Six Month House Checkup: Did You Change Your Refrigerator Water Filter?
If you have been considering a water filter for your refrigerator’s water dispenser, you may be wondering if the cost is worth it. Isn’t tap water, at least in the US and other developed countries, safe to drink? Yes; the water in the US is the safest in the world, and for the most part, we are lucky enough to get clean water when we turn on our taps. But it is also true that there are contaminants that make it into our water sources. Water filters are not frivolous; they are smart buys for any home. Is your water source safe and clean? Why wonder when you can filter?
A glass of water is the perfect antidote to a hot day, a post-workout thirst, or an attack of the munchies, which is really thirst in disguise. We often add things to our water – fruit, drink mixes, tea, coffee – but there are additives that we want no part of. Mercury, lead, copper, arsenic, chlorite, bromate, and other elements can find their way into our taps as a result of natural or treatment processes. In addition, traces of pharmaceuticals and the carcinogenic chemical, Chromium-6, have been detected in water sources that serve millions of people all over the country.
A refrigerator filter can make a big difference in the quality of your water, and if peace of mind is measurable, you will surely get glassful after glassful of that. Water filters are the most cost-effective way to get clean, healthy water for your home and family. Buying bottled water is not only costly; it is not typically any cleaner or safer. In fact, a study of Washington State’s waters found that 6 sites exceeded the safety limits for arsenic. Five were bottled water companies. Many brands are simply tap water with a 1000 percent markup! With a filter that you change regularly, you can save a tremendous amount of money and ensure safer water for yourself and your family.
Refrigerator, or inline, water filters can be remarkably effective in removing contaminants or reducing them to safe levels. You need a multistage filter that works to process and treat water on different levels. Some basic models remove only chlorine, which, while it certainly does make the water taste better, doesn’t attack some of the more dangerous contaminants. Choose a filter that is designed to handle a variety of concerns.
But what contaminants are actually present in your water? In many western states, like Washington as we mentioned, water can have higher levels of arsenic, which is a naturally occurring element in groundwaters. If you live in an older home, you may have lead pipes. Your filter should be equipped to handle these challenges. You can get a water analysis or you can find a heavy-duty filter that can handle a variety of common contaminants.
Over time, sediment can build up and the filter loses its ability to clean your water. Contaminants, bacteria, and odors can overwhelm the filter and cause these elements to enter your water. This is why changing it regularly is so important.
How often should you change your filter? That depends on the amount you use it, the quality of the filter, and the amount of contaminants that it has to filter. Generally, you will want to change it every six months if you have public water. If you have a private well, you will want to change it more frequently because this water typically contains more contaminants.
The ability to improve the safety and cleanliness of our drinking water is well within our grasp – and our budgets. Don’t wonder what’s in your water; change your filter regularly and know exactly what isn’t in it.
Learn more about water filters at Water Filters Fast. Water Filters Fast provides different types of water filter including ge water filters for refrigerators to their customers.
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