Home-based water filtration systems can be great for your home, especially if you can’t rely on your current water supply. Municipal water sources are notoriously poorly filtered and are often cleaned with chemicals, but water purification systems can purify your water of a number of different contaminants. However, different homes will have different needs, so there are important factors to consider when choosing a system.
1. Capacity
From filtering water pitchers to under-sink filtration systems, water purification can come in many forms, and it all depends on how much purified water you need on a daily basis. If you want all incoming water to be filtered prior to coming out of your faucets, you will want to invest in an advanced system that can handle large amounts of water.
2. Filtration Rate
Similar to capacity, every treatment system will have a filtration rate, which is the amount of purified water that a system can produce each day. To determine whether or not your chosen filtration system has a sufficient filtration rate, you will want to find out roughly how much water you use each day and make sure the system can handle your needs.
3. Removal of Contamination
If you really want to make the best choice, you can have your house water tested for contaminants to find out exactly what you need to filter out. Different water purification systems will target different contaminants, while some will be as comprehensive as possible. Deciding which contaminants are of the greatest concern to you will help you choose a water treatment system that best suits your needs.
4. Installation and Operating Costs
Your budget will also determine which purification system you purchase, but if you determine precisely what you need and do your research, you can get the most for your money. Keep in mind that you may also have to change cartridges or filters, and your system will also use a certain amount of electricity, so you will want to calculate these costs and find a system that doesn’t put you over budget.
5. Maintenance Complexity
You want purified water, but you don’t want it to come with a lot of work. Some filtration systems require changing several cartridges at different intervals. Some may also require pre-treating the incoming water. Depending on the complexity of the system, maintenance can be a lot of work, but you want your filtration system to function well for as long as possible.
6. Compatibility
The most advanced systems are typically compatible with a wide variety of faucets, sinks, and plumbing equipment, but you will want to check and make sure. Sometimes there can be additional attachments required for your filtration to function at its best, especially if you have icemakers and other less common appliances. If you require any additional attachments, it will help to be aware of them early on so that you can get them ordered and have your treatment system hooked up as quickly as possible.