The Ultimate Guide

Why do you need a whole house water filter system ? Two very important reasons: First, to remove the residual chlorine contained in your water that is added at the municipal treatment plants to prevent growth of disease-producing micro-organisms, which include bacteria, viruses, and parasites. And secondly, to remove harmful chemicals, residual pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, trihalomethanes resulting from chlorination, and volatile organic compounds contained in your water due to industrial and agricultural activities that have added these pollutants to our water supply. The combination of unusually warm temperatures and the surface water supplies (river and lake water) treated for our drinking water increases the use of chlorine as a disinfectant in the Phoenix area. The numerous EPA Superfund Sites located in the Phoenix area where cleanup of contaminated groundwater is ongoing attests to the fact that there are man-made contaminants in our water supplies.

So why the concern about chlorine in my water?

Chlorine has a strong chemical odor, causes skin and eye irritation, deteriorates the fabric in our clothing, and accelerates corrosion in our faucets and fixtures. Chlorine can also greatly reduce the useful life of a water softening system by degrading the media.

So will my water make me sick?

Typically, the contaminant levels in municipal water are not high enough to cause immediate sickness, but are more likely to cause chronic health effects. This means effects that occur long after repeated exposure to small amounts of a contaminant.

What does a whole house water filter system do?

A whole house filtration system provides you with the extra protection you need at every water fixture in your home. Contaminants can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled from our lungs, so it is extremely important to be protected throughout the entire home. If you have no special water contaminant issues, then a whole house filtration system with activated carbon is recommended for general, multi-purpose, whole house purification. If you have special water concerns, then you would need a whole house water filter system dedicated to treat that problem.

What types of filters are used?

Filter carbon is a manufactured product. Though it is sometimes erroneously called charcoal, it is actually a carbon material that has been treated by steam and high temperature in the absence of oxygen. Coconut shell carbon is becoming popular not only because it is made from a renewable resource but also because it produces very good tasting water and is particularly good at trihalomethane removal.

Carbon filters remove chemicals by the process of adsorption (as opposed to ab sorption). Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines adsorption as “the adhesion in a thin layer of molecules to the surfaces of solid bodies in which they are in contact.” Carbon attracts certain chemicals at the molecular level in much the same way that a magnet attracts and holds metal filings. When the surfaces are full, the filter media must be discarded and replaced.

To summarize, activated carbon is an extremely versatile and highly effective water treatment medium. It has immense surface area. A single pound of granular activated carbon has a filtering surface area equivalent to 125 acres! It is the best known treatment for organic chemicals, VOCs, pesticides, herbicides, and chlorine and its by-products. It is also an unchallenged taste-and-odor improver.

Benefits of a Whole House Filtration System Using Activated Carbon:

• Clean, filtered water emerges from every water source in the house
  
• Healthier showers and baths
  
• Extended life of water-using appliances and household pipes
  
• Softer, brighter, and longer lasting clothing
  
• Healthier skin and hair that are free of contaminants

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Enjoy the health benefits of a whole house water filter and the peace of mind that comes with clean water throughout your home.

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