How To Improve Your Home With Water Filtration Systems

Did you know that you can improve your home and health with some very simple water projects at home? Home improvement projects are a fun way to learn more about the house you own, and help you develop useful skills.

An especially useful place for these sorts of projects is in the kitchen. Water will be used for cooking and drinking which will go into your body. This will have a direct impact on your health and you may notice you suddenly start feeling better as clean, pure water is necessary to keep you in good shape.

Clean water helps maintain a clear mind, a healthy body free from toxins, and of course, to stay hydrated. You may even notice that your food tastes better and that household plants become healthier. The effect of impurities in water can be so pervasive that they are not noticed as such until a filter system is in place to provide a contrast.

Reverse Osmosis For Drinking Water

Reverse osmosis is a method of filtering which uses several steps to remove chemicals, particles, and bacteria from water. It passes water through a few different types of substrates including  sand, charcoal, and a selectively semi-permeable membrane amongst others.   Depending on the specific brand there may be additional steps. Water can also be exposed to an ultraviolet (UV) light that neutralizes bacteria and viruses which may remain present in the water.

Putting water through additional filtering is important because municipal water sources can leave some dangerous chemicals – both intentionally and otherwise. For example, cities often put chlorine in water to kill off dangerous diseases such as typhoid or cholera. Additionally, there are chemicals such as fluoride which are added for other reasons. If you are a natural health advocate you likely are opposed to such chemicals being in your water.

Some reasons health advocates may not want the chemicals cities add to the water supply include the killing of beneficial bacteria in the gut from chlorine. Chlorine is great for killing germs in the pool but not necessarily for having inside your body. In fact, some people would be opposed to it being used in pools at all as it is readily absorbed through the skin. Fluoride is unwelcome for similar reasons.

Many cities are quitting the practice of adding this element to water because it is becoming increasingly unpopular. Supporters argue that it helps keep people’s teeth strong while many others are gradually coming forth with proof that it does more harm than good, especially with modern diets and dental hygiene.

In short, reverse osmosis removes many unwanted impurities of water. In fact, you could say it is the best way to purify water at a very reasonable price. The cost of one of these systems will quickly pay itself off and work for a long period of time before needing servicing. Maintenance is very affordable, as many people use this sort of device.

Benefits of Water Filters & Softeners

Do you find your skin feeling itchy after showering? Is there a lot of calcium deposits on the shower wall resulting in an opaque, white crust? Chances are you have hard water—water containing dissolved solids that are typically composed of calcium carbonate. In its solid form it is a primary component of limestone, the source of many aquifers in the United States. Many other minerals mix in with the water supply and can cause many types of problems.

Besides itchy skin and crust on the side of shower walls, these dissolved minerals can solidify in pipes and cause them to crack, break, or otherwise fail. A softening system can be added which uses salt to remove the minerals from the water. This can be a very wise choice to extend the life of pipes throughout the home for many years to come.

Recap of Water Filters

In short, two of the main ways you can improve the water quality of your home is to use a water softener system—a process that removes damaging hard minerals from the water and prevents damage to pipes and itchy skin. If you use a water softener you may be interested in also using a reverse osmosis water filter for drinking to further remove chemicals and other impurities since water softeners do not filter in this way. Improving the water quality can save pipes, your health, and extend the life of many other appliances.