Lowes Water Filter: Taking A Look at Its Features and Specifications

A whole house water filter is a system that provides clean water to all the faucets in your house. It usually consists of tanks that are set up in the garage, basement, or a special closet. All of the water in the house passes through these tanks before going into your faucets, showers, and toilets. This is different than a localized filter that may be installed under a sink or on a particular faucet to provide filtered water just in that location.

The purpose of this system is to remove common water contaminants that can be found in municipal and well water alike. Some of these contaminants include:

If you know you need to remove a specific contaminant, such as lead, you can install filters that are designed just for that problem. This is generally known as a heavy-duty filtration system and provides specific contaminant protection for 5 to 10 years. There are also general filters that remove a broad spectrum of contaminants. These are standard capacity water cartridges and need to be replaced every 6 months to 1 year.

When water enters your home, it is typically pre-filtered first. This process removes large particles that can clog the filtering system. The water then passes through a filtering process that removes the chemicals, metals, and microbes that can make you sick. This stage of the process may use a carbon filtering system, an activated charcoal filtering system, or other methods as well. Finally, the waste products are flushed away and the clean water is sent throughout your house.

Lowe's carries a complete spectrum of whole house water filters that range in price from $53.00 to $2,347.00. Why such a disparity in price? The filters at the lowest price point don't do what the filters at the highest price point can do. We'll take a look at the specific types of filters and what you get for your money below.

The first type of filter we will compare is a single-stage filter that only reduces sediment. These filters do not remove chemicals, metals, or micro-organisms. Therefore, if you have seriously compromised water, these will not solve your problem. However, if your water simply tastes odd or is a little cloudy from sediment, these filters will improve your water quality.

The second type of whole house water filtration system removes more than just sediment. These filters are built to knock out the bad guys that can really make you and your family sick. Some filters are great for metals such as mercury, lead, and iron, while others may be built for chemicals or microbes. Make sure you study the filter's specifications before you buy to ensure it is appropriate for your household needs.