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Whole house carbon filtration - Your First Line of Defense.
By Ginger Wakem
Water is one of the simplest substances known to man yet one of the most critical to our health and survival. It is also one of the easiest substances to contaminate.
Water has a tendency to try to dissolve a little of everything it comes in contact with, from beneficial elements to harmful chemicals, minerals and contaminates. Some of these impurities include insecticides, herbicides and poisons while others occur naturally in water. These harmful substances enter our water supplies through:
aging municipal water treatment systems,
ground water wells
internal home plumbing systems
industrial sources
farms
Technological wastes have polluted our water and could be the cause of many of our diseases. Numerous EPA regulations were developed in response to studies that found suspected cancer causing chemicals in municipal drinking water supplies. These chemicals called Trihalomethanes (THM's) have been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. THM's also include chloroform, aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, EDG, carbon tetrachloride, benzene and many others. Some THM's are formed when natural substances such as decaying leaves or sewage mix with chlorine, which is used as a disinfectant in municipal water treatment.
See: What You Don't Know About Chlorine Might Hurt You.
The public demands quality water in their homes for their families. Family's want:
Cleaner, fresher, tastier drinking and cooking water
Better tasting coffee, tea, soups and ice
Chlorine free and contaminant free showers and baths
Crystal clear water throughout their home
Objectionable taste and odors removed
Reduced maintenance costs for kitchen and bathroom fixtures caused by chlorine and chloramines.
Every year a growing number of people are turning to home water treatment systems such as the whole house carbon filter to ensure safe, clean, fresh drinking water for their families.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WHOLE HOUSE CARBON FILTRATION?
Carbon filters are among the most common home water treatment systems for problem water because of their effectiveness, ease of use and cost efficiency. A whole house carbon filter can significantly improve the quality of household water for just pennies per gallon. It is a convenient and effective means of removing offensive tastes and odors as well as a wide range of organic materials and certain hazardous contaminants. Carbon filters provide clean, fresh-tasting water that will enhance the aroma and flavor of coffee, tea, juices, soups and other drinks as well as ice cubes.
WHAT DOES A CARBON FILTER REMOVE?
Activated carbon filters effectively remove a wide range of impurities from your household water.
Health contaminants that are removed are:
Asbestos, Atrazine, Benzene, Chlorine, Cryptosporidium, Ethylene dibromide, Giardia, Herbicides, Lead, Mercury, Pesticides, Phenol, Radon, Trichloroethylene, and Trihalomethanes (THMs).
The aesthetic contaminants removed are:
taste, odor, color.
There are some types of contaminants, which cannot be removed by a whole house carbon filter such as:
calcium and magnesium, (water softener removes)
iron, (iron filter removes)
radium, (reverse osmosis removes)
ammonia, (reverse osmosis removes)
total dissolved solids, (reverse osmosis removes)
nitrates (reverse osmosis removes)
bacteria. (reverse osmosis removes)
Additionally the temperature of the water, the amount of particulate matter in it, the number and kinds of contaminants present at the contact time, acidity, and the type of carbon all affect the ability of activated carbon to remove contaminants.
HOW DOES A CARBON FILTER WORK?
Activated carbon works like a sponge attracting and holding certain chemicals as water passes through it.
Carbon is very porous and has an unusually high surface area for contaminant adsorption. A teaspoon of activated carbon has a total surface area equal to a football field.
Carbon cleans by contact time. As the water flows past the particles of carbon, the contaminant molecules spread into the pores of the carbon and stick to the internal surfaces or crevices within the carbon, which removes the contaminant from the water supply.
Other contaminants that aren't adsorbed by activated carbon may be filtered out like a strainer, which traps particles too large to pass through its openings.
It is important to first identify your specific water problem before deciding which type of carbon filter system will address those water quality issues.
HOW DO I SELECT THE PROPER WHOLE HOUSE CARBON FILTRATION SYSTEM FOR MY HOME?
Begin by having your household water tested to determine which contaminants may be present. For concerns about health-related contaminants contact your local Health Department to secure the names of state certified laboratories that can test your water. If you are concerned about aesthetic contaminants that affect the taste, smell or odor of your water, contact us for a reliable in-home test so you can determine:
The type of filtration product that best addresses your concerns but be aware that your water quality expectations may require a "systems" approach that combines several technologies.
Carefully check the products contaminants reduction capabilities, its capacity, maintenance provisions replacement or rebedding costs and warranty.
Look for certification standards.
WHAT TYPES OF CARBON FILTERS ARE THERE?
There are two types of whole house carbon filters.
Cartridge type:
Big Blue #10 & #20 Filter Housings: these versatile big blue housings are constructed of reinforced polypropylene. The larger body size (#20) allows for greater cartridge capacity, which reduces the number of housing normally required in side-by-side installations. The cap can handle high flow rates and is compatible with a broad range of chemicals. The internal port allows more liquid to pass through with minimum restriction. The replacement cartridges, which should be replaced every 6 months can be easily changed by the homeowner.
click here for photo
Tank Type:
In and Out head: a non backwashing type of filter that may need to be rebedded more often due to the buildup of contaminants inside the tank.
Timer Head: backwashes according to a clock only. It is less expensive to purchase.
Metered Head: backwashes according to water usage.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARBON?
There are many different types of carbon mineral that provide a specific service and/or filter out specific contaminants. The most common types of carbon mineral are:
Taste and Odor Carbon - City water systems:
T & O carbon is a coarser larger carbon particle, which can adsorb larger molecules like chlorine and chlorine treated by products i.e. THM's.
It is also very good at taking out man-made pollutants such as benzene, PCB's etc.
T & O carbon also has a specific adsorption rate and needs to be rebedded at a set length of time, which is dependant on the size of the pollutants.
Organic Color Removing Carbon - Well water systems
Color removing carbon is a finer grade and mesh size of carbon.
It has more surface area and adsorbs more organics because of its small particle size.
Silver Impregnation of Activated Carbon: - for part-time residents
Impedes the growth of bacteria in the mineral bed thus has Bacteriostatic properties.
Silver Impregnated carbon also has all the same properties as T & O carbon as well.
WHERE IS A WHOLE HOUSE CARBON FILTER INSTALLED?
On a municipal system, a whole house system should be installed after the water meter on the main water pipe. On a well system it should be installed after the pressure tank. The location selected should provide easy access for the maintenance of the system. Clean Water America's water systems are manufactured in Florida, for Florida weather conditions and can be safely installed outdoors. In northern climates however, water systems should be placed where they cannot freeze, such as the basement.
HOW DO I MAINTAIN A WHOLE HOUSE CARBON FILTER?
- A carbon filter loses its effectiveness as it becomes saturated with contaminants consequently the carbon needs to be replaced on a regular basis.
- Before purchasing any unit determine the approximate period of time the carbon should last and how much it should cost to replace it.
- If a filter is used longer than its rated lifetime it may cause harmful contaminants to be flushed back into the drinking water.
A fully automatic whole house carbon filter will remove contaminants and return your household water to a more healthy and enjoyable source.
CALL or CONTACT US TODAY for a free water test and a free estimate.
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