There is no one-size-fits-all water filtration system because tap water in every home contains unique chemicals, minerals, and contaminants that need to be removed to deliver the cleanest purest water.
How do homeowners decide what type of contaminants they need to filter?
They conduct a home water test.
Quick (and Free) At-Home Water Tests
There are some basic water quality issues that you can detect at home for free. Water hardness is a common problem — check for signs of hard water including: spotty or filmy dishes, water tank sediment buildup, mineral buildup around water fixtures, soap scum in your bathtub, and dry itchy skin.
Water Hardness — To get an idea of your water’s hardness (iron, calcium, magnesium, and more) fill a measuring cup with 12 ounces of water. Add 10 drops of liquid dish soap and shake the measuring cup without spilling water. If you see soap suds this indicates that your water is “soft,” but if few or no suds appear your water is at least slightly hard. Keep adding 10 drops of liquid dish soap at a time, shaking each time to see if suds appear. 30 drops before suds form means your water has medium hardness; 50 drops or more before suds appear indicates extreme water hardness.
Heavy Metal Contaminants —You can often get an idea of your water’s heavy metals contamination by Inspecting your toilet flush tank. Toilet flush tanks are a simple indicator of potential problems in your plumbing and your water supply. A home with no notable metal problems will have a toilet flush tank that’s mostly white and clean. If you spot stains, sediment, or rust in your toilet flush tank it’s likely a byproduct of your pipes. However, blue and green stains are a sign of copper corrosion. This a serious condition that should be treated immediately. These stains indicate that heavy metals are leaching into your water.
Where Can I Buy a Water Test?
The only way to get a comprehensive breakdown and count of the contaminants in your tap water or well water is to order a professional water testing kit from a reputable company.
Avoid “free” water tests, as the agents who perform these are often working for commission on solutions they sell and will use simple kits that only check for basic contaminants like chlorine. You should also avoid buying kits online from companies that also sell filtration equipment.
Invest in a kit that will test for 20 or more contaminants. The most legitimate kits will have your samples sent to a laboratory for analysis. You can use testing kits from outlets like Home Depot or Amazon, but do so with caution as many of these kits are uncertified. They can usually be trusted to give you a general idea of the problems with your water.
Actual laboratory testing offers the broadest spectrum and most in-depth information you can get about your water. We suggest using an accredited independent laboratory. Check your area for a local laboratory like Ward Labs, or another testing lab.
After You Have Your Results
Once you know what’s in your water it’s time to find a filter that will make your water safe. If you need help just give our customer service team a call or email.
At Express Water we offer many types of specialized water filter systems to target any water quality issues. Our Reverse Osmosis Ultraviolet System sterilizes water killing viruses and bacteria, while our Anti Scale 3-Stage Whole House System prevents the formation of scale and corrosion while treating water for your entire home. No matter what your issue is we can find an easy to install system perfect for you.
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