A lot of people are getting more and more concerned about the quality of their drinking water. And according to published reports they have very good reason to be concerned. It has been estimated that almost 7 million Americans get sick each year from drinking contaminated tap water. And on top of that, many studies that have been done recently indicate that most bottled water is no better for you than what you may get from your home tap. What that essentially means is that you are paying much more for the same quality of water then.

So water filtration systems have become very popular with many homeowners as a means of improving their home. There are several kinds of filtration systems in use today, and we will try to help you get familiar with the most important ones.

1. The cheapest to purchase, easiest to use, and most portable are water pitchers designed specifically for the purpose of filtering water. The advantage of these water pitchers is their simplicity itself. All you have to do is fill the picture up with tap water and then let it filter out the impurities. The biggest disadvantage to using water pitcher filters is the time that it takes for the water to be filtered. Very often they take 15 minutes or more just to filter a half-gallon of water. So obviously, if you often need water right away this may not be your best solution.

2. The next step up in the water filter chain are faucet mounted water filters. These are often seen advertised on television and in magazines. As the name indicates, they connect to the end of your water faucet, and have a lever so that you can either choose straight tap water, or to send the tap water through your filter instead. These are also very inexpensive types of filters, and very easy to install. They filter water much more quickly than water pitcher filters, but the filter cartridges have to be changed on a regular basis, perhaps every month or so.

3. Undersink water filters have the advantage of providing some of the best overall water filtration possible, and also are stored out of sight. They also work much faster then either water pitcher filters or faucet mounted filters. However, the biggest drawback to them is that in many cases professional installation is a good idea. Some homeowners that are very handy may attempt to tackle the installation of an undersink water filter, but for the average person it may be too much of a job. Cartridges are also used as the filter material for these units, but they only have to be replaced about every six months or so.

4. Whole house water filters are able to provide filtered water to every faucet in your home easily and quickly, which many see as a clear advantage. However, they can be even more involved to install than undersink units, and so most often you will need the services of a plumber to get it set up. The filters in these units also last about six months or so.

5. Reverse osmosis water filters were very popular in the past, but are not nearly as popular today due to the increasing effectiveness of some of the less expensive and easier to install water filtration systems. Perhaps the biggest drawback about reverse osmosis filters is that they waste almost 5 gal. of water for every gallon that they purify. On the plus side though, they are one of the best water filtration systems available, capable of filtering out even some of the smallest and most obscure pollutants.

As you can see, there are several choices to be made when you’re considering home water filter systems, and hopefully the information provided above will help you make a more informed choice of the water filtration system that will work best for you.

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Learn facts about water pollution and purification in this free water purification video. Expert: Gregory Gibbert Bio: Gregory Gibbert has been working in the water conditioning field for five years with Hague Quality Water. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

The home water filtration market is large and constantly growing, no doubt due to the desire of many informed consumers to improve their everyday drinking water quality. Studies have shown that it’s easy to get sick from contaminated tap water, and that bottled water is not necessarily of any higher quality than what you get through your tap. So that leaves the average homeowner with a choice of installing a home water filter system to improve their drinking water.

But which filter system will work best for you? Let’s review the advantages and disadvantages of each major filter type to help you make your choice.

The easiest water filter to use also happens to be the most portable as well, the carafe or water pitcher filter. These are extremely simple in design, as you just pour in the water and let it filter out the impurities for you. These kind of simple water filters are especially good for folks who live in apartments where they can’t make any permanent installations of a water filter. They also are a good choice for homeowners who just don’t want to have to install anything, or change the look of their faucets. The disadvantages to these units are that the filters have to be replaced frequently, and they are the slowest filtration method available.

Faucet mounted filter systems attach to the end of your faucet, and allow you to choose whether you wish to use straight tap water or filtered water by simply turning a lever. They are also very good choices for apartment dwellers who are allowed to change their faucets, and homeowners who don’t want the hassle of installing filtration equipment. They are very inexpensive and work much faster than water pitcher filters. The average person can have one installed in no time with very little difficulty. These units also use cartridge filters that need to be replaced frequently, sometimes even every month or so.

Undersink water filters are among the more expensive options to take in this field, and they provide excellent water filtration results. They would not be good for most apartment dwellers because of the need for installation, and homeowners should consider the cost of installation by a qualified technician before making their final purchase. The filter cartridges that come with these units are very effective and long-lasting, many of them only needing to be replaced every six months or so.

Whole house water filter systems do pretty much what the name indicates, they provide water filtration for the entire house at once without having to be installed on each faucet. An obvious benefit is that you receive filtered water at every tap throughout the home simultaneously, and the filter cartridges that are used for these units also lasts a long time, up to six months or so. However, the installation for this kind of water filtration system is more involved than any of the other filter systems, usually requiring the services of a plumber for correct installation.

Reverse Osmosis water filter systems have been very popular with homeowners in the past as they do a superior job of filtering out even the smallest of pollutants including arsenic. However, in order to get 1 gal. of filtered water a reverse osmosis water filter has to use and waste 5 gal. of tap water. They can also be fairly bulky filters when installed, and so many consumers are opting for one of the first four water filtration systems mentioned instead.

There are several different ways to get filtered water these days, and which filtration system you choose is entirely up to you. One recommendation though is before you buy any water filtration system, check on the cost of replacement water filter cartridges. Sometimes the cost of the cartridges can add up significantly over a very short period of time.