Installing a water filter in your home is a great way to protect your water and your family’s health. But, with so many options available on the market today, how do you know which water filtration system is best?

The entire process begins with finding the answers to these important questions:

• Are you looking to filter the water you drink, water you use for other things, or both?
• What is your current water quality like?
• How much water does your household use on a daily basis?

Let’s look at how you can answer these questions.

Which type of water filter do you need?

Water filtration systems come in various forms and sizes and differ based on what they’re actually filtering out. That’s why it’s important to think about exactly which water in your home you want to filter. Here are some of the most common options:

• Reverse Osmosis (RO) System: This type of water filter removes contaminants from your drinking water. These include viruses, bacteria, heavy metals, fluoride, sulfates, nitrates, and more. Installed directly at the point of use (i.e. your kitchen faucet), an RO system allows you to get safe, great tasting drinking water right from your tap.

• Activated Carbon Filtration System: This is another type of drinking water filter. It removes organic compounds such as disinfectants, chlorine, pesticides, and Per- and Polyfluroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

• Water Softener: If you live in an area with hard water, your water has high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Although it uses a different process than the filtration systems mentioned above, a water softener filters out contaminants that affect your water quality. Different types include whole house conditioners, automatic water softeners, and Portable Exchange Tank Soft Water Service.

You may not be able to fully decide which type of water filter you need until you answer the next question …

How is your water quality?

If you don’t know what is in (or not in) your current water supply, you may not know which water to filter. Sadly, your water may still be full of contaminants even if you get it from a municipal source that treats the water on a regular basis. And, if your water is from a private well, there’s really no telling what’s in your water simply by looking at it or tasting it.

So, what’s the solution? Get your water tested! Once you know what contaminants you want to remove, or even prevent, you’ll be better equipped to decide which water filter is best for your household.

What’s your household water usage?

Now that you know which type of filtration system you want and/or need, it’s time to find one that will be able to handle the job. For example, a reverse osmosis system can filter anywhere between 10 and 50 gallons per day.

That’s a great solution if you’re just wanting to filter drinking water and water used for cooking or making coffee. But, if you’re concerned about the quality of your water for other uses, such as showering or bathing, you’ll need a system with a higher output.

Let the water treatment experts help you choose the best water filter.

With all of the different types of water filtration systems on the market today, in addition to different features and costs, choosing the right water filter is no small task. But, it can be much easier if you rely on the advice and experience of those who work with these products on a daily basis.

At Palm Springs Water Systems of North County, we have a wide variety of convenient, economical, and environmentally friendly water treatment options available. And, we can help you find the best one to fit your specific household needs and budget. Simply contact us today to learn more!