Why do you need a water filtration system for your home?
Unseeable, or unforeseeable; are the two key threats to clean, pure home water supply. If you don’t think about quality water supply, are you even a true South Australian? There’s a reason home water filtration systems are pretty much the standard issues here! Our regional supply network is the longest in Australia, with water (and its added chlorine) pumped across a 27,000 kilometre network. We get our water where we can, not just from rivers but from underground, the sea, and we’re Australia’s second biggest user of “recycled water.”
What does it all mean for South Australians? Multiple water sources mean multiple potential problems. It’s not just the high content of ‘hardening’ minerals that cause that famous South Australian “bad taste,” it’s the unforeseeable potential for river contamination from droughts and flooding rains. It’s the unseeable, undetectable, flavourless trihalomethane byproducts from the purification chemicals needed for such a vast network. Without a home water filtration system, you may never know what’s in your glass.
How do I choose the right water filtration system?
- Check your main water source first
With so many different sources of tap water in South Australia, the first step is to find out exactly what source is at the other end of your specific pipe.
- Verify the filter meets water safety standards or tests in your locality
WaterMark is the standard test for ensuring anything you use meets Australian standards. If it does not, the home filtration system may be a knockoff that doesn’t measure up to claims.
- Check which contaminants can be filtered
Unfortunately, it’s what you can’t taste that makes all the difference. A gut-churning amoeba has no flavour going down, but geez, you know about it later! It’s the same with the chemical byproducts of water purification. They have no taste, no smell – but there’s increasing alarm in the scientific community about their link to bladder cancer and other serious health implications.
- Enquire about the life or durability of the home water filtration system
“Nothing lasts these days” is especially true in the home water filter industry. Puratap has been providing home water filtration systems to South Australia for decades. We’ve seen a lot of shonky suppliers come and go. Like so many other industries, you will find suppliers providing substandard systems because they make their money on service and repairs. DO NOT GET US STARTED. SERIOUSLY. We’ve worked hard over the years to make sure that we provide everything that our clients need. Before you make your choice, check that:
- Your system comes with a parts and labour warranty
- It includes a pressure valve warranty
- Filters are designed to last a minimum of a year
- All plumbing components are made from safe, durable materials
- Your system is designed for Australian conditions
- The system is certified by all appropriate peak bodies
- That the individual components are made to the highest standards
- Your system is built in a highly regulated location
- Your system is supplied and fitted by experts in the field, not “importers” or “resellers”
- The designer is committed to the ethical production of purification products – your family’s health is too important to sacrifice for a substandard company’s profits.
- Look for house water filters that come with installation and maintenance services
Think long-term before you purchase. A water filtration system for the home means specialist fitting and long-term maintenance. Ask yourself if you’re happy to remember to get your water filters changed. Is that something you’re really keen to stay on top of every year? Look for a company that has a dedicated team of fitters out on the road who can take care of installation without any extra stress for you. Look for a company in the water filtration business for the long haul. Someone who offers easy, reliable, fully managed filter maintenance and will be there when you need them, every filter change, for years to come.
- Check for credible companies that offer water filtration systems
Finally, be sure to check that they’re delivering what they promise. Don’t just look for accreditation logos – check they’re accredited. Check if your water filter company holds memberships with industry associations and peak bodies. Make sure they’re specialists in the industry.
Do I need a whole house water filter?
Whole house water filters are also known as “point of entry” water filtration systems. A whole-house water filter is placed at the point where the main supply enters your property. So do you need one? Usually, these are put in place where heavily contaminated water, often bore water containing heavy metals, is the “town’s source” and a tank or hydro panel supply is not possible. This clears the water before it reaches your shower head, or washing machine, not just your drinking water. A whole-house water filter is a great option for people living in remote communities, however, you’ll also need to have a plumbing audit done to ensure that your pipe system does not contain aged materials that may cause lead or other metals to infiltrate your water system.
Alternatively, if you’re concerned about water from other sources in your home, you can install multiple tap systems to ensure clean, pure water from all taps in your home.
Is whole-house water filtration worth it?
Once you’ve checked your water source and understood any plumbing challenges, you can decide on a whole-house water filter system at the point of entry, or individual water filters on each vital tap in your home. It may well be worth it, especially if you’re relying on bore water in a highly industrial area.
How much do tap water filtration systems for homes cost?
Water filtration system costs will depend on the number of taps you wish to install and the type of tapware you opt to use. The best news is that these days, there is a beautiful range of guaranteed safe designer tapware – gone are the days of the squat, ugly duckling water taps! Installation costs vary. If you’re using a private plumber, you will need to calculate the call-out fee and hourly rate to install your new water filter. Depending on your plumber’s experience, this can represent the biggest cost blowout.
Puratap’s team of water filter installation specialists are available for fast, flexible installations at a set rate. Our guys have installed water purification systems across the whole house, from marble bench tops to laundry tubs… and each carries the right tools for the job. Installation usually costs under $300 per tap, but we have lovely office staff that can help you to figure out exactly what the cost of installation, tapware, and even future filter changes will be. You can ALWAYS call our Adelaide office on 133 502 with any questions.
One more thing before you choose your water filtration system
The one thing that’s not easy to check is if your new water filtration providers are passionate clean water advocates. This is possibly the most important attribute of any company that is providing a health service to your family. As proud “water quality nerds,” all we can say is that the only thing that drives innovation and improvement in our industry is passion.
You have to have a lifelong calling to constantly improve water purity. Water threats change. It’s not just climate change, La Niña, and deteriorating infrastructure. It’s new chemicals in the river systems, it’s more hormones in livestock farming, it’s sprawling population hubs, it’s new viruses and bugs… Every year, there’s a new threat to water. Every year, there’s a new contamination scare. Every year, we’re testing our water filtration systems to ensure they’re the very best option for South Australian families. Every year, we’re here, huddled in our Adelaide HQ, working on one simple question: How can we make water safe?