What Is The Right Price For A Drinking Water Filter?
How to choose between the different water filter systems can be quite a puzzle. When you see prices for the basic water filters which range from just over $20 all the way up to and over $400, you wonder what can explain this huge variation. Take a minute and read the information we have here. At least it will help you get started.
The functions that you need a drinking water filter to perform will depend on the source of the water in your local area. For example, a reverse osmosis or RO drinking water filter system is very expensive but unnecessary for most of us.
If the water from your tap is provided by a public water utility, you can be sure that it will have been processed in a number of ways. RO is one step that they usually employ. RO mainly removes particles, minerals and can be used for removing salt from sea water or brackish wells.
One of the treatments used by utility companies is chlorine to destroy bacteria and algae that can accumulate in the water supply pipes. Another way to treat this problem is to employ ultra violet techniques at the plant, but this will not cover the pipes leading to your home. The main reason why people choose to buy a drinking water filter are to escape the taste and smell of chlorine every time they turn on the tap.
All water filters remove chlorine. Many have underwriter’s laboratory or some other independent certification and yet there is a four hundred dollar price range. Why?
As mentioned above the reverse osmosis method is costly and so it is no surprise that these are the $400 models. Also in the $400 bracket are filter systems available at local retailers who rely on a substantial markup over the wholesale price to cover their overhead expenses. At the other end of the scale are pitchers which are usually less efficent and have a short life span.
As is often the case the best value for your buck can be found somewhere between the top and bottom of the range and $125 will buy you an efficient countertop water filter. Buy direct from the factory and you will receive a filter that removes the chlorine while retaining the essential minerals in the water.
Hugh Harris-Evans is a writer and researcher on water purification issues. Visit his site now at http://www.brightwaterfilter.com to get the facts on how to choose the best water purification system.