| Where Do I Start in Choosing the Right Water Filter | | | | reduce up to 99 percent of chlorine, require no |
| for my Family? | | | | installation and are inexpensive. Priced from about $15 |
| 1. You must evaluate your specific water filtration | | | | to $60. Some carafes/pitchers can filter up to 2,000 |
| needs. Are you interested in only a drinking water | | | | gallons of water on a single filter. |
| filter or do you need a shower filter? Determine | | | | Faucet-mounted. These filter drinking and cooking |
| what your family needs. | | | | water with easy installation and allow switching |
| 2. Decide if you want to target any specific | | | | between filtered and unfiltered water. They range in |
| contaminants when filtering your drinking water. If | | | | price from $20 to $60. |
| you receive water from a public water system, it | | | | Countertop. These filter large amounts of water |
| likely has chlorine added to disinfect your drinking | | | | without plumbing modification. The filters get water |
| water. In addition to chlorine, there may be added | | | | from the faucet by replacing the standard aerator |
| fluoride that you may want to remove. You will want | | | | (the part where the water comes out of the faucet) |
| to find a water filter that is certified to remove | | | | with a diverter valve. Pulling the knob on the diverter |
| chlorine AND Trihalomethanes (a carcinogenic | | | | valve sends water through the filter for drinking. |
| by-product of chlorination) as well as fluoride. | | | | Diverter valves won't fit faucets with the pull-out |
| 3. Do your own research on water filters. Find out | | | | vegetable sprayer. They are less likely to clog than |
| what exactly a water filter does. In order to | | | | carafes or faucet mounts, but they can clutter |
| understand certification claims, you will need to know | | | | countertops. Prices range from $50 to $300. |
| a little about the process of water filtration. | | | | Undersink. Good for filtering a lot of water without |
| 4. Choose a brand of water filter that removes the | | | | changing the existing faucet or cluttering the counter. |
| most contaminants. In this way, you KNOW you are | | | | But they take up cabinet space and may require |
| covered for anything that will come out your pipe! | | | | plumbing modifications. A hole must be drilled through |
| Most manufacturers offer a money-back guarantee if | | | | the sink and/or countertop for the dispenser. Prices |
| you are not satisfied with the product. | | | | range from $55 to $350. |
| 5. Check to see what the cost of cartridge | | | | Reverse osmosis. The water is being forced under |
| replacements. What may seem like a cheap costing | | | | pressure through an ultrafine semi-permeable |
| filter may end up costing you hundreds in | | | | membrane that filters out salt and other impurities, |
| maintenance! | | | | discarding them, and passing pure water to a storage |
| 6. Check out the manufacturer...How long have they | | | | tank for later use. The water is stored in a pressure |
| been in business? Will they be there for the long run | | | | tank and is treated to a final activated-charcoal |
| to service you and support the product? | | | | filtration to remove all remaining odors and tastes |
| The Popular Filters | | | | before dispensing the purified water. Prices range |
| Basically, water filters fall into two categories -- | | | | from $25 to about $300. |
| point-of-use and point-of-entry. Point of use, such as | | | | Reverse osmosis, also, by removing alkaline mineral |
| pitchers, faucet-mounted, or shower filters are the | | | | constituents of water, produces acidic water. Acidic |
| most popular because they are the least expensive. | | | | water can be dangerous to the body system, |
| Point-of-entry is a whole-house filter that filters the | | | | causing calcium and other essential minerals to be |
| water before it even makes it into your pipes. | | | | stripped from bones and teeth in order to neutralize |
| Here are the most popular methods and how they | | | | its acidity. Trace elements of minerals were intended |
| work. | | | | to be in water; their removal leaves tasteless, |
| Carafes or Pitchers. Carafes/Pitchers filter small | | | | unhealthy drinking water. |
| quantities of drinking water inexpensively and can | | | | |