Important Things to Keep in Mind While Buying a Water Purifier

A water purifier is an investment that you should make for your health. There can be physical, chemical, and biological contaminants that can make water unfit for consumption.

Consuming such water can lead to health issues like vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, and skin and eye irritation. In addition, your utensils and clothes can get damaged when cleaned with contaminated water.

Thus, a water purifier is a must for homes and offices. But, with several types of purifier brands, models, and treatment techniques available, how do you pick the right device?

The article will look at factors that will help answer the above question.

Important Things to Keep in Mind While Buying a Water Purifier

You want to buy a water filter. Where do you begin? The below questions can help you get started.

What Contaminants are Present in Your Water?

EPA puts common water contaminants into four categories:

  • Physical
  • Chemical
  • Biological
  • Radiological

Examples of some common water contaminants are:

  • Soil
  • Sediments
  • Bleach
  • Fluoride
  • Chlorine
  • Lead
  • Pesticides
  • Bacteria
  • Parasites
  • Uranium
  • Cesium

All types of water include certain levels of contaminants, which are not harmful to healthy individuals. But if the contaminant level rises, it can lead to health issues.

You can visit your local government office or the local water company to get a report on water contaminants. You can also buy a water testing kit and find the level of contaminants for yourself.

For What Applications Do You Need a Water Purifier?

Are you planning to install a water purifier to get clean drinking water? Or do you want safe water available for many applications around the house?

The answer can help narrow down choices when exploring different water purifier types.

How Much is Your Water Consumption?

The consumption here means the amount of filtered water you will need.

For example, you live with your partner and plan to use the water purifier only to get drinking water. So, as two adults, you will need around 5 to 6 liters of drinking water daily.

But, if you need water for cooking, watering plants, cleaning utensils, and washing clothes, then water consumption significantly increases.

How Much Free Space Do You Have?

Some water purifiers are small, while others can be big and take up a lot of counter space. Then, there are filters that can be placed under the sinks.

Some advanced water purifiers come with multiple filtration systems and storage tanks.

The size of the water filter should not hamper the functionality of the kitchen or bathroom.

What are Different Types of Water Purifiers?

There are water purifiers available that suit the varying needs of customers. For example, you can use a water purifier pitcher if you want a filter only for drinking water.

Their water output is slow, but they are an affordable option for a limited application.

If you have enough space, opting for a countertop water purifier would be a good idea. You can place them in your kitchen or any other house or office area. Ease of installation and mobility are their strong points.

If you want clean water for several applications, then explore under-sink filters. They can have a complex design and installation process but offer high water filtration speed and capacity.

What are Different Water Treatment Mechanisms?

Water purifiers come with labels that tell you what type of contaminants they can protect you from. For example, ion exchange units are suitable for houses that receive hard water.

If your water tastes funny, you can look for a purifier that uses activated carbon for filtration.

Do remember to check the labels. In addition, you can look at independent studies and customer reviews to verify if the water purifier does as it claims to do.

How Much Can You Spend on a Water Purifier?

Look at the water purifier as an investment for your health. Drinking contaminated water can make you sick.

Some water purifiers can be budget-friendly, but they will require frequent maintenance. On the other hand, there are water purifiers that come with high installation costs, but they are low maintenance.

So, when setting a budget, you need to consider the cost of the water purifier, installation, and maintenance.

Summary

Test the water quality and understand your water consumption requirements before you jump into water purifiers. The quality and quantity of water needed can help narrow down choices.