6 Pros and Cons to a Water Filtration System

If you enjoy a cool glass of filtered water from the door of your refrigerator or cooking with purified water through a tap filter, it makes sense that a whole house water filtration system might be an enticing consideration for your home.

Whole house water solutions are growing in popularity and there are many options out there on the market.

Here are some common pros and cons that are inherent in any water filtration system you might choose.

The Pros of a Water Filtration System:

Your nose and taste buds may thank you. Depending on the state of your current tap water, a whole house water filtration system will most certainly make your tap water smell and taste better. This is probably the number one reason many people opt to invest in a whole house water filtration solution. The reason your filtered tap water will be more pleasing to smell and taste is because the filters removes most, and in some cases all,of the unseemly matter from regular city, county or well lines. This can include dirt, mud, organic decomposition waste, manmade waste, chemicals (such as mercury and lead), and other run-off that seeps into the water supply in populated areas. With a whole house water filtration system, one turn of the tap delivers water purified of these undesirable elements.
The systems are very convenient to use. If you’re using water filtration jugs, tap filters, or other smaller, over-the-counter water purification solutions you also know that it’s an ongoing cycle of refilling containers, replacing filters, and troubleshooting hoses if something isn’t working correctly. One advantage of a whole house filtration system is that purified water is delivered directly to any water outlet in your house. Beyond cooking and drinking, you can now have purified water to wash your hair, brush your teeth (without trekking to the kitchen), wash your clothes and any other activity in the house with just one turn of any tap.
Over time, these systems are much more cost efficient. It is less cost, initially, to buy the filtration units that you fill and store or that connect to your individual taps. A consideration here, though, is that multiple filtration units also mean multiple points of possible breakdown and repair. Additionally, filtration jugs and tap units wear out faster and require replacement more often. A whole house (centralized) filtration system is a single-source to maintain and, if needed, repair. Over time, you will also be paying more to replace the filters for the jugs and tap filters (not to mention the actual jugs and tap filters, which do not have as long a lifespan as a centralized whole house filtration unit).

The Cons of a Water Filtration System:

Speaking of cost, initial installation is more expensive than other filtration methods. In many cases, people who are ready to invest in a whole house water filtration system understand it will be more than the “per faucet” filtration units or higher-end filter jugs. There is a wide range of water filtration systems on the market, with the least expensive in the $500 range up to around $10,000. That’s quite a point spread, we agree. Some systems remove ALL the contaminants and chemicals from your local water source, others (as you climb in price) remove select “bad” chemicals and material, and others are designed to “remineralize” your water by putting back beneficial minerals removed during the purification process. It is important to fully research what would work best for your family’s water needs and budget. If you just want a glass of healthier water, an over-the-counter kitchen tap purifier may be all you need. (Tip: Research NSF-certified water purification systems as it relates to different brands and exactly what they remove or replenish in your home’s water supply).
You can’t pick and choose what gets filtered. Depending on how you look at it, a whole house water filtration system may be everything you wanted, or too much of a good thing. Meaning, you can’t pick and choose what water outlets are purified. From your kitchen sink, to your showers, to your washing machine, to your dishwasher to the garden hose, you’ll ultimately be paying for a system that purifies all of the water flowing through your home. You may decide that you don’t need filtered water for cleaning your car, your clothes, or your dishes and opt to buy individual tap purifiers. Once again, it comes down to your individual needs, budget and lifestyle.
Fluoride and your teeth: If you choose a whole house water filtration system that removes ALL chemicals, you will also be removing fluoride. This is considered a beneficial chemical intentionally put into local water supplies, in most American cities, to protect your teeth. You will want to talk to your dentist (both adult and pediatric, if you have children) to ascertain the full impact of removing fluoride from your home’s drinking water.

At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Charlotte, we are very familiar with whole house water filtration systems and we’re happy to offer a free consultation to see if one is the right fit for your family’s home.

Our monthly service and product specials can also save you money!