When it comes to cleaning your home's water supply, there are countless options, from simple faucet filters to countertop and under-sink units. But one of the most important filters in your arsenal should be a Drinking Water Filters. In fact, it should be a filter for your entire home. There are many benefits to a filter for your drinking water, but first and foremost, it can protect you from serious health threats brought on by tainted water supplies.

It is well known that most Americans receive their water from public treatment facilities. In many cases, this is not a safe system. Recent studies have shown that cancer risk is higher for those who consume chlorinated water regularly. Other contaminants have been linked to such ailments as neurological problems, thyroid disorders, paralysis, and anemia. With all of this available information, is it any wonder that the drinking water filter systems are so important?

Most people realize that one of the major sources of chemicals in our environment is from the water we drink. At home, we are exposed to chemicals from pesticides, to household cleaning products, to cleaning agents used by carpet and vinyl flooring. Many of the chemicals used in these products are cancer causing. Drinking water filters, based on carbon filtration technologies, can reduce the risk of cancer and other ailments brought on by chemical exposure.

The big question is, what types of drinking water filters do you need? There are several different types, including point of use (POE) devices, whole house filtration systems, and portable ones. For each type, there are different types of models, so before you buy a system, it's important to understand exactly what it will do for you. Here is a list of the most common types, along with some more information.

Countertop distillers are one of the most popular types of drinking water filters, due to their affordability. The countertop unit is similar to the under counter distillers, except that it does not require installation. It works by filling a small container, like a soft drink bottle, with the pure water. When it comes into contact with the contaminants, the water vaporizes, leaving the trace particles behind. These particles, along with the chlorine and sediments in tap water, are thought to be responsible for poor tasting or bad smelling tastes and odors.

UV filters, sometimes called UV light filters, are another popular type of device. These devices are typically used in offices, because of their efficacy in reducing chemicals like mercury, cadmium, and aluminum that are in the air. The filters work by filtering the ultraviolet light that is released from the sun, and converting it to a less harmful form. Some of these devices can also reduce the presence of certain heavy metals such as lead and copper, though they may not be able to deal with other types of contaminants.

Distillation is a process used in small scale operations to remove impurities from a liquid. While it is effective, it does take a lot of energy to run, can be messy to maintain, and is not ideal for filtering all of the contaminants in a household. Water can only be distilled so many times, and so the process begins to slow down. This is why some systems are placed on the water line at the home, to heat pure water that goes through the filter to the entire house. There are also reverse osmosis filters, but they are far more expensive and bulky.

Carbon filters are an excellent way to reduce chemicals and pesticides in your drinking water, as well as removing lead and copper. These filters use carbon granules that filter out contaminants while leaving the essential trace minerals intact. Carbon is an extremely effective purifying agent and has been found to be just as effective at removing lead and pesticides as it is at reducing the odors associated with them. Carbon granules are often available in a variety of forms that are convenient for home use. They can even be placed directly on your countertop to remove chemicals and pesticides while increasing the flavor of your food.