Water Filter Questions – We have the answers!

Table Of Contents

• 1 1. What is the best water filter?

• 2 2. Are water filters worth it?

• 3 3) What is a water filter?

• 4 4) What is the best water filtering system?

• 5 5) What makes people purchase water filters?

• 6 6) Are Brita water filters a scam?

• 7 7) What do water filters filter out?

• 8 8) Should I buy a water filter? If yes, which brand?

• 9 9) How do I tell if a water filter needs replacing?

• 10

• 11 10 ) How does charcoal filter water?

• 12 11) How does water filter replacement indicator work?

• 13 12) How effective are water filter pitchers?

• 14 13) What is the best tap water filter?

• 15 14) What is the best home water filter system under $400?

• 16 15) When do I change a Samsung refrigerator water filter?

• 17 16) How often do you change a whole house water filter?

• 18 17) What whole house water filter should I get?

• 19 18) Do water filters work?

• 20 19) How do I save and reuse the “waste water” from my water filter?

• 21 21) Why is there green slime in my water filter container long before the water filter is due to be changed?

• 22 22) Are tap water filters effective?

• 23 23) Why was the water filtered to remove debris and living organisms?

• 24 24) How can I find good replacement refrigerator water filters?

• 25 25) How long do water filter cartridges last?

• 26 26) What contaminants does a carbon water filter not eliminate?

• 27 27) Which water filter filters out the most contaminants from drinking water?

• 28 28) How can I make a water filter?

• 29 29) Which kind of water filter do you carry when you go camping?

• 30 30) What is the best water filter for camping?

• 31 31) What is the lifetime of a reverse osmosis water filter?

• 32

• 33 32) What are the best shower water filters’ features?

• 34 33) Does a reverse osmosis water filter remove chlorine from water?

• 35 34) Do you need to run water filters for a while before drinking the water? How long?

• 36 35) Do Brita water filters really need to be changed often, or is that primarily marketing?

• 37 36) What type of water filter do you use for drinking?

1. WHAT IS THE BEST WATER FILTER?

At present, the APEC Top Tier 5-Stage filtration system outshines most of the devices in terms of performance. The presence of both; activated carbon and reverse-osmosis eliminates 99.9% of contaminants, making it highly efficient in what filters supposed to do. Also, it is suitable for both well and tap water.

2. ARE WATER FILTERS WORTH IT?

Undoubtedly, they are worth it, depending on their quality. Some of the best ones can remove contaminants to near perfection. They make water safer to drink; otherwise, you’d be prone to lethal waterborne diseases.

3) WHAT IS A WATER FILTER?

Simply put, it is a device to clean water and toss out the undesirable contaminants using a media or chemical substance. They are mainly classified into two types; chemical filters and physical filters.

In physical filtration, impurities are filtered out or strained with the help of different physical media, for instance, sand, gravel, paper, mesh screens, etc. while chemical filtration is when the impurities are removed chemically with the help of an active substance.

Reverse osmoses, activated carbon, ion change, and distillation are four common types of filtration used nowadays.

4) WHAT IS THE BEST WATER FILTERING SYSTEM?

The best filtration system is the one that removes contaminants to near perfection. There are filters available in the market that can discard up to 99.99% of harmful impurities. And only Reverse osmosis filter systems are powerful enough to give this perfect figure efficiently — they remove most of the dust, sand, mud, heavy metals, pesticides, chlorine, herbicides, fluoride, paint, and other hazardous chemicals.

Additionally, the rate of filtration should also be high enough for your everyday usage, and the unit should be easy to maintain. Otherwise, the frequent replacement of cartridges, which is an indispensable requirement for most filters, would be a great hassle.

5) WHAT MAKES PEOPLE PURCHASE WATER FILTERS?

People purchase water filters to prioritize their health. As water naturally contains dust, minerals, heavy metals, chemicals, microbes, and other substances, so there is a dire need to remove these impurities before consumption.

Moreover, your municipality water contains high levels of chlorine as a disinfectant, giving out unbearable stench and taste. It can be treated by purchasing a water filter.

6) ARE BRITA WATER FILTERS A SCAM?

The word “Scam” holds a lot of weight, and we’re not really sure if that defines Brita. Their filters certainly do what the company claims, but they are overpriced. You can get the same level of filtration at a relatively lower price on the market.

The reason people think they are a scam because they start to expect too much because of the high price. They are designed with charcoal filters having the sole purpose of removing odor and taste contaminants, including chlorine, sulfides, etc. Contrarily to what people have been expecting, they do not remove lead, arsenic, iron, bacteria or other microbes and heavy metals.

7) WHAT DO WATER FILTERS FILTER OUT?

Well, that depends on what type of shower head filter you’re using. But on the whole, filters filter out all sorts of heavy metals; lead, mercury, arsenic, manganese, iron, copper, and sediments; dust, mud, debris, sand, silicates while activated carbon filters can treat the strong stench and odor by eliminating chlorine, fluorides, and sulfates from water.

However, most of the filters do not eliminate microbes, bacteria, and protozoa. For them, you’d have to look for purifiers.

8) SHOULD I BUY A WATER FILTER? IF YES, WHICH BRAND?

Whether you need it or not depends on the ratio of contaminants in your water. So, you’d have to go for a water test — for that; you can either contact a professional or do it yourself using water testing strips. They have a special coating that, when dipped in water indicates the presence of impurities by changing hues.

In the case of contaminants, we would recommend you to choose either APEC or Aquasana water filters. Both own strong filtration and have pretty innovative designs. Ispring is another dominant name in the filter community. They offer remarkable water solutions along with commercial and domestic systems model.

9) HOW DO I TELL IF A WATER FILTER NEEDS REPLACING?

Some manufacturers have introduced indicators in some of their filters to notify. But in case there are none, you have to watch out for these signs.

• • The emergence of normal than usual black flecks in the water.

  • Filtration limit has crossed — every filter has an expected filtration limit, so it is only wise to change them right after it hits.

  • Chlorine and other chemicals start to deposit, and a jarring stench rises.

  • The water starts to look different.

  • It tastes different than usual.

  • During the filtration, the filters make a weird noise.

10 ) HOW DOES CHARCOAL FILTER WATER?

Unlike regular filter media, charcoals bind impurities to their surfaces chemically rather than straining them. But once too many impurities are removed and occupy the surface, the filter needs to replaced. Otherwise, your water will be swamped with undesirable chemicals.

11) HOW DOES WATER FILTER REPLACEMENT INDICATOR WORK?

Not all indicators work on the same principle. Some works similar to a stopwatch and beeps when the expected filtration time has passed. They work on batteries, and when they run out of charge, they never indicate. Therefore, you can’t rely on these indicators.

The second type utilizes resistors to notify you. The filters are embedded with pressure gauges, and when minerals deposit, they sense a change in pressure; thus, the clogging sets off an alarm. After replacing the parts, the pressure becomes stable again, and the indicator light stops blinking.

12) HOW EFFECTIVE ARE WATER FILTER PITCHERS?

That depends on how you define “effectiveness.” For instance, some people highly expect them to remove all the contaminants, including heavy metals. But they are not designed for that. Pitchers can only remove some sediments, chlorine, and other chemicals that give rise to nasty stench and taste. They are good enough at what they designed to do, but they’re not efficient filters overall. Therefore, keep your expectations realistic if you’re going for a pitcher.

13) WHAT IS THE BEST TAP WATER FILTER?

Out of many, we considered iSpring DF2-CHR Filter to be the most preferable. The reason being its high-grade filtration and endurance. It can successfully eliminate almost all heavy metals, chemicals, and other irritants that can trigger allergic reactions. Moreover, it can withstand extremely hot water which doesn’t mess up its performance. Plus, it has a high filtration rate, and it’s leak-proof.

On the con side, the filter doesn’t remove fluoride. However, it doesn’t create a problem unless there is a huge amount of fluoride in the water.

14) WHAT IS THE BEST HOME WATER FILTER SYSTEM UNDER $400?

Under that price, it would be hard to find a suitable option. The lower the price, the worse will be the quality. Out of all the options, we believe Home Master HMF2SMGCC is the lesser evil. It has sufficient filter capacity and has overall good reviews. But still, if you want an effective system, you’d have to save a little bit more to enjoy the ultimate filtration.

15) WHEN DO I CHANGE A SAMSUNG REFRIGERATOR WATER FILTER?

That entirely depends on your usage. For a family of four, it is recommended to replace it every six months. However, you’d have to change it more often if you’re a bigger family. These filters don’t usually have indicators. Therefore, you might need to set up a reminder on the calendar.

16) HOW OFTEN DO YOU CHANGE A WHOLE HOUSE WATER FILTER?

These filters work twice as much as your regular Samsung refrigerator filters, so they need to be changed more often. But again, the frequency depends entirely upon your usage. On average, you would need to replace them every three to six months. Unlike refrigerator filters, they have built-in indicators to notify you when the system is clogged. But still, watch out for potential signs of filter malfunction.

17) WHAT WHOLE HOUSE WATER FILTER SHOULD I GET?

Aquasana EQ-1000 has all the traits of being the best whole house water filter. It is efficient at dealing with chlorine — the company claims it removes 96.9% of it. Not just chlorine, but it also filters out most of the heavy metals, sediments, and hazardous organic matter. Best of all, the filter is outfitted with ultra-violet technology; in simpler words, it can remove protozoa, viruses, and all kinds of bacteria which a regular device can’t filter. The resultant water will be devoid of all sorts of harmful substances and much safer to consume.

Moreover, its unrivaled durability makes it more preferable. The manufacturers give out a 10-year warranty and claim it will last even longer.

On the con side, the device isn’t easy to install, and you may need a professional to install it. Plus, it may not remove some of the heavy metals every time.

18) DO WATER FILTERS WORK?

They are effective but not 100%. Filters can only get rid of substances like heavy metals, debris, sediments, and some chemicals. But do not discard microorganisms, including viruses, protozoa, bacteria, and other pathogens. Therefore, water processed through filters might still have a considerable number of waterborne diseases. For a safer outcome, you might want to check out water purifiers. They eliminate not only metals, sediments, and chemicals but also microbes.

19) HOW DO I SAVE AND REUSE THE “WASTE WATER” FROM MY WATER FILTER?

As underwater reservoirs are depleting at an unimaginable rate and water scarcity is becoming a global issue; therefore, every drop counts. However, filters, especially the reverse osmosis filters, waste a good deal of water. You can reuse that water you thought you couldn’t utilize anymore. Here are a few ways in which you can:

• • If the percentage of sodium salt is less than 60% and the levels of TDS are low, then it can be utilized for watering plants.

  • A normal car wash session requires fourteen liters of water. Instead, you can use the waste water from that filter if the TDS level is under 1500 PPM.

  • You can use it to mop the floor.

  • You can even wash your utensils with it.

  • You can clean your toilets with them.

  • How does a whole home water filter work?

Every water source, whether it is groundwater or municipality water, it contains some level of impurities, including metals, sediments, and chemicals. The whole home water filters remove these impurities from the source of the waterline, and the filtered water is then redirected to your kitchen, bathroom, and other areas. The capacity that they filter varies from model to model, but on average, they can filter up to 50,000, which is more than enough for a family of four.

21) WHY IS THERE GREEN SLIME IN MY WATER FILTER CONTAINER LONG BEFORE THE WATER FILTER IS DUE TO BE CHANGED?

That green slime is most likely algae. It does not usually appear inside the water where water is running continuously, but that doesn’t mean it can’t. The tap water, having chlorine, can’t sustain these plants, but once the water is free of such chemicals, algae make its way. It can outgrow on anything, where there is an energy or light source and moisture. If your water filter has a transparent casing, the growth of these plants will accelerate. Therefore, the best way to avoid this contamination is by replacing the filter and then covering it with an opaque covering.

22) ARE TAP WATER FILTERS EFFECTIVE?

Again, that depends on what do you mean by “effective.” If it means making water 100% safe, then No! But do they effectively do what they are supposed to? Yes! These filters have activated carbon that removes contaminants effectively. They can even treat bad odor and taste by removing chlorine and other chemicals. However, they are not manufactured for removing viruses from water. Your water would still have harmful disease-causing viruses and bacteria after getting through these filters.

23) WHY WAS THE WATER FILTERED TO REMOVE DEBRIS AND LIVING ORGANISMS?

There are many reasons why water is filtered. Here are some of the major ones:

• • Debris and dust are made up of tiny minerals, glass particles, human skin, dead cells, and other matter. Once consumed, they can trigger an immune system reaction and allergies.

  • Metals like lead, arsenic, iron, copper, chromium, zinc, and others can trigger heavy metal poisoning. It can lead to abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and weakness. That’s why they are removed.

  • The reason viruses and bacteria are removed because they cause serious diseases like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, meningitis, dysentery, polio, diarrhea, and many other gastrointestinal diseases.

24) HOW CAN I FIND GOOD REPLACEMENT REFRIGERATOR WATER FILTERS?

The market is saturated with impressive filtration technology. You’d be easily able to find a food replacement. But you would need some key elements to keep in mind. The filter should be fine enough to remove 99% contaminants, including all kinds of heavy metals. Plus, it should be able to treat chlorine and other distasteful chemicals. We’d recommend you purchase the Samsung Genuine DA29-00020B filter, which possesses all the traits mentioned above.

25) HOW LONG DO WATER FILTER CARTRIDGES LAST?

The cartridge lifespan depends on your usage. For a family of four, it should be replaced every six months. However, some high-end filters can even last up to for a year. But they cost a fortune.

26) WHAT CONTAMINANTS DOES A CARBON WATER FILTER NOT ELIMINATE?

Activated carbon filters remove substances from water by absorbing or, in simple words, by binding the contaminants to its surface. The minerals and substances that do not stick remains in the water — that includes heavy metals, lead, arsenic, copper, iron, chromium, manganese, etc. and heavy water minerals, such as; salts, nitrates, etc. Moreover, these filters also ignore harmful microbes, including bacteria, protozoa, and viruses.

27) WHICH WATER FILTER FILTERS OUT THE MOST CONTAMINANTS FROM DRINKING WATER?

Any filter that has reverse osmosis filters out 99% of the contaminants from water. It works on the principle of removing impurities having a smaller size than water molecules. This technology successfully filters all heavy metals, minerals, sediments, and chemicals. Furthermore, they can also toss out microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, making the water as safe as possible. Because of their ultimate filtration, they are used everywhere; at domestic and commercial setups.

28) HOW CAN I MAKE A WATER FILTER?

You might have seen in movies how some survival skills, including making filters from scratch, can save one’s life. Here’s how you can make one at home by following these simple steps:

• • Get a plastic water bottle and cut its bottom off.

  • Make a hole in the cap using a sharp object.

  • Layer 1: Place a thin fabric as the bottom-most layer of the filter.

  • Layer 2: Next break some charcoal into fine pieces and place it in the bottle, keeping it a few inches thick.

  • Layer 3: Place a fine layer of sand. But make sure there are no visible contaminants in it.

  • Layer 3: Pour a thick layer of coarse sand.

  • Layer 4: Again, a layer of fine sand.

  • Layer 5: Put up huge gravel pieces to stop bigger particles from escaping.

  • Filter the water as many times you want, and each time the water will get clearer.

29) WHICH KIND OF WATER FILTER DO YOU CARRY WHEN YOU GO CAMPING?

Lifestraw Personal Filter is what you carry when you go camping. The device can filter up to 0.2 microns and can discard heavy metals, minerals, chemicals, sands, and other sediments. It can also filter bacteria and protozoa but, unfortunately, not viruses. It is pretty lightweight, and carrying it around, won’t be much of a hassle.

30) WHAT IS THE BEST WATER FILTER FOR CAMPING?

Lifestraw Personal Filter is the filter you can get for camping. With this straw, you can drink water directly from puddles, waterfalls, rivers, and lakes without having to consume any contaminants. It filters particulates efficiently with its 0.2-micron mesh screen.

31) WHAT IS THE LIFETIME OF A REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER FILTER?

Lifespan depends upon the quality of the filter and the water usage. On the whole, they are pretty low-maintenance gadgets and only require replacement once every 12 to 36 months. In comparison to regular filters, they last twice as much.

32) WHAT ARE THE BEST SHOWER WATER FILTERS’ FEATURES?

A good shower water filter should be able to remove all water pollutants lurking inside — including heavy metals, sediments, and chemicals, especially lead, which can trigger serious neurological issues in humans. It should also remove the lingering smell and taste.

33) DOES A REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER FILTER REMOVE CHLORINE FROM WATER?

These filters itself cannot remove chlorine. However, these filters are embedded with special activated carbon filters that bind chlorine to their surfaces. They can eliminate 99% chlorine from water. In case your reverse osmosis filter does not incorporate a carbon filter, you’d have to buy one to get rid of chlorine separately.

34) DO YOU NEED TO RUN WATER FILTERS FOR A WHILE BEFORE DRINKING THE WATER? HOW LONG?

That depends on the quality of the filter. For instance, cheaper ones will drop shredded pieces of carbon into the supply. Leave the water for five minutes to make it safer to consume. But charcoal isn’t bad for your health; therefore, you can consume it either way.

35) DO BRITA WATER FILTERS REALLY NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN, OR IS THAT PRIMARILY MARKETING?

They actually need to be changed. These filters incorporate small pieces of carbon, which removes contaminants mostly chlorine by binding it to their surface. But there is a limit to that after that carbon becomes saturated with contaminants and can’t work efficiently. And being small, they get saturated faster, so they need replacement more often.

36) WHAT TYPE OF WATER FILTER DO YOU USE FOR DRINKING?

You can a bunch of options to choose from:

• • Activated carbon filters

  • Water ionizers

  • Reverse osmosis filters

  • Infrared filters

  • UV filters

We would recommend you to purchase a reverse osmosis filter having an activated carbon media as well. This way, you can get rid of all the contaminants.