
What Type of Filtration System is Best?

Get answers to your questions about water filtration.
Have you considered investing a water filtration system but aren’t sure which one to purchase? Below is information on the different types of water filtration to help you make an informed decision.
Activated Carbon Filter
Carbon filtering is a processing technique that, using chemical adsorption, utilizes an activated carbon surface to extract contaminants and impurities. Each carbon particle or granule offers a big surface area or pore framework that extracts contaminants through chemical absorption. One gram of activated carbon exceeds 3,000 m2 (32,000 sq ft) of surface area.
Activated carbon works through a method called chemical absorption through which pollutant particles are drawn into the carbon substratum's pore framework and then cleaned by fluid. Carbon filtering is widely used for water cleansing, air filtering, and agricultural gas processing. It is also used in a variety of other applications, like respirator helmets, sugarcane purification, and gold and silver regeneration. It is also used in filters for cigarettes and in automobiles.
A whole house water filtration system provides clean water at every sink in the home, showers, and all other appliances that require water. This provides maximum health benefits for the entire family on every level, since water is absorbed through the skin (during bathing and washing).
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis removes certain contaminants when the water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane, separating out specific pollutants, which are then flushed down the sink. A retaining tank collects the purified drinking water that is then redirected into your faucet or refrigerator lines.
Alkaline/Water Ionizers
Alkaline/water ionizer water filtration systems used a process called electrolysis to filter your drinking water. Water is passed over electrically charged plates, dividing it into two streams of water, one of which is alkaline and one is acidic. Alkaline water is better for your hair and skin, but this process does not kill bacteria or remove contaminants, so this method is not optimal for those looking for pure drinking and bathing water.
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet (UV) lights pierce hazardous pathogens in the water of your home and kill microorganisms that cause disease by targeting their DNA nuclei. This eliminates their capacity to replicate remarkably. UV water filtration systems kill 99.99% of hazardous bacteria without incorporating chemicals or altering the flavor or smell of your water. UV water filtration systems are recommended for house owners who are concerned only about E. coli, cryptosporidium, giardia, or other kinds of hazardous bacteria.
However, ultraviolet light water filtration alone itself is not enough to purify water for the purpose of drinking. Why? Because UV radiation is only effective for decontaminating water of bacteria and viruses. Ultraviolet light does not eliminate contaminants such as chlorine, heavy metals and VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). This is why UV systems are typically paired with reverse osmosis systems.
Infrared Water Filter
Infrared water filters use heat and light to negatively charge the water. This process softens the water while purifying it. However, this process does not kill bacteria or remove contaminants, which is why these are paired with reverse osmosis filtration systems.
Best Two Types of Water Filtration
The two best types of water filtration systems are activated carbon filtration and reverse osmosis, both of which remove the highest number of contaminants while killing bacteria. Activated carbon filtration systems are the most cost-effective of the two, and are low-to-no maintenance, providing long term effectiveness and high customer satisfaction.
How Big of a Filtration System Do I Need?
If you cannot afford a whole house water filtration system, there are pitcher options and sink options available for you. It’s better to filter only your drinking and cooking water than to not filter your water at all. While Charlotte area drinking water passes potable drinking water standards, the EPA has identified several contaminants that are found at concerning levels, including chlorine byproducts that are now recognized as low-level carcinogenic agents.
Well water is completely unregulated and may contain bacteria and contaminants.
All Charlotte area residents are advised to get your water tested and, at the very least, filter your drinking and cooking water. Since contaminants can be absorbed through the skin, it’s best to invest in a whole house water filtration system if it fits into your budget.
Our Top Choice: Pelican Carbon Series
Here at E.R. Services, our top choice is the Pelican Carbon Series whole house water filtration system. The Pelican Carbon Series holds 600,000 – 1, 0000,000 gallons of water. Their parts are all top of the line, and it comes with a lifetime parts warranty. Better yet, the Pelican water filtration system doesn’t require maintenance, and our customers always provide amazing feedback after we install the Pelican water filtration system. Customers report that in addition to improvement in water taste, smell and purity, they also saw improvements in their skin and hair, and the installation was quick and easy.
Looking for a Charlotte Water Filtration System?
If you are interested in a whole house water filtration system, call us. We are happy to talk to about what whole house water filtration system is best for you.
Article Summary
Quick question & answer: What types of water filtration systems are available?
There are several types of water filtration systems. Carbon filtering utilizes an activated carbon surface to extract contaminants and impurities. Reverse osmosis gets rid of contaminants by forcing water through a semipermeable membrane, separating out pollutants. Alkaline/water ionizers use electrolysis to filter drinking water. Ultraviolet lights kill disease-causing microorganisms by targeting their DNA nuclei.