Of course, the first question to ask yourself is: does my home really need a water filter? A water filter is only fruitful when it takes bad stuff out of the water without putting any bad stuff back in again. But think for a minute: is it possible that putting a bed for bacterial growth, or chemical treatments, into your water lines could be worse than just drinking the certified safe water which arrives in most homes in developed areas at the twist of a valve? In short, don't rush out to buy a water filter just because it is trendy.That said, let's take a look at the best water filter when you do need cleaner, softer or tastier water. If you worry about your water quality, check for the consumer confidence report for water in your area at the website. Or contact your local water authorities to get the name of a to test the water at your tap. If you rely on well water, collected rainwater or surface water, you should definitely test your water to protect your health. But the best water filter may be !

If your concern is related to taste and odor alone, a carbon filter may be the best solution. Carbon filtration relies on the fact that carbon adsorbs contaminants onto its surface. The surface area is maximized on activated carbon during the manufacturing process. The gets our thumbs up because it won best buy recognition from the respected folks at . If your water is extremely hard, a case can be made that softening the water is the best choice for the environment. The impacts of the energy and materials that go into water softening can be offset by longer appliance life, more washes before clothing goes gray and less detergents needed for effective cleaning. A cation exchange softener, usually installed at the point of entry to the house, takes the "hard" ions calcium and magnesium out of the water, replacing them with sodium and potassium. Our vote for the best ion exchange filters goes to for systems which use the energy in the water flowing through them so no electricity is required as well as metered regeneration, which minimizes waste, and dual-tank construction, so the system is never off-line.

If test show the presence of harmful levels of bacteria or parasites in your water, such as Cryptosporidium or Giardia, then you need to take action. Chlorine and other chemical treatments can be effective, but have side effects. Filtration is difficult due to the very small size of some pathogens. But Ultraviolet treatment has proven effective for killing unwanted bugs surfing your water lines. The and the systems are the only two technologies certified by for Class A Disinfection Performance, which is necessary in the case of disease-causing bugs. Don't believe advertisements that UV will clean heavy metals or other contaminants out of your water though! If your water test report came back looking like an alphabet soup of -chlor- and -enes, or includes heavy metals, the best system is the one your . Reverse osmosis filters can be effective, but will significantly reduce flow rates. Distillation is effective for metals but may carry organic chemicals over in the "clean" water.

You may need a combination of filtration technologies. , the certification organization for water filtration devices, has a useful search engine to find water filters making certified claims to address particular pollutants.benefits of air purifier with ionizerMore on Water Filters:Buying a Water Filtration System: Determining Which System Is Best for You TH Forum: Make of Whole House Water FilterClean Water Appears Out of Thin Air with EcoloBlueUse Sand Filters to Make Rain Water Drinkableuvgi air cleanersBuying guides and product reviews on a variety of consumer goodsair scrubber rental uk including computer hardware, home electronics, electric appliances, kitchen gadgets, home security and automation products. Tuesday, January 24th, 2012,

The Timber Decking Association provides guidance, information and advice on all timber decking and cladding matters. Air Purifier Guide is an extensive, consumer-focused site providing the latest scientific studies on air purification products. Information includes ratings from Consumer Reports and the Clean Air Delivery Rate program along with findings from the Mayo Clinic, New England Journal of Medicine, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Monday, January 23rd, 2012, LUNG HEALTH & DISEASES Mission, Impact & History Warning Signs Of Lung Disease Online Disease Support Communities Freedom From Smoking Community I Want To Quit Join Freedom From Smoking Select your location to view local American Lung Association infomation near you We spend most of our time indoors, so breathing healthy air where we live, work and play is critical. Learn how to recognize and eliminate pollution sources in and around your home, on the job and at schools.

Protect Your Air at Home You may not know it, but the air in your home can be dirty and hazardous to your health. In fact, indoor air can be even more polluted than the air outdoors. Indoor Air Pollutants and Health You may be surprised to find out what's polluting the air indoors. Learn about the most common indoor air pollutants and how they affect your health. The more you know, the better you can protect yourself and your family. Air Quality at Work Workers should breathe easy while on the job, but worksites with poor air quality put employees at risk. Healthy air is essential for a safe workplace. Healthy Air at School Children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution. Cleaning up pollution in their schools will help our children breathe clean, safe air where they learn and play. Join the fight for healthy lungs and healthy air.As the weather switches to extremes, either too hot or too cold, you’ll likely shut the doors and windows and turn on the heat and A/C.

While that may make the temperature more comfortable, it can make the home feel stuffy and the air less fresh. Even when all the windows are open, dust, pet dander, and other allergens can make breathing easily a challenge. Regularly using an air purifier can help clean the air, making it smell fresher and removing any allergens. Many incorporate HEPA filters, removing even the smallest irritants. Depending on the size of the room, you can choose a higher or lower power level and clean the entire room with a single instrument. Even better, many air purifiers have the ability to go into quiet mode during the night, so you can keep them running as you sleep and they won’t disturb you. Most sound like very quiet white noise. In the morning, you can flip on turbo mode and let the air purifier intensely clean the air. For those with severe allergies, opt for HyperHEPA technology. It’s the same purification level used in clean rooms and hospitals around the world, and is able to remove even more pollutant particles than traditional air purifiers.