Do I need a UV water purifier?
Probably not if you're on treated city water, which your utility already disinfects. UV makes sense for private wells, springs and other untreated…
Read the answerDo I need a water softener?
You need a water softener only if hard water causes problems you care about. Think scale on fixtures and water heaters, poor soap lather or spotty…
Read the answerDo pitcher water filters work?
Yes, for what they are certified to do. Most pitcher filters use activated carbon to reduce chlorine taste and odor (NSF/ANSI 42). Models certified…
Read the answerDo salt-free water softeners work?
Salt-free "softeners" do not soften water. Most are conditioners that change hardness minerals so less scale sticks to pipes and heaters. In one…
Read the answerDo water filters remove fluoride?
Most don't. Standard carbon pitcher, faucet and refrigerator filters remove little or no fluoride. Reverse osmosis, activated alumina and…
Read the answerHow much water does reverse osmosis waste?
A typical under-sink RO system sends about 4 to 9 gallons down the drain for every gallon of treated water. EPA says many waste 5 gallons or more,…
Read the answerHow often should you change your water filter?
Change it at the gallons or months listed for your model, whichever comes first. Small pitcher and faucet cartridges can need changing about monthly…
Read the answerIs a whole-house water filter worth it?
A whole-house filter is worth it when a problem affects every tap. Think chlorine taste and smell, sediment, or well issues like iron or sulfur odor.…
Read the answerIs reverse osmosis water healthy?
Yes, for most people. Reverse osmosis water is safe to drink, and RO removes lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS and many other dissolved contaminants. It…
Read the answerIs softened water safe to drink?
Yes, softened water is safe for most healthy people to drink. A salt softener adds roughly 8 mg of sodium per liter for each grain per gallon of…
Read the answerWater softener vs water filter: which one do you need?
A water softener removes hardness minerals, calcium and magnesium, by swapping them for sodium or potassium. It prevents scale but does not make…
Read the answerWhat does NSF certified mean?
NSF certified means an accredited, independent body tested a water treatment product against an NSF/ANSI standard. It confirmed the product reduces…
Read the answerWhat water filter removes lead?
Use a point-of-use filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI 42 for particulate reduction. Certified carbon block pitchers,…
Read the answerWhat water filter removes PFAS?
Reverse osmosis is the most reliable home option for PFAS. Certified carbon block filters and PFAS-selective ion exchange resin also reduce PFOA and…
Read the answer