Do I Need to Add a Water Filtration System to My Home?
It can be difficult to know whether you need water filtration or if it's just something you'd like to have for convenience. Most of us turn on our tap and assume the water that comes out of it is pure. It's not uncommon for tap water to contain impurities that can make it taste strange, or in other cases, contain minerals that can damage your appliances and plumbing fixtures. Water filtration requirements vary depending on the needs of the household being serviced and the condition of the water being supplied to the home. The amount of water consumed in the home and how it's being used is also a factor when determining whether filtration is needed. Even if you think your water tastes fine, you should still have it tested. Depending on the concentration of the mineral load, your water may still need to be filtered. Your plumbing systems may need filtration to work more efficiently and protect the life of your major appliances. You can get professional water testing by calling the EPA safe drinking water hotline at (1-800-426-4791). They will help you find a certified laboratory that specializes in water testing.
4 Signs You Need to Start Filtering Your Home's Water
If you’re trying to decide whether you need water filtration, there are certain signs that can be indicators of poor water quality. Water filtration isn't just about taste and smell. When you have hard water, it can impact nearly everything it touches. Because you use tap water to complete tasks all over your home, improvements to your water quality can protect other systems. To determine your household's water filtration needs, here are some reasons why you should get a water filtration system.
- Bad Tasting Tap Water: Even when the tap water in your municipal system is clean and free from toxins, the result can still be water with an unpleasant aftertaste. The process used to clean water can sometimes leave behind a bad taste, typically from the chlorine used to eliminate heavy mineral loads. When many homeowners finally decide to install a water filtration system, it's typically to improve the taste of their drinking water.
- Out of Date Pipes: Homes built before 1986 should have the pipes checked for lead particulates that can pollute your drinking water. Lead pipes were banned for water supply usage in 1986, and while some homeowners have replaced these pipes, many are still being used in homes across the country. Lead can seep into your water supply from lead pipes or copper pipes repaired or soldered with lead. A water filtration system can protect your family from lead that makes it into your water. Lead is a dangerous toxin, especially to children under 6.
- Well Water Issues: Well water can be convenient and safe, but there are circumstances where well water is polluted by the pesticides and chemicals used in farming. Well water is often cleaned using carbon filters, but those are not adequate to remove some of the harmful toxins found in pesticides and chemicals in the soil around many wells. Some whole-home filtration systems, like a reverse osmosis treatment unit, can remove nearly every toxin from tap water, including carcinogens and heavy metals.
- Cleaning is Challenging: Hard water can make it challenging, whether you're trying to wash your clothes or your sink. If your white laundry has a dingy tone that you can't seem to remove regardless of how you wash it, your water could be the problem. Cleaning your house can be difficult, too. Hard water leaves behind hard-to-remove soap scum, which means your water could be fighting against you as you clean. Hard water interacts with your cleaning soaps, making them ineffective and difficult to rinse away. Iron, calcium, and magnesium create cleaning difficulties because they make soap less effective. Iron in water often adds a rust-colored hue to your water that deposits on your clothes when washing. Calcium and magnesium leave powdery spots on your dishes and leave everything you clean a little duller and more gray. These minerals in your water can even make it hard to clean your hair! Adding a water filtration system can fix all these issues and leave behind delicious tasting water that's ready for cleaning everything in your home.
If you’ve noticed any of these issues in your home, you can contact d trusted water filtration expert in your area, like the professionals at Quality Home Services, to install a whole-home filtration system. You can reach us by phone at (800) 985-8103 to schedule an appointment.