It’s an unfortunate fact of modern life that we’re more and more concerned about unwanted chemicals in our food, soil, air and water. This is reflected in the fact that annual sales of bottled water in the U.S. exceed 12 billion gallons, fueling a multi-billion-dollar industry.
At a time when we hear reports that millions of square miles of ocean are filled with plastic particles, many from water bottles, there’s more reason than ever for those who care about water purity to install home water filtration systems. What are the pros and cons of the options that are available?
Whole House Water Filters
These systems filter all the water entering your home, with the result that every faucet will have filtered water. That might be enough of a “pro” all in itself to satisfy many homeowners, but what are the other considerations?
- Pro – All your water will smell and taste better. There will be fewer chemical contaminants in it.
- Pro – Convenience is a big advantage. If you want cleaner water for cooking or brushing your teeth, you can find it right where you are.
- Pro – There’s only one mechanism to break, or fix. If you have a problem, it won’t be hard for a technician to know where to look.
- Con – The main disadvantage of these systems is cost. If your goal is to install the most state-of-the-art filtration system available, you could be costly. However, there are many options that cost far less.
- Con – Is this overkill? If all you really care about is clean drinking water, you may not need a whole-house system.
Point of Source Water Purifiers
This is the most popular option for homeowners. You can install a filtration device only at the locations where you want to have purified water.
- Pro – This is a very simple approach, and there are devices available that you can probably install yourself.
- Pro – You’ll have cleaner, better-tasking water at your desired location(s).
- Pro – This is an inexpensive option.
- Con – If you install three or four, the cost adds up.
Home Water Purification
There’s a distinction between a system that filters your water and one designed to “purify” it. While a filtration system does reduce chemical contamination in your water, a water purification system, by definition, removes 90 to 95 percent of all water contaminants.
- Pro – If you’re really concerned about chemical pollution, this may be the system for you.
- Pro – These systems affect all the water in your home.
- Pro – These systems soften water and can reduce the potential for stains on clothes and sinks and lead to reduced corrosion in your pipes and appliances.
- Con – Some water purification systems remove beneficial minerals.
- Con – These systems are more expensive than point of source units.
Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Bay Area
Our technicians have extensive experience with home filtration systems. If you’re having trouble deciding which water solution is best for you, give us a call. We can give you more insight into each of these options and help you come to the decision that is best for you and your budget.
