The Beginner’s Guide to Water Filtration in NH

Clean, safe drinking water is the foundation of good health. Unfortunately, water quality isn’t guaranteed, and contaminants can affect the taste and safety of your tap water. This is where water filtration (and NH Tap!) comes in.

The Beginner’s Guide to Water Filtration in NH

In this beginner’s guide, we’ll explore the basics of water filtration, why it’s essential, common types of water filters, and how to choose the right one for your needs. So, let’s dive in and ensure the water in your home or business is always refreshing and safe.

Why Water Filtration Matters

Water from your tap may look clean, but it can contain various contaminants that affect the taste and, more importantly, your health. Here are a few common water contaminants to be aware of:

1. Chlorine: When used for disinfection, chlorine can give water an unpleasant taste and order.
2. Heavy Metals: Elements like lead, mercury, and copper can lead into water from old plumbing, opposing severe health risks.
3. Microorganisms: Harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites can lurk in the water sources, especially in areas with inadequate sanitation. This is often something to be concerned about with well water sourcing.
4. Chemical Pollutants: Pesticides, industrial chemicals like PFAS, and pharmaceutical residues can find their way into water supplies, potentially impacting health.
5. Sediments: Particles like sand, rest, and dirt can make water appear cloudy and affect taste.

The Basics of Water Filtration

Water filtration is a process that removes impurities and contaminants from water to make it safe and palatable for drinking and other uses. Here are the primary methods used in water filtration:

1. Physical Filtration: This method blocks particles from passing through a filter medium. Common physical filters include mesh screens, ceramic filters, and activated carbon filters.
2. Chemical Filtration: Certain chemicals, like activated carbon or specific resins, can absorb and trap contaminants in water.
3. Biological Filtration: Biological filters use living organisms like bacteria to break down and remove specific contaminants.

Various types of water filters are available, each designed to target specific contaminants. Here are some common types:

1. Activated carbon filters are filters that use activated carbon or charcoal to absorb impurities and improve taste. They are excellent for moving chlorine, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals. Many of our water filtration systems use activated carbon as a superior filtration system medium.
2. Reverse Osmosis (RO) uses semi-permeable membranes to remove various contaminants, including heavy metals, microorganisms, and minerals. They are highly effective but can be wasteful in terms of water and can strip the water of vital nutrients. We only recommend RO systems in specific instances.
3. Ultraviolet or UV filters use UV light to kill bacteria, viruses, and other common microorganisms in your water. They don’t remove other impurities but are excellent for disinfection and protecting your water from illness-causing bacteria.
4. Ion Exchange Filters use ion exchange resin to remove minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can cause hard water issues.

Choosing the Right Water Filter

When considering the factors, it is helpful to have a water expert walk alongside you and make the decision. Some things you would consider when determining the right filtration system would be the contaminant type, filtration method, flow rate in your home, filter lifespan, installation methods, maintenance and upkeep, and your budget.

Basic Filters for Water Filtration

Public water filter:

If your home is supplied with city water, you may find your water with more chlorine or other chemicals than usual. This is because the city’s water treatment plant uses chlorine to disinfect the water from waterborne viruses. However, while it can effectively kill harmful bacteria, chlorine is also a possible threat to human health in large amounts, especially in hot vapor within the shower and bath. Some levels that are acceptable for city water can still cause long-term issues.

After your public water test, you may be directed to the NH Tap Mainframe Whole House Water Filtration System. When water enters the system, contaminants are trapped and held back from the flowing water in a three-step process. After the toxins are captured, the water can be accessed from all points of your home, whether it is your kitchen sink, dishwasher, or washing machine.

Well water filter:

Some homeowners may source their water from a well, which is quite different from what others may expect from city water. Instead of chlorine, your well water must be treated for minerals like iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide gasses, Arsenic 3 and Arsenic 5, and corrosive groundwater. For context, Arsenic can cause heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.

If your well water test results show these issues, consider NH Tap’s Absolute Well Water Filter System. Like the Mainframe, the Absolute system separates harmful particles from the water by bonding them to the filter. Instead of a built-in three-step process, the well water filter is built with multiple filters. NH Tap’s Absolute gives whole-home well water treatment without harmful side effects.

Specialized Filters

PFAS filter:

New Hampshire has quite a history with PFAS chemicals, so it would be in the best interest of all homeowners to consider purchasing and installing a specialized filter that combats these harmful “forever chemicals.” PFAS are artificial chemicals that cannot deteriorate naturally, meaning they can accumulate within your body as you drink more PFAS-contaminated water.

PFAS chemicals can be found nearly everywhere nowadays, so your PFAS water test will show higher levels of the contaminants. Your next step may be to install the NH Tap Pure PFAs Water Filter. Using active carbon to bond the harmful PFAs to the filter, NH Tap’s Pure removes the forever chemicals and sends the purified water to your household for your family’s use.

Reverse osmosis filter

Each New Hampshire resident has their preferences and needs for their water. While some need whole-home treatment, others may need their drinking water to be filtered. Reverse osmosis is often used to separate the water from contaminants using gravity. When water flows through the system’s porous membrane, harmful particles like arsenic, lead, and chlorine are left behind.

NH Tap offers a reverse osmosis system that includes a semipermeable membrane to sift the particles out of the water and a sediment pre-filter, a carbon pre-filter, and a post-carbon filter. These parts work in tandem underneath your sink to ensure that your drinking water is the best it can be.

UV purifier:

Otherwise known as ultraviolet light, UV light can purify water differently than reverse osmosis and other filters. This is due to the target contaminant of UV purification: microorganisms. Exposure to UV light can eliminate bacteria, parasites, and even harmful viruses, thereby dismissing the threats of intestinal and respiratory issues.

NH Tap’s Whole Home UV Purifier System is best if your water test returns positive for malicious bacteria. Water enters the system and is exposed to ultraviolet light, and the light deactivates the bacteria’s harmful traits and frees your water from its potential diseases. One thing to note is your home’s specific flow rate; if your water runs too fast through your UV light system, your water may not be fully exposed, and some bacteria or parasites can live. Ask an NH Tap professional for more information regarding your specific home situation.

Water Softener:

Water softeners are used to combat the adverse effects of hard water. Hard water levels vary throughout the Granite State, affecting some more than others. If you have hard water, expect to find grimy stains in your sinks and extensive damage to your washing machine and dishwasher. NH Tap still recommends a water test to determine which kind of water softener you may need.

Finding the Right Filtration for You

It is essential to have your water tested to determine what filter you need.

Water filtration is a simple yet highly effective way to ensure the quality and safety of your drinking water.

Why you would need a water filter

The most important job of a homeowner is to take care of those living with them inside their house. Installing a water filter is the responsible and smart thing to do. If you research your land‘s water quality history and its water source, you can help determine what kind of filter you need and what types of contaminants you have already consumed. To recap, here are the solutions you may need to consider:

• Whole Home Water Filtration is designed to remove chlorine and other contaminants from tap water.
• Whole Home Well Water Filtration is designed to remove minerals, metals, and other contaminants from well water. They are typically installed at the point where the well water enters the home and provides filtered water for all uses.
• Specialized Filtration Systems are designed to remove contaminants such as PFAS, bacteria, lead, or arsenic. They are typically installed at the entry point and provide filtered water for drinking and cooking.
• PFAS Filtration is designed to eliminate this carcinogen. PFAS is one of the most dangerous chemicals spreading in New Hampshire well water, so there is a good chance your PFAS water test will show higher levels of the contaminants. Using active carbon to bond the harmful PFAs to the filter, NH Tap’s Pure removes the forever chemicals and sends the purified water to your household for your family’s use.
• NH Tap’s Whole Home UV Purifier System is the best if your water test returns positive for malicious bacteria. In a nutshell, water enters the system and is exposed to ultraviolet light. The light deactivates the bacteria’s harmful traits and frees your water from their potential diseases. One thing to note is your home’s specific flow rate; if your water runs too fast through your UV light system, your water may not be fully exposed, and some bacteria or parasites can live. Ask an NH Tap professional for more information regarding your specific home situation.
• Water softeners are not considered filters, but they can be used to remove hard water minerals. Hard water can cause scale buildup in pipes and appliances, making soap less effective.

You can enjoy refreshing and safe hydration at your fingertips by understanding the basics of water filtration, the types of filters available, and how to choose the right one. Whether you’re concerned about taste or health issues, a water filter can significantly affect the water quality. It is a small investment with substantial health and overall well-being benefits!

Contact NH Tap today to get your water test scheduled!