Tips for Choosing the Best Water Filter

Considering a water filtration system for a home can be a daunting task. One needs first to determine what is wrong with the present water supply. With contaminents being such a ubiquitous problem, it is not uncommon to be dissatisfied with water supplies, whether from wells or city systems. Then, following this assessment, the homeowner should investigate what the various systems promise in treating these problems.

There are different options when it comes to water filters. Some inexpensive ones simply remove some of the heavier particles that are suspended in the water.  This is important but may be inadequate. The best water filters (and often the more expensive units) are designed to remove the smallest microbes. Using reverse osmosis technology, filtering out bacteria as small as .01 microns is not uncommon.

Hidden in a water supply are often found more than mere sediment. Water could also contain harmful bacteria. The best water filter systems will not only remove sediment but also this invisible enemy.

Naturally, the more a filter system promises, the more it will cost. But cost should not necessarily be the bottom line. Microbes can affect the taste, odor, and appearance of the water, as well as its safety. The best water filters provide the safest water. So to choose what is the right system, it is best that all sources of water used for drinking or cooking be tested. City water must meet a minimum standard for particulates. But well water also needs to be checked.

For some, cost is no object and only the best filter system will give them peace of mind. For others, simply running water through a filter pitcher is adequate for them to feel safe. Even water run through a filtering system should be tested. This is true because some water is so dangerous that even expensive systems cannot clean it sufficiently.

The best water filters use a combination of filtering and bacteria removing technology. An adequate filter removes contaminants of .4 microns or more. Units that also kill bacteria usually use electricity as well. Water containing excessive iron may also have a sulfur smell. Filtering alone may not remove this odor from the water.

Water softeners remove minerals in water that make it work poorly in cleaning. But softened water passing through a water filter may extend the life of the filter cartridge itself. What is the best water filter system? The answer to that can only be determined when the water is evaluated, and the minimum acceptable levels of contaminants is established.

The best line of activated charcoal filters we are aware of is the Berkey Filter. Whether you choose their Big Berkey Water Filter or another model, each set of filters they ship with can be re-cleaned to purify up to 6,000 gallons of water.