How to select the right water purifier for your home

Safe drinking water is hard to find anywhere. Due to the increasing levels of pollutants in our environment, tap water is mostly contaminated before it gets to different homes. There are different levels of hazardous chemicals and impurities in the water that makes it unsafe for drinking. There is a need to have it properly treated to eliminate or, at least, drastically minimize the risk of waterborne diseases. This is where having the right water purifier for your home comes in.

Choosing a water purifier for your home is not like choosing other machines or gadget. Depending on the property of the water you receive and the level of contaminants it has, you will need to pick the purifier that will treat the water properly and make it safe for you and your family. There are different water purification technologies and you need to ascertain the best one for your water. There are several other factors to consider when shopping and we will discuss the most important ones as briefly as possible:

Start With Your Water Quality

As mentioned in the introductory part of this article, the perfect water purifier for you will depend on the quality of your water. This means that you will need to be sure of your water quality before making a decision. Some of the most important parameters to consider include the TDS level, hardness and salinity of the water, and biological contaminants. You need to test your water to ascertain the level of impurity.

What is TDS?

TDS stands for total dissolved solids: they are water contaminants that are larger than 2 microns. TDS principally include bicarbonates, calcium, chlorine, magnesium, potassium, sodium, sulfates, and small amounts of organic matter in water. These contaminants normally originate from natural sources or sewage. TDS should be less than 500 ppm in drinking water. The average tap water has about 1000 – 3000 ppm of TDS, making it unsafe. In addition to altering the taste of water, high TDS can cause different health issues. When there is a presence of toxic ions like lead, nitrate, cadmium and arsenic in water, the chances of health hazards are meaningfully increased.

Other Contaminants in Tap Water

Asides from the particles that constitute TDS, there are other contaminants in tap water that can cause health issues too. Notable ones include microbiological contaminants like bacteria, viruses, protozoa, cyst, etc. as well as microplastics, pesticides, perchlorate, pharmaceutical compounds, antibiotic residue and several others.

Determine the Right Type Of Water Purifier

Depending on the quality of your tap water, you need to determine the right type of water purifier that will deliver the best result. Here are the different types of water purification technologies:

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Purifiers

This is a technology that removes impurities from water by passing them through a permeable membrane to filter out the impurities. It can effectively remove dissolved salts, minerals, heavy metals, Flouride, Arsenic, and other toxic impurities. It is an ideal technology for water with a high TDS level. The only downside is that it can also remove some of the essential minerals in water if there is no TDS controller.

Ultra-Violet (UV) Technology

UV purifiers use high power UV lamps to disinfect water, removing microorganisms and pathogens that are mostly responsible for most water-borne diseases. It is a great technology for treating tap and municipal corporation water but do not remove dissolved impurities that are responsible for water hardness.

Ultra-Filtration (UF) Technology

Also referred to as gravity-based water purifiers, UF water purification systems make use of fiber membranes to eliminate suspended solids. They do not eliminate biological impurities like bacteria or pathogens, and this is a major disadvantage in areas where water-borne diseases are common.

Activated Carbon Filter

This is a special filtration system that makes use of carbon, which is highly porous. It can efficiently remove volatile organic chemicals (VOC) and other impurities like pesticides, herbicides, benzene and similar impurities. Activated carbon filter does not remove dissolved solids.

How to Select the Right Water Purifier Based On the Quality of Your Water

As we have stressed here, you should choose a water purifier according to the quality of the water you need to purify. Here are tips to make the right choice:

If the water in your home is hard and has a low TDS level, a Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purifier is the right option to select.
If after testing your water it is confirmed that it is hard and contains high TDS, you will need a water purifier that uses Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Ultra-Violet (UV) technology.
If your tap water contains traces of VOC and such other impurities like benzene, pesticides and herbicides, go for Activated Carbon Filters.
If there is a large number of biological compounds in your water or you have little children in your home, select a water purifier that features Ultra-violet technology.

Other important factors to consider when selecting the right water purifier for your home

Asides from the quality of your water, there are some other important factors to consider when you want to select a water purification system. Here are the most important ones:

Storage Capacity

The capacity of a purifier is important. You need a system that can hold enough water for your family. This means you should consider the size of your family when choosing a purifier. It will also be important to choose a system with large storage capacity if you live in an area without steady power supply. Automated water purifiers are also great options since they can start the process once the water level in the purifier gets to a certain level.

Certification

Water purifiers are important machines that will significantly help to keep you and your family healthy. You need to buy a brand that is certified to be of the right quality. There is no better way to be sure of this than looking out for certification from such bodies as NSF, WQA, ISI and CE. These certifications indicate that a brand is trustworthy.

Maintenance Requirement

You also need to be sure of the maintenance requirement of the water purifier you intend to buy. While it is important to maintain the machine, a system that requires maintenance frequently is not worth the investment. You also need to consider the after-sales services offered by the manufacturer or supplier of the purifier. Avoid a brand that has a bad reputation in terms of after-sales services.

Conclusion

The right water purifier for your home is the machine that can make your water safe. This means it must be able to eliminate the impurities. The best way to pick the perfect one is to test your water first and understand the quality. Next, consider the right type of purifier based on their strength. It is also important that you consider such other factors as water capacity and certification. By following the tips here, you will be able to find the perfect machine to make your water safer for your family.

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