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You may have just started looking into water
filtration options, or maybe you’ve been researching your options for the
past few weeks and are starting to consider what exactly the process might
cost you when you finally make the switch to filtered water. Whatever your
situation, water filtration is an important step you should take in
maintaining the health and welfare of your family. Today’s water supply is
swarming with the left over metals of so many pipe systems and treatment
facilities, and the pesticides and chemicals pumped into drinking water to
make it safe. It should be well worth the cost to make sure those chemicals
don’t enter your bodies.
Smaller Options
Water filtration does not have to be a major operation, nor does it have to
be incredibly expensive. For those merely looking to clean up their daily
drinking water, or possibly their showering water, there are relatively
inexpensive filtration options available. These smaller models are designed
to be easy to install, minimize intrusion into your space and daily routine,
and relatively simple to upkeep.
1. Countertop Water Filters
Starting on your countertop you can make very simple choices that will help
to filter the water supply that you depend on every day to keep you healthy.
These simple water filtration units are often attached to the area around
your sink and by taking the water from the faucet and filtering it, you’ll
find the water has been cleaned of most contaminates. Drinking
Water Filters will often require less maintenance and replacement parts
than larger filters and can have much higher capacity over time.
When choosing a water filter for your drinking water, you’ll find that the
price does range substantially depending upon what size and level of
efficiency you want in your filter. Looking for a quality countertop water
filter, you’ll spend about $100-$150 before related maintenance costs.
Of course, with any water filter, you must also consider the cost of
maintenance over time. You will be looking at new filters every six months
to a year or so as well as the added cost of maintenance per gallon of
water. Replacement cartridges range in price, but will often cost you
between $40 and $70, while the actual cost per gallon of maintaining your
drinking water filter is slightly below ten cents per gallon. Compare that
to the overall cost of bottled water though, usually upwards of $3-4 per
gallon and you are cutting away a major daily expense.
2. Under Sink Water Filters
There are numerous options available for your drinking water filtration in
the kitchen. You can easily install a countertop system for a decent price.
However, for those looking to keep their water filter out of sight and out
of mind, a $50 or so conversion kit will put that water filter beneath the
sink instead.
Sitting atop your sink, right alongside your current faucet is another
faucet, attached to your filter system through special hoses. When thinking
of price, the under the sink model is directly on par with the counter top
water filter because it is essentially the same thing with a few extra parts
thrown in for the conversion.
Water filters will still cost you between $40 and $70 and the cost per
gallon is still slightly below ten cents. The only other costs you might
incur are related to the cosmetic appeal of your filter system. If you
decide you would like a nicer faucet, your options are not limited, with
larger and more aesthetically appealing models selling for an additional $50
to $100.
3. Shower Water Filters
Your shower water can be just as chock full of unwanted pesticides and
chemicals as your drinking water and if you’ve ever spent any time in a
public pool you know how little you enjoy chlorine in your hair. Home shower filters are designed to fix just that, overcoming the pitfalls of
tap water in the shower for a fairly decent price.
A shower water filter will cost a relatively small amount in the long run,
considering what you’re getting in return. Right off the bat, the filter
costs around $75-$100. For that you will receive six months worth of clean,
filtered shower water.
After the six months is up, you’ll need to replace the filter, which in and
of itself will cost you between $40 and $60. The filters are designed to
last six months and so are only a twice a year investment.
Like any other filtration system, you will have to deal with maintenance and
upkeep fees, in this case running around twenty cents a day, depending upon
how many showers, how many people, and how long your showers are each day.
Larger Options
4. Whole House Water Filtration
For those that have decided that they want every ounce of water in their
home to be filtered each and every day, not only as a necessary health
endeavor for your family but because it is a more financially viable
solution than bottled water, whole house water filter units are the best choice you can make.
First off, by purchasing a whole house unit, you’re eliminating the need to
purchase separate units for your shower and your drinking water. Not only
that, but now you’re filtering the water that washes your clothes, dishes
and pets as well.
A whole house water filter will require a decent initial investment, but the
long term benefits derived from having one of these units are easily worth
it. The unit itself will cost between $650 and $1000 and because of the size
and nature of the filter itself, it is recommended that a professional
install it. At typical plumbers’ rates, that might cost another $300 or so.
But after that initial investment, you’re looking at a system that will
cleanse every ounce of water that enters your home, and with filters that
last for upwards of 3 years between replacements, the $600 cost of that
replacement filter works out to less than 60 cents a day for clean, filtered
water for everyone in your family
The Bottom Line
Filtered water is almost a necessity these days. From chlorine to lead and
copper, our water is brimming with contaminants picked up in water treatment
facilities every day. Bottled water is one of the biggest industries around
these days for that reason, but at a dollar a bottle, it can add up very
quickly. Filtration systems are simple and relatively inexpensive
installations that offer months of fresh, clean water for your entire
household.
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