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January 19, 2009

Shouldn’t We Finally Break Our Plastic Water Bottle Habit?

Filed under: water filters — Tags: , — @ 1:22 am

Millions of families are spending an incredible amount of money each year on bottled water. With the costs of everything skyrocketing, many families are turning to water filters instead. Water filters can deliver safer and cleaner water at an incredible cost as low as 9 cents a gallon.

Just how much do you spend each year on bottled water?  It is almost certainly more than you think.  In a recent pricing study, a California supermarket sold a popular brand of bottled water for $1.19 per twenty ounce bottle.  In many studies, the same bottle of water was typically sold for over $1.75 in vending machines.  90% of the expense of bottled water is in making the bottle itself - all of which are soon thrown away.

The majority of dietitians recommend that people drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day.  Even if we assume that only half of that comes from bottled water, that could still mean that a person is spending up to $1,022 each year bottled water. In an average-sized family, the amount of money wasted on bottled water can be several thousands of dollars each year.  Just think of all the things you could do with that money!  Luckily, the use of  water filters can get that money back for you to spend however you see fit.

Water filters are a very affordable option.  Water itself is amazingly cheap.  Tap water costs only two-tenths of a penny per gallon.  Adding in a step of filtration only adds a small amount of cost, since the same water filter can be used for hundreds of gallons of water.

Plastic water bottles tend to take up a lot of room.  Thinking about it, it is really incredible how so many people take up storage space in their home  to store bottled water.  A  water filtration system only takes up a few square inches, and can come in many colors and styles to match your existing sink decor.

Some people drink bottled water because they think tap water will be safe.  This is a very common misconception, but it is also very misinformed.  The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate bottled water, but it does regulate tap water.  Tap water is at least somewhat safe, but you have no such guarantees with bottled water.  If you put your home water supply through a  filter, you make it even safer by removing metals and contaminants.

Now that you know a little bit more about the relative benefits of using  water filtration versus bottled water, I hope you can go out and start making wiser consumer choices.  Remember that  water filters save money, look better, and are safer as well.

January 8, 2009

The Best Under the Sink Water Filters I’ve Found

Filed under: water filters — Tags: , — @ 8:06 pm

I’d admit it. I’m a junkie when it comes to technology. They call folks like myself “early adapters”. But recently I went the other direction and started looking for simple and reliable water filters. I found my self  getting “steered” again and again to a brand called Aquasana. This brand  has a filter system that is both simple and inexpensive. I’ve had the “distillers” and the “pitcher types” and of course “Reverse Osmosis”, but I was looking for easy. I also didn’t want all of the “good” minerals taken out of the water like happens with “distillers” and “reverse osmosis”.

We picked the Aquasana AQ-4500 undercounter system. These water filters are super simple to install and very efficient. They use a twin cartridge system that has both Underwriter Laboratories approval and also rated a “Best Buy” from Consumer Digest magazine.  We got a great price from Better Water Store, and I must say that this was one of the simplest installations of any appliance that I’ve ever done.  After running the faucet for a few minutes we were “good to go”.  Thumbs up for this product.

December 26, 2008

Aquasana Filters Make Home Filtration Simple

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — @ 6:59 pm

Aquasana water filters make home filtration easy. This brand is make by Sun Water Systems located out of Texas and are American made. Their product line up includes countertop filters,under the sink filters, shower filters and whole house filters.  They have some of the strictest quality control of any  manufacturer. Most of these models are both Underwriters Laboratories approved, and a Consumer DIgest Magazine “Best Buy”. These filters are shipped around the world for worldwide usage.

Our latest choice is the Aqusana  AQ-4500 under counter water filter. These water filters retails for under $150.00 dollars and has a twin-cartridge system, with a beautiful chrome faucet that attaches easily to your sink, thereby providing a easy to use system. All one has to done after it is installed is press down the lever and great filtered water comes out. Filters last 6 monthes and cost under $50 dollars to replace. Installation took less that 30 minutes and came with complete instructions on how to install. At the store we purchased from, Better Water Store they even had an installation video however it wasn’t needed.

December 4, 2008

Replacing Bottled Water with Water Purifiers

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — @ 8:24 pm

As the United States and the world at large enter a recession, most families are looking for simple ways to save money without having to hurt their lifestyle.  It turns out that one such simple method is clear - literally. Thousands of families are spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars every year on water.  Bottled water is many times more expensive than water filtered from your tap, so this is an expense you can eliminate easily.  Best of all,  water purifiers are also more attractive than water bottles and actually produce safer water. How much do you think you spend on plastic bottled water each year?  It is almost always more than you think. In a recent pricing study, a US supermarket sold a popular brand of bottled water for $1.19 per twenty ounce bottle.  In many studies, the same bottle of water was typically sold for over $1.75 in vending machines.  90% of the expense of bottled water is in making the bottle itself - all of which are soon disposed of.

Luckily, the use of  water filters can get that money back for you to spend however you see fit.Water filters are a very affordable option.  Water itself is amazingly cheap.  Tap water costs only two-tenths of a penny per gallon.  Adding in a step of filtration only adds a small amount of cost, since the same water filter can be used for hundreds of gallons of water.Plastic water bottles tend to be ugly and to take up a lot of space.  Thinking about it, it is really incredible how so many people take up storage space in their home  to store bottled water.  A  water filter  such as the AQ-4000 only takes up a few square inches of your counter top space . Some people drink bottled water because they think tap water will be safe.  This is a very common misconception, but it is also very misinformed.  The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate bottled water, but it does regulate tap water.  Tap water is at least somewhat safe, but you have no such guarantees with bottled water.  If you put your home water supply through a  filter, you make it even safer by removing metals and contaminants.Now that you know a little bit more about the relative benefits of using  water filters versus bottled water, I hope you can go out and start making wiser consumer choices.  Remember that  water filters save money, look better,and are safer as well.

November 20, 2008

Home Water Filter Types

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — @ 8:42 pm

Fresh water is vital to human life. A healthy person can drink about three gallons of water every day. The daily recommended intake of water is eight cups per day. The United States uses about 346,000 million gallons of fresh water daily. The largest use of water in the home occurs in the bathroom, which includes the toilet, bath and shower. Out of all the water on earth, we can only use about three tenths of one percent of this water. Our usable water is stored in groundwater aquifers, rivers, and freshwater lakes.

Almost all drinking water contains small amounts of some contaminants. As long as the amounts remain below certain levels, they pose no health risk to healthy people. But people with weakened immune systems may be at risk even if their drinking water is deemed to be safe. Every year, Americans spend billions of dollars on home water treatment. Almost half of Americans use a home water filter. Home water filter types range from simple, inexpensive pitchers to sophisticated reverse osmosis systems.

Different types of home water filters remove different contaminants from your drinking water. More sophisticated home water filters may use a combination of filtration methods. Home water filters can be free-standing, attached to a water tap, permanently installed in the faucet’s plumbing, connected to a refrigerator or ice maker, or centrally attached in a way that filters the entire home’s water supply.

Home water filters that only treat the water you consume are usually called point-of-use filters. The most common point-of-use home water filter is the water filtration pitcher, like the well-known Brita pitcher. Most water filtration pitchers use activated carbon filters to remove contaminants. Pitcher type home water filters are effective at improving taste and odor, and may also reduce lead and other contaminants. They do not, however, remove disease-causing organisms.

The activated carbon filters used by filtration pitchers require regular replacement after a specified amount of water has been filtered. Check the directions that came with the filtration pitcher for more information.

Another common example of home water filter types are filters that attach to your faucet. Alternatively, these are sometimes installed under your sink and deliver filtered water through a separate sink-top faucet. Faucet-attached or undercounter home water filters usually are based on the same filtration technology as water pitchers. A block of activated carbon or similar material physically filters out contaminants. These point-of-use filters also improve water taste and odor, while also filtering contaminants like lead. Filters have a limited life and must be replaced regularly.

Distillers are home water filters that heat water to the boiling point, the collect the condensing water vapor. Distillation kills disease-causing organisms and removes most chemical contaminants, but may leave behind other impurities like radon. Many people complain that the taste of distilled water is “flat.” This is because the distillation process removes dissolved oxygen and natural minerals.

Reverse-osmosis home water filters work by using pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane. Reverse-osmosis home water filters use about three times as much water as they treat, but are the most effective of all home water filter types. They effectively eliminate all disease-causing microbes and remove most chemicals.

Devices that filter the water for your whole house are usually called point-of-entry filters. Point-of-entry filters can reduce the dangers from water-borne chemicals that turn into gases inside your home. Point-of-entry home water filters also reduce problems related to water quality like scaling, staining, and odor.

November 12, 2008

High Quality Aquasana Water Filters are Effective and Efficient

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — @ 3:21 pm

High quality Aquasana filters are some of the best water filtration devices available.  Manufactured in Texas, these USA made filters are some of the most effective and efficient filters available to consumers. Their different models include the AQ-4000 counter top filter, the AQ-4500 under the sink filter, the AQ-4501 deluxe under counter filter, the AQ-4100 shower filter and the EQ-300 whole house filter.

Both the AQ-4000 (the basis of the AQ-4500 filter) and the EQ-300 have received Underwriter Laboratories UL certification. This is a very expensive process to go through and takes an average of three years to go through the complete process. The AQ-4000 is the filter system for both the counter top and the under the sink version. Consumers Magazine “Best Buy” has rated this filter five years in a row. This is a “twin-cartridge” system. The cost per gallon is less than 10 cents per gallon. The savings over both delivered bottled water and plastic disposable water is significant. Plus, considering the enormous landfill issue with plastic bottles buying these make a lot of sense. We got ours through Better Water Store. Shipping was free and we got a great price!

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