Water filtration units are designed to provide cleaner, fresher and more wholesome drinking water. These systems help to remove unwanted tastes and odors, hardness and chemicals such as chlorine. They range from point of use (POU) options that attach to your tap or refrigerator and filter the water used throughout your home, to whole house systems that are installed at your main water line.

Cost

Water Filtration Units vary in cost depending on a number of factors. Geographic location can affect the cost of materials and labor. They also fluctuate based on the types of contaminants in your local area, like well water or city water.

Point-of-use filters typically cost between $150 and $1,200, while whole-house systems can range from $1,000 to $4,200. They are usually larger and work at all taps or appliances in your home to ensure clean, fresh water.

Ion exchange filters are one of the most popular types and can be found at a price range from $500 to $1,500. They use ion resin beads that undergo a chemical process to remove undesirable dissolved ions from your water.

UV filtration is another highly effective system that uses the sun’s rays to sterilize your water. It also helps to reduce harmful bacteria and viruses in your water such as e.coli, cryptosporidium, and giardia.

Chemical Reduction

Water Filtration Units systems can remove a wide variety of chemicals from water. These chemicals include nitrates, lead, chromium, chlorine, sodium, and more.

Another benefit of chemical filtration is the reduction of airborne allergens such as pollen and pet dander that can cause respiratory problems in those who suffer from allergies. It can also help improve indoor air quality and reduce the number of sick days that employees take.

The operation of chemical filters is also less energy-intensive than other filtration techniques, which can help you save money on your electricity bills and be more environmentally friendly. You may also be eligible for tax rebates or other incentives from your local government if you take steps to make your facility more sustainable.

Certifications

Water filtration units systems are designed to keep fluids like water, chemicals and gasses pure. The process involves separating solids, suspended particles, bacteria, algae, viruses, fungi and other undesirable contaminants from the liquid for a desired end product.

These systems are categorized by two types: point-of-use and whole house/point-of-entry (POE). POU systems treat the water where you use it, such as your kitchen sink or refrigerator, while POE systems treat the entire home’s piping.

There are several certifications available to help you identify the right system for your needs. One of the most common is NSF/ANSI standard 53. The standard requires a filter to reduce more than 50 specific contaminants that have a known health effect. These include lead, chromium, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and cryptosporidium bacteria.

Additionally, systems should be NSF certified to NSF/ANSI 44. This standard assesses structural integrity, material safety, reduction of hardness contaminants, accuracy of brine solution, rinse effectiveness, softening capacity and information provided to the user.

Size

Water Filtration Units come in a variety of sizes, and it’s important to choose one that is big enough for your needs. A small system won’t be able to filter your water as effectively, and it will also require more frequent replacement of the filters.

Size does matter, because it determines the flow rate and pressure of your water filtration system. A larger system will provide more gallons per minute and longer service intervals. In addition, water filtration systems often use a variety of media to remove contaminants. These media need time to flow through the system in order to become contaminate free.

If you are looking for a filter that can handle a large amount of water, you should consider the MSR Hyperflow (27 seconds, 29 strokes per liter). On the other hand, if you’re on the go and need to get your water filtered quickly, you’ll want to look at the Lifestraw Basic, which filters a liter in 37 seconds.