How to Choose the Right Water Filter Cartridge for Your Home

Choosing the right water filter cartridge is important to ensure that there is clean and safe water in your house. Since various cartridges are available, it is not always easy to know which one will suit you. This includes important topics that will guide you to use various filter materials and detect the right time to change your cartridges.

Understanding Different Filter Media: Activated Carbon vs. Sediment

It’s necessary to know the main types of filter media and how they operate before picking a water filter cartridge. The most common kinds are activated carbon and sediment filters.

Activated Carbon Filters

Because they are effective in removing impurities that affect water’s taste and smell, activated carbon filters are in popular demand. Contaminants in the water are removed by adsorption, in which they attach to the surface of the activated carbon. Activated carbon is effective because it has a very large surface that can trap chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and various pesticides.

One of the biggest benefits of activated carbon filters is that they make water taste and smell better. They are useful in places where chlorine or organic chemicals are at higher levels in the water. Nevertheless, they have some challenges in getting rid of heavy metals, microbes and mineral salts.

Sediment Filters

Sediment filters work by taking out sand, silt and rust from the water you are using. They are often formed from pleated polyester or polypropylene which act as real barriers against these small particles. Filters are most beneficial for houses that draw water from a well or have pipes that are already old, since these can release a lot of debris.

Although sediment filters are great at catching particles, they do not get rid of chemicals, bacteria or microorganisms. Usually, they function as the first step in several-stage filters, pairing up with other filters such as activated carbon or reverse osmosis.

When you know what makes a filter different from the other, you will choose the best one for your home. A lot of the time, using activated carbon together with a sediment filter gives you complete filtration, maintaining the appeal and safety of your water.

When to Replace Your Water Filter Cartridge for Optimal Performance

You should change the water filter cartridge when recommended for the best possible filtration results. Still, how often you replace the filter relies on its type and the amount of water you use in your home. Here are the points you should understand:

Signs It's Time to Replace Your Water Filter Cartridge

1.Decreased Water Pressure: If the water pressurizes the reason could be that the filter cartridge may need to be replaced. If there are many contaminants in a filter, it may start to block water as it passes through.

2.Bad Taste or Odor: When your water tastes or smells bad, this may indicate that your activated carbon filter can’t remove the chlorine or other chemicals in the water.

3.Visible Sediment or Particles: Visible particles in the water may indicate that the sediment filter has to be replaced.