WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM BUYING TIPS
HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT YOUR FAMILY’S WATER IS SAFE?
With the topic of water quality occupying a prominent place in the news, utilizing a water filter has become increasingly important for the average American family.
Selecting the best home water filtration system for your family can seem daunting. With the variety of options for water filtration, it’s important to choose the water filtration solution that works best for your family.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR FILTER NEEDS
A variety of home water filters allow you to get freshly filtered water straight from the tap. Luckily, choosing a water filtration system is easier when consumers can turn to a brand they trust. GE Appliances offers a wide variety of models ranging from $20 for a basic whole house filtration system to $300 for a reverse-osmosis system. All products are rigorously tested by GE Appliances and certified by third parties to ensure owners receive a top-quality product.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR FILTER NEEDS
A variety of home water filters allow you to get freshly filtered water straight from the tap. Luckily, choosing a water filtration system is easier when consumers can turn to a brand they trust. GE Appliances offers a wide variety of models ranging from $20 for a basic whole house filtration system to $300 for a reverse-osmosis system. All products are rigorously tested by GE Appliances and certified by third parties to ensure owners receive a top-quality product.
THREE VITAL TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN SHOPPING FOR HOUSEHOLD FILTRATION PRODUCTS:
CONTAMINANT REDUCTION
DOES THE FILTER REMOVE LEAD AND MERCURY?
Know what’s in your water. Contaminants vary depending on where you live, whether it’s rural or urban, and the type of water treatment facilities and service lines supplying water to your home. Refrigerator filters can reduce contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and heavy metals like lead and mercury. Look for a filter that not only reduces chlorine (to improve taste), but is also third-party certified to remove a broad range of contaminants.
THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATION
ENSURES THE FILTER REMOVES CERTAIN CONTAMINANTS
To ensure a filter will remove a certain contaminant, purchase a product that has been third-party certified by organizations such as NSF, IAPMO or WQA certification. Contaminant reduction varies by filter types, click the Specs & Details tab on a product page to compare the level of filtration and certification standards.
FILTER REPLACEMENT
PURCHASE FILTERS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO ENSURE QUALITY
We recommend purchasing filters designed by the manufacturer to ensure it’s designed and tested to meet the highest quality standards. Refrigerator filters are designed to fit holistically within the refrigerator, as a complex system and undergo a wide array of testing to make sure they meet rigorous quality and durability standards.
GETTING THE RIGHT WATER FILTER
GE Appliances’ investment in developing a wide range of water filtration products means that families have a variety of choices. “Each product is unique in the solutions that it offers,” says Trent Jacobi, Executive Product Manager, GE Appliances, a Haier company, adding that consumers should consider their families’ needs when it comes to choosing the correct filter.
Customers may not want to choose between whole house products and under-counter systems — and shouldn’t have to, according to Jacobi: “Often, these systems can be used in a complementary fashion. Whole House systems are wonderful for removing the bigger particles such as dirt, silt, sand and rust, while under counter systems excel at addressing those difficult-to-remove contaminants. Refrigerator filters produced by reputable brand sources offer many of the same benefits of under counter systems, but within the convenience of an existing appliance.” Investing in both types can ensure your family’s health.
MOST FILTERS CAN BE EASILY REPLACED BY A SIMPLE TURN OR PUSH
“Replacing your filter is critical to ensuring your water quality.” explains Jacobi. “Once the capacity of a filter is reached, it is not guaranteed that contaminants will be removed or reduced.” The life span of a filter varies by model type, and replacement water filters can range between $10 and $50 in cost. You’ll notice refrigerator and under-the-sink models have a 6-month filter life span, while whole house filters you should replace every 3-months. Many refrigerator models have a filter-life indicator, which tells you when it’s time to change the filter. However if you’re wondering when to replace a water filter, it’s easier to remember than you might think, use daylight savings as a reminder to change your clock; change your filter.
Investing and maintaining a high-quality filtration system is a necessary step for any homeowner. Not only can it ensure your family’s health and wellness years down the road; it also saves money by reducing a family’s spending on bottled water.