What kind of water filter system is best for your Florida home?
Florida’s public water systems follow meticulous standards to provide clean drinking water to residents all over the state. However, it’s still possible for contaminants to enter the water supply, leading to short- and long-term health problems.
If you’re concerned about the quality of your drinking water, you may be considering a water filtration system for your home. Water filtration systems vary in design, depending on the contaminants they remove.
There’s not a single “best” water filtration system. Ultimately, the best water filtration system for you will depend on the contaminants in your water and the contaminants you want to remove.
In this article, we’ll explain:
Want a professional to help you choose a water filter for your home? Contact Red Cap Plumbing today. Our highly-trained plumbers can recommend an effective water filter and install it for you.
Corroded copper plumbing pipes can pose a health hazard.
All drinking water contains at least a small amount of contaminants, some of which enter the water supply during the water treatment process. Some contaminants pose no health risk, while others can be hazardous, especially in high concentrations.
Some of the most harmful contaminants found in Florida water include:
Approximately 80% of Floridians receive water from public systems that follow regulations outlined in the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Regular testing and water treatment typically clean contaminants out of the water before they reach your home. The exceptions are copper and lead, which could enter your water through your home’s piping.
The remaining 20% of Florida residents get water from private well sources which do not require regular testing. As a result, these residents have a higher exposure risk to the contaminants listed above.
You can test your water quality with an in-home test.
You can check the quality of your home’s water in one of two ways:
Based on the results of these tests, you can consult with a water quality expert to find the right filtration system for your home.
Activated charcoal filters absorb water-based contaminants.
You can think of an activated carbon filter as a magnetic sponge that absorbs water-based contaminants. As water passes through the beads of activated carbon, pollutants in the water get trapped in the pores of the carbon, removing them from the water supply.
Activated carbon filters can remove lead, phosphate, and chlorine from the water. However, they do not remove bacteria, copper, or arsenic.
UV water purifiers can neutralize living organisms in your water.
A UV water purifier uses ultraviolet light to neutralize harmful organisms in the water, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. However, a UV purifier does not work on non-living contaminants, making it ineffective against chemical-based contaminants like arsenic or fluoride. For this reason, homeowners usually pair UV water purifiers with another type of filtration system.
A water reverse osmosis system can block contaminants from entering your water.
A reverse osmosis system uses pressure to direct water through a semipermeable membrane. The membrane contains tiny pores that block contaminants but allow water molecules to flow through, resulting in purified drinking water.
Reverse osmosis filters can remove chlorine, salts, and arsenic, but not viruses or bacteria. We recommend installing a UV purifier with a reverse osmosis filter to remove those kinds of organic contaminants.
Use a water softener to reduce mineral buildup in your water.
A water softener is technically not a filter, but it helps to reduce hard water. Hard water contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can cause problems for your water heater and plumbing system. A water softener reduces calcium and magnesium buildup in your water to reduce the adverse effects of hard water.
Florida has especially hard water, so we often recommend that homeowners install a water softener in addition to a water filter.
Red Cap plumbers can help you get cleaner water today.
Call Red Cap Plumbing today or schedule an appointment online. Our highly-trained plumbers can help you find the perfect water filtration system for your home based on the contaminants you want to remove.
When you hire Red Cap Plumbing to install your water filter, you can count on us to provide honest pricing and equipment recommendations and 5-star customer service during every step of the project. Visit our water filter installation page for more information about our installation process.