The Different Types Of Home Water Filtration Systems

Wondering what the different types of home water filtration systems are? Looking to install a system in your home but not sure what type you need? In this article we’ll be exploring the types of home water filters available and the filtration style they provide.

Physical Filtration – How Sediment Filters Fit Into Home Water Filtration Systems

One of the most common types of home water filtration, physical filters are also commonly referred to as sediment filters. Designed to provide a first line of defence against physical contaminants such as dirt, rust and other gritty nasties, these home water filtration systems are categorised based on their micron rating. It is important to note that physical filters only remove solid particles and are not effective against chemicals, bacteria, or parasites.

For this reason, sediment filters are generally used in situations where the water entering the home is more likely to include physical contaminants that could upset plumbing or appliances. They are also commonly paired with other types of filtration to ensure that water flowing through taps is safe for household use and human consumption.

Chemical Filtration – The Role Of Carbon Filters In Your Home Water Filtration System

If your main concern with water quality in your home is the taste or smell of the water coming out of your taps, carbon filtration is the way to go. Also referred to as chemical filtration as this is the type of matter these filters remove, they are most effective for those who have mains water to the home.

Carbon filtration works by drawing in chemicals and odours and trapping them within the carbon cartridge filter media. They are useful for improving scent and flavour, but do not work against cysts, bacteria or other biohazards that may be present in your water supply.

UV Sterilisation – Biological Filtration For Water In The Home

Physical and chemical filtration for the home are great when the biggest concerns you’re facing are sediment and chlorine, but if you’re concerned about biological organisms in your water supply (most common in tank water) you’ll want to install a UV filter. UV sterilisation – also commonly called UV filtration – works by targeting pathogens like bacteria, cysts and viruses as well as other biological threats that may be present with an ultraviolet light. This is done to remove the need for the addition of harsh chemicals to the water supply in order to make it safe to consume and results in top quality water coming out of the taps.

It is important to note, however, that the water flowing into your UV sterilisation unit must be crystal clear, or the light will not be able to do its job. For this reason, UV units generally sit at the end of a home water filtration system and work with water that has already been through physical filtration.

Reverse Osmosis – Gold Standard Home Water Filtration

Reverse osmosis is the slowest, but most absolute form of home water filtration system. Usually employed when your water has too many minerals, metals or salts, reverse osmosis uses a semi-permeable membrane which acts as a gate that keeps everything but the purest water molecules out. This means that it is effective even against total dissolved solids and removes contaminants that cannot be seen, smelt or tasted.

Due to the low speeds that reverse osmosis is constrained to by the high level of filtration it provides, it is often only applied to a single tap within the home. This allows for the installation of a tank to hold the purified water generated by the unit and means you can have a dedicated line for the water that has passed through your reverse osmosis unit in order to prevent recontamination.

If you’re ready to install filtration in your home, or have any questions about what setup is best for your needs, head over to our Store Locator to find your local Irrigear Independent Expert.