your area, then a reverse osmosis whole house water filter may be best. When considering an activated charcoal system, be sure to find out what is involved in changing filters; it should be an easy process that doesn't require any professional service.

Once the homeowner has decided these points, the ideal solution will be obvious. The whole house water filter may be more expensive initially than counter top or refrigerator filtration systems, but the overall benefits and low maintenance will outweigh the costs. The boost that a whole house water filter will bring to you and your family's health makes it an investment well worth considering.

About the author:
For more information on water filters and other healthy home options, please visit:
HealthyHomeFacts.com. Brent Craig is an author and journalist with a dedicated interest in Healthy Home issues.

View All Water Filters at the Survival Center Store