Tap water in Tacoma may contain contaminants, such as metals and chemicals. The only way to purify your water is with a water filtration system. Looking into this can be a bit overwhelming because there are so many options. Learning more about the ones that are available can help you narrow down the filtration system that will work best within your home.
Testing Your Home’s Water
The first step is learning more about the impurities that are in your home’s water. You want to have a professional conduct the testing so that you can be sure the results are accurate. They will also explain the results and help guide you toward filtration systems that will work best in your home.
Benefits of a Home Water Filtration System
Having contaminants in your water can alter its taste and even make it harsher on your hair and skin when you shower. There is also the point that it could be unhealthy for your plumbing.
Removing impurities from the water in your home comes with a wealth of benefits:
- Safer drinking water
- Better water taste and smell
- Environmentally-friendly
- Cost-effective
- Multiple filtering options
- Retain more water minerals
- Improves water-using appliance performance
- Low maintenance
Types of Home Water Filtration Systems
There are several different types of filters for you to choose from. Learning a bit about each one can make it easier to choose the right one.
Activated Alumina
This filter might be ideal for removing arsenic or fluoride. It has a high level of absorption since the compound is a highly porous ceramic. The materials bond together instead of just being held in the pores. It is able to pull contaminants from the water in your home without them leaking out and getting into the environment.
Activated Carbon and Carbon Block
You probably are aware of this type of filter as they often call it activated charcoal. These are common in water filtration systems and are often present on water filter pitchers or a below-the-sink filtration system. This type of filter can attract and absorb impurities to take them from your water. It also requires no electricity to operate.
Alkaline and Water Ionizers
This type of filter ionizes water to separate acidic and alkaline water. You usually use this along with an additional water filtration system to remove impurities. This filter focuses more on water quality and softening it.
Distillation
If you are looking for a more primitive option to purify smaller amounts of water, this is an option to consider. You might look into this option if you like to collect rainwater and purify it so that you can use it for cooking, drinking and bathing. During the process, the water boils to produce steam. Then, you cool it in a clean container. Once you fully complete the process, you have clean water that tastes better and is free from bacteria.
There are kits that provide you with all of the components that you need to distill the water. Just make sure that you have a source for heat and electricity to take advantage of this process.
Ceramic Filters
Ceramic is a type of material with lots of tiny pores all throughout its surface. Anything bigger than the pores will get stuck in them, removing them from your water. You do not need an electricity source to use this type of filter.
You can use a silver treatment with ceramic filters. This helps to prevent algae and mold from surviving in your water. Silver is also effective in killing bacteria.
Sand and Sediment Mesh
Think of this type of filtration system as similar to the colander that you use to drain your noodles have you boil them. This filter system is best for removing large particles from your water, such as clay, rust, dirt and sand. While they do not remove micro-particles, they are a good choice for keeping your plumbing system free from sediment.
Reverse Osmosis
This type of filter features a semipermeable membrane that the water goes through. Water is able to flow through without a problem, but metals, contaminants, chemicals and parasites are not able to penetrate the filter. Just make sure that you have strong water pressure if you want to use this filter system. The water pressure has to be good to force it through the membrane.
Ultraviolet Light
This type of water filtration system is able to remove a number of water microorganisms, such as viruses, protozoa, bacteria and parasites. With this system, you expose the water to UV light radiation at a high frequency via a glass element. You will need a lot of energy to use this type of system.
In some cases, people opt to use UV lamps as part of a bigger water filtration process. This can help to ensure the removal of both non-organic contaminants and microorganisms from your home’s water.
Choosing the Right Water Filtration System
Once you have water testing, you will know about the type of contaminants that are present in your water. Start your search by narrowing down your options to the systems that work for these specific contaminants. Next, determine if you want a system that relies on electricity or not to purify your water. These two concerns will help you pick a system that best fits your needs.
Water Filtration System Maintenance
Maintaining your system ensures that your water is always clean and ready for use. One or two times per year, you will likely need to replace the filters. This ensures that the water coming out is free from impurities. Certain types of filters require cleaning instead of replacement. A professional can help with this to ensure that you do it correctly and do not unintentionally damage the filter.
About once a year, the filter housings require a cleaning. This will remove any accumulated contaminants. Once fully cleaned, you can also sanitize the housings to make sure that they are free from bacteria and debris.
If you notice any wear and tear on the components of the system, it is important to have a professional repair or replace them promptly. One part that will likely need some attention at some point is the O-ring, so keep an eye on this to see if it is wearing or cracking.
Water Filtration Systems in Tacoma
Water filtration can make your Tacoma home’s tap water cleaner and tastier. The key is to choose the filtration system that works best for your home and family, and we can help you make this decision. Once we finish up with this task, we offer other services to help you keep your home a haven for comfort. Whether you need electrical work or plumbing help or you want to improve your indoor air quality, our expert staff is here to help you with your home goals.
Contact Hunt’s Services today for your water filtration needs.
