Best Whole House Water Filtration Systems in 2020

No matter where you live, your water supply contains some sort of contaminant, whether it’s hard minerals, bacteria, sediment, or chemicals. Contaminants can affect the taste of your drinking water and they can wreak havoc on your plumbing. Also, all of the water-using appliances in your home are susceptible to damage. This is because of the hard minerals in your water supply. Installing a whole house filtration system is an effective way to ensure that you have reliable access to a clean and healthy supply of water.

Here are some of the most popular whole house filtration systems in 2020:

Activated Carbon is a method of filtration where a fine carbon powder is used to remove chlorine and other chemicals that affect the taste and odor of your water supply. Activated carbon filters are also extremely effective at getting rid of toxins such as lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The powdery carbon substance prevents most of the contaminants from channeling through the filter. The main disadvantages of activated carbon are that it cannot remove viruses and it has a low-flow rate.

RO systems are where a semi-permeable membrane separates and removes all inorganic contaminants from your water supply. RO systems are the most certifiable way to achieve clean and healthy drinking water. This is because RO filtration will successfully remove up to 99% of the contaminants in your water supply, which most other systems cannot achieve. This includes VOCs, pesticides, and chlorine. Because the filtration process will slow down the flow of water, most RO systems come with will come with a pressurized tank to store the filtered water.

Ion exchange is a purification process where the filter removes hard minerals from your water supply by switching out the ions. The exchange occurs when the water passes through a specialized resin. Typically, the filtration system will swap out a positively charged sodium ion with a magnesium or calcium ion. This is an effective process for removing all hard minerals from your water supply. When the resin for the ion-exchange process is used up, then the filter will need to undergo regeneration. A major disadvantage of ion exchange is that it won’t remove most contaminants and organic materials.

UV technology is typically utilized to kill off bacteria and other harmful organic materials that show in wells, lakes, streams, and rainwater. There are certain compounds found in water supplies that are resistant to chlorine, such as Cryptosporidium. UV purification will easily kill off 99% of microbiological contaminants in your water supply. For many home and business owners, this is a huge weight off their shoulders. You should always be considering the health and well-being of your family and the people you work with.

Ultrafiltration involves hydrostatic pressure which will send pressurized water through a semi-permeable membrane. The porous membrane will prevent bacteria, parasites, and viruses from passing through while retaining essential minerals. UF systems will not remove hard minerals from your water supply, so it makes more sense to install this system if your water contains a low concentration of dissolved solids. UF systems are typically combined with other filtration methods to make tap water more drinkable and healthy. Unfortunately, a UF system alone will not improve the taste and smell of your drinking water.

There is no denying the fact that there are plenty of filtration systems that you can install for your entire home, but you should keep in mind that each one serves a unique purpose. You should always consult with a professional before you make any decisions to determine if you are making the right choice. Installing a whole house filtration system will ensure that you have dependable access to clean water by effectively removing all the contaminants and hard minerals.