Having a Water Filtration at Home - Is it Worth it?

Have you noticed a change of taste or difference in water pressure throughout your house?

13:39 10 February 2020

If so, it might be your water filtration. While these are only two ways to distinctly tell that something might be up with your home’s water system, they are not the only. 

In that case, you might be considering a water filtration system in your home, but are not sure where to start or what you are looking for. Not a problem as purchasing a water filtration system is something you want to have your knowledge on. 

Is owning a filtration system worth it for your home? Let us find out.

What do these systems do?

Simply put, it is all in the name. They filter water throughout your home by removing unhealthy debris or particles, as well as reducing the concentration of mineral buildup (calcium and magnesium). All of these particles pose some form of issue for either your health, your appliances, and the tubing of your homes waterways. Water filtration systems are cited as useful for things like washing clothes or doing chores as well, which is a factor in many people's decisions to install one in their homes.

What are some benefits?

The benefits of a water filtration system were mentioned briefly, but there are unique ways that these systems can help homeowners. Washing your dishes or cleaning with softer water that has been filtered leaves less streak and requires less scrubbing because the water gets it done the first time. There are also the benefits of removing mineral build up which is good for your health if you use tap water as your main source of drinking water. Briefly mentioned was the benefit to your appliances, and this is because less debris and calcium/magnesium build up flowing through a washing machine or dishwasher will result in less breakdown. Soft water is considerably better for showering too.

How much space do you need for installation?

It depends. Traditional whole home water filtration systems are much bigger because they cover an entire house's water supply, so they need a dedicated space in the home to hold them. The benefits of this kind of system is that it covers all areas of your homes water sources for filtration which is good, but the payoffs are in terms of space. If size limitations are a concern for purchasing and installing a water filtration system, then a reverse osmosis system requires significantly less space. Sometimes finding the best system for your home means being flexible in your choices, and a reverse osmosis system can be installed in spaces as small as a cupboard under a sink. They do the same job as a whole house system, except that they involve filtering at the molecular level so some people believe there is better filtering capacity. Regardless, knowing if a system is worth it can come down to space.

Maintenance and cost 

Home filtration systems are not cheap, per se, but they are also not budget breakingly expensive either. The reverse osmosis system is considered a cheaper alternative because it has a much quicker installation time, takes up less space, and requires little maintenance. Whole home filtration systems cover all of your house, but the maintenance is much more extensive because of this fact. If anything did need repair or upkeep, it would likely cost you more. When considering a water filtration system for your house these are things you need to consider if it is worth it.

What else should you know?

Most of the information on water filtration systems has been covered, but there are some side notes for further consideration. Water filtration systems can remove all fluoride from your water, which is a cleaning agent that is actually beneficial for your teeth, and this is something that you cannot change. Once again, installation for a whole home system is very expensive. Some older homes cannot accommodate these systems either. 

Before purchasing or installing anything in your home, you want to do the adequate amount of research so you know what you are getting yourself into. Big purchases for homes require a lot of work, and a water filtration system is no exception. The biggest question before committing to an upgrade to your home is whether or not it is worth it. Frankly, a home water filtration system is worth it. While it does come with some potential cons, the pros outweigh this in terms of health benefits, less use of water, better water pressure, and many more noticeable changes to your lifestyle.