Ensuring your home has clean, safe water is crucial, but knowing when to install a water filter isn’t always straightforward since the signs aren’t always obvious. While your city may treat your tap water, that doesn’t always mean it’s free of contaminants that may affect your health and home.
The City of Jackson has experienced recurring boil water advisories for many years because of lead and E. coli bacteria in their water. Residents of Lake Caroline have complained of a slimy sediment in their water and damage to their appliances. Some have noticed discoloration in their laundry. These symptoms indicate chlorine, heavy metals, or harmful bacteria in your water. So, how can you know if a water filter is necessary?
At Environment Masters, we’ve helped countless Central Mississippi homeowners enhance their water quality with tailored filtration solutions. Our systems are designed to remove these harmful water contaminants, providing you and your family with clean, safe water. This guide will tell you what to look for, how to test your water and help you choose the right filtration system.
Visible Signs You Might Need a Water Filter
Your water could contain common contaminants like chlorine or heavy metals. The City of Madison even has levels of radium, chloroform, and bromodichloromethane, according to the EWG. You can also search the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) water quality database and search by your zip code to uncover potential issues in your area.
Here’s what to look for and what it means:
1. Scale Buildup
- What it looks like: White or chalky on faucets, showerheads, or inside appliances.
- Cause: Hard water containing high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
- Impact: Reduces appliance efficiency and lifespan, clogs pipes, and can leave skin feeling dry.
2. Discolored or Murky Water
- What it looks like: Brown, orange, or yellow-tinted water.
- Cause: Rust, iron, or other sediment, from aging pipes or municipal water systems.
- Impact: Stains clothing, damages fixtures, and raises health concerns.
3. Foul Taste or Odor
- What it smells/tastes like: Metallic flavor or sulfur (rotten egg) odor.
- Cause: Chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, or high levels of dissolved metals used in chemical treatment.
- Impact: It is unpleasant to drink and may indicate harmful contaminants.
4. Skin and Hair Issues
- What it feels like: Persistent dryness, itching, or irritation after bathing.
- Cause: Excess chlorine or minerals in water.
- Impact: Worsens skin conditions and dulls hair texture.
5. Appliance Wear and Tear
- What happens: Frequent breakdowns or reduced efficiency in washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters.
- Cause: Mineral buildup from hard water.
- Impact: Costly repairs and replacements.
Hidden Issues: Discover What’s in Your Water
While some issues with your water are obvious, most water problems are invisible to the naked eye. Contaminants like lead, bacteria, and chemicals might not alter your water’s appearance but can still pose serious health risks. Testing your water is the best way to know if you need a water filter. At Environment Masters, we offer professional water testing services to identify contaminants and assess water hardness.
How to Choose the Right Water Filtration System
Once you know what’s in your water, the next step is deciding how to filter it. Here’s a breakdown of the two main types of filtration systems:
1. Point-of-Use Systems
- What they are: Filters installed at specific locations like kitchen faucets or refrigerator water lines.
- Best for: Targeted issues like improving drinking and cooking water.
- Pros:
- Affordable upfront cost.
- Easy to install and maintain.
- Cons:
- Limited coverage (doesn’t protect appliances).
- Doesn’t address water quality issues throughout the house.
2. Whole-Home Filtration Systems
- What they are: Systems installed at the main water line, filtering all the water entering your home.
- Best for: Comprehensive water quality improvement for drinking, bathing, and cleaning.
- Pros:
- Reduces scale buildup and protects plumbing.
- Enhances water quality throughout the house.
- Cons:
- Higher upfront cost.
- Requires professional installation and periodic maintenance.
If your main concern is healthier drinking water, consider installing a water filter on your kitchen sink. Water filters can be attached directly to a showerhead to relieve dry hair and skin.
Point-of-use water filters like these are designed to reduce or remove water contaminates right at the end of the water system at the faucet or showerhead. These are great solutions for renters who don’t want to invest in a whole home system for a home you don’t own or for homeowners who want an economical way to improve the water they ingest.
A whole-home water filter removes contaminants from your entire home’s water supply as the water enters your home from the city’s water system. Filtering all of your home’s water ensures you’ll enjoy clean water from every source in your home. Clean water running through your appliances will result in less wear and tear on your dishwasher and no discoloration of your laundry.
How Environment Masters Can Help
Whether you’re dealing with hard water, strange odors, or invisible contaminants, Environment Masters can help you achieve clean, safe water. If you want to feel safer about the quality of your water, we’re here for you.
Our experienced team installs and services a wide range of point-of-use and whole-home water filtration systems throughout the Jackson, MS metro area.
Our HALO ION Inline Water Conditioner is a whole-home system that switches around the molecular structure of minerals in your water. It removes any minerals from your water that could damage your plumbing or lead to corrosion. This is one of several systems we offer that will protect you from contaminants that could be coming from your city’s water supply.
No matter what kind of state your water supply is in, Environment Masters can help you improve the water in your entire home. Here’s our hassle-free process:
- Test Your Water: We’ll identify contaminants and tailor recommendations.
- Explore Options: One of our knowledgeable plumbers will discuss filtration system options so you can choose the best for your needs.
- Install and Enjoy: Let us handle the installation so you can enjoy better water immediately.
Take Control of Your Water Quality
Identifying the need for a water filter involves more than spotting visible issues. Regular testing and awareness of subtle signs ensure you and your family enjoy clean, safe water. Find out what’s in your water. Call us today to schedule your water test.
Have questions? Want a free quote on a water filtration system? Contact us at (769) 201-2900.
Whether you choose a point-of-use or whole-home system, we’re committed to helping you find the best filtration solution to protect your health, appliances, and peace of mind.
