How to Select Home Water Filters: Expert Guide for 2024 

Choosing the right home water filtration system might just be one of the most important decisions you make as a homeowner. Water is the source of life, but it is also an ideal vector for spreading disease and contaminants. Known as the “universal solvent” H2O has unique chemical properties that make it very good at stripping down complex substances into their constituent parts. 

This is necessary in order for water to replenish and rebuild the cells in our bodies, but it also means that water often comes full of undesirable elements, from viruses and bacteria, to heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and a whole host of human-made toxins and pollutants. The situation can look grim, but fortunately there are plenty of powerful filtration solutions on the market, enough to fit nearly any home and budget. In this article, we will cover some of the basic contaminants that show up in water, and several options for how to remove them safely.

The Importance of Clean Drinking Water

All living things on this planet are “carbon-based life forms.” What this means is simply that the element “carbon” (number 6 on the periodic table of elements) forms the most common basic building block of all living organisms. We are, of course, made up of much more than just carbon, however, and what keeps us going on a daily basis is water. Unlike everything else that we take in to survive, water was never alive, so it’s function is not to provide caloric intake. Rather, water does just about everything else: it lubricates our muscles, bones, and joints, it feeds cells and causes them to grow, develop, and eventually undergo natural cell death (apoptosis). Water in our body is rather like oil in a car, only far more essential.

All of this should paint a pretty clear picture: water matters, and getting the best quality water we can ought to be a high priority for everyone. There’s little point in “going green,” with your foodstuffs if you continue to drink contaminated tap or well water. If you want to feel and live your best, then it’s necessary to consider your hydration, and how to improve it.

Types of Water Filters

Choosing a water filter can be a bit daunting at first, given the sheer number of options available on the market today. Most of the apparent variation, however, amounts to little more than variations on a few common themes. There are a few tried-and-true filtration methods that you can rely on, and once you understand what those are, the sky is the limit when it comes to customizing your own ideal system.

The two most common and important types of filter are sediment and activated carbon filters. Sediment filters belong to a class of filters known as “mechanical filters.” This sort of filter works on principles of physical restraint alone, just like a colander, which lets water sluice through while catching the precious pasta, or a screen door, which allows air to flow freely but keeps out the bugs. If you are building any type of multi-stage home filtration system, then a sediment filter should be your first line of defense. These filters remove silt, dirt, dust, grime, sand, and other bits of physical particulate, extending the lifespan of your downstream filters, which are usually much pricier. Sediment filters are very cheap and easy to replace, making them a no-brainer.

Activated carbon filters are the other most important filter you can buy. The power of activated carbon (which is created by burning wood, bamboo, or coconut husks, then superheating the charcoal with steam) has been well known since ancient times. Activated carbon filters chemically, unlike the mechanical action of a sediment filter, pulling dissolved chemicals out of solution to adhere them to the activated carbon matrix. There are many different types of activated carbon filter, so find a filter that best suits your needs, and that will complement the other filters in your setup. The combination of sediment and activated carbon filters is a powerful one-two punch that can take care of many common water problems.

If you require something more robust, because of particularly problematic water, or very high TDS (total dissolved solids), then you might consider a reverse osmosis system. These typically begin with sediment and carbon filters, and then move on to an RO membrane, which has exceedingly small pores, allowing you to filter out dissolved solids as small as 0.0001 micron (for comparison, a human hair is about 70 microns in width). RO is an aggressive option, however, and will remove the healthful minerals, such as calcium and magnesium from water as well, so many modern filter manufacturers include a post-remineralizing cartridge to add back in the salubrious minerals.

Key Features to Consider 

When choosing a filtration system, the most feature is obviously its ability to tackle the problems in your water. There is no such thing as “the best water filter;” rather, there are a wide range of water filtration tools that can be brought together to create the best possible solution to a specific set of water problems. The best place to start when designing a filter system is to determine the types of contaminants you have. Check the most recent federally mandated local government water quality report to get a basic idea of the problematic elements in your area, and if need be, mail away a sample of your tap water for professional lab testing.

Once you know the types of filters you need, the next consideration is what type of system to install. You can opt for a whole-house, or “point-of-entry” system, such as a water softener or multistage cartridge setup, or you can choose to install a filter under the sink, right before you use the water, known as a “point-of-use” filter. Many people opt for both, because a combination of a POE and POU filtration systems can cover just about any problems your water has. A water softener makes an ideal whole-house option, as it protects your water heater, pipes, and water fixtures from limescale deposits, as well as making for silkier showers and softer laundry. Many people dislike the taste of soft water, however, so one popular option is to add an undersink multi-stage reverse osmosis system in the kitchen to remove the excess salt put into the water during the softener’s ion exchange process.

Budget and Cost Considerations

As you begin to plan and design your ideal home filter system, consider how much water you typically use, how often you can afford to change filters, and how aggressive you want to be in cleaning up your water. Custom systems can get pricey fast, but there’s no need to break the bank to get quality filtration. For a high-quality water softener, you may be looking at a price tag of $1,500 to $3,000 depending on a variety of factors. There are more affordable options, with undersink units available in the $100-$300 range, however, or even a refrigerator filter, which can be had for $20 to $30.

Installation and Maintenance Tips

When it comes to installing water filtration systems, your best bet is to leave it to the professionals. Unless you are a seasoned plumber, or a serious DIY-er with many successful jobs under your belt, then you are taking a big risk doing your own plumbing. Things can go wrong very quickly when water is involved, and you don’t want to deal with destroyed drywall, foundation damage, or any other water-related headaches. This is especially true of water softeners, which are difficult to install, but even undersink units can be a headache, especially if you are installing a reverse osmosis system, which requires you to drill into your drain line. Do your research, and don’t hesitate to call in professional help if you feel you’re in over your head.

Conclusion

Cleaning water is no easy task, but it is a crucial one, and we are fortunate to live in a time period when top-notch filtration can be had for a reasonable price. With modular filter housings, and so many different types of filters available, you can put together exactly the right filtration station for you and your family.