Is It Worth it to Install a Whole-House Water Filtration System?

A whole-house water filtration system provides protection throughout the entire home. Even for those with treated city or municipal water, this type of system is recommended. According to the Centers for Disease Control; even though the Environmental Protection Agency regulates and sets standards for public drinking water, many Americans use a home water treatment unit to:
• Remove specific contaminants
• Take extra precautions because a household member has a compromised immune system

Most homeowners want to improve the taste of their drinking water. If you draw water from a well or live in a rural region with no treated water supply from your municipality, you may want to consider the installation of a water filtration system. Most tap and well water in the U.S. contains moderate to heavy levels of contamination from industrial and environmental pollution. All sources of water, whether a lake, river, glacier or well, contain some level of contamination.
Contaminants range from naturally occurring minerals to increased bacteria levels due to not only wildlife use of lakes and streams, but also man-made chemicals and byproducts. Surface water like that of rivers or lakes, can also be exposed to acid rain, storm water runoff, pesticide runoff and industrial waste.

The same holds true for homes with municipal or city water. While water from municipal sources is treated, there is still the possibility of harmful contaminants such as lead and chlorine. Just think of Flint, Michigan.

Water private wells or public water supplies can be contaminated by disease-producing pathogens, hazardous household products and agricultural chemicals.
In these cases you would want to consider installing a whole-house filtration system to provide you the extra protection from every water source in your home. Many contaminants can not only be ingested but can also be absorbed and inhaled.
In many cases, the majority of contaminant levels are not high enough to cause immediate sickness but are more likely to have chronic health effects. These effects occur long after repeated exposure to small amounts of a contaminant. Although whole-house filtration systems may cost more to install, you’ll have to decide if the peace of mind is worth the price in the long run.
Here are some benefits:
1. Clean filtered water is available from every water source in your home.
2. Healthier drinking and cooking water.
3. Healthier showers and baths. Skin and hair that are free of contaminants.
5. Softened water provides for not only spotless glasses, but also less scale in showers, tubs, sinks, and pipes resulting in reduced clogging, and increasing the lifespan of household pipes and appliances by as much as 25%.
6. Filtered water reduces corrosion and improves pH levels also extending the life of household fixtures. It not only aids in preventing rust stains in sinks, tubs, dishwashers, and toilets, but offers softer, brighter and longer lasting clothing. A carbon filter effectively removes chlorine, chloramines, and odor. The outcome is chemical free, clean, fresh drinking water for the whole household.

Substances in water that can be reduced or even eliminated with a whole-house water filtration system are:
1. Microbial Pathogens – Disease producing micro-organisms, which includes bacteria, viruses, parasites.
2. Organics – byproducts formed when chlorine in treated drinking water combines with naturally occurring organic matter
3. Pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides
4. Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) – which include solvents, degreasers, gasoline additives, etc.
5. Inorganics – Toxic metals such as arsenic, barium, chromium, lead, mercury, etc.
6. Radioactive Elements - Radioactive contaminants that result from the decay of uranium in soils and rocks.
7. Scale – Hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium cause scale buildup that attach on surfaces like pipes and appliances and cause lime deposits.
Still not sure?

Get a certified water test, completed by a state certified lab. You should get a certificate listing any contaminants in your water and their levels. Many companies offer instant on-site water testing, however these tests are not certified and there is a margin for error.
Homestead is a local family-owned business providing heating, cooling, plumbing, water, fuel oil delivery, and home energy solutions to North Central Connecticut. Homestead acquired Shaw’s Pump and offers full water treatment services including whole-house system installations, certified water testing, well pumps and tank installations.
For more information visit:
www.homesteadcomfort.com or email: info@homesteadcomfort.com