Not every home or family needs a whole-house water filtration system. If that were the case, new homes would be built with them, and there would be local codes providing minimum standards.
Then there are homes where water filtration would be helpful and, in some cases, downright essential. How do you know if your home falls into this group?
Here are 5 key indicators.
1. The water tastes bad.
One sign indicating you may need a filtration system is water that tastes “funny.” While municipal water systems do a good job of removing impurities and toxins, some water simply doesn’t taste good despite their best efforts. Sure, your water may be safe for consumption, but a high mineral content can make it taste less-than refreshing. A carbon filtration system installed at the sink can remedy the situation.
2. Your clothes don’t get clean.
You’ve tried every detergent on the shelf and every laundry hack in the book, but your clothes still look dingy. It might not be the detergent or the appliance but rather the water. Water that is high in iron can leave a rusty-hue while hard water can make clothes look dingy and dull. In this case, a whole-house filter may be the solution. Installed on the main water supply line, it will remove iron, minerals, sediment, and more, for cleaner laundry and better tasting water.
3. Too much elbow grease.
If you feel like you’re constantly battling soap scum, soap residue, and dirt, you may have hard water. High levels of magnesium and calcium prevent soaps, detergents, and other cleaners from cutting through the dirt and grime and rinsing away clean. That’s when you find yourself using more cleaners while scrubbing harder. Hard water can also wreak havoc on water-using appliances. A whole-house water filtration system can remove hard water minerals and make cleaning less of a chore.
4. Your home was built before 1986.
That was the year when lead was banned from water supply lines. If your home was built before 1986, lead could still be contaminating your water if your pipes have not been replaced. A known toxin, lead is particularly harmful to children under 6 years old. Lead can easily be removed with an under-the-sink RO (reverse osmosis) filter. Another indicator of lead contamination is hot water with a red or brownish hue.
5. You have well water.
In most cases, private wells produce perfectly clean, great tasting water. However, pesticides, industrial waste, radon, and other contaminants can do more than foul the taste of your water or make cleaning more difficult – they can prove harmful to your health. If you have well water, you should have it tested at least once a year – even if you experience no detectable signs of contamination.
In and all around Jasper, one company stands tall in home water filtration – Messmer Mechanical. We are water treatment specialists with the right solution for every home and every problem water situation. If you see signs indicating water filtration might be beneficial, or even if you just want to be sure, contact Messmer today to schedule a water quality analysis.