Posts Tagged ‘kdf-55’

A Guide to Searching For Handheld Shower Filters

The search for a good handheld shower filter can be tough. At least, it was tough for me. It’s hard to get the details out of some companies. You almost have to call them up and ask them questions.

What contaminants do your handheld shower filters remove? What filtration steps are included? How is the percentage of contaminant reduction? Those are the questions that you need to ask. It is sometime hard to get the answers, but every once in a while, you run across a really good product that is worth mentioning to other people.

First, though, I’d like to tell you how I tell the good products from the bad. I am always suspicious of companies that do not go into a lot of details about their products. They may be trying to keep it simple, but I feel as though they are trying to hide something.

There is one handheld shower filter made by a company called Paragon Water. On there website, they claim to reduce chlorine by 99%, but they don’t go into any detail about removal of other contaminants. They do mention a reduction of Hydrogen Sulfide, but if you have that in your water, you would know it.

It produces a smell like rotten eggs and it’s present in some shallow wells. Charcoal would reduce the smell, but not the actual gas content in the atmosphere. Since the company doesn’t go into any details, I have to assume that they use charcoal in their handheld shower filters.

I was able to find independent surveys indicating that Paragon handheld shower filters reduce chlorine by only 50%. That won’t work for someone who’s allergic to chlorine. For the rest of us, it just won’t make that much difference.

A handheld shower filter should reduce chlorine by at least 90%, in order to be effective. There’s another problem with Paragon and other showerhead systems that reduce chlorine. They don’t reduce THMs.

THMs or trihalomethanes are in any publicly treated water supply. There are some regulations in place to limit the amount that may be present at the treatment facility, but research indicates that exposure to any amount increases an individual’s risk of cancer.

There is some disagreement among scientists as to what source of exposure is accompanied by the greatest risk. But, at least one research group has concluded that exposure by inhalation in an enclosed bathroom carries the greatest risk. So, in order to protect your health, you need handheld shower filters that reduce THMs by at least 90%.

Aquasana Shower Filter with Handheld Massage Wand

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $104.95

Amazon Price: $83.96

Another problem with Paragon and some of the other companies is that they don’t reduce metallic contaminants, such as lead and copper. You might wonder why it is important for a handheld shower filter to remove these contaminants.

It is true that consumption carries the only risk of lead poisoning. But, if lead or copper is present in your water, your skin and hair will be duller. Copper can actually change the color of your hair. So, for strictly cosmetic reasons, the best handheld shower filters remove the metals.

The most effective handheld shower filter on the market can be purchased for less than $85.00. It was the right choice for my family and maybe yours, too.

By: Larry Fletcher

About the Author:
Larry Fletcher is a dedicated researcher on the health benefits of purified drinking and bath water. Visit his site now at http://www.pure-and-safe-water.com to discover the handheld shower filter he endorses.

Discover the Best Well Water Filters

Tap Master Iron® Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $425.00

Amazon Price: $329.95

Here’s an interesting fact, forty-eight million Americans get their water from private wells. That could account for all of the advertising and the hundreds of well water filters on the market. They want your business, but if you don’t do your homework before you buy, you could end up with an ineffective, inefficient or unnecessary product.

People buy well water filters for a variety of reasons, but some are more common than others.

Acidity (pH balance)

If you notice corrosion on any of your fixtures or bluish-green stains in your sinks or tubs, then your pH level may be too acidic. In the shower, you may feel like the water is not very “wet”. When you drink your tap water, you may notice a metallic taste. If you notice these things, then you probably need well water whole house filters, but you can always buy some litmus paper to test. Blue litmus paper turns red in the presence of acid. A numbered pH tester is also available, but is more expensive. Any level under 7 is equal to an acidic pH. In order to correct acidity, you need a well water conditioner (calcite -corsite) that enhances the water by increasing the pH. Multi-stage systems use ion exchange and other filters to correct the level.

Iron

High iron content sends many people looking for reverse osmosis well water whole house filters. But, those systems start at $10,000. Besides, reverse osmosis removes all of the minerals, some of which are beneficial to your health. Water softeners, ion exchange, or chlorination followed by activated carbon well water filters will take care of the problem, for a lot less money.

Bacteria

Bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasites and microscopic cysts (giardia, cryptosporidium) are often found in unprotected drinking water supplies, but are not typically present in underground wells. The soil acts as a filter. But, since you cannot see these microscopic creatures and ingesting them can cause disease, you should have your water tested on a regular basis. Testing is done at most public health departments, but you may have to send a sample to a private lab.

If you are concerned about bacteria or the test comes back positive for bacteria, you have several options. Chlorine kills all but the most resistant, which can be removed by a .5 micron filter, ultraviolet light or ozone. Always follow chlorination with activated carbon filters. Those of us who have city water know that drinking chlorinated water is not a healthy option, plus the taste and smell is terrible.

Activated carbon filters on your kitchen and shower taps are probably insufficient. Activated charcoal is only effective at temperatures below 104 deg. Fahrenheit. Removal of chlorine on these faucets should be done with a filter containing kdf-55 material. But, there are well water whole house filters that contain activated carbon, as well. The cost is more, but may balance out against the cost of replacing multiple filters around the house. UV filters, distillers and reverse osmosis can be used against bacterial contamination, just be sure to have the water tested again, to make sure they are doing the job. Even though reverse osmosis well water filters are very expensive, the membranes are prone to defects and deteriorate when exposed to chlorine, so they may not provide the protection that you need. The membranes must be replaced every year or two.

Other Considerations

Reverse osmosis well water whole house filters waste more water than they clean.  Some RO units use 14 gallons of feed water for every gallon they filter even though they claim to only use 4 to 1.  Only 1% of the earth’s water is drinkable. Water is one of our most precious resources. We cannot afford to waste it. Think about the next generation and buy the most efficient well water filters that will meet your needs.

Aquanoia.com