| Whole house water filters? Just how much should we | | | | says "yes" to chlorine reduction. It is not certified by |
| pay? We compared the top five brands in terms of | | | | Underwriter's Laboratory or the National Sanitation |
| effectiveness and found that the price range varies | | | | Foundation. The system requires electricity to |
| from just under $1000 to just over $6000. Yet the | | | | operate and flushing of wastewater. These are |
| more expensive whole house filters do not provide | | | | disadvantages. |
| more effective contaminant reduction. | | | | The SKW brand of whole house filter has similar |
| It makes sense to pay more for something that is | | | | disadvantages, although it does not require the use |
| more effective, but it does not make sense to pay | | | | of electricity, it still requires back-flushing. The price |
| six times as much for whole house water filters that | | | | tag is a little lower at $2850, but the cost of use per |
| are no better than the less expensive brands. The | | | | month, due to the frequent need for replacement |
| most expensive brand, in the comparison, was made | | | | filters, is more than Wellness, at $66.26 per month. |
| by the "Wellness" company. According to the | | | | "Eco-water" water filters were also included in the |
| company claims, rare volcanic stones are used in the | | | | comparison. Like Life Source and SKW, it requires |
| system and those stones "imbue" the water with | | | | back-flushing. It also requires electricity and costs |
| health giving qualities. | | | | about the same as the SKW brand. It does cost a |
| There is no scientific evidence to support their claims, | | | | little less to use, because the filtration cartridges last |
| other than the research conducted by their own | | | | a little longer, but still the cost per month is over $60. |
| company. If you are anything like me, you want a | | | | The $1000 whole house filter reduced chlorine by |
| water filter that removes chlorine and other | | | | more than 99%, removed all particles larger than 5 |
| chemicals, as well as particles that clog the dispenser | | | | microns, and did not require back-flushing or |
| in your refrigerator and shorten the lifespan of | | | | electricity. The cost of use was $17.75 per month or |
| water-heaters and other appliances. The Wellness | | | | less than 60 cents per day. In other words, for less |
| whole house water filters do that, but they are no | | | | than you spend every day on a single bottle; you |
| better at it than the less expensive brands. | | | | could get gallons of clean chlorine-free water |
| Another whole house water filter in the comparison | | | | throughout your house. |
| was "Life Source". The price was $3790, less than | | | | This comparison shows that price is not always |
| Wellness, but still more expensive than other brands. | | | | indicative of quality. The more expensive brands |
| The Life Source Company does not provide the | | | | were no better than the least expensive whole |
| percentage of chlorine reduction in their product | | | | house water filters. I guess you don't always get |
| performance data. Other brands reduce chlorine by | | | | what you pay for. |
| more than 99%. The Life Source information simply | | | | |