Water filters are a big thing up here in Minnesota. We are considered one of the more health conscious states but, what most people don’t know, is that we’re also a pretty big farming state as well. Being so close to farmland means that the state is even testing people’s well water for free (including mine) for nitrates etc. Fortunately for me my well water was considered “safe” and also doesn’t include a lot of iron. Which is not true for many of my neighbors.
When I renovated Grandma’s house I did quite a bit of research into faucet filters, whole house filters and also water softeners. I grew up in a home with all of the above!
I hated the idea of all of them though. In a country where doctor’s are urging people to cut back on their salt intake they then proceed to go home and cover their largest organ (their skin) with salt every time they take a shower.
Most people don’t realize that water softeners use SALT to soften water. It also removes (along with most filtration systems) all of the minerals in the water.
Sure, faucets will no longer be covered with calcium build up, clothes will wash far better (no more dingy whites!) and your dishes will come out sparkling. But at what cost?
I honestly do not know the answer to that question.
My decision was that I only added a water heater to my home. Yes I get calcium build up on my faucets and my dishes generally have water spots but it was my own personal decision based on all the research google could give me.
Fortunately (as I mentioned above) I do not have a lot of iron in my water. My aunt, who lives less than a mile from me and has her own well, lives with so much iron in her water she can’t even wash her hair in it and that’s WITH a water softener!
As with everything in our lives it seems we always have a give and take decision. I am very happy with my water and fill a water bottle to take to work with me every day. My water I can live with as is and I am so relieved by that fact.
(The following is a contributed article.)
Water is one of the primary human need and the struggle to access clean and healthy water is becoming increasingly common.
With chemical seepages from landfill sites into water tables, increase in acid rains and contamination in freshwater sources such as lakes and reservoirs, most households struggle with either the water that smells or tastes awful or is too salty or high in lead, fluoride chlorine and other minerals.
Overly mineralized or salt laden water, imbalanced pH levels and other forms of contamination make such water unfit for human consumption and makes them vulnerable to diseases and weaker immune systems.
Although most people now rely on bottled water for their drinking needs, they still rely on regular tap water for cooking, bathing, and other domestic needs.
Although it is true that the process of food kills the bacteria, it cannot treat for any other forms of contamination such as lead. Moreover, hard water is also not suitable for laundry since it weakens the fiber in your garment and fades them. It can also result in yellowness of your tiles or flooring if used for cleaning.
This is why investing in a water filter can be a real lifesaver. A good water filter will not only provide you with suitable and healthy drinking water, but you will also have a reasonably fit water supply for your other domestic needs.
Interestingly, the water filtration technology has come a long way over the years, and there is a vast variety of water filtration systems available in the market. For many new buyers, it can be overwhelming to choose among the different types of filtration systems.
Here are a few things that you should know before buying a water filter so that you can make the right choice for your house.
Although the primary reason for all kinds of water filters remains the same, that is treating your water supply for contaminants, the way they work is different.
You will find, over the counter water filters, faucet water filter, under the sink filters and whole house filters and the scope of the purpose of all these systems is variable. For some people are faucet filter might work better than the over the counter filter.
You need to make sure that the screen that you are buying is fit for your needs.
Some water filters are large and may require more space than others.
For example, people who live in tiny quarters with small kitchens and limited counter space might not like the idea of over-the0counter water filters. In such cases, faucet filters would be the best since they will not use up any extra space.
Some people underestimate faucet water filters for their smaller size, but quick research on faucet water filter reviews reveal that they work equally well.
It is understandable that you will only invest in a product that fits your budget.
However, it is important for you to understand that products such as water filters do not have a one-time cost, and they need to be maintained regularly.
A water filter that cost cheaper initially might have higher maintenance costs. It is important that you take any recurring costs into account before settling on the product that you wish to buy.
(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)
Morning Tarah!
Thought you might like to know why we fitted a water softener…… We live in a hard water area (plumbers are ten a penny here!) and water tanks fill up with calcium deposits fast. If we look at any plumbers yard locally we will see loads of water tanks disgarded and full of rock hard calcium. So when we moved to this area we talked about it and took the decision to go ahead. In 16 years we have had no new tank, no clean out of CH radiators, no build up anywhere. Yes, the water softener is a salt one; yes, we do shower in that salted water – but on the other hand…….. Not enough soap to stop soap and shampoo frothing up nicely; miniscule amounts of shampoo, soap, washing machine detergents etc now used. This saves us a serious amount of money each year which is something to think about, along with reviewing the contents list of the said shampoo, soap, detergent etc! The system is not electric, which makes us feel better about energy use too. But we do have a drinking water tap which bypasses the softener, and it has a charcoal filter which removes only the “lumpy stuff”!
Thanks for posting about this though. Everything good to discuss!
Susan, thank you so much for the information! I didn’t know they even made water softeners that didn’t run on electric! When we pulled my grandparents water softener out of the house we couldn’t figure out why it weighed a TON. The bottom half of the tank was full of calcium. So that has definitely been on my mind. I have a tankless on demand water heater and have been wondering this whole time if the calcium could build up and harm it in some way… Anyway, the idea that I could just soften the water for the majority of my house and not what I’m drinking is definitely something I’m going to look into! Thank you again!
We have two whole house filters – one is charcoal and the other is white (?). Our water is chlorinated and it would sting my skin in the shower plus I didn’t like to drink it. These work really well.
I have thought about getting a water softener but didn’t want to drink all the salt and wanted the minerals in our water. I will have to think about getting one and not softening the kitchen faucet water. That’s a great idea!
Hi Willow, yep if I had chlorinated water I would definitely be filtering it! My friends in town refuse to drink their water and have talked about hauling water from my house in jugs so they have good drinking water. And now there’s a lot of talk about bottled water just being town water too and not any better for us. Its so hard to know lol
Me again, Tarah. This is how our water softener works: Water comes into house from supply. It enters the softener, which has two sections, each filled with little bead things which the gunk sticks to. It then continues on it’s way to taps, toilets, radiators, etc. This is on a constant basis. Back at the softener, when one side is full up with gunk, the central divider flips, and the little beads that are dirty are washed off ready for the next load, whilst the other side does it’s collecting work. The whole thing runs with salt blocks, which the company deliver to us when they visit to change our drinking water filter (which is charcoal) every six months.
You have to add up the cost of the water softener and the salt against how often you would have to have a new tank, have your radiators for the CH system cleaned and refilled, and of course shampoo, soap, dishwasher stuff. For us it has been worth every penny. Our first softener lasted 15 years. This year had the second one fitted. I used to buy bottled water, but here, with the charcoal filter, I no longer bother.
I’ll stop now!
Thank you Susan for so much info! I’m sure that not only me but anyone who comes down here to the comments will be glad to get that much information. I’m looking into the non electric softeners now, its definitely very cool and interesting and even looks like something I could totally install myself! Thanks again hon, have a great week!