Without water, your home would be nearly impossible to live in. We use water for bathing, cooking, washing clothes, and drinking purposes to keep us hydrated. Want to know just how important water is? Take a look at your water bill, and you will quickly be reminded. Water, however, influences our lives more than we think. Bad-tasting water is impossible to drink, and hard water can even damage your clothes when they are washed.
What water filtration does
Whole house water filtration systems are used to filter out the contaminants that you don’t want in the household water supply. Contaminants that are removed can include iron, hardness, or chlorine. The filtration system that you use might include a softener to remove iron and other hard minerals, or it could be more of an elaborate process known as aeration or oxidation. The system used in your home is determined by the unwanted things that are making water quality an issue in your home. A whole-house water filtration system is installed on the main water supply pipe where it enters your home. Once installed, the water in your home will be safe for consumption and will keep your clothes that you wash in the washing machine clean and brighter.
Filtration needs vary from home to home, depending on the types of contaminants that are round in the water. Filtration also depends on how each household consumes water. To determine your home’s water filtration needs, you can look for these five signs that you need a whole house water filtration system.
1. The Water Tastes Bad
If you have ever wondered if there is “bad” water out there, the answer is yes. There are quite a few things that can influence the way water tastes or smells. Sometimes, people describe the odor as a musty, earthy wood smell. Chlorine odors are present because it is used in the municipal water treatment process. Additionally, metallic tastes are derived from mercury, lead, arsenic, and iron that leaks into the water supply.
Bad tasting water is one of the most common reasons why homeowners invest in a whole house water filtration system. Who doesn’t want the convenience of being able to drink water straight from a tap? Sure, you can drink out of water bottles, but with the amount of money that you would spend on water bottles, you could invest in a filtration system and enjoy a significant cost-saving. Also, do you really want to rely on having water bottles in your home 24/7?
Probably not.
2. Your Home Was Built Decades Ago
In the US, lead makes its way into drinking water, primarily through the leaks from corroded pipes and plumbing fixtures. Physical or environmental disturbances can also cause lead particles to make their way into your drinking water. Back in the day, lead pipes were popularly used in water-supply systems until the early 20th century when American’s started to recognize the adverse health effects of lead exposure. Still, plumbers continued to use lead-containing solder, service lines, and plumbing materials.
It was not until 1986 where these systems were finally banned from use in new U.S plumbing systems. Although it was forbidden, they still are existent among infrastructure that was built before the ban. If your home was built before the ban, there is a chance that some lead can be leaking into your home’s water from lead-based pipes or from the lead solder used to seal openings on copper lines. Aside from the awful taste, lead can lead to serious health complications and is especially harmful to small children.
If you suspect that there is lead in the water coming from your home, it can easily be removed with a good filtration system.
3. Your Clothes Look Discolored After Washing
Have your clothes become discolored from washing? Maybe you have tried every detergent out there and still can’t figure out why your clothes are losing its color or brightness. There is a chance that it’s not your actual washing machine or detergent, but rather your home’s water. Water that has high iron levels can cause a rusty hue to light-colored clothing, and hard water can leave your clothes looking dull and with an added touch of gray. If you recognize that you have this issue, unfortunately, an under-sink filter won’t fix the problem. You will need a whole house filtration system as a resolution.
4. You Are Constantly Scrubbing
Scrubbing your home to a certain extent is normal. However, if you find that you are consistently scrubbing your sink, shower, or tub to clean up a soapy mess, this might be a sign that your water is too hard. What this indicates is that there are increased levels of calcium and magnesium present in hard water. This excess causes you to scrub more than usual because these substances prevent soap and other cleaners from working well and simply rinsing away with water.
5. Your Home Uses Well Water
Several homes in the US still utilize well water. Some of these private wells are safe to use and produce clean and healthy water. On the other hand, there has been heavy use of pesticides and other chemicals that have contaminated wells in a few states. You may think of installing carbon filters, but unfortunately, those filters won’t do the job of removing some of the more harmful toxins that might be present in the water. To ensure the water in your home is safe, you will need to install a whole house filtration system.
With a whole house filtration system, you can ensure that all toxins are removed from the water that is consumed by you and your family. The water is crystal clear, more palatable, and most importantly safe for your loved ones.
At the Science of Water, we are dedicated to helping you keep your home’s water safe for you and your family. If you have experienced any of the signs mentioned above, it might be time to consider investing in a whole house filtration system. Want to learn more about how this system can help you and your home? Reach out to our team at The Science of Water for a free water test.