One of the top reasons why homeowners choose to install residential water filtration systems is to protect the health of their families. Since filtering your water can decrease your risk of developing serious and chronic illnesses, you might also think that drinking filtered water could help out with run-of-the-mill colds and flus. But is…
What Are the Effects of Tannins in Tap Water?
Tannins are a form of decayed organic matter (primarily from vegetation) that dissolve into water. They are commonly found in lakes and rivers, as well as in swampy or marshy areas. Today we’re going to talk about how tannins can get into your home’s tap water, the symptoms of water with high levels of tannins…
How Does Chlorine Impact the Effectiveness of a Water Softener in Your North or South Carolina Home?
Water softeners rely on resin beads to remove hardness minerals from your water. As a result, the effectiveness of your water softener depends largely on the condition of those beads. Unfortunately, water that’s high in chlorine can damage resin beads and greatly reduce the ability of your water softener to work properly. Today we’re going…
What are Total Dissolved Solids in Water?
Some of the most damaging tap water contaminants are too small for the naked eye to see. In order to get a general idea of your water quality, these tiny contaminants are often grouped into a measurement known as total dissolved solids. Today we’re going to talk about what total dissolved solids are and the…
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC’s) in Tap Water: Where They Come From and How to Remove Them
Whereas some water contaminants are known simply by their names (iron, arsenic, lead, sulfur, etc.), others are known by the group of related contaminants that they are a part of. Volatile Organic Chemicals are an example of the latter category, and they can be a serious concern if they are found in high levels in…
How do Nitrates Get in Drinking Water and what are Their Health Effects?
There are many different types of water contaminants, and each one can affect different types of people in different ways. One type of contaminant that is particularly problematic for infants and pregnant women is nitrates. Today we’re going to talk about how nitrates get into drinking water and the various health effects that they can…
How Our Nation’s Aging Water Infrastructure Affects Water Quality in your Home
One of the biggest threats to the quality of our drinking water here in the Carolinas is our nation’s aging water infrastructure. Today we’re going to talk about the problems our country’s water infrastructure faces and what it means for the quality of the water in your home! Why we have an aging water infrastructure…
What is a Water Softener’s Regeneration Cycle?
If you’re in the market for a new water softener, it’s helpful to know how the water softening process works so that you can understand all of the features of the system that you choose. One of the most important steps of that process is the regeneration cycle. Today we’re going to talk about what…
Why You Should Consider Removing Chloramine from Your Home’s Tap Water
In recent years, many water treatment plants across the country (including those in North Carolina) have been switching from using chlorine to chloramine as their primary disinfectant. Although this switch is becoming increasingly popular, many researchers, scientists and activists have expressed concern over the effects that chloramine can have on a home's water quality. Today…