Why Is a Home Filtration System Better Than the Cartridge in My Fridge?

Consider how much you and your family depend on water. Fresh, pure water is an absolute necessity for bathing, cleaning, cooking and drinking. Yet, many homeowners struggle daily with poor water quality.  Not only can water quality issues impact the color, taste and smell of the water you use, they can also pose potential health risks and damage plumbing and household fixtures.

Many believe that by simply maintaining the cartridge in their refrigerator’s water dispenser, they can eliminate any risks or issues caused by poor water quality. While a refrigerator cartridge filter, or a filter pitcher for that matter, can help eliminate some contaminants, they do not filter out everything nor do they address the water that flows from your home’s other taps. To obtain the highest quality water in your home, your best bet is a whole house water filtration system that filters water from every water source in the house. In fact, there are some significant benefits in investing in a home filtration system.

Chlorine Levels in the Water

Chlorine has been added to drinking water since the early 1900s, and we continue to rely upon chlorine to purify water and to kill off waterborne pathogens. In fact, the United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world, largely to do with added chlorine. Without it, there would be far more cases of salmonella, cholera and other life-threatening diseases.

Yet, there are also negative effects of chlorine when it is added to tap water. There is increasing evidence that long-term drinking of chlorinated water may increase a person’s risk of developing some forms of cancer (source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute).

Many homeowners are also surprised to learn that chlorine commonly found in tap water, including water filtered by refrigerator cartridge filters, is released into the air when taps are turned on. It can actually aggravate allergies and asthma in some individuals. Chlorine in water can also embed in clothing and add to soap scum on dishes. With a home filtration system, the chlorine and other chemicals are removed when they first enter the plumbing system which minimizes chlorine fumes from circulating throughout a home.

Mineral Deposits

Hardness of Water across the country.

In many parts of the United States, tap water has a high volume of mineral deposits. This is commonly referred to as hard water. This common problem can lead to a variety of problems with your plumbing system and appliances. Minerals can clog pipes, restrict water flow and cause film and scale to build up on bathroom and kitchen tile fixtures, as well as on glasses and dishes. Hard water can also lead to scale deposits that can shorten the life of water heaters.

While a whole house water softener is the gold standard fix for mineral deposits, a home filtration system can also be beneficial.  Because cartridge filtration is limited to the water that comes from your refrigerator, it does little to correct the problem of hard water that can impact all areas of the house.

Taste and Smell

There are many things that can impact drinking water taste and smell. It can be everything from chemicals used to treat drinking water to environmental contaminants or even high concentrations of metal from old plumbing pipes. For example, hydrogen sulfide can produce a rotten egg smell in water. A metallic taste and smell indicates the possibility of mercury, lead, arsenic or iron in the water supply.

Unfortunately, refrigerator water filters do little to filter out dissolved solids that are left in the water after normal treatment. A home filtration system can help to remove the contaminants before they enter your faucet, enabling you to have better tasting and smelling water throughout your home.

Cost-Savings

Like with any home upgrade, a home filtration system is an investment. Yet, it can help you save substantially over the long term, especially when you compare it to the price of bottled water. It’s estimated that a home filtration system can save the average homeowner $700 per year when compared to buying bottled water. And, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the quality of water from home filtration systems is often far purer than bottled water.

Home Value

While there’s plenty to be gained from enjoying quality water from a home filtration system, there is also value when you decide to sell your home.  A professionally installed system is a selling feature that homebuyers appreciate and will pay for. You simply won’t get this boost in home value from having replaced the filter in your refrigerator water dispenser.

Choosing the Right Home Filtration System

There are a variety of home water filtration systems available on the market, and it can be challenging to determine which one offers the level of purification you need. Your best bet is to contact an expert who can evaluate your home’s water and make recommendations based upon the current quality. With the right system, you can expect to have clean, clear, great tasting water that is free from contaminates and chemicals.

Want to learn more about home filtration for your home? Contact the experts at Horizon Plumbing. We’re here to help with all of your water filtration and plumbing needs.

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