Posts Tagged ‘water’

How Do Water Filters Work To Bring You Drinking Water Free From Contaminants

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

With the wave of contaminants that have hit our water supplies over the last couple of decades, more and more people are starting to wonder how do water filters work to protect themselves and their families.

But in order to get an understanding of how they work, you need to be clear on the kinds of contaminants that are present in your water supply and the features of a home water filtration system.

With regards to the chemical content of our water, there are around 80,000 chemicals used in industry, that can be make their way into in our reservoirs. Any combination of these chemicals could be in the water that you are drinking right now.

Over 2,000 of these chemicals have been documented as known carcinogens. So, how do water filters work to effectively remove these types of contaminants?

They work by utilizing a combination of an activated granular carbon filter (gac) and a multi media block. These two filters trap the chemicals, and turn them into solids, which are unable to penetrate the film across the filter face.

Apart from chemicals, there are also microscopic bacteria and parasites that are in your drinking water as well. These may cause stomach problems if ingested.

Contrary to what many people believe, not all of the microbes and parasites in your water supply are eradicated by the use of chlorine disinfection. Many still survive to pose a danger to the health of you and your family.

And how do water filters work to eliminate the risk of waterborne sicknesses affecting your family?

Through the use of what is known as a sub micron filter, all of the parasites and cysts become effectively blocked in much the same manner as with the earlier filters I talked. The exception is that the microbes are already in solid form, so they are basically trapped.

You should also be aware that toxic metals, such as copper and lead, can find its way into your tap water.

These metals generally find their way into your tap water by leaching off the plumbing fixtures that transport water throughout your house. So potentially harmful are these chemicals, that even in small quantities, ingesting lead contaminated water may cause neurological damage.

How do water filters work in order to remove the threat of heavy metal poisoning?

There is a device used called an ion exchange unit, that magnetizes the metal traces and then replaces them in your water with potassium and sodium. This filter will also keep the pH balance of your water perfect so that you water will taste great every time.

How do water filters work? They work by utilizing the 3 tiered filter system mentioned before, which pays attention to all kinds of drinking water contaminants at the same time; this ensures that nothing gets by.

You get obtain this tiered system in a high quality counterop or undersink drinking water filter. Very importantlyBusiness Management Articles, these purifiers are affordable and will help maintain the health and safety of you and your family.

Sediment Filter Won’t Adequately Protect Your Family From Unsafe Tap Water

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Have you seen or heard ads for the new sediment filters and thought what a wonderful idea it would be to purchase one for you and your family?

Before run out to make this sort of purchase, there are some things you ought to know about this device. To be truthful, it isn’t as good as manufacturers make it out to be.

Unless you reside in a location where you have no other option but to get your drinking water from some sort of natural source, you don’t need to buy a sediment water filter. If you happen to live in such a location, there are much better choices available for you to use.

If I wanted a home water treatment system to remove minerals from my tap water, I would get a reverse osmosis filtration system as opposed to a simple sediment filter.

The reverse osmosis home filtration system is also more effective at getting rid of all the sediment from your tap water than a simple sediment water filter device can.

If you look at the fine print on the web ads for many sediment filters, they inform you that actually you have to buy are two separate filters in order to ensure that your drinking water is clean.

They are selling you the one filter for the main water line running into the house, and then a countertop filter system that actually cleans your water. But purchasing two filters isn’t 100% required for two reasons.

Firstly, since the vast majority of households get their water supply from their local treatment facility, all of the sediment has already been eliminated before the chlorine disinfection process.

Secondly, drinking water filtration systems such as the reverse osmosis and wholehouse systems are stand alone devices that can eliminate a lot more than sediment from your tap water. It isn’t necessary to purchase an additional filtration system and waste your hard-earned cash.

Even though your tap water is sediment-free and disinfected by chlorine, that doesn’t mean that it is totally safe to drink.

All types of bacterial and chemical contaminants are in our water system and regardless of what water suppliers endeavor to do with antiquated equipment at their treatment facilities, they are still unable to stop these contaminants from getting into your tap water.

A sediment filter definitely will not provide the all-round protection you or your family needs against the more serious drinking water contaminants.

The best choice for you would be to purchase and install a top rated home water purification system that features an granular activated carbon filter, a multi media blocker, a sub micron filter, and an ion exchange. This is all that is required to keep your family safe and healthy.

Why waste your hard-earned cash on a sediment water filter when it only traps sand? What you really need is comprehensive protection from the harmful contaminants that pose a risk to you and a simple sand trap won’t cut it.

Get a home water purifier todayHealth Fitness Articles, and I guarantee you won’t be sorry.

Whole-House Water Treatment Systems – As Important As Water Itself

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

If optimal health is a goal you aspire to, then a home water treatment system is a must have in your household.

America’s water supply is suspect to say the least. Many studies have shown that vast array of pharmaceuticals and other chemical contaminants are present in our treated water supply.

As a matter of fact, the well respected Ralph Nader Research Institute estimates that there are around 21,000 different contaminants found in the U.S water supply.

Many experts have blamed the increased incidences of cancer and learning disorders on the contaminants found in our water supply.

Whole-house water treatment systems are a great way to ensure that your household water quality is top notch and that you have a reduced exposure to these health risks.

Here are some of the benefits of using such a system:

1. A home water treatment system that is independently tested and proven to remove the highest amounts of contaminants in your tap water will give you the cleanest water possible. The type of water that is better than “bottled water quality” and that you can safely drink and shower with, without any worries.

Bear in mind that some whole-house water treatment systems remove the vital minerals contained in water that our bodies need. Make sure you find out from the retailer if the home water treatment system you intend on buying doesn’t do this.

2. The EPA says that American homes have elevated levels of chloroform due to the vaporization of the chlorine from their taps, dishwashers, washing machines and showers. This is suspected to have caused various respiratory problems within households.

Having a whole-house water treatment will reduce the amount of chlorine within the water and consequently improve overall air quality.

3. Not only does a home water treatment system improve the healthfulness of water within your home but it also is a huge cost saver.

When filtered water is used in the dishwasher and washing machine, less detergent is needed and the items are better cleaned.

Washing with unfiltered water leaves a soapy residue on dishes but this is not the case when using filtered water. Also, since filtered water is dechlorinated, the colors of your clothes last longer after being washed in the washing machine.

Consider also the amount of money that you’ll save on bottled water over time. Whole-house water systems are reasonably priced and not expensive to install. When you compare its cost to the amount of money you have spent on bottled water, its well worth getting one.

It can’t be stressed enough tat before you purchase a home water treatment systemArticle Search, you should ask for the the documentary evidence supporting it’s performance claims. This will help you choose the one that best suits your needs.

Whole-house water treatment systems are no longer some fad or status symbol whose time has passed. It is really an appliance that you should go out a buy right now if you don’t already have one.

Water FIlter Aspects Before Purchasing to Consider

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

The necessity for water filtration is pretty evident with the fact that if no water filtration would be installed to filter water the human body using the contaminated water acts like one and keeps all the contaminants within it. This may cause long term damage on the human body.

It is important to choose the right kind of water filtration in relationship with the quality of water in the area and kind of contaminants the water carries. This is undoubtedly the most significant step to ensure clean, fresh and healthy water supply. Many waterborne diseases like typhoid and cholera were the root cause of death about half a century ago. This made the use of chemicals like chlorine prevalent for cleaning the contamination in the water. Chlorine though was successful in eliminating most of the contaminations that caused widespread problems among humans; its own effect on the human health has remained in question since it has been used for cleaning up water. It has been established by various studies now that chlorine and its byproducts do cause different kind of hazards for human health.

Water contents include quantities of solids like magnesium and calcium that are often dissolved in it with ease. There isn’t strict guidelines that specify the minimum amounts of these minerals to make the water contaminated. In fact, it is suggested by many that healthy water should have some quantity of these minerals. Water filters do not remove the minerals dissolved in the water however some of them are designed to regulate the quantities of these minerals. It is also believed that the presence of minerals helps the water to keep other damaging contamination to the minimum.

Sometimes the water filters acquire air pockets because of their continued siphon action even when their faucets remain closed. This results in the filtered water to look somewhat like milk or clouds. The bubbles in the filtered water that cause the cloudy or milky look vanish in some time if the water remains stationary in a vessel or a carrier. The air pockets can be cleared from the filter cartridges by running the water through the cartridge for some time by turning it upside down.

It is not recommended to filter hot water through the water filters as it may cause the seals and tubes used in the water filters become soft and start leaking. This is a more likely possibility in counter top water filters as compared to shower water filters which are less vulnerable to such kind of damage. Many households actually use shower water filters for filtering water from their drinking resources as well so that the contamination by inhalation as well as body absorption also goes down.

A whole house water filter would be needed when the user is conscious about having all round protection from water contamination be it for drinking, bathing or cleaning up purposes. The usage of such filtration vastly increases the quality of the air within the household. It would be advisable to use a point of use water filter where the emphasis is on a better quality of water for drinking purposes. Such water filters efficaciously clean up the water from the contaminants that may spoil the water because of the plumbing system in the house e.g. vinyl chloride or lead contamination.

Before a water filter is chosenFree Web Content, due consideration should be given to the fact that it is certified and validated by the state’s department of health.

Factors Affecting The Quality of Water

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

What are the factors affecting the quality of water that you drink every day? There may be many. It depends a lot on where you live and what your source is. Here’s a look at what you might need to consider.

Microbial Contamination

Microbial contaminants include various sorts of bacteria, parasites and cysts. If your water comes from a private well, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends regular testing for coli-form bacteria. Consumption of this type of bacteria causes flu-like symptoms. E-coli are the most common microbial contaminants, next to cysts.

Cysts are microbes in an early stage of development that are resistant to public and most private purification methods. UV, ozone and chemical disinfectants will not kill them. They can only be removed through filtration and that can only be done at home.

The EPA warns that cysts are one of the factors affecting the quality of water at any time and can even be a factor in bottled beverages. The illness that they cause can be fatal to the elderly, infants, toddlers and those with dysfunctional immune systems.

The best choice for the homeowner is to install a system that is certified to filter down to one micron or less.

Mineral Content and Heavy Metal Contamination

A high mineral content affects the taste and heavy metals affect the safety. These are factors affecting the quality of water for many industrial purposes.

For the homeowner, the primary concern is lead. It is one of the common contaminants that are not sufficiently reduced by public treatment facilities.

Reverse osmosis will reduce lead and other minerals. But, an ion exchange step will remove lead and copper, while balancing mineral content, which is a better choice. Ion exchange systems provide better lead reduction than reverse osmosis.

Chemical Contaminants

According to public safety advocates, there are 2400 different cancer-causing chemicals polluting pre-treated public water supplies. In other words, every time that you turn on a faucet, you may be increasing your cancer risk.

Most chemicals can be easily removed using granular carbon or other filtering media. Chlorine is a big problem that is easily removed with carbon filtration. Chlorination byproducts commonly referred to as THMs, require different filtering media.

Most household purifiers on the market reduce chlorine effectively, but they are ineffective against THMs.

Taste

Our bodies are programmed to prefer chilled or, at least, cooler beverages. It is a built-in defense mechanism. Chilled water is less likely to contain bacterial contaminants. They thrive in warmer water. Deep wells and underground springs are not a favored spot for bacteria to thrive.

You may prefer the taste of a bottled beverage because you keep it in the fridge, but pure-water is actually tasteless. An Ion exchange step helps improve taste. Carbon does, too. ButFree Reprint Articles, some hazardous factors affecting the quality of water are tasteless.

Look for a high quality multi-step purifier that removes many contaminants and improve taste simultaneously and you’ll be better off.

How Water Fountains Help You Get Healthy

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

Have you finally installed that copper or bronze water fountain in your home or office, and are you enjoying its inherently pleasing beauty? Well, get ready to receive another benefit from it. As the water cascades down from the spout to the basin, it generates beneficial white noise and yields healthful negative ions into the very air that you breathe. This will not only boost your personal health, but the health of everyone who works or lives in the same space as you, all thanks to your bronze water fountain.

Most people would come near the places where the air is fresher and cleaner, like a forest, seashore, waterfalls, or beaches. This is because they realize that clean, pollutant free air makes your body feel recharged and rejuvenated. The reason you feel so refreshed in these desirable locales is because of the significantly higher negative ion concentrations in the breathable atmosphere. In the city and urban areas, where pollution and other positively charged airborne contaminants thrive and dominate the breathable atmosphere, negative ions prevent these bad agents from forming. Negative ions can boost your health and make you more energetic, more stable, and more alive.

Of course, every one of us would love for the opportunity to have more efficient, healthier bodies, but we can’t constantly visit the places where negative ion quantities are higher. People who reside in the city can visit such places once in every year because of the hectic schedules they have. This is not enough if we want to stay refreshed and healthy. Water fountain can be considered. For your family’s health, and of course your own, use a copper or bronze water fountain to give you the benefits of healthful negative ions. This is on account of the increased generation of negative ions as the water cascades down and splashes from it. Although being beside a beach or waterfalls is something different, having a water fountain at home is an alternative. You can experience health and wellness every day at your own home.

Negative ions, as produced by the splash of water from the copper or bronze water fountains, have several positive effects on the physiological system and physical development of the human bodies. It was proven that it can stimulate balance in the serotonin level of the brain. It can reduce tension, stress, depression, and other emotional disorder. It can also make the weak body stronger and rejuvenated, making the body comfortable as it performs and the mind is set in a good condition as it process its duties. It helps the body maintain a good physical condition by reducing the unhealthy molecules or elements in the body. Negative ions can also neutralize unhealthy particles present in the air so there will be lower rates of getting them. The environment also improves, getting healthier and healthier with an increasing negative ion count.

Everybody wants to improve their health, their physical condition, and their ability to relax and focus despite the airborne contaminants, pollutants, and bioaerosols in the environment. Truly, there is no better way to bring these benefits into your home than to install a copper or bronze water fountain. It does not only provides, white noise for good relaxationComputer Technology Articles, it also increases the rates of negative ions in the air for a healthier and better development of the body system of the family.

Not Having A Showerhead Water Filter Could Damage Your Health

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

With all of the contaminant matter that has been found to be in our reservoir systems, many people recognize the need for a drinking water filter system, but few think about the benefits that a high quality shower head water filter could offer to them.

It’s hard for some people to understand that there are more ways than simply through consumption that the chemicals in your water can harm you.

Of course protecting the water that you drink should take precedence over the water that you shower or bath in. This is because there are so many more contaminants that you have to worry about when consuming your water.

You simply have to recognize though that some of the chemicals in our water do pose a great threat to your health when bathing.

You need a shower head water filter if for no other reason than to reduce the level of chlorine that is in your water, especially if you or any member of your family has a history of respiratory problems.

Chlorine is a respiratory system irritant, and it has been proven to trigger asthma attacks and bronchial problems in those individuals that are predisposed.

You see, the steam that is generated by your shower is not water. The steam is made up almost entirely of chlorine due to the fact that chlorine is a chemical that turns to vapor much quicker than water does.

When you breath these vapors into your lungs you are receiving a dose of chlorine roughly 6,000 times more than you would receive from drinking a gallon of unfiltered water.

A shower head water filter would prevent you from inhaling such a potent dose of this chemical, which is very important for your health. Most people don’t know that chlorine is actually the chemical that most scientists and medical professionals blame for causing the huge increase in the number of cancer cases that they have seen over the last century.

Another thing that this filter would do for you is it would lower the amount of chloroform and methane gases that are entering your home not to mention the lungs of your loved ones. These gases are formed because of the presence of THMs, and VOCs in our water supply. When they are released through our faucets and showerheads they return to their natural gaseous state.

A shower head water filter will minimize the amount of these gases that you and your family are exposed to on a daily basis. AlsoFeature Articles, if you purchase one of the showerhead models that that has a detachable head then it would make it easier for you to fill up the bathtub for a bath. You also want purer water here because chlorine can also seep into your pores.

I certainly hope that I have given you enough information to convince you that a shower head water filter is a sound investment for anyone that wishes to further protect the health and well being of their family.

Remember that it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Aquasana Home Water Filters – #1 For Removing Drinking Water Contaminants

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

If you have even the slightest interest in having the cleanest drinking water in your home, you must have heard about Aquasana. There is a good reason for this; Aquasana is amongst the top home water purification systems on the market, if not, the very top.

Let’s explore for a moment the way that these appliances stack up against the other top names in the business.

Aquasana has been in the business of manufacturing water filtration systems for over 15 years. Currently, they possess 17 different patents and have sold more than nine million filters. This company prides itself on the fact that their water purification systems represent the absolute best value to the customer of any system being made.

The Aquasana system has been rated the best filtration device in the USA by the well-respected Consumer Digest Magazine. It offers your family all of the protection that they will ever need in order for them to maintain good health despite of all the contaminants that are in our water supply.

So, how does Aquasana purification system stand up to its closest competitor?

The closest filter does an ok job of removing drinking water contaminants but falls way short of what the Aquasana drinking water system can do.

For starters, the closest competitor blocks far less chlorine, lead, THMs and VOCs than Aquasana does, and to top it off, doesn’t remove MTBE from your water at all. Aquasana rids up to 99% of these drinking water contaminants. Some of these contaminants can cause serious damage to your health; cancer for example.

You can’t take a chance on even a small percentage more of these harmful contaminants getting into your the drinking glasses of that of your children.

How much money do you figure that the second rated filtration system sell for in a store? This filtration device retails for around $349 and yet for the price, it doesn’t do an adequate job of removing the contamiants found in your tap water.

Compare this to the Aquasana filter device that sells for the very reasonable price of $125 and you can see that Aquasana offers phenomenal value to the consumer.

The big difference between Aquasana water filtration system and lesser brands is its multi level filtering system.

Aquasana countertop water filters consist of an activated granular carbon filter and a multi media block to rid your water of chemical contaminants; a sub micron filter for eliminating chlorine-resistant waterborne organisms and an added feature known as an ion exchange device.

What the ion exchange feature does, is that it eliminates heavy metal contaminants that are in your tap water. Once it traps these elements, it exchanges them for sodium and potassium, thereby re-mineralizing your water.

The final act of this Aquasana feature is that it keeps the pH level of your water in balance guaranteeing you the freshest, purestArticle Search, best tasting water every time.

Swimming and Water Accidents Involving Children: Facts, Figures and Statistics

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

The CDC reports that there are on average nearly 10 drowning accidents occurring every day. More than one in four fatal drowning accidents involve children ages 14 and younger. For every child who drowns, there are at least 4 others who visit the emergency room for nonfatal submersion injuries. Nonfatal drowning injuries can be catastrophic and can cause permanent brain damage, including problems with learning and memory, and the permanent loss of brain function.

Children under the age of 5 are at the greatest risk of near drowning because their energy and curiosity can easily lead them to fall into bodies of water, including bathtubs or large buckets, from which they cannot escape. Among children ages 1 to 4 that die in accidents, nearly 30% do so through unintentional drowning. Fatal drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14. Children under 1 year of age most often drown in bathtubs, buckets or toilets. With children between the ages of 1 and 4, most drowning incidents occur in swimming pools. Most young children who drown in swimming pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight for less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time.

There are certain risk factors that exist for fatal and nonfatal drowning accidents. A major risk factor is the absence of pool barriers; another is the absence of parental supervision. Most pool accidents involving children occur within minutes after the child is last seen alive. Many pool incidents occur because the child has easy access to the water. Drowning incidents that occur in natural settings like lakes, rivers, and oceans increase with the child’s age.

Parents can take certain steps to minimize the risk of a drowning incident. The most important step is to provide adequate adult supervision. Parents should keep their children in view at all times when the child is around water. While supervising children, a parent should also avoid engaging in distracting activities, like reading, watching television, playing cards, doing yard work, etc. Barriers should be erected around swimming pools or other large bodies of water. A child should not be allowed to physically access the water without an adult’s assistance. Parents should also teach their children to swim. Introducing small children to the water through swimming lessons is an extremely good idea. Do not let children use improper inflatable devices without direct supervision. Toys like “water wings,” “noodles,” and “inner-tubes” are not designed to keep swimmers safe. Also, these toys can give a child a false sense of security thereby encouraging the child to take greater risks (e.g., venturing out into deeper waterFree Articles, etc.).

Insulate Hot Water Pipes and Save Energy

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

As the world moves deeper into recession, people are looking for ways to cut their everyday living expenses. One of the major expenses in every household is that of energy consumption. With all the appliances and gadgets men have made, we tend to use, misuse and waste a good deal of energy. One easy way to save energy and to cut some of your bills is by keeping water hot inside the pipes for longer durations in winter. Insulating water pipes is the easiest way to achieve this cut in energy.

First of all, measure the dimensions of the water pipes you want to insulate. You should note the measurements somewhere so that you won’t forget them, especially the outer diameter associated with each pipe. Make sure that there are no leakages in the pipes. If you find any leakage point, get that fixed before continuing with the insulation.

Once you have checked all pipes and taken measurements, you need to decide which type of insulation you should use. Whatever insulation that you select, ensure you cover as much area as you can so that the heat that escapes is kept to a minimum. The most common material used in this regard is pre-formed molded insulation foam. Because of being common, you can easily get it for most sizes and lengths, and separate small pieces are available for spigots. In order to get the best installation, ensure that the inner diameter of the foam is about equal or only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pipes. This would make a close fit and cold air won’t get trapped in between the pipe and the insulation.

Upon acquiring the necessary materials, use a mild cleaning agent to remove any soot from the pipes. Also make sure there isn’t any oil or other dampness on the outer surface as this hinders with the installment of insulation material. After the pipes become dry, wrap the foam around it carefully without leaving any part of the pipe uncovered. Additionally, when attaching 2 molded foams at bends, it is a good idea to sever the foam at forty-five degree angles, such that they enclose the whole bend and don’t leave any space uncovered. Once you have successfully put it on the pipes, wrap some acrylic tape around it to ensure greater efficiency. You could also try using duct tape, though some plumbing experts prefer to employ acrylic tape. You can also use a wire or clamp rather than tape.

If you are living in a place where pipe freezing occurs frequently, it’s highly recommended to insulate you water pipes even if you have to hire a plumber for this. That’s because water expands when it freezes, and this can cause even durable pipes to break. The pipes that break easiest are the ones located outside the house, such as a a pipe to a swimming pool. In the cold months, it is beneficial to empty water from the line and turn off the valve to halt additional water flow. If you find a pipe that is frozen, do not use naked fire to try to heat it up. The best thing would be to call a licensed plumber to be on the safe side.