Whole Toronto Home Water Filter Means Whole Family Health Protection

Chemical Soup from the City

When shopping for a water filter to provide clean drinking water in the home, few consumers consider the idea of filtering all the water that enters their Toronto homes. The common objections are that the price is too high, and that there is no need to filter water that is just being used for washing dishes or pouring down a drain. But what is often not considered is the overall benefit of using a whole house water filter to the entire family’s health.

Depending on the municipality’s treatment program, water supplied to Toronto homeowners is often heavily laden with chemicals, and has high instances of mercury, copper, and lead. Most concerned homeowners will consider a filter on the kitchen sink, or a refrigerator filter, in order to provide clean drinking water for their family. But without a whole house water filter, there are other issues to consider as well.

One of the main dangers, and most common chemical found in treated water, is chlorine. Most municipalities carefully monitor chlorine levels in water, but what may be acceptable to a municipal board could be alarming to the average citizen. Chlorine is an excellent bacteria killer, but it can also have a damaging effect on human organs. Families trying to encourage drinking more water as a health measure can be inadvertently exposing themselves to increased risk of chemical damage.

Silent Stalker in the Shower

One of the most surprising dangers is that chlorine, when heated to steam, easily vaporizes and becomes airborne. Chlorine molecules are readily absorbed by the lungs and transferred to the bloodstream. What this means is that the steam created by a hot shower, or even the dishwasher, is loaded with chlorine gas. Asthmatics and those who suffer from other respiratory illnesses may be at risk simply by enjoying a hot bath or shower.

Similarly, chlorine strips proteins from skin and hair, leaving skin dry and flaky, and hair brittle and lifeless. Think of swimming in a public pool — municipal water supplies often use the same high levels of chlorine to treat the water. A whole house water filter purifies bath and shower water the same as it does drinking water.

Your favorite clothing too, washed in harsh chemicals, can be worn out before its time. Even houseplants suffer from water that has not been filtered. The smell and taste of the water that comes out of the tap may seem inoffensive, but once you have compared it to properly filtered water, you are likely to never want to go back.

Whole House Water Filter Solution

A whole house water filter is connected directly to the source of water entering the home, also known as the point-of-entry. In this way, chlorine and other contaminants in the water are blocked before they enter the home. The filter is large and capable of filtering hundreds of gallons of water, making it unnoticeable on the line. There are two main types of whole house water filters available on the market: activated charcoal and reverse osmosis.

The advantage of an activated charcoal filter is that it filters all the water that passes through it, wasting none. Reverse osmosis utilizes a backwashing system that requires approximately a four-to-one ratio of unfiltered to filtered water, meaning higher water bills. However, reverse osmosis requires very little maintenance, whereas activated charcoal filters must be changed — usually every six months. The cost of the filters can be high, so this must be offset against regular water bills when choosing this type of whole house water filter.

Deciding on a Whole House Water Filter

Ultimately, the Toronto homeowner must investigate each whole house water filter system and decide which is best for his or her family. The main questions are: How good is the water supplied to the home, and how much water does the home use regularly? If the price of water is low in your area, then a reverse osmosis whole house water filter may be the best option. When considering an activated charcoal system, be sure to find out what is involved in changing filters — it should be an easy process that doesn’t require professional service.

Once the Toronto homeowner has addressed these points, the ideal solution will be clear. The whole house water filter may be more expensive initially than countertop or refrigerator filtration systems, but the overall benefits and low maintenance will outweigh the costs. The boost that a whole house water filter brings to your family’s health makes it an investment well worth considering.