Are you doubtful of just how safe the water that flows out of your taps really is? Are you worried that you and your loved ones are at risk of contamination from using tap water? Do you spend a significant amount of money on buying bottled water for you and your family? Are you tired of carrying the bulky water bottles to your dispenser?
To all these problems, there is only one solution: installing a water purifier appliance in your house and bid farewell to all these water woes.
Filtering tap water not only costs a lot less than purchasing bottled water but is also a lot more sustainable as well. Did you know that compared to tap water which costs about a penny per each gallon, bottled water costs approximately 300 times more for the same quantity?
Moreover, the environmental impact of bottled water cannot be neglected either. Even if you are a ‘green’ citizen who regularly bins their plastic bottles for recycling, you will be surprised to find out that not all of them are really recycled. In fact, according to research, less than 40% of all water bottles are actually recycled. The rest of the plastic bottles end up in landfills across the country where they will stay till, well, perhaps the end of time, quite literally!
Even if the cost factor and social responsibility are not enough to motivate you to switch to water purifiers, then perhaps you will be interested to know that using water purifiers is a healthier option than consuming bottled water. Studies have found that treating normal tap water at your own home is far safer than consuming bottled water bought off the shelf. This is because hard plastic bottles are made using a harmful chemical, Bisphenol-A, which can imitate certain hormones in your body and disrupt the delicate balance between them, making your hormonal system go haywire.
So, before it leads to serious problems for you and your family, it’s best that you switch to water purifiers when there is still time.
Here are the common types of water purifiers for the home that you can choose from.
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1. Faucet Water Purifier
A faucet water filter is without a doubt, the simplest and most uncomplicated of all water purifiers available for use in the home or anywhere else for that matter (given that the water to be purified runs down from a faucet). As is evident by the name, these filters are specifically designed to be installed onto faucets in order to purify the water that flows out of those taps. Faucet water filters come in different sizes and shapes so that they can be fitted easily on the common household faucets.
In the simplest forms, this type of water purifier for home consists of a small bubble-like container that has multiple layers of different substances to filter the impure water. In this case, the filtered water is mostly used for washing and cooking purposes and may or may not be safe enough to drink. However, more sophisticated faucet water purifiers can feature a bit more complicated design and a complex internal assembly which means better water purification as well. Besides filtering small visible particles like the simple faucet water filters, these ‘advanced’ faucet water purifiers can also improve the smell as well as the taste of tap water due to their intricate purification system. Hence, making it safe to drink (not applicable in every area).
The faucet water filter is a popular choice amongst homeowners due to three reasons:
- They are compact
- They are portable
- They are really affordable
Some faucet filters might have to be replaced after a month or two, but others can last a lot longer. Also, they are easy to install and easy to use. Plus, you don’t need to wait for the water to be filtered – just open the tap and enjoy clean water.
However, these water purifiers are usually best for areas where tap water is already quite safe and clean but requires just a little more conditioning. Another limitation of this type of water purifiers is that it might not work with faucets installed at a lower level or if the water flow is not sufficient enough to flow through the system on its own.
2. Countertop Water Purifier
As the name suggests, this type of water purifier for the home consists of a compact filtration system that is installed at the kitchen counter or any other similar place that is near a faucet. The water supply pipe in the kitchen is fed into this device whereas the outlet of this water purifier is connected to the required faucet so that whenever you turn the tap on, you instantly get clean and pure water that is safe to consume. Some models also feature a faucet on the water purifier itself so you that you can place it anywhere as long as there is a water supply nearby.
What makes these water purifiers a popular choice for many homeowners all across the world is the fact that they are faster and more efficient than the alternative, faucet water purifiers. Although countertop purifiers cost comparatively more than faucet water purifiers, they are not bound by limitations such as water flow and faucet level that often make faucet purifiers unsuitable for certain users. Also, depending on the model, countertop water purifiers can remove up to 99% of contaminants and harmful particles, making the otherwise polluted water perfectly safe to drink. Moreover, these purifiers can also adjust the pH of the water by adding beneficial minerals and make it healthier for use.
The only disadvantage of these water purifiers is that despite the compact design, they take up counter space nonetheless. Hence, they are not recommended for small houses or small kitchens where less counter space is already an issue.
3. Pitcher-Style Water Purifier
Pitcher water purifiers are one of the most widely used types of water purifiers for home. Whether you frequently go camping in the wild or not, chances are that you or at least someone in your circle of friends and family already owns one.
A pitcher water purifier is a highly discreet purifier in the sense that it looks exactly like an average water jug that is commonly found in most households – except that it’s not a typical water jug.
These water purifiers normally consist of two parts and work using ceramic filters or any other similar technique. At the top of the pitcher, just below the lid, there is a container where you pour in the water to be purified. Below this container, there is a small cylindrical compartment that protrudes down along the center of the jug. This contains activated carbon, a ceramic filter or other substances that can filter and purify the water as it flows down through the chamber.
The filtered water gradually drips down in the lower half of the pitcher and can be subsequently poured out when required.
These portable water purifiers come in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs but require the filter to be changed or replaced after a certain time period or when you have used it to filter a certain amount of water already. The capacity of the pitcher typically ranges from 1 to 3 liters, but some manufacturers also offer a larger container that can hold up to 5 or even 10 liters of water.
It goes without saying that these water purifiers are not optimal for large families or recommended for normal use in the household due to their limited capacity and the fact that they usually require a considerable amount of time before you get the purified water. However, with the advancement in technology, newer models are able to purify water a lot faster than the previous ones. Pitcher water purifiers are well suited for multiple uses such as filtering water for drinking, cooking, making tea or coffee as well as for preparing infant formula and more.
Besides their low cost, portability, and ease of use, these water purifiers are extremely popular because they can remove a lot of pollutants and harmful chemicals, providing you with safe drinking water especially when you go on a camping trip.
4. Under-the-Sink Water Purifier
As you might have guessed from the name, this type of water purifiers for the home comes as an assembly of filters and pipes that are typically fitted under the kitchen sink (or over on the wall if you don’t mind the presence of unattractive things in your kitchen). Although these water purifiers are hands-down the most effective amongst all the different types discussed so far, homeowners prefer to keep them hidden away. This is because unlike the sleek countertop water purifiers or the regular pitcher-style water purifiers, under-sink purifiers are rather an eyesore if installed in plain sight.
They work using special cartridges that remove almost all the contaminants including the finest particles that normally slip through other filters. These filters are difficult to install and cannot be ported once fixed in a certain place. Also, they are quite large in size and definitely a lot more costly as well. But their benefits easily outweigh the drawbacks, and they are probably the most sought-after type of water purifiers for the home.
Under-sink water purifiers not only treat more water in a short amount of time but also provide clean water instantly when you turn on the connected faucet. Moreover, these purifiers are highly environment-friendly as they have literally zero water wastage. All the water that flows into the system is obtained as it is from the other end (minus the contaminants, of course).
Under-sink water purifiers can have one, two or more individual filters depending on the requirements. For instance, an activated carbon filter can improve the water’s taste and odor as well as reduce chlorine levels, but for nitrate reduction and/ or hardness reduction, you will need special anion resin filter and a cation resin filter respectively. Like all water filters, the cartridges of under-sink water purifier also need to be replaced periodically.
5. Whole-House Water Purifier
This is the most elaborate and the most extensive type of water purifier for the home. Whole-house water purifiers are the ultimate solution for houses where tap water is extremely polluted and unsuitable not just for drinking, but also for cooking, washing and any other purpose.
These water purifiers are, therefore, usually installed immediately outside the house where the main water supply line is present. This ensures that the water in every tap in your house is safe to use. Although these water purifiers are highly expensive, they save money spent on water purification in the long run. However, they cannot be installed by anyone and require professional help.