The Best Home Water Filtration Systems

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The Best Home Water Filtration Systems

One of the smartest investments you can make in your health is to ensure that your home’s water is the best it can be. When you don’t have to look further than your own tap to get a glass of clean, great-tasting water, you’re more likely to down that essential eight glasses a day.

If your water is a far cry from being better than bottled water, a well-chosen filtration solution can turn your tap water into great water. Whether your issue can be fixed at the faucet, or is better addressed at the point the plumbing line enters your home, your water treatment should be chosen to meet your specific needs. While simple issues may resolve with the installation of a single filter, for more complex issues you may find that an investment in a professionally installed, whole house filtration system is your ideal solution.

Test your water before purchasing

In order to choose the best treatment solution for your water, you first have to identify the issues. While you may be able to guess the source of the smell of chlorine, or the limescale on your plumbing fixtures, there may well be other contaminants lurking in your water that seemingly leave no trace. When you’re dealing with multiple contaminants, or their presence at very high levels, you may need a series of solutions, or a very specific treatment option to best address it.

The only way to know for sure what is in your water is to test it. Once you have the answers to “What’s in it?”, you can begin to figure out “How do I treat it?”

My test shows hard water - what’s my filtration solution?

Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (GPG); hard water is anything above 3 GPG. Hard water contains high amounts of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which can leave scale on your appliances, build up mineral deposits in plumbing, make laundry feel stiff and rough, and leave your skin and hair dull and lifeless.

A traditional salt-based water softener is recommended for well water. If you’re on municipal water, you can also consider a salt-free water conditioner to remove scale. Water conditioners may use either a special media, or a magentic treatment for de-scaling.

Successful treatment of your water issues will depend on both the level of hardness, and if there are other contaminants present in the water such as iron.

Water Softeners
Salt-Free Water Conditioners
Read more about hard water

My test shows iron - what’s my filtration solution?

Visible stains from iron appear at levels as low as 0.3 parts per million. Iron may give your water a metallic taste, and can turn tea, coffee and potatoes black. Black stains may also be a sign of Manganese. Both are often present in well water.

The EPA recommended maximum level of iron in your water is 0.3 ppm. In order to effectively treat the iron in your water supply, you’ll need to verify both the type and level of the iron in your water. Treatment options range from replaceable cartridge filters for your water supply, to whole house softeners or backwashing filters.

If your iron level is below 3 parts per million (ppm), you could install an iron and manganese filter cartridge at the point of entry to your home.

Iron and Manganese Reduction Water Cartridge Kit

If you have BOTH iron that is below 4 ppm AND hard water, you could invest in a Tier1 Whole House Hardness, Iron and Manganese system.

Hardness, Iron and Manganese Reduction System

If you DO NOT have hard water, and your iron level is above 4 ppm, your best option would be the Tier1 Whole House Iron, Manganese and Hydrogen Sulfide Air Induction Oxidation Filter System (Discontinued).

If you have hard water AND iron above 4 ppm, your best option would be to install both a traditional salt-based softener and the Iron, Manganese and Hydrogen Sulfide AIO System.

Tier1 Water Softeners
Iron, Manganese and Hydrogen Sulfide AIO System (Discontinued)

My test shows chlorine - what’s my filtration solution?

If you have chlorine in your water, you likely already smell or taste it. If the level is below 4 ppm, it’s not a health hazard but you probably still want to address it.

If you are only concerned about the bleachy taste and odor, you could treat the problem at the tap with a replaceable point of use filter.

If you want to reduce the chlorine from all the water in your home, you can install a filtration system at the point of entry of the water to your home.

My test shows: nitrates/nitrites/arsenic/fluoride/copper/lead/TDS - what’s my filtration solution?

When your water test shows a high result for any of the following, your best option is to treat it at your drinking water tap: Nitrates/Nitrites, Arsenic, Fluoride, Copper, Lead, Total Dissolved Soids (TDS).

Because of the high level of filtration necessary to eliminate these contaminants in your water, the resulting flow rate is typically only practical for filtration at your faucet. While these contaminants may be health hazards, they likely don’t affect the water you use to bathe, do laundry, or wash your dishes. Your best treatment option is a Reverse Osmosis System.

Reverse Osmosis System

My test shows sulfates - what’s my filtration solution?

If your water test shows sulfates, you may already have noticed a bitter or medicinal taste. A reverse osmosis system will reduce sulfates in your water. But if you smell rotten eggs, it is a telltale sign of the presence of hydrogen sulfide or sulfur bacteria in your water. You’ll need to identify whether the source is the water supply or your plumbing, so you’re sure to treat the actual cause of the issue. Treatments for sulfur may range from flushing your drains, to replaceable cartridge filters, or whole home filtration system.

Read more about sulfur in your water

My test shows bacteria - what’s my filtration solution?

If you see Total Coliform on your water test, pay attention. Because it’s impossible to test for all organisms, the detection of Total Coliform serves as indicator bacteria for how sanitary your water system is. If Total Coliform shows up in your water sample, surface contamination has somehow entered the water, and you’re at risk for disease-causing organisms.

For the most effective, year-round protection, install a water filtration system with Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection to deactivate the bacteria right as it enters your home.

UV Disinfection

My test shows low pH - what’s my filtration solution?

If your pH test is below normal range, or you find copper in your water, you may have acidic water. A pH level of 7 is considered “neutral”. The acceptable range for pH in water systems is 6.5 to 8.5. Low pH water is corrosive, which can lead to copper, lead, and other metals from pipes, fixtures and appliances leaching into your water. To raise the pH of acidic water, install a whole house water neutralizing system.

Tier1 Whole House Water Neutralizing System

Are whole house water filtration solutions worth it?

Whether you want the best water possible or just want to make it better, the key to improving your water quality is identifying your specific issues and choosing the most effective treatment solution. The answer may be as simple as a carbon filter to improve the taste, or involve the investment in a whole home system for more serious issues. If you have questions about the results of your water test, you can contact a Tier1water Customer Support Specialist to guide you on your decision.