Water Filters, Systems and Cartridges
KleenWater Consumer Water Filter Selection Guide
How to Choose a Water Filter
Kleenwater™ has put together this brief guide, for consumers, to help simplify the water filter selection process. There are many variables to consider when choosing a water purification system or replacement filter cartridge. The following information is our attempt to help simplify your decision making process.
Whole House or Point of Entry Water Filters
The purpose of a whole house water filter is to treat all water to a dwelling by installing a water filter where the main water source enters the home. This type of filtration is great for treating all the water sources in a property but it requires a filter system that can handle large amounts of water without restricting the flow. If the system is too small or if you try to filter fine particles and chemicals you may find the flow rate measured in gallons per minute (GPM) will become severely reduced. You may also need to replace filters more often. It is important to choose the correct size and type of filter according to your filtration needs.
Point of Use Water Filters
A point of use water filter is installed to directly target a particular area or problem. This commonly includes under sinks, showers, refrigerators and dishwashers. There is less water usage in these areas which allows for smaller filters and smaller particle filtration.
Common Water Problems
Home water filtration problems commonly include chlorine, rust, staining, corroded pipes, clay, cysts, dirt / sediment, iron, acid, rotten egg odor and bad tasting water. Solving a water problem is best done by choosing the most appropriate type of water filter cartridge. Cartridges use different filtration techniques, materials and media to purify water.
Types of Water Filter Cartridges and Cost
The less expensive melt blown polypropylene, string wound and pleated filters are most often used to filter dirt, rust and sediment. Carbon block filters are good for chlorine, odor and chemical removal. They are generally more expensive because they use more expensive media and are more complicated to construct. Hybrid filters which can solve all of the above problems are generally the most expensive.
Cartridge Micron Ratings
The most common filter cartridge ratings range between .5 to 100 microns. 5 micron cartridges are by far the most popular. They provide superior filtration while allowing a reasonable GPM flow rate. Smaller micron ratings mean better entrapment capability. A smaller micron rating will also mean a filter may have to be changed more frequently along with providing a slower gallon per minute flow rate.