Having clean water in your home is even more important than having the shower turned on. Water is your ultimate source of vitality that is used for drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and more.
Unfortunately, toxins in water can find their way into Broward County homes through old pipes, sewers, drainage, pesticides, chemicals, and even after a hurricane. Even worse, unknowingly using contaminated water for a long time can put yourself and your family at risk of illness and disease.
Picking out the right water filtration system for your South Florida home should be at the top of your priority list. But how do you know which filtration system is right for your home? Our licensed, bonded, and insured Pompano Beach plumbers can help.
Different Types of Water Filters
Water filters come in different shapes and sizes. Before you can choose the best water filtration system for you, you must learn about the different types of water filters that are available.
Water Softener
Water softeners are sometimes called ion exchange units because they use a salt-based ion exchange system to replace contaminant ions with healthy ones. Resin beads reside in a softener trap in the unit which replaces calcium and magnesium ions with sodium and/or potassium. This can help remove unsafe minerals from drinking water.
Carbon Filter
Carbon filters do not remove minerals, salts, or dissolved inorganic substances. Instead, they use particles of active carbon to trap organic materials. They are effective at removing chlorine, sediment particles, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)s. Carbon filters are the most popular solution for in-home water filters.
Mechanical Filter
Mechanical filters allow untreated water to move through a mesh filter or cartridge that traps suspended particles. This is best for water that needs larger suspended material removed, such as sand, clay, loose scale, and other types of organic matter.
Manganese Iron Reduction Filter
Manganese iron reduction filters are often added to carbon filters to reduce levels of iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide in drinking water. These are also used to treat well water.
Reverse Osmosis
In South Florida in particular, most residential and commercial property owners prefer a reverse osmosis system. This is because they are effective at eliminating a wide variety of contaminants from water. Reverse osmosis systems use a semipermeable membrane to dissolve inorganic solids. These systems can also remove bacteria, odor, and taste from water. The only downside of this system is that it can also remove beneficial minerals like fluoride.
Most Popular Types of Water Filtration Systems
While there are different types of water filters, there are also different approaches to your home’s water filtration system. Three of the most common are countertop, under the sink, and whole-house.
Countertop Water Filtration
Countertop water filters include:
- Water pitchers like the Brita
- Dispensers like those attached to a refrigerator
- Faucet mounts that attach to your kitchen sink
This is the cheapest type of water filtration system and is often suitable for small households or people living in rental property. Countertop water filtration systems require minimal installation and upkeep, but they still have the ability to remove toxins and contaminants from water.
Under The Sink Water Filtration
Under the sink, water filtration systems are the most diverse filtration systems of all. They allow homeowners to filter out specific toxins, such as the ones found in their local water report. These units filter water through a discreet device that is professionally installed under the kitchen sink. Most under-the-sink filtration systems use carbon block filters with options to filter additional elements.
Whole-House Water Filtration
Countertop and under-the-sink water filtration systems can be cost-effective and easy to maintain, however, they only target one sink or water source at a time. Whole-home water filtration systems, on the other hand, systematically clean all the water that comes into your home. Their effects are applied to every faucet and appliance in your home.
Whole-home filtration systems require professional installation and maintenance. They may use a variety or combination of technologies to filter water throughout your home. The only downside is they can cost over $500 to purchase and install--but the benefits are well worth the investment!
Install a New Water Filtration System in Your Broward County Home for Clean Water
Toxins and impurities can enter your home’s water system from various sources, and only you have the power to control which toxins enter your home and which ones you consume. A great place to start is by analyzing your local water supply by reading the water reports and identifying which toxins you’d like to filter out, how much money you’d like to spend, and what your overall goal is going to be. Then, a Pompano Beach plumber can come out to your home and install a new water filtration system that meets your needs.
Contact one of our trusted expert plumbers today to get started.