There are many ways to get drinking water, but point-of-use (POU) water filters are one of the best at providing high-quality water. But besides cleaner water, what other benefits can POU water filters grant?
From installing whole-house water filtration systems to educating homeowners on different point-of-use water filters, we’ve seen the value filtered water brings to a home. We at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air have worked with homes across the Los Angeles area and witnessed the water quality and how a POU filter can improve it.
Point-of-use water filters can provide homes with the following benefits.
- Improves drinkable water quality
- Cost Effective
- Eco-Friendly
- Easy Installation
- Simple to maintain
Reviewing these benefits deeper can help you and your family determine if a point-of-use water filter is suitable for your home.
Let’s dive right in!
What Are the Benefits of POU Water Filters?
All point-of-use water filters provide similar benefits but come in different shapes and filtration methods. It is easier to understand how beneficial POU water filters are by knowing how they can treat water. Here’s a list of common types of filtration systems for a POU filter.
- Carbon filtration: This type of filtration allows point-of-use water filters to remove organic compounds and certain chemicals, such as chlorine.
- Sediment filtration: Water can carry tiny dissolved physical contaminants, making it appear cloudy. A sediment filter has microscopic pores that allow water through but trap physical particles from passing through.
- UV light filtration: Ultraviolet light filtration uses a special bulb inside a filter to kill microorganisms and bacteria that can carry waterborne illnesses.
- Water ionizer: This type of water filtration system alters the pH level of water so that it can become alkaline water. Alkaline water can provide homes with possible benefits to a person’s body.
- Reverse osmosis system: Reverse osmosis point-of-use water filtration systems uses multiple types of filters and reverse osmosis membrane to purify water. This system uses sediment and carbon as pre-filters and may also come with a UV light water filter.
Some of these filters are built into appliances or fixtures that use water, but only at a single location, which can be a drawback for people who want whole-house filtration. For example, some water pitchers can use a replaceable sediment or carbon filter for immediate filtered water. Some showerheads and water faucets come with built-in filters also.
Regardless of which system you have or where it is attached to, you’ll always have filtered water. But what exactly is being filtered out of the available water? We’ll examine that further in the following section.
POU Water Filters Provide Better Quality Water
Point-of-use water filters all have the same goal of treating water. Whether you have a carbon-filtered water pitcher or a reverse osmosis system, the treated water will always be of higher quality.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) regularly tests water quality for drinkability, but it is still possible for water to contain contaminants. It is common for municipal water systems to disinfect drinking water with safe amounts of chlorine, yet some homeowners have reported their water having a slight chlorine taste.
Point-of-use carbon filtration systems target chlorine, foul odors, and other solvents from remaining in drinking water.
In homes with old steel pipes, it is possible to have tiny amounts of rust particles flowing in tap water. A sediment filter specializes in removing this contaminant along with dirt, soil, and other dissolved particles.
With point-of-use water filters, you will notice a difference in water quality which can encourage you and your family to increase your efforts to drink water. Not only will your body thank you for the tastier water, but your wallet will be thankful for the potential savings you can earn with POU filters.
Point-of-Use Water Filters Are Cost Effective
Point-of-use water filters have varying costs, with some filters under $50 to more extensive under-the-sink filtration systems costing over $1,000. Regardless of your option, POU filters can save you money in the long term.
Some homeowners rely on buying cases of bottled water to have better quality water in their homes. Depending on a home’s water drinking habits, you can end up purchasing several cases of bottled water a month.
With a point-of-use water filter, you will no longer have to carry cases of water into your home, and you can potentially save hundreds of dollars a year. Aside from saving money, POU water filters cut off the need for plastic water bottles which can be good for the environment.
Eco-Friendly
Switching from plastic water bottles to point-of-use water filters can help decrease plastic pollution. Although many homeowners are diligent with their recycling, not all plastic bottles end up at a recycling center. Eliminating plastic bottled water use is one of the ways people can incorporate a more eco-friendly approach to their homes.
Point-of-use water filters are also energy efficient because most don’t require any power to function and filter water. Even the systems that use electricity, like water ionizers and UV light water filters, do not burden a home’s energy usage like other home appliances might.
Easy on the environment, point-of-use water filters are also easy to install, which can save you time.
POU Water Filters Are Easy to Install
Most point-of-use water filters have a minimal installation process. Filtered water pitchers are easy to assemble and do not require extensive setup tools. Other POU filters, like showerheads and faucets with built-in filters, can be screwed on a fixture and ready to use.
Larger under-the-sink point-of-use systems, like a reverse osmosis system, may require a technician’s assistance with installation. With multiple filters and connections to water lines, RO systems can be a little tricky for a homeowner to install. Installing a reverse osmosis system is a quick process for most experienced technicians so that you can have purified water in less than a few hours.
Once any of these POU filters are installed and ready to use, they’re pretty simple to maintain as well.
Easy to Maintain
Point-of-use water filters do not require extensive maintenance. These systems require filter replacement every few months and are easy for homeowners to replace.
Other systems come with reusable filters instead of replacements. Reusable filters can be washed and cleansed with warm water. Failing to replace or clean a point-of-use water filter can result in a filter losing its efficiency in removing contaminants.
Is a Point-of-Use Water Filter Right for Me?
Point-of-use water filters offer a simple way to have access to cleaner water. Aside from better-tasting water, these filters come with a variety of benefits that homeowners can take advantage of. Now that you’re familiar with the benefits of POU filters, you can better determine if this type of water treatment is right for you and your home.
Since 2007, we’ve installed different POU water filters across Los Angeles. After installing thousands of these filters, we’re believers in their benefits and the performance homeowners can expect.
If you have questions about point-of-use water filters, contact us using the buttons below or book an appointment through our water filtration scheduler.
Point-of-use water filters aren’t the only way for homeowners to obtain cleaner water, though. Point-of-entry filtration systems can provide clean water for an entire home. Check out this article to learn how these two systems compare against one another so you can decide which one is suitable for you.
