Water fluoridation in the UK Fluoride occurs naturally in water, but some areas of the UK (England only) have fluoride added by the water companies upon request from local health authorities. We'll cover why they fluoridate drinking water later. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland do not currently add fluoride to drinking water, but naturally occurring fluoride may be present. Here is a water fluoridation UK map so you can quickly see if fluoride has been added to your drinking water. This map was sourced from GOV.UK. Key Points Fluoride occurs naturally in all water, but only England artificially adds it; Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland do not. Only about 10% of England's population (roughly 6 million people) has fluoride added, mainly in the West Midlands and North East. Fluoride is added to reduce tooth decay and oral health inequalities, especially in children, and is considered a safe public health measure. Regulations allow up to 1.5 mg/l; where England fluoridates, it's done up to 1 mg/l. Check the UK fluoridation map and your water supplier's website to find out if your supply is artificially fluoridated. If you'd rather not have it, boiling won't remove fluoride, but a specialist fluoride filter for drinking water, kitchen tap, or whole house will. Table of contents Understanding water fluoridation Fluoride in drinking water Checking fluoride levels in your area Effective methods for removing fluoride from water Key takeaways from Fountain Filters FAQ about fluoride in water Understanding water fluoridation The main reason that fluoride is added to water is to prevent rising tooth decay and improve oral health in the general population. However, fluoridation of water pales in comparison to the availability of toothpaste containing fluoride, which is available across the UK. Fluoride in varying levels is added to toothpaste as a preventative measure against oral disease and is the most common delivery system of fluoride to the UK population. Benefits of fluoridated water The addition of fluoride in water is all about intervention. Food sugars + mouth plaque bacteria = acid, which leads to cavities. Dental cavities can ultimately end in tooth decay and extraction, unless something is done about it. Tooth decay is avoidable. Extracting decayed teeth from children is not something to celebrate. According to the British Dental Association (BDA) 'tooth decay is still going unchallenged as the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children'. And for the financial year 2021-2022 there were 26,741 episodes of tooth extractions in NHS hospitals for 0-19 year olds, with the primary reason being tooth decay. This obviously cost the NHS, and you the taxpayer a lot of money. This is why some parts of the UK fluoridate water, and why fluoride toothpaste is available. So that there are consistent levels of fluoride in the mouth to make teeth enamel more resistant to decay. Research findings on water fluoridation Despite the horror stories that you'll read on the world-wide web, water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health intervention that can improve dental health and help to narrow dental health inequalities across England. Of course, that doesn't mean you have to agree with it. You can remove fluoride from tap water and we'll guide you through the most effective ways to do this with one of our fluoride water filters. The Water Quality Regulations 2016 allow for up to 1.5 mg/l of fluoride in the public water supply. If water companies in England fluoridate water, they do so up to 1 mg/l. Visiting your water supplier's website will give you the most up to date information of the fluoride levels in your water supply. Remember that fluoride is naturally present in water, and the fluoride UK water map above tells you if you're in an area that is artificially fluoridated. Fluoride in drinking water We've already established that England is the only country in the UK that adds fluoride to drinking water to improve dental health. And only 10% of England's population has fluoride added to drinking water, which is about 6 million people. The most extensively fluoridated areas in England are the West Midlands and the Northeast of England. Historically, these are areas that have experienced high levels of deprivation. Checking fluoride levels in your area To quickly check if you have fluoride added to your drinking water supply, look at our UK fluoride water map above. Then for more detailed information about the fluoride levels in your drinking water, look at your water supplier's website. They may have a postcode checker, so it's worthwhile looking for that. This will give you the level of fluoride present in your household water. It will also give you information on permissible levels. Effective methods for removing fluoride from water If your water is currently being fluoridated to elevate the naturally occurring levels, you may or may not agree with it. That's entirely up to you and if you disagree with the fluoridation of water, you can do something about it. Firstly, you can stop buying toothpaste that has fluoride added to it. The toothpaste tube will always list fluoride if it's been added. Secondly, you can reduce the amount of fluoride in your household water with one of our specialist fluoride water filters. Our fluoride filters will either treat your drinking water only, kitchen cold tap, or whole house. It really is very easy, and we will do what we can to help you. So, check the map, check your water supplier's website, do some research, decide what's best for you and your family, and if that's to minimise exposure to fluoride the next logical step is to call us on 01352 838 281 or pop a message on our helpdesk. Key takeaways from Fountain Filters When it comes to water filtration there is always a lot of information to sift through and try to understand. But for the purposes of fluoride in water, here are our top three takeaways. Look at the UK water fluoridation map above to determine if your water is artificially fluoridated. Remember that fluoride occurs naturally in water, so getting one of those home test kits for fluoride will almost always throw up a positive reading for fluoride. It's better to visit your water supplier's website. Work out whether you want fluoride in your water or not. If you don't want fluoride in your drinking water, then contact Fountain Filters and do something about it. FAQ about fluoride in water Does boiling water remove fluoride? NO. Boiling water does not remove fluoride. If you boil water containing fluoride, it would leave the same amount of fluoride in a smaller amount of water, due to evaporation during the boiling process. Why do water companies use fluoride? Fluoride is added to some public water supplies in England to reduce oral health inequalities and tooth decay rates, particularly in children aged 0-19 years old. Does bottled water have fluoride in it? Bottled water may contain fluoride. It's important to look at the label on the brand you wish to purchase. About the author Louise Allen is a partner at Fountain Filters, where she's helped run the business since 2011. Alongside the day-to-day order management, despatch, and quality, she's built up a practical, hands-on knowledge of water filtration, and reviews the site's articles to keep the advice accurate and genuinely useful. Outside work, she's run the London Marathon with business partner Simon.
0 hard vs soft water differences
Understanding hard and soft water Understanding hard vs soft water isn't complicated. Water contains a variety of minerals. The minerals responsible for hard water are calcium and magnesium. Essentially, the more calcium and magnesium present in your water, the harder your water is. Without getting into too much detail here as we'll be covering it later, water hardness is measured in parts per million (ppm) and levels vary across the UK. Your water is classed as moderately hard if you have a reading of 101 - 200 ppm. The higher the ppm the harder your water. Very hard water has a ppm reading of 276+. In this article we're going to cover the difference between hard and soft water. You'll gain an understanding of what causes hard vs soft water, how to identify if you have hard or soft water and the pros and cons of both. Whilst hard water is nothing to be alarmed about, you'll also learn about why many people in the UK prefer soft water compared to hard and a little about how you can soften or condition your hard water. Key Points Water hardness comes down to how much calcium and magnesium is dissolved in it; more minerals means harder water. Hardness is measured in ppm, ranging from soft (0-100) up to very hard (276+), and varies across the UK depending on local geology. Hard water isn't a health risk and is fine to drink, but it causes limescale on appliances, taps, and screens, and can dry out skin and hair. Soft water lathers better, is kinder to appliances and clothes, and saves on cleaning products. Hard water has benefits too: the minerals are good for your diet and plants prefer it over softened water. You can switch to soft water with a salt-based softener, a salt-free conditioner, or protect just the boiler with a descaler. Table of contents Differences between hard water and soft water What are the causes of hard vs soft water How to identify if you have hard or soft water Common issues with hard water Benefits of hard water Reasons to switch to soft water Can you drink softened water The water softening process and its safety Why trust Fountain Filters with your hard water in the UK FAQs Differences between hard water and soft water It's all down to the concentration of minerals in the water. If your water has a high calcium and magnesium mineral content you have hard water. If your water has a lower calcium and magnesium mineral content you have softer water. The sliding scale below tends to be used as a guide to determine levels of water hardness. Very hard water: 276 and above (275.00 mg/l up) Hard water: 201-275 ppm (200-274.50 mg/l) Moderately hard water: 101-200 ppm (100-199.64 mg/l) Soft water: 0-100 ppm (0-99.89 mg/l) The differences between hard water and soft water are visible. If you live in a hard water area in the UK, you'll experience and probably get quite irritated with: Limescale spots all over your shower screens and limescale deposits on the shower head. Limescale build up around plugs and limescale crusting on the end of taps. Scaly limescale in your kettle, which then end up floating on the top of your hot drinks. Limescale spots on your glasses when they come out of the dishwasher. Limescale coming out of your iron. Household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, boilers breaking down more quickly because of the limescale build up in pipes and the internal mechanics. Increased energy costs. Having to use more self-care products such as shampoo, soap and shower gel just to get some soapy lather. Clothes fresh out of the washing machine can be mineral stained and wear out more easily. Diminishing water pressure due to the build up of limescale in household pipes. Because soft water has lower levels of calcium and magnesium, you'll avoid many of the problems listed directly above. Soap will lather up beautifully, clothes will be cleaner and last longer, and you'll probably have better water pressure throughout your home. Soft water will also save you time when cleaning as it won't take as long, and you should spend less money on cleaning products. We say 'should spend less money' because we all know how much people love buying cleaning products they don't need. This is what we refer to as 'the Hinch effect'! What are the causes of hard vs soft water Hard water has high concentrations of dissolved minerals; calcium carbonate (CaCO3), magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), and occasionally small amounts of silicates of various kinds. Soft water has lower concentrations of these dissolved minerals. It's all to do with geology and where the source of the water is and the rocks and landscapes the water has flowed through and over before reaching the water treatment works and eventually your taps. How to identify if you have hard or soft water Aside from just intuitively knowing whether you've got soft water vs hard water based on what we've already covered in this article we have a couple of other ways you can confirm what you already know. The first is our postcode checker. Fountain Filters have built an easy to use and free online tool where you can check how hard your water is. If you type in your postcode, it will let you know whether you live in a very hard water, hard water, moderately hard water, or soft water area. Our postcode checker doesn't stop there. It will also give you further detail on what your water type means and practical suggestions on how to change it. The second way you can check hard water vs soft water in the UK is to look at your local water suppliers website and that should tell you approximately what your parts per million (ppm) reading is. The information may be expressed as milligrams per litre (mg/l) or degrees Clark. Don't be confused - they all mean the same thing. Common issues with hard water There are negative side effects with hard water and none of them are to do with drinking it. As we've already mentioned - hard water leaves it's mark at various locations around your house, including: Shower screens and shower heads. Polished floors, benches, counter tops, and around tap ends and plugs. Household appliances including dishwashers, washing machines, boilers, and kettles. Limescale can be difficult to remove and no sooner than you think you've cleaned it away; over time it comes back and you're back to square one - unless you do something to sort it out once and for all. More on this later. Additionally, washing your hair and body in hard water can create issues that you wish weren't there. Hair and skin can be left feeling dry and itchy which is a major irritation if you already suffer from skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, or psoriasis. Benefits of hard water Hard water contains valuable minerals such as calcium and magnesium and it's healthy to drink. We need those minerals in our diet, which is one of the reasons Fountain Filters can't fathom out why some people choose to drink distilled water. That makes no sense to us. Hard water is good for the garden. Many plants prefer hard vs soft water just because of the use of sodium chloride (salt) in softened water. Plants and soil just don't want to drink softened water. Reasons to switch to soft water Even though hard water doesn't pose any significant health risks, more people want to experience the benefits of soft water compared to hard water. You switch to soft water by treating the hard water in your home. The main reason people want to switch to softer water is because they are irritated by the damaging effects of limescale on their expensive household appliances. They want to benefit from household appliances lasting longer. People either opt for water softeners or a salt free whole house hard water filter system. The two approaches work differently: a conventional water softener reduces hardness minerals, while a salt free system is designed to control the effects of limescale without conventionally softening the water. Or, and becoming even more popular in the UK is protecting a home's boiler with one of our boiler descalers. Can you drink softened water 'Can you drink softened water' is a question Fountain Filters gets asked a lot. So, much so, that we wrote an article about it. The simple answer is 'yes', drinking soft water vs hard water is OK in most cases. In that article we've stated that drinking softened water may be safe for healthy adults, but not necessarily children or those that need to follow a low sodium diet. By softened water, we mean water that has been treated with a water softener. The water softening process and its safety Have you ever wondered how a water softener works? Fountain Filters explains is right here for you. This article ties in quite nicely with our article about whether softened water is safe to drink. It's important to always do your own research, because ultimately you must be happy with the water in your home. Why trust Fountain Filters with your hard water in the UK Even though we advocate doing your own research when it comes to hard vs soft water, Fountain Filters, a leading UK specialist in treating hard water have been helping people resolve the negative impact of hard water in their homes since 2011. We receive daily calls and help-desk messages from people who want to move from hard to soft water. Will you be the next person to contact us on 01352 838 281 or drop a message into our inbox? We're here to help. FAQs What is the difference between hard and soft water? The difference comes down to how much calcium and magnesium is dissolved in the water. Hard water has a high mineral content, while soft water has a lower one. Hardness is measured in parts per million (ppm), ranging from soft (0-100 ppm) to very hard (276+ ppm). Is hard water safe to drink? Yes, hard water is perfectly safe to drink. The calcium and magnesium it contains are valuable minerals that we need in our diet. The downsides of hard water are to do with limescale on appliances and surfaces, not with drinking it. How do I know if I have hard or soft water? You can use the Fountain Filters postcode checker to find out whether you live in a very hard, hard, moderately hard, or soft water area. Alternatively, check your local water supplier's website, which should give you a ppm reading. Visible signs of hard water include limescale in your kettle and on taps and shower screens. How can I change hard water to soft water? You can treat hard water in your home with a salt-based water softener, a salt-free whole house conditioner that changes the water's chemical properties so scale doesn't stick, or a boiler descaler to protect just your boiler. The right option depends on your needs. About the author Louise Allen is a partner at Fountain Filters, where she's helped run the business since 2011. Alongside the day-to-day order management, despatch, and quality, she's built up a practical, hands-on knowledge of water filtration, and reviews the site's articles to keep the advice accurate and genuinely useful. Outside work, she's run the London Marathon with business partner Simon.
0 water softener troubleshooting
Can you drink softened water? If you've got a water softener installed, or you're thinking about getting one, there's a very common question that crops up: can you drink softened water? It's a really good question, and the answer isn't a simple yes or no. In this article we'll explain what softened water actually is, whether it's safe to drink, who should avoid drinking it, and what your options are if you want great tasting drinking water alongside all the benefits that a water softener brings to your home. Key Points Softened water is produced by ion exchange, which swaps the calcium and magnesium in hard water for sodium (from the softener salt). The amount of sodium added depends on how hard your original water is - the harder the water, the more sodium ends up in it. For most healthy adults, softened water is fine to drink, but it's not recommended for infants, or people on low-sodium diets or with high blood pressure. Softened water is not the same as filtered water; softening tackles limescale, it doesn't remove chlorine, chemicals, or other contaminants. The usual recommendation is to keep a separate hard water tap (typically the kitchen cold tap) for drinking and cooking. For the best drinking water, pair your softener with a separate drinking water filter or an RO system to bring sodium levels back down. Table of contents What is softened water? Is softened water safe to drink? Who should avoid drinking softened water? What does softened water taste like? Is softened water the same as filtered water? How to get the best of both worlds How Fountain Filters can help you FAQs What is softened water? Softened water is water that has had the hardness minerals - calcium and magnesium - removed from it. A traditional water softener does this through a process called ion exchange. Hard water passes through a resin inside the water softener. This resin is covered in sodium ions. As the hard water flows over the resin, the calcium and magnesium ions swap places with the sodium ions. The result is water that is softer, because the hardness minerals have been removed, but that now contains a little more sodium than it did before. How much sodium is added depends on how hard your water was to begin with. The harder the original water, the more calcium and magnesium there is to remove, and therefore the more sodium is added during the softening process. Is softened water safe to drink? For most healthy adults, softened water is safe to drink. The amount of sodium added during the softening process is relatively small, especially when compared to the amount of sodium (salt) that most people consume in their daily diet. However, there are some people who should not drink softened water, and we'll cover who they are in the next section. It's also worth remembering that the sodium content will be higher in very hard water areas, so if you live somewhere with very hard water, your softened water will contain more sodium than someone living in a moderately hard water area. Who should avoid drinking softened water? Softened water is not recommended for everyone. The following people should avoid drinking softened water and should use a separate supply of unsoftened water, or filtered water, for drinking and cooking: Infants and babies - softened water is not suitable for making up baby formula. Anyone on a low-sodium diet, as advised by their doctor. People with high blood pressure, heart conditions, or kidney problems. If you're at all unsure, we'd always recommend speaking to your doctor before drinking softened water. This is exactly why most water softener installations include a separate hard water tap, or retain the kitchen cold tap as an unsoftened supply, so there's always a source of drinking water that hasn't been through the softener. What does softened water taste like? This is where personal preference comes into play. Some people love the taste of softened water, others aren't so keen. Because the minerals have been removed, softened water can taste slightly different to the hard water you may be used to. Some describe it as feeling 'silkier' or 'smoother'. The very small amount of sodium isn't usually detectable by taste, but some people are more sensitive to it than others. Is softened water the same as filtered water? No, and this is a really important distinction that a lot of people get confused about. A water softener deals with one thing - limescale, caused by hard water minerals. A water softener does not: Remove chlorine. Remove PFAS (forever chemicals). Remove microplastics. Remove pesticides or other chemicals. Improve the taste and smell of your water in the way a carbon filter does. So, if your goal is great tasting drinking water that's free from chlorine and other contaminants, a water softener on its own won't achieve that. You'd need a drinking water filter for that job. How to get the best of both worlds The good news is that you don't have to choose between soft water and great drinking water. You can have both. Here are the most popular ways our customers get the benefits of a water softener alongside excellent drinking water: Keep a separate hard water tap - most water softeners are installed so that the kitchen cold tap remains unsoftened, giving you hard water for drinking and cooking while the rest of the house enjoys soft water. Add a drinking water filter - install a separate drinking water filter on your kitchen tap to remove chlorine, improve taste, and reduce contaminants. Install a reverse osmosis system - a reverse osmosis system will remove the sodium added during the softening process, along with a huge range of other contaminants, giving you exceptionally pure drinking water. Of these, a reverse osmosis system is the option that specifically tackles the added sodium, so it's a great choice if you're softening very hard water and want to bring the sodium level back down for drinking. How Fountain Filters can help you Deciding whether to drink softened water, and working out the best set up for your home, can feel a bit daunting. That's where we come in. We've been helping people navigate hard water, soft water, and everything in between since 2011. Whether you want a water softener, a drinking water filter, a reverse osmosis system, or a combination of all three, we'll help you find the right solution for your home and your circumstances. Just give us a call on 01352 838 281 or drop a message onto our helpdesk and we'll be happy to help. FAQs Can you drink softened water? For most healthy adults, yes, softened water is safe to drink. The sodium added during softening is relatively small compared to a normal daily diet. However, it's not recommended for infants, people on low-sodium diets, or those with high blood pressure, heart, or kidney conditions. Why is there sodium in softened water? Softened water is produced by ion exchange, where the calcium and magnesium that cause hardness are swapped for sodium ions from the softener's resin. The amount of sodium added is proportional to how hard your water was to start with - for roughly every 100 ppm of hardness removed, about 45 mg/l of sodium is added. So the harder your original water, the more sodium ends up in it, which is why softened water isn't recommended for infants or anyone on a low-sodium diet. Is softened water the same as filtered water? No. A water softener only removes the calcium and magnesium that cause limescale. It does not remove chlorine, PFAS, microplastics, or other chemicals, and it won't improve taste the way a carbon filter does. For that you need a separate drinking water filter. How can I remove the sodium from softened water? A reverse osmosis system will remove the sodium added during the softening process, along with a wide range of other contaminants, giving you very pure drinking water. Alternatively, many people keep the kitchen cold tap as an unsoftened hard water supply for drinking and cooking. About the author Louise Allen is a partner at Fountain Filters, where she's helped run the business since 2011. Alongside the day-to-day order management, despatch, and quality, she's built up a practical, hands-on knowledge of water filtration, and reviews the site's articles to keep the advice accurate and genuinely useful. Outside work, she's run the London Marathon with business partner Simon.
0 whole house water filtration system costs and benefits
Is a whole house water filtration system for me? Costs and benefits of a mains water system This article looks at the significant benefits of a whole house water filter and how the benefits outweigh both the initial outlay and ongoing maintenance cost of a whole house water filtration system. A whole house water filtration system will solve the problems you're having with the water that's coming into your house, whether that's from a mains or private water supply. We have different types of whole house water filters in stock and ready to dispatch at Fountain Filters. We'll clarify what those types are and how with our expert guidance you can decide on the best type of whole house water filter for you. Key Points A whole house (point of entry) filter treats water at every tap, shower, and appliance, unlike a point of use filter that only treats the kitchen tap. The best system is simply the one that solves your specific water problem, whether that's limescale, chlorine, sediment, or microorganisms. Main types include water softeners and salt-free conditioners for hard water, UV systems for bacteria and viruses, sediment filters, and carbon filters for chlorine and chemicals. Salt-free conditioners need far less maintenance than traditional salt-based softeners. On a private supply, a sediment filter is an essential first stage before any UV system, or the UV won't work properly. There are three costs to weigh up: the system itself, professional installation if needed, and annual replacement cartridges - but the benefits typically outweigh the cost long term. Table of contents Benefits of a whole house water filter Types of whole house water filters Best type of whole house water filter How much does a whole house water filtration system cost? How Fountain Filters can help you get a mains water filter for the whole house FAQs Benefits of a whole house water filter The benefits of whole house water filtration systems are numerous if you have a problem to fix. The most advantageous benefits when you install a whole house water filter are that they: Can be tailor made to resolve the problems that you have with your water. This is a key benefit as you have control over what's in your water and what isn't. Will improve the smell and taste of your water. Extend the life of your household appliances, particularly if your problem is with hard water. Protect your household's pipe work. Save you money in the long term because you won't be buying water from supermarkets in plastic bottles. Give you peace of mind that you and your family have access to the cleanest, safest water you can. Types of whole house water filters A whole house water filter is a point of entry (POE) system. This means that the water coming out of every tap in your house will be filtered. It doesn't stop there. All the water coming out of your shower heads will be filtered too, as well as the water used in your dishwasher, washing machine and other appliances in your house that use water. Even when you flush the loo, you'll be flushing it with filtered water. It's important not to confuse point of entry systems with point of use (POU) water filtration systems. A POU water filter only treats the water coming out of your kitchen tap, such as one of our drinking water filters. This type of drinking water filter would be complemented by one of our water filter taps. Now that we've clarified the difference between POE and POU water filter systems let's look at the different types of whole house water filters. You can browse our mains water filters here, or read on to compare the main types of whole house water filtration available. Whole house water softeners If you have hard water and the limescale is causing you problems, installing a whole house water softener system could be a worthwhile investment. Hard water can be a curse in many households. The high concentration of calcium and magnesium; the minerals that create limescale can leave a trail of destruction in your home. From scale floating on your hot drinks, hard to wipe away soap scum in your shower, to clogged pipes and broken down appliances. Luckily, for you limescale haters we have water softeners in stock that will kiss those scaly deposits goodbye. Our water softeners start from £677.99 (prices current June 2024 and may be subject to change). Whole house water conditioners Fountain Filters is leading the way with its range of salt-free whole house water conditioners using OneFlow media. Water conditioners are salt-free solutions to the negative impacts that hard water can have in your home. A whole house water conditioner requires minimal maintenance, much less than a traditional water softener. You can buy a whole house water conditioner from £356.99 (prices current June 2024 and may be subject to change). Ultraviolet water filter systems If parasites, bacteria, viruses, and fungi are a real concern for you; particularly if your water source is from a bore hole or well, then seeking advice from UV water filter specialists such as Fountain Filters will be necessary. The benefits of installing a whole house water filtration system that will kill potentially dangerous living organisms will far outweigh the cost. Peace of mind that you and your family can consume water that is free of disease is priceless. The cost of a whole house water purification system that uses UV light to kill 99.9% of living organisms starts from £427.00 (Prices current June 2024 and may be subject to change). Sediment water filters Whole house sediment filters trap contaminants in water such as sediment, dirt, sand, rust, and clay. Contaminants such as those above may make your water cloudy, which is referred to as turbidity. A sediment filter is a necessary first stage in a private water supply if you are thinking of installing an ultraviolet (UV) water filter system. If you don't install a sediment water filter before a UV water filter system, then you are at risk of rendering your UV system useless. The cost of a whole house sediment filter starts from £216.99 (prices current June 2024 and may be subject to change). Carbon water filters Carbon water filters are an extremely popular choice when it comes to whole house water filtration. Whole house water filter cartridge types that use carbon are highly effective in the removal of chlorine from mains water. Your water will taste and smell better. Carbon filters also remove chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and trihalomethanes from water. The cost of a whole house water filter that uses a carbon block cartridge starts from £233.99 (prices current June 2024 and may be subject to change). Best type of whole house water filter If Fountain Filters charged £1 for every time we've been asked what the best type of whole house water filter is we'd be rolling in cash! The answer is very simple. The best type of whole house water filter is the one that solves the problems you have with your water. Whole house water filters vary in complexity, ranging from systems that improve the taste and smell of your water by removing chlorine to water conditioning systems that effectively treat hard water. How much does a whole house water filtration system cost? The cost of whole house water purification systems varies in price depending on what problem you are trying to resolve. It all boils down to what size and how complex the system is that you need to solve those problems. You have three main costs to consider. Initial cost of the system. Cost of installation if you need the services of a professional plumber. Annual maintenance cost for replacement water filter cartridges. Based on our years of experience at Fountain Filters we know that the benefits of solving specific water problems far outweigh the cost in the long run. We are very confident in making this statement because most of our conversations with customers focus on problem solving and finding solutions rather than cost. How Fountain Filters can help you get a mains water filter for the whole house No matter how complex the issue, there is a whole house water filtration system for you. We can help you decide on a whole house system that is going to meet your needs. We don't suggest you purchase anything you don't need and will provide you with our knowledge and expertise to guide you to making the best and most cost effective purchase decision. It's easy to get in touch with us. Either call us on 01352 838 281 or if you want to provide more detailed information and prefer to write it down our helpdesk is waiting for your message. FAQs What is the difference between a whole house filter and a drinking water filter? A whole house filter is a point of entry (POE) system that treats the water at every tap, shower, and appliance in your home. A drinking water filter is a point of use (POU) system that only treats the water coming out of your kitchen tap. Which you need depends on whether you want to treat all your water or just your drinking water. What is the best whole house water filter? The best whole house water filter is simply the one that solves the problem you have with your water. That might be a softener or conditioner for hard water, a carbon filter to remove chlorine and improve taste, a UV system to kill microorganisms, or a sediment filter for cloudy water. How much does a whole house water filtration system cost? There are three main costs to consider: the initial cost of the system, professional installation if you need a plumber, and the annual cost of replacement cartridges. The price of the system itself depends on how large and complex it needs to be to solve your particular water problem. Do I need a sediment filter with a UV system? Yes. On a private water supply, a sediment filter is a necessary first stage before a UV water filter system. Without it, you risk rendering your UV system useless, as particles in the water can shield microorganisms from the UV light. About the author Louise Allen is a partner at Fountain Filters, where she's helped run the business since 2011. Alongside the day-to-day order management, despatch, and quality, she's built up a practical, hands-on knowledge of water filtration, and reviews the site's articles to keep the advice accurate and genuinely useful. Outside work, she's run the London Marathon with business partner Simon.
0 How to easily change a water filter cartridge: pros and cons
How to easily change a water filter cartridge: pros and cons of doing so Changing water filter cartridges regularly will ensure that your water filter system is functioning optimally. This guide is all about how to change a water filter cartridge in different types of water filter system. We'll also give you the low down on why changing a water filter cartridge is so important and troubleshooting tips on the common issues that people face when changing a water filter cartridge. When you buy a water filter cartridge from Fountain Filters, you're in safe hands. As water filtration specialists we make it our business to understand everything there is to know about changing water filter cartridges, that's why people come to us when they want to know when and how to change a water filter cartridge. Key Points Water filter cartridges get saturated with contaminants over time, so they should be changed every 6-12 months to keep the system working effectively. The core process is the same for most under-sink and whole house filters: shut off the water, release the pressure, unscrew the housing, swap the cartridge, check the O-ring, and reassemble hand-tight. Only hand-tighten the housing bowl; using the spanner to tighten makes it very hard to open next time. The spanner is only for nipping up a small leak. Always flush a new cartridge for 3-5 minutes (10 minutes for ceramic) to clear manufacturing debris before drinking. Different systems have their own steps: ECO3 Slimline, screw-in and push-fit Franke, and UV lamps (which are replaced yearly rather than filtered). Common post-change issues are leaks (usually a worn O-ring) or no water (often a cartridge fitted upside down) - both are easily fixed. Table of contents What are water filters and why change the cartridges? Common issues with water filter cartridges How to change a water filter cartridge in 11 easy steps How to change a water filter cartridge in the Fountain Filters ECO3 How to change a Franke water filter cartridge How to change a UV lamp (UV water filter system) Troubleshooting after changing the water filter cartridge Types of water filter cartridges Benefits of changing your water filter cartridge Cons of changing a water filter cartridge How Fountain Filters can help you getting the water filter cartridge you need FAQs What are water filters and why change the cartridges? Keeping it simple, water filters work by removing or reducing 'things' that may be present in water. These 'things' could include fluoride (if you're in a fluoridated area), chlorine, chemicals, heavy metals, sediment, forever chemicals, microplastics, bacteria, and limescale, to name but a few. The continued effectiveness of your water filter is based on you changing the water filter cartridges every 6-12 months, depending on what type of water filter system you have. It's important to understand that over time, the performance of the water filter cartridges diminishes. They get saturated with contaminants. So, changing water filter cartridges regularly is vitally important to ensure you're getting the water that you want. Common issues with water filter cartridges Over time, under sink water filter cartridges and whole house water filter cartridges become less effective at keeping contaminants at bay. That's why it's important for you to learn how to change a water filter cartridge, and when. You'll enjoy reading our in depth article on when to replace a water filter cartridge where we explore the common issues that tell you when time's up on your water filter cartridges. From flow rate reduction to changes in water colour, clarity, and taste you'll gain valuable insight into the benefits of changing your water filter cartridges regularly. How to change a water filter cartridge in 11 easy steps Follow our steps below for how to change a whole house water filter cartridge or under sink water filter cartridge. Wash and dry your hands to ensure they are clean before you touch the new water filter cartridge. Find the stop cock and turn off the water supply. Open the tap to release the pressure. If there's a red button on the top of the housing cap, press this down. Using the spanner or wrench that came with your water filter system, slide it up from the bottom of the housing bowl until the lugs allow you to unscrew the bowl from the housing cap. Rotate from right to left looking straight on, or clockwise if you view it from above. If you haven't mounted the housing to the cupboard wall you may need to brace the cap somehow. The housing bowl will be full of water so proceed carefully to minimise spillage. Once unscrewed lower the housing bowl away from the cap and remove to the sink or a bowl on the floor. Empty the water and remove the used water filter cartridge. Rinse and wipe out the housing bowl. This prevents build-up of dirt and debris. If the black O-ring is 2-3 years old this is the time to replace it. Otherwise, ensure the O-ring is not damaged or compressed. It's worth coating the O-ring with food grade silicone grease if it's a bit dry. Replace it in the groove, ensuring the O-ring is properly seated. Unwrap the new water filter cartridge and place it inside the housing bowl, making sure it slips onto the small standpipe in the base of the housing bowl. Handle the new cartridge at the ends. Screw the housing bowl back onto the cap in the opposite direction to removal - anticlockwise viewed from above (left to right looking straight on) - until hand tight. Do not over tighten as it may damage the seal. Turn on the water supply and allow the water filter system to refill. Once done, close the tap and check the housing bowl to cap for leaks. If there are any leaks, use the spanner to tighten the bowl a fraction. You may need to either turn off the water supply and release the pressure again to do this. Finally, once you're certain there are no leaks, open the tap and allow the water to run for 3-5 minutes to flush out any manufacturing debris such as residual carbon dust that was trapped in the new water filter cartridge. Discard this water. Do not use the spanner to tighten the housing bowl - this will make it very difficult to undo at the next water filter cartridge change. You only use the spanner if there is a small leak, to give it another nip. How to change a water filter cartridge in the Fountain Filters ECO3 If you have the standard model of the ECO3 Replacement filter system changing the cartridge is the same process as the 11 steps above. If you have the ECO3 Slimline replacement water filter, then follow the steps below. Turn off the water supply and open the tap to release the pressure. Remove the tubing from both ends of the inline filter cartridge by holding down the collets and pulling on the tubing or grey elbow out of the push-fit connector. Pull or slide the filter body out of the retaining mount. Push the new water filter cartridge into the retaining mount - inlet at the bottom. Push the bottom tubing or elbow into the push-fit connection. Push the remaining tubing into the outlet connection at the top. Turn the water supply back on and let the tap run for 3-5 minutes to flush out the system. How to change a Franke water filter cartridge Fountain Filters stock a screw in (M15) and push fit (PF) Doulton replacement water filter cartridges for Franke systems. Franke systems are either stainless steel or plastic housings. How to change a screw in Franke water filter cartridge Here's how to change a Franke water filter cartridge in a stainless steel housing for the M15 screw in mount. It's a straightforward and simple job. Trace the inlet tube from the filter housing back to the pipework. Shut off the mains water supply by using the stop valve that was supplied with your Franke filter tap. Turn the filtered lever on your tap to the ON position. This will release the pressure in the water filter system, making it easier for you to unscrew the filter housing from the cap. You'll also see that the water is off. Place something suitable under the filter housing so you can catch any water. Lift the filter housing from its bracket. Grip the cap with one hand and with the other hand turn the housing bowl anti-clockwise so that it comes away from the cap. Pour the water out of the housing bowl and set the bowl aside. Grip the cap with one hand, and with the other hand unscrew the used cartridge. Wash the housing bowl in warm soapy water and rinse it well. Screw your new water filter cartridge back in. Only tighten it enough to make it seal. If you overtighten it you may snap the threaded section or break the ceramic cartridge. If you do, the cartridge is unusable. Reassemble the housing by screwing the filter housing back onto the cap in a clockwise direction. Ensure the housing bowl is fully engaged with the cap. Before, you do this, you can rub some food grade silicone grease onto the rubber seal that sits in the housing cap. Place the water filter system back onto its bracket and turn the water supply back on. Run the water for 10 minutes to condition the water filter cartridge and check for any leaks. Your water is now ready to drink. Here's how to change a Franke water filter cartridge in a white plastic housing for the M15 screw in mount. Turn off the mains water using the shut off valve. Turn on the filtered water tap to release the pressure in the system. Leave the tap turned ON. Place a dish under the housing bowl as there will be water in the housing when you remove it. Grip the housing bowl and turn it anticlockwise; just enough to loosen it. Lift the filter housing off the two supporting screws. Hold the housing bowl over the dish and continue to unscrew it. Once the bowl has separated from the cap empty the water out and leave it to one side. Unscrew the used cartridge and discard it. Unwrap and screw the new cartridge into the head. Tighten it to create a seal. Do not overtighten as it may cause the threaded section to break off. Replace the housing bowl by screwing it back onto the housing cap. Tighten it firmly by hand. Re-mount the housing back onto the two supporting screws. Turn the mains water back on and check the system for any leaks. Leave the tap running for 10 minutes to flush the system. Your water is then ready to drink. How to change a push fit (PF) Franke water filter cartridge Here's how to change a Franke water filter cartridge in a stainless steel housing for the PF mount. Turn the mains water off using the shut off valve. Turn on the filtered water tap to release the pressure in the system. Leave the tap in the ON position. Place something suitable under the filter housing so you can catch any water as the housing bowl will be full of water when you remove it. Turn the housing bowl anticlockwise and pull it down. The housing bowl and cartridge should come away together. If the water filter cartridge doesn't dislodge with the housing bowl release it with an index finger by pushing down on the plastic rim. Tip the water out of the housing bowl into the sink and remove the used cartridge. Lubricate the O-ring with some food grade silicone grease. Unwrap and place the new cartridge in the housing bowl. Refit the housing bowl to the housing cap until it is fully engaged. Turn the water supply on and check for any leaks. Leave the water running for 10 minutes to flush the system. Your water is now ready to enjoy. How to change a UV lamp (UV water filter system) The system controller on the UV water filter system will tell you when to change the UV lamp, but basically you should change the lamp every 12 months to ensure your water remains safe to consume. The following steps are detailed in the Luminor Blackcomb manual on pages 9-11 and assume that you already have the complete UV water filter system installed. You would have received this manual when you purchased your UV system. The user manual comes complete with installation diagrams that make it easy for you to follow when you want to learn how to change a UV lamp. If you prefer visual instructions this video will take you through the lamp installation process. Troubleshooting after changing the water filter cartridge If you notice any problems after you've changed the water filter cartridge then it's important to resolve them. These problems, while rare, could include leaks from the filter housing itself or the seal between the filter housing and filter cap, no water coming through the tap, and water filter cartridge damage. Leaks There are a couple of things to check here. Before you screwed the housing bowl back onto the housing cap, did you check the O-ring? O-rings are the little circular rubber seals that sit in a groove in the top of the housing, and they help seal the bowl to the cap. If they become cracked or compressed in any way, then your water filter system will be more prone to leaks. Or, you'll have to tighten the housing bowl up more and more after each cartridge change, to the point where you'll not be able to loosen it off again. Are any of the John Guest connectors damaged in any way? If so, they'll need to be replaced. Is the water filter housing damaged in any way and leaking water? If so, you'll need to replace the housing. No water coming through the tap There are a couple of scenarios here, but again they happen rarely. Water filter cartridge is upside down - We've only seen this happen when people put the replacement cartridge for Pearl DUC upside down in the housing bowl. Despite what people think this cartridge is not open both ends. Just take the cartridge out and turn it the other way around. Air lock in the system - It's very rare this happens because the pressure of the water trying to come through would push it out. Try removing the water filter cartridges and then screw the housing bowl back on. Turn the water on and open the tap. The extra pressure should clear the air lock. Types of water filter cartridges Fountain Filters stocks a wide variety of water filter cartridges that vary in size and composition. Different types of water filter cartridge are suited to different filtration requirements. Let's look at some of them. Sediment water filter cartridges - this type of water filter cartridge is made from either spun polypropylene (often called melt-blown water filter cartridges) or pleated polyester. They tend to be used for the removal of dirt, silt, sand, and rust from water, and as a pre-filter for ultraviolet water filtration systems. Different micron ratings are available, from 1 up to 50, depending on how fine the particulate matter is that you need to remove. The smaller the micron rating, the faster the water filter cartridge will clog up. Carbon block water filter cartridges - a very versatile water filter cartridge! Carbon block cartridges can either be solid such as our replacement water filter cartridge for our Pearl T or loose, like our granular activated carbon water filter cartridge which removes heavy metals. Carbon block is extremely effective at reducing chlorine, volatile organic compounds, odours, and generally improving the taste of household tap water. Ceramic water filter cartridges - the microscopic pores in a ceramic water filter cartridge allow it to trap pathogenic bacteria, most cysts, and suspended solids. Reverse osmosis membranes - you would generally replace an RO semi-permeable membrane every couple of years. When water is forced through this type of water filter cartridge, dissolved salts, heavy metals, fluoride, and many other contaminants are removed. Ultra-violet glass lamps - in the true sense of the word, a UV lamp is not a water filter cartridge as they don't physically filter the water; they sterilise it. UV filtration works by using ultra-violet light to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microbiological contaminants that may be present in the water. Loose media - such as our OneFlow scale reduction or Fluoride reduction filter media. This is sand like media that we measure out and put into empty plastic canisters. Benefits of changing your water filter cartridge If you're going to invest in a water filter system and benefit from clean, safe, fresh tasting water Fountain Filters urges you to keep it well maintained, and that means learning how to change a water filter cartridge every 6-12 months. When you properly maintain your water filter system you get a much more efficient system that lasts many years. You'll benefit from improved water quality that's cost effective because you won't be wasting your money on bottled water. Not buying bottled water also helps reduce plastic waste. Cons of changing a water filter cartridge Fountain Filters cannot think of any downsides to changing a water filter cartridge regularly to ensure access to clean and safe household water for you and your family. How Fountain Filters can help you getting the water filter cartridge you need One of Fountain Filters' core goals is to make changing your water filter cartridge easy for you. We do this by sending you a cartridge renewal reminder email every 6 months, with the aim of putting this on your 'to do' list. This email links directly to the product/s you need for your water filter system. Now, you may not need to change your water filter cartridge every 6 months, but this email acts as a reminder so you can purchase one and have it ready for when you do want to change the water filter cartridge. If you experience any problems with how to change a water filter cartridge, Fountain Filters never leaves you high and dry. We are problem solvers, and we will always come up with a solution for you. Our feedback is testament to this. We also make it easy to get in touch with us. If you like to chat then our number is 01352 838 281 or if you prefer to write things down, our helpdesk is waiting for your message. FAQs How often should you change a water filter cartridge? Most water filter cartridges should be changed every 6-12 months, depending on the type of system you have and your water usage. Over time the cartridge becomes saturated with contaminants and works less effectively, so regular changes keep your water quality where you want it. Why does my water filter leak after changing the cartridge? The most common cause of a leak after a cartridge change is the O-ring, the small rubber seal that sits in a groove at the top of the housing. If it's cracked, compressed, or not seated properly, the housing won't seal. Check the O-ring, grease it with food grade silicone if it's dry, and replace it every 2-3 years. Why is there no water coming through after I changed the filter? The usual cause is a cartridge fitted upside down, particularly with cartridges that are only open at one end. Take it out and turn it the other way around. Less commonly it can be an air lock, which you can clear by removing the cartridge, refitting the empty housing, and running the tap to let the water pressure push the air out. Do I need to flush a new water filter cartridge? Yes. Always run the tap for 3-5 minutes after fitting a new cartridge (or around 10 minutes for a ceramic cartridge) to flush out any manufacturing debris, such as residual carbon dust, and discard that first run of water before drinking. About the author Louise Allen is a partner at Fountain Filters, where she's helped run the business since 2011. Alongside the day-to-day order management, despatch, and quality, she's built up a practical, hands-on knowledge of water filtration, and reviews the site's articles to keep the advice accurate and genuinely useful. Outside work, she's run the London Marathon with business partner Simon.
0 Choosing installing drinking water filter guide
Guide on Choosing and Installing the Right Drinking Water Filter for Your Home When it comes to clean drinking water you have sole discretion of what is and isn't present in your household water, and it doesn't matter what the water source is. Our role as water filtration experts is to help you choose and install the right drinking water filter for your home. We've written this comprehensive guide on how to choose a drinking water filter as well as providing you with information about drinking water filter installation, so that you can enjoy fresh filtered water in the comfort of your own home. Key Points A drinking water filter treats only your kitchen tap, unlike a whole house filter that treats every tap; it needs a separate filter tap or a 3-way tap. The three main types are under-sink filters (widest cartridge choice, water on demand), inline filters (compact, cheaper, but more frequent changes), and jugs (convenient but costly and slow). The right filter is the one that solves your specific issue, whether that's chlorine taste, hard water limescale, fluoride, or lead. Work out where your water comes from (mains or private supply) and what you want to remove before choosing. You can dispense filtered water from a separate tap alongside your existing one, or replace your tap with a 3-way tap for hot, cold, and filtered water. Installation is straightforward (water in, water out), maintenance is minimal, and cartridges need changing every 6-12 months with O-rings every 2-3 years. Table of contents Types of drinking water filters Under sink drinking water filters Inline drinking water filters Water filter jugs What do you want from a drinking water filter? Choosing the right drinking water filter for your needs How to install a drinking water filter system Maintenance of your drinking water filter How Fountain Filters can help you get the drinking water filter you need FAQs Types of drinking water filters Before you decide which water filter is the best for drinking, it's important to clarify what we mean by a drinking water filter, as they can come in different shapes and sizes. A drinking water filter does not treat the water coming out of any existing tap in your home. That would be a mains or whole house water filter. With a drinking water filter you would have to install a separate drinking water filter tap or replace your existing kitchen tap with a 3 way tap. Under sink drinking water filters This type of drinking water filter is typically installed underneath your kitchen sink and the filtered water is dispensed via a separate drinking water filter tap or by replacing your existing kitchen tap with a 3 way tap. It normally comprises of one, two, or three 2.5 x 10” water filter housings which contain varying water filter replacement cartridges depending on what you want to filter out of your water. Pros and cons of an under sink drinking water filter Wide choice of water filter cartridges that cater for all filtration requirements. Easy to install and maintain. Filtered water is on demand rather than having to fill up a water filter jug. Doesn't take up precious space on your kitchen bench. Cartridges are generally recyclable. Takes up more space underneath your kitchen sink than an inline drinking water filter. Inline drinking water filters An inline drinking water filter is essentially a water filter cartridge that isn't contained within a housing. Pros and cons of an inline water filter Ideal when you have limited space underneath your kitchen sink. Easy to install and maintain. Lower initial cost than an under sink drinking water filter. Suitable for boats, caravans, and motorhomes. Limited choice of water filter cartridges compared with under sink drinking water filters. More regular water filter cartridge replacements - every 6 months as opposed to every 12 months. Generates more plastic waste. Water filter jugs You will also come across water filter jugs such as the Brita filter. Water filter jugs can seem a convenient and reasonable solution to filtering your tap water, but they are expensive to maintain. We came up with some excellent Brita water filter alternatives that will save you money in the long-term. Pros and cons of a water filter jug They are convenient and the filter cartridges can be recycled. Easy to clean but must be cleaned regularly. Filter cartridges must be changed every four weeks. Filtered water isn't on demand. They are expensive. Before deciding, which is the best drinking water filter, we recommend you think about what it is that you want to change about your water. This is always one of the first questions we ask people before they choose a drinking water filter. What do you want from a drinking water filter? The benefits of drinking clean filtered water are numerous, but you need to work out what your own individual household needs are. By identifying what your needs are you'll be well on your way to choosing which filter is good for drinking water in your home. Let us give you a few helpful hints when choosing a drinking water filter. Choosing the right drinking water filter for your needs Unless people have already identified specific contaminants they want to remove from their water or know the questions they want answers to because they have been reading the incredibly useful information on the Fountain Filters website, people often call us up and ask which filter is best for drinking water. Our focus is on narrowing the search for them by helping them identify what it is they want to change about their water. They find this very helpful before committing to purchase and install a drinking water filter. 10 helpful hints to help you decide which filter is best for drinking water Based on our experience of talking to people about their household water we've put together 10 helpful hints to help you decide which filter is best for drinking water in your home. The following are all key factors to consider, and we'll also give some simple recommendations for different scenarios we know people come up against. Helpful hint 1 - Where does your water come from? If you are on mains water, your water is treated with a disinfectant such as chlorine to prevent bacterial growth. This ensures that the water travels safely through the pipe network to your kitchen tap. A private water supply means that your water most likely comes from a bore hole on or nearby your property. That water will not have been treated for any contaminants and its quality varies greatly depending on where it's located in the UK. Helpful hint 2 - Have you been advised to install a water filter? There are a couple of scenarios where you would need to install a drinking water filter. If you are on a private water supply, you may have had your water analysed and the report throws up some issues where the level of certain contaminants is above the UK's permissible levels. Installing a drinking water filter would reduce the contaminants and make it safer to drink. Or you may have become aware that your property contains lead pipes and the quickest and most cost effective option is to install a drinking water filter to reduce the lead in your water. A water filter is far cheaper than replacing your pipes. Helpful hint 3 - You don't like the taste or smell of your tap water You may just decide that you don't like the taste or smell of your water because of the chlorine that's added to the mains water supply. Installing a drinking water filter from our chlorine and taste range will improve the taste and smell of your water. If you suffer from certain skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, you may also find that removing chlorine will have a positive impact on your skin. Helpful hint 4 - You live in a hard water area and are sick of the limescale Many households across the UK are located in hard water areas and they are desperate to get rid of limescale. You'll know if you have limescale because it wreaks havoc on appliances such as boilers, kettles, and washing machines. Limescale also leaves hard scaly deposits on taps and shower screens, and it doesn't wipe away easily. Thankfully, with one of our drinking water filters for hard water, we can help you minimise the annoyance and increase the life of your household appliances. Helpful hint 5 - Are you troubled that fluoride is being added to your water? If you are one of the many people who are opposed to fluoride being added to UK tap water, the first thing to do is check whether it's added to your water supply. If it is and you want to remove it, you can. We offer drinking water filters that will address your fluoride concerns. Check out our fluoride water filters here. Helpful hint 6 - Heavy metals are a concern If you have lead in your drinking water, that is a legitimate concern and you should do something about it as soon as you can. Installing a drinking water filter that removes lead will ensure your drinking water is safe to consume. Helpful hint 7 - Install a separate tap or change your existing kitchen tap? When it comes to installing a drinking water filter you need to decide how you are going to access your clean filtered water. You can choose to install a separate drinking water filter tap that will dispense cold filtered water directly from your under sink drinking water filter. This tap will sit alongside your existing kitchen tap. Or you can replace your existing kitchen tap with a 3 way water filter tap. That way, you can enjoy hot, cold, and filtered water from the same appliance. Helpful hint 8 - How much space do you have? The amount of space you have underneath your kitchen sink is a determining factor when considering drinking water filter installation. While drinking water filters aren't huge pieces of kit you may be considering a unit that has single, double, or triple housings. The height and depth remain the same at 34cm and 13cm respectively, no matter how many housings you have, but the width will be anything from 14cm to 36cm. Helpful hint 9 - Replacing the cartridges in your drinking water filter People start out by installing a drinking water filter and then when it comes to the 6-12 month cartridge change, life gets in the way, and they forget to order a replacement water filter cartridge. That's why Fountain Filters have made it easy for people to remember. Our cartridge renewal reminders that drop into people's inboxes every six months mean that at the touch of a button people can order new water filter cartridges to ensure they have continuous clean filtered water in their homes. Helpful hint 10 - Who is going to install your drinking water filter? When it comes to plumbing, people can get a little anxious about it. Unless you're a competent DIYer or professional plumber, that is completely understandable. But our drinking water filters are easy to install, and we provide detailed fitting instructions with every drinking water filter that leaves our warehouse. We don't supply a list of plumbers in different areas of the UK. We've found that it's always best when looking for tradespeople to ask for recommendations from friends or family. People are always happy to recommend someone and give you their honest opinion of how they have found the service. How to install a drinking water filter system Installing a drinking water filter system is basically water in on one side and water out on the other. It's a very simple installation for any DIYer or plumber. If you want to have a go at it yourself, we put this simple video together to show you exactly how to install a drinking water filter system. Maintenance of your drinking water filter Apart from the 6-12 month cartridge changes there is minimal maintenance required for drinking water filters. The only things that can become worn and compressed over time are the rubber O-rings that sit at the top of the housing. We recommend that these are changed every 2-3 years. Keeping your O-rings and threads lubricated is also important and therefore a handy tube of food grade silicone grease is a useful toolkit staple. How Fountain Filters can help you get the drinking water filter you need We hope that you've found the information in this article helpful. With our experience of drinking water filters, we are confident that we'll have a drinking water filter to suit you. It's important to stress that if you have any questions or aren't sure which water filter is the best for drinking in your home, or any aspect of drinking water filter installation to get in touch with us. If you like to chat then call us on 01352 838 281 or if you prefer written communication our helpdesk is waiting for your message. FAQs What is the difference between a drinking water filter and a whole house filter? A drinking water filter treats only the water at your kitchen tap, dispensed through a separate filter tap or a 3-way tap. A whole house (mains) filter treats the water coming out of every tap in your home. If you only want filtered water for drinking and cooking, a drinking water filter is the one you need. What type of drinking water filter is best? It depends on your needs and space. Under-sink filters offer the widest choice of cartridges and filtered water on demand. Inline filters are more compact and cheaper upfront but need more frequent cartridge changes. Jugs are convenient but slower, more expensive to run, and need a cartridge change every four weeks. Do I need a separate tap for a drinking water filter? You have two options. You can fit a separate drinking water filter tap that sits alongside your existing kitchen tap and dispenses cold filtered water, or you can replace your existing tap with a 3-way tap that gives you hot, cold, and filtered water from one appliance. Is a drinking water filter easy to install? Yes. Installing a drinking water filter is basically water in on one side and water out on the other, so it's a simple job for any competent DIYer or plumber. Detailed fitting instructions come with every filter, and there's a step-by-step video to follow if you want to do it yourself. About the author Louise Allen is a partner at Fountain Filters, where she's helped run the business since 2011. Alongside the day-to-day order management, despatch, and quality, she's built up a practical, hands-on knowledge of water filtration, and reviews the site's articles to keep the advice accurate and genuinely useful. Outside work, she's run the London Marathon with business partner Simon.
0 how to remove lead from drinking water
Can you filter out lead from water? Find out how to remove lead from drinking water. We receive frequent phone calls and messages about lead in water and people are genuinely concerned and want guidance on the best water filter to remove lead in the UK. If you've done the necessary investigative work and it turns out you have lead in your water we can help you find a lead water filter system so you can ensure your drinking water is safe to consume. So, the very easy answer to 'do water filters remove lead' is YES, water filters DO remove lead from water. We hope that alleviates your concerns and you're ready to learn about how you can benefit from a lead filter for water. Key Points Lead most commonly enters drinking water from old lead pipes (common in properties built before 1970), dissolving into the water as it stands in the pipe. Lead is toxic at any level of exposure, and is especially harmful to pregnant women, infants and young children. The current UK legal limit for lead in water is 10ppb, though the WHO warns there is no level of exposure known to be without harmful effects. You can check for lead pipes yourself with a simple coin-scrape test, and your water company can test your tap water for you. Boiling water does not remove lead - it actually increases the concentration of lead left in the water. The most effective way to remove lead is a dedicated filter using carbon and KDF media (such as the Pearl M) or a reverse osmosis system; distillation works but isn't recommended for regular drinking water. Table of contents How does lead get into water? Is lead in water bad for you? How do you know if you have lead pipes? If you have lead pipes, who is responsible for them? What are the legal limits for lead in water? How to test for lead in water? How do you filter lead out of water? Distillation - not recommended by Fountain Filters Reverse Osmosis - Fountain Filters 2nd choice lead filter for water Do water filters remove lead? - Fountain Filters no. 1 recommendation Does a Brita water filter remove lead? Does a water softener remove lead? Does boiling remove lead from water? Key takeaways on lead drinking water filtration Why buy from Fountain Filters FAQs How does lead get into water? Lead is toxic. The widespread use of this naturally occurring metal has resulted in the problems we see today with contamination of some drinking water in the UK. The most common way lead gets into water is from existing lead pipes. The lead within the pipes dissolves into the water while the water stands in the pipe. If you know that there are connecting lead pipes between your local water authority and your house, or there are lead pipes in your house, then there is a high probability that you'll have traces of lead in your drinking water. How much, we can't tell you. You need to have your water tested to establish just how much lead is in your water. The concentration of lead in the water is determined by several factors which include: The condition of the lead pipes - the more corroded and worn the lead pipes are the greater the concentration of lead. The time of year - during spring and summer months more lead will dissolve into the water because the temperature of the water will be slightly higher. Water hardness - hard water produces scale, this scale can form a protective barrier on the internal surface of the pipes which means less lead can seep into the water. The amount of standing water in the lead pipe and how long it's been there. There are other, less common ways that lead can be present in water. If you're on a private water supply, your source supply may contain lead. Or lead contamination of ground water from industrial facilities, which would be a rare situation in the UK. Is lead in water bad for you? Yes, the presence of lead in water is not conducive to good health and you should do everything you can to minimise or remove it. It is particularly bad for infants and young children. If you are pregnant, and drinking water that contains lead, the lead can cross over the placental barrier and could harm your baby. Young children who are exposed to lead in drinking water may experience delays in their development and possible learning difficulties. For adults, drinking water that contains lead over prolonged periods of time will lead to a gradual build-up of lead in the body and is associated with conditions such as high blood pressure, renal disease, digestive diseases, circulatory problems, and cognitive decline. How do you know if you have lead pipes? If you live in a house that was built before 1970 then you may have lead water pipes. The use of lead pipework was commonplace in UK houses built before 1970. Then the use of lead was banned. Obviously, the UK is full of old houses, and we have a lot of conversations with people who are worried about lead in water. Most recently, we've been getting an increasing number of calls from people in Scotland, particularly Edinburgh, about lead in water. But to allay your fears, unless you live in a house that you know for sure has lead pipework, it's highly unlikely that you will have lead in your water. Water companies in the UK are responsible for ensuring that people have access to safe drinking water, and in areas where there is a risk that lead exists they treat the public water supply with a food grade additive called orthophosphate. Orthophosphate forms a coating on the inside of the pipe which creates a protective barrier between the lead pipes and the water so that lead does not dissolve into the water. There's a really easy way to do a home test to see if your pipes are made of lead. Just follow these three simple steps: Find where the water first enters your property. This is called the internal stop tap and it could be in or behind one of your kitchen cupboards or a downstairs lavatory. Unpainted lead is soft and dull grey in colour. The joint next to the tap can often be swollen. Scrape the pipe with a coin to see if there's a shiny silver coloured metal underneath. In most cases your pipes are going to be made of other materials such as copper, iron, or plastic. Copper is bright, hard, and dullish brown. Iron is very hard, dark, and often rusty. Plastic pipes can be a variety of colours such as white, blue, black, or grey. It's also important to remember that the use of lead-based solder to join sections of copper pipe together is illegal. A plumber or DIY enthusiast should never use lead solder on drinking water pipes. If you have lead pipes, who is responsible for them? We receive lots of enquiries about whose responsibility it is when you have lead pipes in or around your property. The best way to explain this is with an infographic. It's all down to where those lead pipes are. The water company is responsible for the pipe that links the water main in the street to the stop valve outside your property. This is known as the communication pipe. You are responsible for the pipe that runs from the stop valve outside your property to the point where it enters your house. This is known as the private or supply pipe. You are also responsible for your home's internal pipework. What are the legal limits for lead in water? The current legal limits for permissible levels of lead in drinking water are 10ppb in the UK. This limit was set in 2013. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) have stated that there is ‘no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects' It's an interesting read. It is hoped that the UK will drop the legal limit of permissible levels of lead further to 5ppb. How to test for lead in water? If you have done the necessary checks and believe that your drinking water may contain lead, the first port of call should always be your water company. Ask them to come out and test the water coming out of your kitchen tap. If the result comes back positive and it's confirmed that you do have lead in your drinking water, and that you're responsible for removing it, then you need to do something about it. Contacting us is the easiest thing to do as one of the first things you'll want to know is: can you filter out lead from water? The easy answer is yes. We can talk you through some options as to the best whole house water filter for lead removal. How do you filter lead out of water? If you have lead pipework, you'll probably have worked out that it's time consuming and expensive to replace it with something lead free. Can lead be filtered out of water by another less expensive and more readily available means? Yes, and there are a few different water filters that remove lead. A water filter for lead reduction may be a short term solution for you, but we find that our customers are happy to install a water filter to remove lead as a longer term measure because it deals with the issue quickly at low expense so that you and your family are not exposed to lead toxins in drinking water. There are also some options that do not filter out lead from water. We'll cover both in this article. While you are waiting to receive and install your lead filter for water, you can follow these two top tips to minimise your risk of exposure to lead. Clear any standing water in your pipework before drinking the water by running the tap for a while. You'll know when it's ready because the water will run cold as the fresher water comes through. This is always a good habit to get into whether you have lead in your water or not. Don't be tempted to draw water from the hot tap for drinking and cooking. Always use the cold tap. This is because hot water dissolves and corrodes lead more than cold water, so you'd be putting yourself in more danger. Remember prevention is better than cure. And never use water from the hot tap to make drinks, mix baby formula or baby food. It's important to note that human skin doesn't absorb lead from water, so always treat your drinking water before anything else. Let's move onto the different ways to filter lead out of drinking water. Distillation - not recommended by Fountain Filters In a nutshell, distillation uses precious energy to boil water in one vessel, catch the steam and condense it back into water in a secondary vessel. The boiling process filters the lead out of the water, as well as bacteria, parasites and viruses. There is no doubt that it works but drinking distilled water is not recommended in the long term and we will hazard a guess that there are not many households in the UK who have a distillation system installed. We certainly don't offer these to our customers. Stepping away from lead for a moment, the reason we talk people out of drinking distilled water is down to the lack of minerals. From a health and well-being perspective, drinking distilled water messes up your body's pH, electrolytes, fluid, and mineral composition. We're just not designed to drink it and if you do, you're effectively destroying your body's healthy status quo. You may also be experiencing headaches, tiredness, muscle cramps, fluid retention, issues with heart rate, and wouldn't join the dots, because water is healthy…isn't it? Reverse Osmosis - Fountain Filters 2nd choice lead filter for water Reverse osmosis water filtration systems are an effective, but not necessarily efficient lead filter for water. Your household water pressure pushes water through a series of five or six filters. One of those filter cartridges is what's called a membrane filter. It's the membrane filter that will remove the lead from your water. A reverse osmosis system will also filter out the good minerals from your drinking water, that you may want to keep in there. Most reverse osmosis systems throw a certain percentage of water away. Do water filters remove lead? - Fountain Filters no. 1 recommendation We know that people search the internet asking ‘do carbon water filters remove lead? And the answer isn't a straightforward yes or no. Let's look at a few of our water filters that reduce lead in water: But before we do most manufacturers refrain from publishing exact performance data on just how much lead is removed from water when you install a specialist water filter. This is because the composition of water is different wherever you go, and reduction values can differ from consumer to consumer. The comfort is that you know it's doing something, and something is better than nothing when it comes to lead in water. Pearl M lead filter for water Without going science mad on you our Pearl M heavy metals water filter will effectively remove lead and other heavy metals from your drinking water. Using a unique combination of granular activated carbon (GAC) and Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF) our Pearl M drinking water filter will remove chlorine, lead, mercury, iron, hydrogen sulphide, aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, copper, nickel, chromium, and any other water-soluble heavy metal. This drinking water filter will also remove sediment, dirt, rust, sand, silt, scale bacteria, algae, VOC's, THMs and much more. MAX-PB carbon water filters remove lead Another carbon water filter that reduces lead is the C Max MAXPB-975 .This cartridge is specifically designed for lead and cyst reduction. This is a high quality carbon water filter to reduce lead through 2,400 gallons of drinking water. It's a 0.5 micron solid block activated carbon filter that will effectively reduce chlorine, lead, VOC's, giardia, entamoeba, toxoplasma and cryptosporidium cysts. It drops perfectly into any 2.5 x 10” water filter housing. Nano filtration The NanoCeram cartridge reduces particulate lead. However, when you combine a NanoCeram water filter cartridge with a carbon block you can reduce total lead content by over 98% according to Argonide. Does a Brita water filter remove lead? After doing some research of our own, the only Brita water filter that would remove 99% of lead is the Brita Elite. The bad news is that the Brita Elite water filter is only available in the US and only designed for US waters. So, we got in touch with the Brita UK customer care team as we wanted to see if the Brita Maxtra Pro, which is available in the UK would reduce lead. There is reference made to the Brita Maxtra Pro reducing lead, but it doesn't give by how much. Their website simply states ‘reduces chlorine, lead, and copper. However, the customer care team told us that the reduction rates for metals are at least 90% and for chlorine 85%. This is a generalisation for all metals, so no specific data for lead. This is not an unusual situation when you can't get specific data about the % reduction. To be honest, the Brita Maxtra Pro water filter cartridge just uses natural carbon from coconut shells and ion-exchange pearls for the metals reduction. And they are expensive to run. You can read all about how much money you can save with one of our easy to install and more affordable drinking water filters that do the same job (and more!) than the Brita water filter jugs will ever do for you. Why pay more when you can install one of our heavy metals drinking water filters. Does a water softener remove lead? No, a water softener does not remove lead in water. Water softeners deal with calcium and magnesium, the minerals that result in hard water. Does boiling remove lead from water? No, don't be tempted to think that this is a quick and easy fix. Boiling your water will not remove lead. In fact, it will do the opposite. Boiling water that is contaminated with lead will increase the concentration of lead. This is because as water evaporates during the boiling process, the ratio of lead to water is greater than when you started. Key takeaways on lead drinking water filtration For this topic, we feel it's important to highlight four key takeaways if you have lead pipes in or around your property and are concerned about lead in your drinking water. Lead is toxic and particularly harmful to young children and pregnant women, so if your water contains lead do all you can to reduce it by installing a water filter. Check your pipework using our simple coin method that we talk about in this article. Ask your water company to test your water. Speak to a water filtration expert before rushing off to buy anything. Why buy from Fountain Filters Let us help remove the lead in your drinking water. We've been in the water filtration business since 2011 and have had lots of discussions about lead and do water filters remove lead. It's important not to panic because you can filter out lead from water, and we will help guide you to finding a lead filter for water that's right for your circumstances. It's easy to get in touch with us, either by calling us on 01352838281 or sending us a message on our helpdesk. Image by Nick Magwood FAQs Do water filters remove lead from water? Yes. Specialist filters that combine granular activated carbon (GAC) with Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF), such as our Pearl M heavy metals water filter, effectively remove lead and other heavy metals from your drinking water. Does boiling water remove lead? No. Boiling will not remove lead - in fact it increases the concentration of lead, because water evaporates during the boiling process while the lead remains, so the ratio of lead to water becomes greater than when you started. Does a water softener remove lead? No. Water softeners deal with calcium and magnesium, the minerals that cause hard water, not lead. Does a Brita filter remove lead? The Brita Elite, which removes 99% of lead, is only available in the US. The Brita Maxtra Pro sold in the UK is said by Brita's customer care team to reduce metals by at least 90%, though no lead-specific figure is published. About the author Louise Allen is a partner at Fountain Filters, where she's helped run the business since 2011. Alongside the day-to-day order management, despatch, and quality, she's built up a practical, hands-on knowledge of water filtration, and reviews the site's articles to keep the advice accurate and genuinely useful. Outside work, she's run the London Marathon with business partner Simon.
0 How to filter asbestos from drinking water - tips
How to filter asbestos from drinking water. Tips from water filtration experts! In the search for clean and safe drinking water, the leftovers of our industrial past hang around as hidden threats under our cities and towns. Asbestos, once praised for its fire-resistant qualities and widely used in construction and utilities, has been revealed as a dangerous material that can cause serious health problems when inhaled. But what about the presence of asbestos in our drinking water? This article looks into the not-so-talked-about issue of asbestos contamination in drinking water, focusing on its main source: old AC (Asbestos-Cement) pipes that have been used as water mains since the early 20th century. With tips from water filtration experts, we'll uncover how to filter out asbestos from our water supply. Learn about the historical use of asbestos, its risks, and the smart solutions available to tackle this important problem. Key Points Asbestos entered UK water mains mainly through AC (asbestos-cement) pipes used from 1945 into the 1980s, some of which are now reaching the end of their working life. The World Health Organisation currently considers asbestos in drinking water to be low risk, since it's non-soluble and mostly excreted rather than absorbed by the body. The greatest health risk from asbestos remains inhalation of airborne dust, particularly for maintenance workers repairing old pipes, not drinking contaminated water. Scientific understanding of asbestos in water is still developing, so the current low-risk assessment could change in future. Because asbestos is a non-soluble particle rather than dissolved in water, any filter rated 5 microns or smaller will effectively remove it. Fountain Filters offers whole house, kitchen tap, and drinking water filter options that remove asbestos - though for specific health concerns you should consult your doctor, not a water filtration company. Table of contents The use of asbestos in the UK Is asbestos in water dangerous? How does water get contaminated with asbestos? Possible health risks from asbestos in drinking water Filtering asbestos out of water: can water filters remove asbestos? How to filter asbestos from water Whole house Kitchen taps Drinking water filters FAQs The use of asbestos in the UK Have you heard of AC Piping? Not many people have heard of it. Invented in the early years of the 20th century, AC piping was used extensively for water mains from 1945 into the 80s. AC pipes are made from cement, nothing too controversial, and asbestos, a type of mineral. Now, I'm sure, the alarm bells are ringing in your head - “isn't asbestos dangerous?” you may be asking. AC piping stopped being used mainly in the 1970s when it became clear that asbestos, when inhaled, is incredibly dangerous to health causing lung conditions such as asbestosis, cancer, and mesothelioma. Asbestos has been used by people for up to 4000 years, primarily due to its fire-resistant qualities, but its use grew rapidly in the industrial era of the mid-19th century. By the 1930s it was becoming clear that asbestos dust, when inhaled, was the cause of early deaths of workers involved in manufacturing goods with asbestos in them. All sorts of things had asbestos in it, yarns, ceramics, and fabrics - even candle wicks! But as the built environment expanded quickly from the late Victorian era onwards asbestos became ubiquitous in the construction industry. Some of the most recent use in the UK was in Artex (small amounts of white asbestos) for decorative ceilings in the 1980s. It's no longer used in most developed countries such as the UK, EU countries, Australia, New Zealand. However, the USA still makes AC pipes. India, Russia, China, and Indonesia still use asbestos extensively. We're fortunate in the United Kingdom that asbestos was banned completely very much earlier than other parts of the world, but we still have a legacy of older buildings and infrastructure that contains asbestos. The effects of asbestos due to inhalation are now very well recognised, and all handling to remove it is very strictly controlled. That's a good introduction to the history and risks of asbestos, but how does that relate to asbestos in the water? There's a growing awareness that the working life of all those AC pipes carrying our public water supply is at or near its end. A recent article by BBC Future has recently highlighted how we may see this issue catapult up the public health agenda over the coming few years. Is asbestos in water dangerous? Let's delve into some research here. The World Health Organisation (WHO) does not think that asbestos in water is of great concern currently. According to its scientific briefing document published in December 2021 (available for download) the UK water supply had asbestos concentrations between “nondectabale” and 1.5MFL (Million Fibres per Litre). 95% of the fibres are smaller than 2 µm (microns) in length mainly from naturally occurring sources such as underground water courses. Studies quoted in that briefing state that asbestos from AC pipes in the UK are considered very low, and the small size is considerably shorter and of greater diameter than the fibres found to be the cause of fibrosis. Having said that, asbestos fibres from AC pipes are longer than that form the natural erosion of rock. Researchers Ma & Kang (2017) found that the majority of these fibres were between 5 and 10 μm in length. The effects of asbestos in drinking water are considered by WHO to be very low risk, with most asbestos consumed, which is non-soluble, being excreted. Tests in rats found that small amounts of asbestos accumulated in the liver, and very few fibres remained in the stomach, intestines, and blood after 60 days. While it's impossible to say there are no toxic effects of asbestos exposure through drinking water, the greatest risk is from inhalation. And the fibres found in water are of size and shape that are low risk even when inhaled. However, taking all that into account, the science is developing and understanding may change in the future. How does water get contaminated with asbestos? As we've already seen asbestos occurs naturally and gets into the water through the erosion of rocks. It can also get into the water supply through poorly maintained pipes and buildings where water may be exposed due to breaks in the pipes. As the BBC Future article referred to, there are old AC pipes that are beginning to break down having reached the end of their useful working lives. The risk is that as the pipes fracture small particles will be released into the mains water supply. Although the biggest risk is to the maintenance workforce who have to repair the pipes if dry asbestos dust becomes airborne and they inhale it. Possible health risks from asbestos in drinking water The risks from drinking water with asbestos remain to be clarified further than we've already covered, but of course that may change in the future. When larger asbestos fibres are inhaled, they cause scarring and other damage to the lungs. That can lead to asbestosis, which is unlikely to be possible in the stomach and gut. However, long term exposure to irritants is a common cause of some cancers so this may be a recognised problem in the future. Filtering asbestos out of water: can water filters remove asbestos? Asbestos is not soluble in water; it remains a particle and therefore is easy to filter out if you know what size the particles are. The good news is that the dangerous types of asbestos fibres are bigger than 5 microns so a filter of that rating is going to do a good job for you. That also means you have a huge amount of choice of various types of water filters that will also improve the quality of your water in addition to removing asbestos. How to filter asbestos from water Filtering asbestos from water is relatively simple if you have the right water filtration system, so let's give you a few options. First, just about any filter with a micron rating of 5 microns or smaller is what you need. But you can go much smaller relatively inexpensively. We'll group our recommendations of water filters that will remove asbestos into three types of application: whole house, kitchen tap, and drinking water filter. Whole house Find here our recommendations for whole house water filter systems designed to effectively remove asbestos from your water, ensuring a safer home environment. Doby Sediment Filter - 1 micron - this is a very simple whole house filter that removes all particles, including asbestos, bigger than 1 micron. Suitable for a home with up to 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Doby Sediment Filter - 0.2 micron - a nanofilter that removes all particles of asbestos bigger than 0.2 microns. It also removes lots of other things. Also suitable for the bigger home. Doby Water Purifier - 5 and 0.2 micron - cleans everything except good minerals from your water - a great choice for super quality water for you entire house (up to 4 bedrooms/2 bathrooms). Kitchen taps Here are our recommendations for water filters for your kitchen tap that will remove asbestos and other particles effectively: Moby Sediment Filter - 1 micron - this is a very simple filter for your kitchen cold tap that removes all particles including asbestos bigger than 1 micron. Moby Sediment Filter - 0.2 micron - a nanofilter that removes all particles bigger than 0.2 microns from the water to your kitchen tap. It also removes lots of other things. Moby Water Purifier - 5 and 0.2 micron - cleans everything except good minerals from your water - a great choice for super quality water from the kitchen tap that tastes great. Drinking water filters Find our drinking water filters recommendations to remove asbestos here: Pearl Nano Ceramic Water Filter Tap Water Filter Pearl Oyster TBC Water Filter How our water filtration experts can help with removing asbestos from drinking water At Fountain Filters we are water filtration specialists and not medical professionals, if you have any specific health concerns with regard to asbestos please consult your doctor. For any other guidance on how to remove asbestos or any other material from water, we will be happy to help. Please give us a call on 01352 838281, or send us a message on our helpdesk - we'll be happy to be of assistance. Image by Monika: from Pixabay FAQs Can water filters remove asbestos from drinking water? Yes. Because asbestos is a non-soluble particle rather than something dissolved in water, any filter rated 5 microns or smaller will remove the dangerous larger fibres, and smaller-rated filters are also widely and affordably available. Is asbestos in drinking water dangerous? According to the World Health Organisation, the current risk from asbestos in drinking water is considered very low, as it is non-soluble and mostly excreted by the body rather than absorbed. The greater risk from asbestos is inhalation, not ingestion. How does asbestos get into drinking water? Asbestos occurs naturally through the erosion of rock, but the main source in the UK is old AC (asbestos-cement) pipes, used as water mains from 1945 into the 1980s, which can release small particles as they break down. Should I be worried about asbestos in my water? Fountain Filters are water filtration specialists rather than medical professionals, so if you have specific health concerns about asbestos you should consult your doctor. Based on current WHO research, the risk from asbestos in drinking water is considered low, though the science is still developing. About the author Simon Allen is a partner at Fountain Filters, where he's led the technical side of the business since 2011. Alongside more than 25 years in ecommerce, he's built up over 15 years of hands-on knowledge of water filtration, applying both to keep the Fountain Filters service running smoothly. Outside work, he's a competitive Masters athlete and England Athletics qualified coach, and has run marathons with business partner Louise.
How does a water softener work and why are they used in homes?! Before getting into detail about how do water softeners work, let's clear this one up first, a water softener is not a water filter and does not improve water quality. A water softener does one job, it removes the dissolved minerals calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) from water. These are often known as “hard ions”. An ion is an electrically charged atom or, in this case, molecule. Key Points A water softener is not a water filter and doesn't improve water quality - it only removes the dissolved hard minerals calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate that cause limescale. Softening works by passing hard water through resin beads that swap the hard calcium and magnesium ions for sodium ions. Once the resin beads become saturated, often within just a few days, the softener needs to regenerate using a highly concentrated salt brine solution, usually overnight. Counter-current regeneration systems are more efficient than co-current ones, using around 75% less salt and 65% less water per cycle. Electronic and magnetic water softeners don't actually remove hard minerals - they claim to alter their properties to prevent scaling, though there's limited independent evidence that they work. Salt-free alternatives such as media assisted crystallisation (MAC/TAC) have been independently verified as an effective way to reduce scale without using salt. Table of contents How do water softeners work? Why do water softeners regenerate? Why do water softeners need salt? There are two kinds of backwash processes in water softener systems: How does a water softener works step by step? How do electronic water softeners work? How do magnetic water softeners work? FAQs How do water softeners work? A very simple explanation on how a water softener works is that water containing hard ions flows through a vessel containing resin beads that are high in sodium ions. These beads attract and hold the hard ions and release the sodium ions into the water instead. The water then flows out of the vessel having had the hard ions removed and so is “soft” and continues into the household pipes ready for use. Obviously, there's a bit more to how water softeners work because after a short time the resin beads become saturated with CaCO3 and MgCO3 ions and the process stop working. This is when the water softener starts regenerating. Further down this article, we provide a detailed, step-by-step explanation of how water softeners function. Why do water softeners regenerate? Yes, water softeners regenerate… but why? The explanation is that once the resin beads reach their saturation point, which usually only takes a few days, the softening process will become less efficient, until it stops completely. The consequence of this is that you will be left with hard water and will have to deal with all that limescale build up again. To make water softeners continue working efficiently they have a regeneration system built in. This is where a tank of highly concentrated brine is used to reverse the softening process and dump all the hard ions and salty wastewater to the drain. It usually takes about two hours and is programmed to happen in the middle of the night when no one is using any water. The great thing about this regenerating “backwash” cycle is that it means that water softeners can continue working for years and years - so long as they are maintained. Why do water softeners need salt? The reason why water softeners need salt is that the brine used to carry out the backwash cycle is highly concentrated salt in water. To maintain that brine concentration, salt pellets must be put into the system regularly. Adding salt in a water softener can be as often as every three days for some water softener systems; it varies depending on what type of regeneration system is used, and how big the reservoir is. There are two kinds of backwash processes in water softener systems: Counter-current regeneration system: In a counter-current regeneration system the brine solution is fed through the system in the opposite direction from the usual water flow. The counter-current water softener regeneration system is more efficient and therefore uses around 75% less salt and 65% less water to complete the cycle.These are often called “high efficiency water softeners”. Co-current regeneration system: A co-current regeneration system the brine flow is in the same direction as the normal water flow direction. How does a water softener work step by step? Having examined the principles of how water softeners work, let's go into detail and explore how a water softener works step-by-step: Hard water from your mains supply enters the water softener vessel. Resin beads in the vessel attract the hard ions - mainly CaCO3 and some MgCO3 - and keep hold of them, thereby removing them from the water. Soft water is released from the vessel and flows into the household water pipes. Next, there's the regeneration (or backwash) cycle of the water softener, which proceeds as follows: A concentrated brine solution is created by adding salt to water in a brine tank. That brine then flows through resin which strips the hard ions, replacing it with sodium ions thereby rinsing away all the hard minerals. The brine solution which now contains all those hard ions are flushed away to the drain. The resin beads are now replenished and ready to continue their job softening the water. How do electronic water softeners work? Devices labelled as electric water softeners don't truly soften water, as they do not eliminate the calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate dissolved in hard water. These type of water softeners claim to alter the ionisation properties of the dissolved minerals so that it prevents them causing scaling. The theory is that a coil of insulated wire is wrapped around the incoming mains water pipe. This is then connected to an electrical supply to create a magnetic field that passes through the water. How do magnetic water softeners work? Magnetic water softeners are very similar, or even the same as electronic water softeners. The main difference between magnetic and electronic water softeners is that magnetic water softeners wrap the water pipe in a magnetic sleeve; that may be an electromagnet that may require a power supply. Again, the theory is that the magnetic field realigns the charge in the hard ions so that they don't form scale. There's not much empirical evidence that categorically verifies that either of those systems actually work well. But many people who have them swear that they do. There are other salt-free systems that minimise, reduce, or completely eliminate scale formation caused by hard water. Sequestration using polyphosphate often works for medium hard water areas. Then there's the media assisted crystallisation (MAC also known as TAC) which has been independently verified to be highly effective (see WateReuse Foundation's study - page 43 shows the overall results). This innovation was first introduced in 2010, and has proven popular since Fountain Filters were shown the Watts OneFlow System in 2015. No matter what your requirements are, we can assist you in finding the appropriate solution for treating your hard water. As water filtration specialists, we have a wide range of water softeners to suit different households and water hardness levels. And if you get in touch with Fountain Filters, we will pay close attention to your needs and offer you options tailored to your specific circumstances. FAQs Is a water softener the same as a water filter? No. A water softener only removes the dissolved hard minerals calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate from water - it does not improve water quality or filter out anything else. Why do water softeners need salt? The regeneration (backwash) cycle uses a highly concentrated salt brine solution to strip the hard ions from the resin beads and flush them away, so the salt needs to be topped up regularly - sometimes as often as every three days, depending on the system. Do electronic and magnetic water softeners actually work? They don't remove hard minerals in the way a traditional salt-based softener does - they claim to alter the ionisation properties of the minerals to prevent scaling. There isn't much empirical evidence that categorically verifies they work well, though many users report good results. Are there salt-free alternatives to a traditional water softener? Yes. Options such as polyphosphate sequestration (for medium hard water) and media assisted crystallisation (MAC/TAC) can minimise, reduce, or eliminate scale formation without using salt; MAC/TAC has been independently verified as highly effective. About the author Simon Allen is a partner at Fountain Filters, where he's led the technical side of the business since 2011. Alongside more than 25 years in ecommerce, he's built up over 15 years of hands-on knowledge of water filtration, applying both to keep the Fountain Filters service running smoothly. Outside work, he's a competitive Masters athlete and England Athletics qualified coach, and has run marathons with business partner Louise.
0 Is reverse osmosis water good for you
Is reverse osmosis water good for you? How RO water affects your health? When it comes to water filtration, there are many types of systems to choose from, including reverse osmosis systems, often shortened to RO. But if you are reading this article, you want to know if water filtered by reverse osmosis is good for your health. So, let's start by looking at how RO works. The RO machines have a series of filters that remove various things, but the primary stage is a semi-permeable membrane through which about 20 to 25% of the water molecules are forced. The rest is sent to the drain, although some ROs now claim to be as high as 50% efficient. Water from a reverse osmosis water system, often called RO, has virtually everything but the H2O removed. That means that it's fairly unnatural, but some people feel compelled to have as “pure” water as they can get believing it to be healthier. The reality is that no creature on the planet has evolved to drink water that's been purified to such an extent, and that's why there are so many conflicting views. Key Points Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the vast majority of dissolved minerals, contaminants, and virtually everything except H2O from water. For most healthy people, RO water is perfectly safe to drink every day and will still hydrate you effectively. The WHO's water quality recommendations state that demineralised water like RO doesn't meet its suggested minimum levels of magnesium, calcium, bicarbonate, and other dissolved salts. If you eat a good, varied diet you'll typically get those minerals from food, so this is less of a concern in the UK - but it may be a risk for people with underlying health conditions and pregnant women. Choosing an RO system with a remineralisation stage adds back some calcium (and sometimes magnesium) and helps correct the water's pH, though it won't restore every mineral that's removed. For most tap water concerns (chlorine, lead, bacteria, PFAS and similar), a standard water filter can remove these to a great extent while keeping beneficial minerals in - often more cheaply and efficiently than an RO system. Table of contents Is reverse osmosis water safe to drink? Is drinking reverse osmosis water bad for you? What about the contaminants in tap water? Alternatives to a reverse osmosis water system FAQs Is reverse osmosis water safe to drink? For most people, you can drink reverse osmosis water every day and it will be perfectly safe. There's nothing in reverse osmosis water that's bad for your health. It will still hydrate you, and staying hydrated is certainly good for your health. So drinking RO water is good for health from that perspective. Is drinking reverse osmosis water bad for you? Not really, although there are some conditions to that. Ordinary water contains all sorts of minerals and trace elements that are vital to health, so if you only drink reverse osmosis water then you could, potentially, have deficiencies of some of those elements. According to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommendations on water quality demineralised water such as from RO does not conform to standards. That's because it recommends at least 10mg/L of magnesium, 30 mg/L of bicarbonate ions, 30 mg/L of calcium, and 100 mg/L of other dissolved salts and RO water fails those parameters. However, if you have a good, varied diet and “eat the rainbow” of different coloured, unprocessed foods then you'll never have to question is RO water bad for health. That's because all those mineral and elements will be provided by the rest of your diet. There is chatter online that drinking reverse osmosis water can reverse the process, and that it leaches the minerals out of your body. There is some medical opinion that supports the theory, although it hasn't been categorically proven as far as we know. Going back to the WHO's guidance; it states that “low-mineral content water — in the light of the absence or substantial lack of essential minerals in it — is not considered ideal drinking water, and therefore, its regular consumption may not be providing adequate levels of some beneficial nutrients.” In the UK our access to diets rich in minerals and other substances means that it's less crucial to have the levels suggested by the WHO, but it could be a risk for people with underlying health conditions and pregnant women. Bearing that in mind, you may wish to reconsider whether there are any health benefits of reverse osmosis. What about the contaminants in tap water? If you've arrived at this article because you may have been worrying about the tap water in the UK having all sorts of nasty and dangerous chemicals, then you're probably already considering a reverse osmosis water filter. If you've set your heart on that then we suggest that you should ensure you get an RO that has a remineralisation stage - these have a final filter that adds calcium, and sometimes magnesium back into the water. That will also lift the pH again so it's not too acidic. However, there are many more minerals and elements that have been removed too that these do not restore. Alternatives to a reverse osmosis water system We always ask people who contact us what it is about their water that they want to improve - and you should ask yourself that before deciding that you need an RO water filtration system. The reason we do that is because there's a very good chance there's a simpler, more cost effective, and more environmentally friendly way to get the water quality that's desired. The majority of “contaminants” that people want to remove are things like chlorine, lead, bacteria, hormones, chemicals, pollutants such as PFAS, and the like. The water in the UK is some of the best in the world, however; it's a legitimate concern. What you may not realise is that all of those can be removed to a great extent by water filters that are highly efficient and cheaper to run than an RO system. Better still, they leave the good minerals and elements in your drinking water and are much easier to maintain. There's also less waste of water, fewer cartridge changes, and no electricity for the pump. Have a look at our water purifiers in stock that can be used for mains water and drinking water applications - they are especially affordable if you want to purify the water to your whole house. And if you're still confused or unsure what you need at Fountain Filters we are always happy to speak to you about your specific requirements, you can call us on 01352838281 or ask us a question on our helpdesk. FAQs Is reverse osmosis water safe to drink? For most people, yes - you can drink reverse osmosis water every day and it will be perfectly safe. It will still hydrate you, and there's nothing in RO water that's bad for your health. Is reverse osmosis water bad for you? Not really for most people, though ordinary water contains minerals and trace elements that are vital to health, so drinking only RO water could potentially lead to deficiencies of some of those elements. This may be a risk worth considering for people with underlying health conditions and pregnant women. Does the WHO recommend drinking demineralised water like RO? No. The WHO's recommendations on water quality state that demineralised water such as RO does not conform to its suggested standards, which include minimum levels of magnesium, calcium, bicarbonate, and other dissolved salts. Can a remineralisation stage fix the minerals removed by RO? It helps - an RO system with a remineralisation stage adds calcium (and sometimes magnesium) back into the water and raises the pH again, but there are many more minerals and elements removed by RO that this stage doesn't restore. About the author Simon Allen is a partner at Fountain Filters, where he's led the technical side of the business since 2011. Alongside more than 25 years in ecommerce, he's built up over 15 years of hands-on knowledge of water filtration, applying both to keep the Fountain Filters service running smoothly. Outside work, he's a competitive Masters athlete and England Athletics qualified coach, and has run marathons with business partner Louise.
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