You have many choices if you’re looking for a water filter for your home. Sediment filters, reverse osmosis filters, and distillation filters crowd the market. So what do you choose? Here, we’ll make a case that your best choice is the carbon filter. But what is a carbon filter, and how does it work for your needs? Read on to find out.
What Is It?
Carbon filters are made of activated carbon—activated charcoal—that can help trap odors. They’re exceptionally porous and have a large surface area. This helps them effectively reduce poor-tasting water, bad odors, and other extraneous debris and particles. It’s sort of like a parking lot with poor parking spaces that contaminants flow through. These pores are measured in microns; the smaller the micron, the more filtration depth. The more contact water has with the surface of the filter, the more efficient the filtration will be.
How Does It Work?
Whole-home filtration systems work in straightforward ways. Carbon filters remove contaminants through a process called adsorption. This means that the surface of the carbon attracts contaminants and they hold on to it, as mentioned earlier. The carbon acts as a catalyst to change the chemical composition of contaminants. This is how carbon filters operate and how they work for your needs.
What Is It Good For?
Activated carbon is ideal for removing chlorine, pesticides, and chloroform. Most importantly, it eliminates Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that may be in the water. VOCs can be anything from gasoline to industrial cleaners, making them incredibly dangerous for the health of the body. Contaminants, in general, can cause all manner of diseases and bacterial infections, from simple headaches to polio and cholera. Activated carbon mitigates this issue entirely and makes your drinking water safe.
In short, a carbon filter is a great option if you’re looking for a home filtration system. It removes water contaminants, making for a safe and clean drinking experience. We hope we’ve helped you make up your mind about getting one, and if you decide to, enjoy your filter!