Pros and Cons of a Whole House Water Filter System

by Jordan

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These days we are all concerned about clean water sources, especially for drinking. Bottled water flies off the shelves of stores. Many people no longer trust the city water that comes out of the faucet at home or work. There are several options for ensuring a healthy water supply from your own faucets, including a whole-house water filter system.

It’s easy to install a single filter under your kitchen sink or on the faucet itself to treat the city water that comes through your pipes. But what about the rest of the house’s water quality? If your concerns go beyond just drinking water, a whole-house water filter system is a viable option. Whether you are involved in new construction or live in your own existing home, it is important to consider the best filtration process to protect yourself and your family’s health by supplying them with clean house water.

What is a Whole House Water Filter System

A whole-house water filtration system is able to remove almost any type of water contaminant from every area of your home. This system is generally installed by connecting directly to the water line where it comes into the house. This line may be before or after outside spigots, so if you’re concerned about watering your garden, you may want to research how the water lines run to your house.

A whole-house water filter system is a fully integrated system. It cannot be installed and uninstalled easily. The cost of installation may or may not be included with the purchase of the system. A whole-house water filter will provide years of service with little maintenance. Once installed, little maintenance is required.

Benefits of a House Water Filtration System

Water is essential for life. Having healthy house water will ensure your body has what it needs for daily activities and long life. Whether you have a serious exercise routine, such as distance running or running around the house or work… your body deserves the best. This is where a whole-house water filter system comes into consideration.

Peace of Mind

Of course, the biggest benefit of a whole-house water filter system is the peace of mind you can have by knowing clean water comes from every source throughout your home. Cooking and cleaning will be healthier for every member of your family. Contaminant-free water will also be available for showers and laundry purposes, as well as for the care of any pets you may own.

All-in-One Solution

A house filtration system eliminates the need to install individual house filters in different locations in your home. You won’t have to worry that your kids will drink from the bathroom faucet instead of the kitchen faucet where the filter is installed. Potential contaminants will be captured before reaching any indoor source available for family use.

It also makes keeping up with maintenance or replacement house water filters easier. Just one activated carbon filter, UV filter, or sediment filter is easier to remember and may even prove to be more economical in the end. And there are fewer aesthetic or space issues from bulky filters hanging on your faucets or in your shower or taking up storage space under the sink.

Removes Dangerous Chemicals and Contaminants

A whole-house water filter system can remove many dangerous substances known to cause a variety of illnesses. It’s a good idea to have your water tested so that you can choose the appropriate system to meet the needs of your area. Some of the harmful contents your house water filter system may remove include:

Chlorine

Chlorine is considered one of the most dangerous contaminants in our water. In some areas, chlorine levels in homes may be as high as in public swimming pools. Even then, its presence may not guarantee the absence of harmful microorganisms. Most experts agree that chlorine should be removed from any water before drinking.

Chlorine can have many detrimental effects, such as allergic reactions or increased risk of asthma attacks. Showering in chlorinated water can cause nasal and throat irritations, sneezing, or a mild cough. It can also cause skin irritations. Children are especially susceptible to negative health issues.

Chlorine has been linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer. This dangerous chemical also has the ability to damage cells and tissues in the body, affecting the cardiovascular and digestive systems[1]. So if you have ever caught a whiff of chlorine smell coming from your water, you may want to consider upping your water filter so you can have odor-free water.

Fluoride

Although fluoride has been added to municipal water systems for years for oral health reasons, long-term exposure has been linked to such health issues as immune system disorders. It also may increase the signs of aging and affect cognitive functions[2].

Lead

Lead may leach into a water supply through old pipes or pipe soldering after the water leaves the treatment plant. Testing your water can tell you if this is a factor in your area. Identifying lead in any amount in your drinking water is a cause for immediate action.

There is no known safe level of lead in water, especially for children. It is a highly toxic substance that can slow normal growth, cause learning disabilities, and damage the nervous system and blood cells[3].

Aluminum

Aluminum can be a by-product of water treatment facilities, but not in sufficient quantities to affect most people. However, some parts of the country experience a greater amount of naturally occurring aluminum in soil and groundwater, and if you live in one of these areas, you could have unhealthy amounts in your tap water.

This is yet another reason to have your water quality tested. Studies indicate too much of this toxic mineral can accelerate the symptoms of Alzheimer’s or other brain disorders[4]. So if you find you have unusually high aluminum content in your water, you will need a house water filter that can accommodate its removal.

Toxic Substances

Besides the above-mentioned, there are many other types of heavy metals, other contaminants, and toxins from pesticides, fertilizers, other pollutants, and even volatile organic compounds that may not be removed by regular city water treatment procedures. These substances may cause a variety of symptoms and disorders, from headaches to mood swings to muscle weakness.

Remove Toxic Exposure

High-quality home water filter systems can remove the dangerous, invisible toxins in your whole city water supply. These toxins do not only affect you through drinking the water. There are many other day-to-day water uses that can spread potential toxins throughout your home.

Your body can absorb more chlorine through showering than through your drinking, resulting in eczema and other skin irritations and dryness. A water filtration system eliminates the need to add a filter to the shower heads in your home.

Some water contaminants may stain your clothing in washing machines, fade colors, and make your clothes feel rough or itchy. They can also damage the machine itself, shortening its lifespan and adding an unwelcome expense[5].

Minerals in tap water can cause a buildup on dishes in the dishwasher, as well as on the dishwasher itself. Also, hot steamy water from the dishwasher or shower can easily transfer toxins to the air, increasing indoor air pollution. So filtering your water supply may also help make the air in your home more breathable and healthy for yourself and your family.

Improve Taste and Smell

In some areas, contaminants may cause tap water to carry a noxious smell or an odd taste. The presence of hydrogen sulfide may cause a rotten egg smell or other dissolved solids may give water a woody or muddy smell. Mercury, lead, iron, or even arsenic may cause a metallic taste or smell.

None of these tastes or smells are desirable, and the added contaminants are not welcome. A whole house filter can help to eliminate these substances, including in well water. So your entire home will smell better, as well as your water.

Soften Hard Water

The most common cause of hard water is the infusion of ions from the minerals calcium and magnesium. The higher the concentration of these minerals, the harder the water. Hard water reduces the effectiveness of cleaning products and can build up over time.

Hard water buildup damages everything it touches, from pipes to shower walls. Over time, repairs can become expensive and invasive. Whole house filtration can help soften water by filtering out these minerals.

If you live in an area with hard water, you are aware of the damage it can do to a variety of household appliances. Although these minerals may not be harmful to the water you drink, the expense of replacing damaged fixtures and appliances due to mineral buildup may make it a worthwhile investment, especially if you’re already considering adding a water softener to your home.

Whole-House Water Filter System

Environmental Impact

There is a great deal of concern about the amount of plastic accumulating in landfills and water sources. Using house water filtration systems in your home can greatly reduce the use of bottled water, which is thought to be a major culprit. Reusable drinking containers can be carried in most places and are easily identified for individual use. Especially if you are planning the building of a new home, a house filtration system could be an important consideration.

Healthy Children

In a world of uncertainties, where studies are forever finding more and more unhealthy potential in the environment, clean water is harder and harder to come by. Growing children are especially vulnerable, so you want to make the best choices you can in those areas you have the power to control. Exposure to toxins in the home is one of those areas, including the purity of the water your children drink, bath, and play in.

Many whole-house water filter systems last from 5-10 years. So the house system is easy to maintain and can prove economical in the long run. Having the house water tested will help you to make the best decision about what type of filter you will need to protect those developing minds and bodies.