Friday, October 28, 2011

Bottled Water Or Water Purification Systems?

In our health and environmentally conscious world, bottled water has become exceedingly popular. The thought has been that bottled water is safer and more pure than our tap water. As a result, untold amounts of money are spent each year on bottled water.

Some research states that in fact bottled water may not be as pure and safe as the consumer thinks it is. In some cases, bottled water may contain some of the contaminants consumers are seeking to avoid by drinking bottled water in the first place. As for environmental concerns, the popularity of bottled water causes many millions of plastic bottles to be made and later fill our landfills with them.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Now what? How can we be reasonably sure that our drinking water is safe? Water purification systems have been invented to have water pass through replaceable filters where contaminants are trapped and pure water is released. Due to the fact that outbreaks of dangerous bacteria can get in to municipal water supplies - home filtering systems have been designed.

Many factors will go into the type of filter system that might be purchased. In the long run, most systems will prove to be more economical. There is a variety of filters available. Faucet-mounted or point of use filters are good if only drinking water is to be treated. There are shower filters, pitcher filter systems, individual container filters, and filter straws available as well. Countertop, under the counter, and under the sink models are also available. Ideally, whole-house filters are recommended.

Whole-house water purification systems are hooked up at the point where water enters a home. All water including shower, bath, and toilet water is purified. Tap water is also purified and safe for cooking and drinking.

There are many health benefits to pure water, not the least of which is the prevention of some cancers and learning disabilities in children that can arise from lead in the water.

The hair and skin becomes softer and the body maintains proper hydration.

Consumers should do their research, determine their need, and then possibly purchase the home purification systems.

Bottled Water Or Water Purification Systems?

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Residential Water Treatments - Why Use Water Filters For Drinking Water

The best alternative for both bottled and tap water is to process it using water filters. These filters remove toxic contaminants than any other purification methods.

Water filters are exclusively designed to work with municipally treated water. The water they produce is not subjected to the phthalate contamination (Phthalates are the most used plasticizers in industrial products), and they also remove cryptosporidium causing a diarrhoeal illness called cryptosporidiosis from drinking water, a feat that neither municipal water treatment plants nor bottler companies have yet managed.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Due to numerous issues bottled water, is clearly not a healthy substitute to tap water. Bottled water products are expensive when compared to the cost per gallon of tap water. If one is choosing only between tap and bottled water, tap is plainly the more economical, and, in many cases, the healthier choice. Drinking filtered is a much more economical practice than drinking bottled ones. The filtering cost of pure water filter treated is a little more than untreated tap water.

Furthermore, because water filters use no more energy than is already required to force water through a home's plumbing system, they circumvent several of the environmental problems of the bottled water industry. Below we will discuss reasons to use water filters.

Water Treatment - Ten Reasons to Use Water Filter

1. In order to take advantage of the health benefits, it is essential to draw from a clean source of water.

2. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), lead in drinking water contributes to 480,000 cases of learning disorders in children each year in the United States alone.

3. Drinking adulterated, contaminated drink helps in primary reason of epidemic diseases in developing countries.

4. There are more than twenty-one known drinking water contaminants that may be present in tap water, including several known toxins.

5. Bottled drinks does not offer a viable substitute to tap.

6. Municipal treatment services cannot always control for the outbreak of dangerous bacterial contaminants in tap water.

7. The only way to make sure that it is clean, contaminant-free drinking water is through the use of a point-of-use filtration system.

8. For a child's proper mental and physical development, clean, healthy drinking water is necessary.

9. A pregnant woman should always drink lead free pure water as lead can cause severe birth defects in newborns.

10. Numerous kinds of cancer can be endorsed to the presence of toxic materials in drinking water.

Residential Water Treatments - Why Use Water Filters For Drinking Water

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Refrigerator Water Filter Effectiveness

I am sure that a lot of people are asking themselves about Refrigerator water filter effectiveness. This article will highlight the important things you need to know about these water filters. They play a very vital role.

Refrigerator water filter effectiveness will only be noticed once you taste water that has been purified by these filters. They play a very important role in giving us fresh and clean water since tap water is contaminated and not healthy anymore. These waterborne contaminants that are in tap water may cause sickness.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

The Ge Smartwater filter is another one of the most popular filters that people use. It has a cartridge that reduces a lot of impurities in water. It reduces lead by ninety nine percent, chlorine by ninety six percent, asbestos by ninety nine percent, cysts by ninety nine percent, turbidity by ninety eight percent and mercury by ninety three percent. They preserve fluoride that is needed in water.

You just have to change and replace the filter every six months so that it can give you the best results. If you take better care of the filter then you can use for longer than the six months. Using this filter is way better than buying bottled water. This I say because you may even want the water to be delivered to your doorstep which may cost you more.

You can get this item from sites such as Amazon.com. The price for this item differs with each place. If you want to see the different prices then you can use a comparison site that will give you the various costs for this item.

Now that you are aware of the Refrigerator water filter effectiveness, you will make sure that you only drink water that has been purified. You will now make sure that you keep yourself safe from contaminants that are in tap water.

Refrigerator Water Filter Effectiveness

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Inaccurate Water Softener Reviews Can Ruin Your Whole Home

When a person is looking at water softener reviews, some factors that should be included in the decision for which review is the most accurate or will meet the needs of the household considering the review. When a person is looking a reviews it is important that the reviews contain the information that is relevant to one's needs. Many factors will need to be included in the decision for which type of water softener will meet a person's needs.

Affordability is a big concern for most people today. Some units are available for less than a hundred dollars through local discount stores and on the Internet. The price rises until one finds that there is a water softener that is available for over ,000. Setting the parameter of affordability is the first step to looking at any type of review seriously.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Knowing the type of water that is in the area where a person lives and seeing if the review addresses that water type. Some people live in areas that have terrible water and need softeners in order to drink and use the water. Other areas have excellent water quality and have little or no need for a water softener.

All of the water softener reviews will have a long list of the benefits of their products. It is important to sort out the benefits offered from the benefits that are actually needed. When a softener is selling for several thousand dollars to soften all of the water coming into a home it will not be a cost effective purchase for a vacation home that one spends a week at once a year.

There are many different types of systems available. Some are very small and hook up to a kitchen sink. Others are larger and hook up the hot water tank in a garage. Others, have connections throughout a home and all of the water coming into the home has been "softened."

One of the biggest pieces of information to check when looking at review are the chemicals used to soften the water. Some systems use organic materials that are not treated with any chemicals. Other systems are reliant on several chemical additives that remove the iron, etc., from the water.

When chemicals are listed on the review it is important to find out what those chemical do. There are many systems manufactured that use organic products to soften and purify the water that one drinks. These systems do not introduce any chemicals into the body through the water that they drink.

When reading reviews it is important to talk to individuals who have knowledge and expertise in these systems. They and can give details regarding a system that may not be shown in a review. These individuals will be able to assist a person in finding the type of water softener they need to meet their needs. They will also be able to assist in finding an affordable water softener system that may not have a great review, but can meet all of the requirements of the household effectively and efficiently.

Inaccurate Water Softener Reviews Can Ruin Your Whole Home

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Comparison GUIDE

If you do your own reverse osmosis water treatment comparison, you are likely to see why most people choose another option. Consumer's reverse osmosis reviews are sometimes positive, but mostly, there are lots of complaints.

Taste

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

The first complaint you see in consumer reverse osmosis reviews is that the water tastes stale. The second is often that you can still taste chlorine. It seems that someone might want to conduct a "taste test" reverse osmosis water treatment comparison.

The reason for the stale taste is that RO removes all traces of the minerals. We need minerals to maintain good hydration. They are sometimes referred to as electrolytes. The two most important ones are potassium and sodium.

A better choice for your taste and health is a purifier with an ion exchange step. This step removes traces of lead and copper replacing them with ions of sodium and potassium. The taste is superior.

The reason that people reporting tasting chlorine in their reverse osmosis reviews is simple. The devices do not remove chlorine. Carbon filtration is necessary to do that.

Costs

If a reverse osmosis water treatment comparison is a review of RO devices available from different companies, you will see that the cost ranges from around 00 to over ,000. The more effective systems cost the most.

If on the other hand, you compare the cost to that of different technologies, you will see that RO always costs the most, but does not always do the best job.

In reverse osmosis reviews, customers often complain about the cost of installation, the cost of maintenance and increased utility bills. Depending on the distributor, installation is sometimes free. So, if you've decided that RO is right for you, shop around for the best deal.

Installation Challenge for Reverse Osmosis

Homeowners cannot install the devices themselves. They require the help of a plumber. If your primary concern is your kitchen faucet, you can purchase a kitchen countertop unit that is very effective. You can install it yourself. The cost is around 5. And it is not RO.

The reason customer reverse osmosis reviews mention increased utility bills is because electricity is needed to power the devices and water consumption is increased due to wastewater created by the units. Neither of these is a factor with other more modern purification choices

Contaminant Removal

Depending on the device, anything larger than 1 micron is removed. That's why chlorine is not removed. Other chemicals, as well, are much smaller than a micron. Some are even gaseous. Synthetic chemicals and gases can only be removed by carbon and other filtering media through a process called adsorption.

Best Water Filter Device

Whenever I do a reverse osmosis water treatment comparison, I always find new reasons to dislike devices with RO. There are better choices.

The best purification devices for the home combine submicron filtration with carbon, multi-media blocks, adsorption and ion exchange. Those steps remove chemicals, prescription drugs, gases, lead, copper, parasitic cysts, herbicides, pesticides and practically anything that you can think of. In my research, I found one company that manufactures a water filter device that removes the above mentioned contaminants.

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Comparison GUIDE

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Gas Grill Comparison

Gas grills have made outdoor cooking very convenient. Whenever one sees a gas grill being used by a family or any other large group, a temptation of owning one, creeps into the mind.

When you set out to buy a gas grill you will be amazed by the mind boggling varieties that are available for sale. It is only by comparing and contrasting several features that you will be able to locate a model that is ideal for you.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Selecting a gas grill depends a lot on which features are compared. You will have to take into account basic features like overall size, number of burners and available cooking surface. Once you have an idea about the approximate size of gas grill that you require you can move on to other features of comparison like material that the gas grill body is made up of., the material used for making various parts, the BTU of each burner, the fuel used by the grill, how adaptable it is for mobility, etc.

BTUs are a measure of the heat generated, they are important in evaluating a gas grill but not the sole determinant. While comparing, one should not give undue importance to BTU ratings.

While comparing different models make sure you look at how stable the frame is. Welded frames are the sturdiest frames around. Once you find two or more models with almost similar basic features, you can take the comparison to the next level and rate models based on optional accessories. This is where pricing should be compared carefully. Basic models will all cost in the same range, it is with the addition of accessories that the perceived value of a product increases. Side burners, warming racks and additional shelving are handy to have around, but take care that you do not pay in excess for the privilege of having the accessories.

Gas Grill Comparison

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Why Choose Rheem Tankless Gas Water Heaters

Rheem tankless gas water heaters are just one of the many brands available to the consumer in today's market niche for a water heater. So why choose a Rheem product? There is a Rheem product for literally any application, from the smallest to the largest, Rheem will have a solution for you heating requirements. Rheem offers compact products freeing up space in your home for other appliances which are great if you live in a small apartment or house. You'll never have to worry about fluctuating hot water, the water running cold or having a limited supply because with one of the Rheem tankless gas water heaters you will have instant hot water on demand.

Rheem tankless gas water heaters have featured in the well known builder's magazine called "Building Products top 100" as one of the top 'Green products' in the building industry. Based on the low number of repairs done to already sold units, It has further reported that consumers found the Rheem products to be the most reliable and simple to use. Units are fitted with state of the art temperature controls which stand as proof of the technological achievements made by Rheem. It is also very user friendly and self diagnostic built-in systems which make it easy to read maintenance codes.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Rheem tankless gas water heaters have dual gas burning units that superheats the water as it passes through the internal copper piping, and this means that it will never run out unlike a conventional heating system that has a limited supply of hot water. Rheem has an energy sufficient design which directly contributes to the low cost of operating the unit. Households with higher demand requirements can purchase the EZ-link cable to connect two ore more units at the same time.

The Rheem brand-name is well respected in the marketplace everywhere in the world because they are committed to provide a quality product and customer service at superior levels. Call Centers are staffed with trained technical personnel that are very knowledgeable about all applications and can help you choose a solution to suit your heating needs.

Rheem tankless gas water heaters are manufactured to the highest quality standards and The 'Rheem' name are branded with pride on each appliance. A full custom warranty card should be filled out at your point-of-purchase, and will be send to the head office for immediate registration of your products. All warranties are valid for 20 years and products are expected to meet this life expectancy as we use only the most durable materials in construction of all products.

Rheem products are manufactured under very strict safety conditions and invite you to review the customer testimonials on the internet. We treat every customer that buys a Rheem product as a priority and you can be sure of the best customer service levels in the industry from us. Rheem has been supplying top quality products to the public since 1930 and have built a reputation by supplying only the best tankless gas water heating solutions at competitive prices. Did you know that government will issue you with a tax credit up to 00 (30%) of the cost of a tankless gas water heater? This is due to the overall effectiveness of the product in lowering pollution and green house gases.

Whether you require a heating solution for your home or business in order to keep costs down and cut expenses, selecting one of the Rheem tankless gas water heaters from a wide range is a wise and sound investment that will last you many years to come.

Why Choose Rheem Tankless Gas Water Heaters

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Comparison of the Features of Some Cuisinart Toasters Models

Breakfast is definitely the most important meal of the day, because it gives you the energy to sustain the whole day's work. With a nutritious meal to start your day, you are sure to beat the stress and keep up with the pressure at work or in school. Thus, if you are up for a quick burst of energy, you should prepare a healthy breakfast that will surely make your day.

It is easy to make a great-tasting breakfast such as toast, bagels or muffins, as long as you have the right kitchen appliance for the job. Cuisinart toasters are reliable for this purpose, as these come with outstanding features. You will surely love having one of these toasters for your kitchen; each model offers numerous benefits that make it a great buy. Here are the outstanding features of some Cuisinart toasters models.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Cuisinart Compact 4-Slice Toaster

Those who are looking for a smaller and more compact toaster will love this Cuisinart toaster model. It is sleeker, as compared to the standard toaster ovens in the market. It measures 10.19" x 11.19" x 7", which is definitely smaller than the other brands. As compared to Hamilton Beach, Black and Decker and DeLonghi bread toasters, Cuisinart toasters still prove to be the smallest among these brands. With a streamlined design, you can place it on your countertop or any small table in the house.

Although this toaster model is small, it is undeniably functional and comes with several features. It has LED soft-touch pad electronic controls for these functions: 9-setting browning dials, bagel reheat and defrost. You can toast four slices of bread at the same time; and the dual control panels make this appear as two toasters in one. If you are fond of bagels, you can toast them as well in this smart kitchen appliance. The 1 ½-inch slots can accommodate a thick bagel or a French bread. Lastly, you will not have a difficult time cleaning this toaster after use; it comes with a slide-out crumb tray that you can easily wash under a faucet, dry with a cloth and slide it back in the toaster afterward.

Cuisinart 4-Slice Tandem Toaster

You can make a delightful toast browned to perfection in only a matter of seconds, with this 4-Slice Tandem Toaster by Cuisinart. Its 1800-watt power speeds up the toasting process and prevents you from waiting for minutes to enjoy a great toast. This amazing toaster can accommodate thin-sliced breads or a thick-sliced bagel because 1 ½-inch wide slots for toasting. You can reheat, defrost and toast bagels in a snap. Among the other great features of this toaster are the 6 shade settings, 2 or 4 slice option and a cancel button. This tandem toaster also comes with cool-touch housing, a convenient cord wrap (for easy storage) and a slide-out crumb tray. Just like the other models of Cuisinart toasters, this product comes with a 3-year limited warranty.

Cuisinart Countdown 4-Slice Metal Toaster

Enjoy perfectly-toasted breads with this countdown 4-slice metal toaster by Cuisinart. It comes with two blue backlit LCD timer that counts down the remaining time before toasting finishes. You can toast thick-sliced breads or halved bagels, as this toaster comes with four wide 1-inch slots that can accommodate any thick bread. You also get to choose the kind of shade that you want for your bread, as this product features 6-shade setting dials. Moreover, you can reheat, defrost and toast bagels with this excellent Cuisinart toaster. After using this kitchen appliance, you can easily clean it up because of the slide-out crumb tray.

One Last Note

Cuisinart toasters are truly outstanding toaster brands when it comes to their great appearance and smart functions. These toasters come with brushed stainless steel housing that adds to their elegant and sophisticated look, as well as their maximum durability. As for the functions, you can choose from a number of browning levels, shade settings and simple operation such as reheat, defrost and bagel options. Clean up is not a problem, either, because each model comes with a slide-out crumb tray that you can easily hand wash and wipe dry. Purchase this toaster brand now, and experience the convenience and ease in making perfect toasts anytime and anywhere.

Comparison of the Features of Some Cuisinart Toasters Models

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Comparison of Vacuum Cleaners

Vacuum cleaners differ because people have varying needs and individual taste. Comparison of vacuum cleaners will unfold different advantages and disadvantages, but basically one will choose a favorite brand to another. Various vacuum cleaners are the outcome of ingenuity and inventive skills of designers to alleviate hardship in doing household chores.

Vacuum cleaners had been invented to remove soil particles in areas such as floors, walls and gaps, and carpets. Actually there is no actual sucking that takes place in the mechanism and technical concept of a vacuum cleaner. It is the result of low pressure happening inside tube, making a negative pressure to pull things through it.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Thus, lighter weight of small particles like dusts are the main things collected by vacuum cleaners. The method on how trapping of dirt is collected comprises the major component of the equipment.

Here are the comparisons of different vacuum cleaners in terms of configurations:

CONVENTIONAL VACUUM CLEANERS:

Upright and Canister Vacuum Cleaners are common commercial and residential vacuum cleaners where the dirt is suctioned through and collected either by bag or by the collecting section of the vacuum cleaner (bagless). Rotating brush agitates soil residues and dust molecules and before they start spreading, the vacuum cleaner has made its job. Power operated, these kinds have electric motors to run, either single or dual.

WET/DRY VACUUM CLEANERS:

These are special kinds designed to seep even spills of liquid. It has good exhaust system to reverse the flow of air for purposes of unclogging the tubes after significant use.

BACK PACK VACUUM CLEANERS

These are kinds used commercially because it can be carried around to different areas for convenient transfer and cleaning. Back Pack vacuum cleaners are strapped in the back and designed for ease of use without causing strain to the user.

CENTRALIZED VACUUM CLEANERS:

Installed as part of the utility provision of the building, it has a general collection centralized for heavy-duty use. Cleaning of the accumulated dirt only require yearly disposal because of the large size of the bag. Centralized vacuum cleaners have higher suctioning force compared to the rest.

ROBOTIC

The most recent and computerized domestic robots in form of vacuum cleaners are robotic vacuum cleaners. It has very attractive feature, which is a revolutionary promise of giving ease to household cleaning and maintenance. It can do cleaning by itself once programmed on a specified schedule.

Comparison of Vacuum Cleaners

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

RFG237AARS Samsung Refrigerator Review and Price Comparison

The RFG237AARS Samsung Counter Depth Refrigerators has enhanced features and technologies, this Samsung Refrigerator has 22.5 Cu. Ft. of space and is a Counter-Depth, Bottom Mount Refrigerator. Its model number is RFG237AARS and has been specifically designed to give you better storage capabilities not to mention it's a beautiful looking refrigerator.

The exterior design has a large storage capacity you will have ample room to store all of your sensitive food items, it has one of the best cooling systems on the market and your food will be professionally preserved with the new cooling system which helps to prolong taste and freshness of your fruits and vegetables.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

The average price for this Samsung Bottom Mount Refrigerator is ,450 and it can be purchased anywhere Samsung appliances are sold, both online and in retail stores there is a convenient price comparison listed on the link at the bottom of this page where you can find the absolute lowest prices available for this Samsung Refrigerator.

The fresh food section of this refrigerator is very large and has a total storage space of 15.8 cubic feet, and since it is a French-Door designed bottom mount refrigerator, you will have full-access to this section of the refrigerator. You will never have to reach around objects and squeeze into the refrigerator because the space available is more than enough to find anything you are looking for easily.

The RFG237AARS Samsung Counter-Depth Bottom Mount Refrigerator will cool your items perfectly with the NEW Twin Cooling System. This advanced cooling system utilizes separate compressors for both the refrigerator and freezer sections, which will ensure that the proper temperature is kept and that humidity levels are ideal for prolonged food shelf life. This cooling system also prevents odor transfers, which is great if you store seafood in your freezer, additionally it will use less energy because of the separate section which will in turn save you on power costs.

The RFG237AARS also has easy to clean shelves and is very low maintenance and overall this refrigerator scores high and receives 4 out of 5 stars. For a complete price comparison and where you can purchase the RFG237AARS Samsung Refrigerator for the lowest price Click Here.

RFG237AARS Samsung Refrigerator Review and Price Comparison

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Comparison Features For Home Steam Carpet Cleaners

Are you planning to buy a home steam carpet cleaner? Then is a list of features available in most home steam cleaners You ca use this short list to make a comparison between various models available in the market with various brands.

* Since it is a steam carpet cleaner, it is important to take into notice the number of steam outlets. This number will finally decide how much heat actually touches the carpet surface.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

* Attachable or detachable toweling covers

* Steam carpet cleaner will have a power chord. Check the length of the power chord so that you can move around the space without disconnecting the power.

* Does the steam cleaner has castors (wheels) for easy moving around

* Is it too heavy with or without water filled in? Can you lift it easily and carry it on the upper floor. This is particularly important if it doesn't have wheels.

* Is the handle portable one or a fixed one. How's the grip to hold it firmly.

* What's the capacity of water tank that will get converted into steam ultimately. Normally the capacity will be around 1 gallon.

* Since there is going to be water contact, it is a good idea to go for steam cleaners where boiler is made up of stainless steel.

* What's the temperature of the steam generated. This temperature will finally decide how the end result is. Normally for home steam carpet cleaners this temperature varies from 240 to 260 degrees.

* Does the steam cleaner has the ability to regulate the flow of steam from the nozzle.

* You can also compare the number of accessories included with the entire package. Accessories may include cleaning brushes.

This was just a very brief list of what you can expect with a good home steam carpet cleaner.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Comparison Features For Home Steam Carpet Cleaners

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Vacuum Cleaner Comparisons - Contrast Before Comparison

Making some detailed vacuum cleaner comparisons is an important part in the job of choosing the right vacuum for your home. There are two sorts of examinations you can make of the cleaners available today, vacuum cleaner comparisons and vacuum contrasts. To ensure you find the best cleaning system for your home, you should both contrast and compare vacuums before making your final choice.

A comparison of the different vacuums available should be left until you have determined which overall type of cleaner is right for your home. This is where the contrast comes in. Look at the larger picture before you look at the more detailed comparisons between individual models, to ensure that you compare ones of a similar type. This allows you to make sure you really are getting the best of the bunch.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Examine your home setting before making more detailed comparisons. Do you have mostly carpeted floors in your home? What are your mobility requirements? Would you be able to carry a bigger, possibly more powerful vacuum up the stairs, or would a more lightweight cleaner be suitable? Contrast the different types of them available today to help you narrow down your choices. This will help you make more useful comparisons.

A comparison of vacuum cleaners is most effective when you select a few individual models of cleaner that appeal to you and then look more closely at the features they offer. Once you have chosen between a canister and upright, for example, you can compare cleaners more effectively. If the main feature you are looking for in a vacuum is a lighter weight, then compare vacuum cleaners of this type.

Performing comparisons between a smaller selection of cleaners is a more effective way to find the right vacuum for you. Remember to contrast the main features available in cleaners today, and once you have selected the features that are most important to you, you will be able to compare different vacuum models more accurately.

Vacuum Cleaner Comparisons - Contrast Before Comparison

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Water Softener Alternatives - Protect Our Environment

According to the United State Geological Survey, 89.3% of the United States is affected by hard water.

water softener shower head

There is no doubt that water hardness is a nuisance. Its presence costs industry and consumers billions of dollars annually in cleaning expenses and maintenance. The labor and chemicals required to solve hard water problems and then the eventual replacement costs of equipment is astronomical.

WATER SOFTENER

Virtually any equipment you have that comes in contact with hard water is costing you money. Water heaters, dishwashers, sinks, toilets, shower heads, aerators, steam tables & ovens, ice machines, swimming pools and laundry equipment, towels, bed sheets, etc. are all affected by hard water. Water taste is bad; the buildings pipe system will need replacement. Expenses in maintaining a cooling tower, boiler or chiller are often your costliest equipment to maintain - all because of hard water.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that just a ¼" of scale deposits will increase your energy bill by 40%.

The primary energy savings from solving hard water problems result from a decrease in energy consumption in heating and cooling applications. Scale reduces the thermal efficiency of heating systems by increasing the time it takes to achieve the required temperature. These saving are associated with the removal of scale formation.

Lime scale deposits can cause serious problems by restricting the water flow in your pipes and reduce thermal efficiency.

How Does a Water Softener Work?

All traditional water softeners use the same operating principle: They exchange calcium and magnesium ions with twice as much sodium ions. The process is called ion exchange and can be labeled as "ancient" or outdated technology. They are very expensive to purchase and maintain; require a lot of salt to operate. A water softener also requires a lot more water to regenerate. Water softeners pollute our precious environment and can be harmful to people on salt restricted diets.

With only 2.5% of the Earths water considered "fresh", it is important we do not add any more chlorides into the water stream, decreasing the amount of available fresh water on our planet.

The real question is; how do you solve hard water problems without the impact on our environment?

One way may be through an electronic precipitator. An electronic precipitator is an alternative to a water softener that utilized a scientifically developed signal charge from a coil wrapped around the pipe entering the home. This inaudible sonic wave hits the resonant frequency of the calcium molecules - changing their electrical and physical properties - so they no longer adhere to pipe walls or fixtures that come in contact with water.

A water softener alternative like ScaleBlaster offers all the same benefits of a water softener;

• Softer, silkier feeling water on skin, hair and clothes
• Soap and detergent can be cut back by 25% or more
• Brighter, whiter and longer lasting clothes, towels & sheets
• Reduces mold, mildew and corrosion due to hard water

but with the benefits of;

• No maintenance ever required
• Never adding salt or chemicals
• Or changing any filters

Bottom line is a water softener has a negative impact on the environment. They add sodium (chlorides) to waste water which then becomes a contaminant causing a major recycling problem for municipal water departments. Many areas, including Santa Clarita, CA, are banning their use or enacting regulations to limit use or regulate how the waste water is released.

A water softener alternative like an electronic precipitator is an ideal "green" product for all residential, commercial, and industrial application. An electronic precipitator like ScaleBlaster does not use salt and will save you as much as 20% in energy, water and sewer bills while at the same time helping our environment stay "green".

For more information, check out these water softener alternative systems.

Water Softener Alternatives - Protect Our Environment

WATER SOFTENER

Monday, October 24, 2011

How to Choose an Ultraviolet (UV) Water Filter System For Your Home

Ultraviolet (UV) water disinfection equipment has become commonplace in many rural homes across the USA, Canada, and the rest of the world. Through water testing many homeowners discover that their water is contaminated most commonly with Coliform bacteria but occasionally with more dangerous e.coli. It's at this point that most people choose to go with an ultraviolet (UV) water filtration system to solve their problem. The trouble is, there are many manufacturers and models to choose from - so which one should you choose?

Having a water source contaminated with bacteria can be a scary problem for a homeowner to tackle. The first step that most people take is to consult anybody and everybody who has anything to do with home water systems. This often means a conversation with the plumber. While there are some plumbers who are well versed in the world of water treatment, most only sell and install the stuff when their existing customers demand it. Asking the plumber for advice on which UV system you should use to protect you and your family is akin to asking him which models his local wholesaler keeps in stock. To be clear, most plumbers when asked about a UV system will go back to their wholesaler and find out what models the wholesaler has on the shelf. This can be a real mixed bag. Some wholesalers will have high-quality products and some will carry the cheapest brand they can find.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Often, the next step that a consumer takes is to speak with the local water treatment shop. Typically, these stores will carry higher quality products with many more bells and whistles available. Often the prices are very high, and it can be difficult to figure out which features are worth the money.

It's up to you, the consumer, to arm yourself with the information you need to make an informed decision. The rest of this article will help to educate you on the ins and outs of UV disinfection to help you make a smart choice.

LAMP WATTAGE

Manufacturers of electronics do a great job of presenting consumers with so many technical details about their products that it obscures some of the most important details. Lamp wattage is certainly one of these often-overlooked specs. The performance of a UV system, and the level of protection that it affords, has first and foremost to do with the power of the UV lamp being used. An ultraviolet (UV) lamp is a specialized fluorescent lamp very similar to the kind you use to light your home. The higher the wattage of the UV lamp, the brighter it is. A brighter lamp delivers more UV intensity and it provides a higher level of protection. Period. Don't mistake system wattage for lamp wattage. Some inefficient UV systems will use a low power lamp but the power supply that drives the lamp may be a higher wattage. You must find out the lamp wattage. Another word of caution - different ultraviolet (UV) system manufacturers will use different lamp technologies. You may find an 8 gallon per minute system made by manufacturer X uses a 3-foot long lamp while manufacturer Y uses a 2-foot long lamp and calls their system a 12 gallon per minute system. How can the shorter lamp deliver higher performance? Simple. Better technology. Lamp size has nothing to do with performance. Again, wattage is king.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

If you're thinking about a home UV water system it's usually because you have bacteria in your well or you're concerned that you might in the future. For this reason, you need to know if your UV system is working or not. There are several different features offered by most UV system manufacturers to help you know if your system is functioning properly. The first and most basic is an audio/visual performance indicator. Any UV system that you're considering should have an indicator light that tells you if your system is in failure. This should be accompanied by an audio alarm that sounds if the system fails. Since many ultraviolet (UV) light water systems are installed in the basement, make sure the audio alarm is loud enough that you can hear it on your main living level. The audio/visual indicator will tell you if you've had a mechanical failure of the system. Basically, it will tell you if your lamp or power supply have failed. Some more sophisticated systems will provide you with a code indicating which component has failed. This can make troubleshooting and fixing your UV water system far more straightforward. If you are going to be performing the maintenance and upkeep of the system yourself, this is a feature that could be of great value.

The next level of performance monitoring is a system that includes an ultraviolet (UV) sensor, sometimes called a UV monitor. Think of a UV sensor as an electronic eye that stares at the UV lamp. If for any reason the "eye" does not receive enough UV light it will trigger an alarm. Reasons for a UV sensor alarm include a dirty sleeve, poor incoming water quality, or an old UV lamp. UV sensor technology is not inexpensive and if you choose a model with a sensor expect to pay several hundred dollars more than a similar capacity model without a sensor. It's important to note that a system with a sensor is typically much more finicky than a non-sensor system. That is, the unit will do much more beeping and alarming than a system without a sensor. For some people, especially those with dangerously contaminated water, this is a good thing. For people who are buying a UV system as a precautionary measure, this might be an annoyance. One last note about ultraviolet sensors - some applications in some jurisdictions require that you have one. If your water system is considered "public" in any way, shape, or form you probably need to have a UV water system with a sensor and/or an NSF certification.

NSF CERTIFIED ULTRAVIOLET WATER SYSTEMS

In the world of ultraviolet (UV) water systems there are two groups - NSF Certified and non-certified systems. The NSF is an organization that performs testing of water disinfection equipment including ultraviolet (UV) systems. A manufacturer can send their system to NSF and pay to have them test it to their standards. Systems that pass then carry the NSF-Certified mark. So, how does NSF do their testing? Simply stated, in order for a UV system to pass the NSF testing it must deliver a high level of UV disinfection performance, and must sound an audible/visible alarm if that level of performance is compromised. In order for the system to accomplish this it needs to have by default a UV sensor and a flow restrictor. NSF Certified UV systems are most typically installed in public water situations such as community centers, churches, schools, etc. Some states, however, demand that any UV system installed in any situation must be NSF certified. These states are California, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. In all other states it is rare to have an NSF certified system installed on a private residential water supply.

WARRANTY

The only thing to mention about the warranty on UV systems that differ from some other products is that some manufacturers offer pro-rated warranties. So, if the manufacturer states that they offer a 10-year warranty and your system breaks after 5 years, some UV system manufacturers will sell you a new power supply for half price while others will replace it for free. Avoid pro-rated warranties where possible. Keep in mind that it's much more common to have a UV lamp or power supply burn out prematurely than it is to have the chamber spring a leak.

EASE OF MAINTENANCE

There are a few manufactures of UV systems that offer products that can be serviced without tools. This is a major plus for the homeowner who is going to be maintaining the system himself. Keep in mind that you will want to remove the quartz sleeve for cleaning periodically and will have to remove the lamp once a year to change it. Some UV systems make it very easy to remove the lamp but nearly impossible to remove the quartz sleeve without breaking it. A broken sleeve is an expense and a major inconvenience - you won't be able to turn the water back on until it's been replaced.

How to Choose an Ultraviolet (UV) Water Filter System For Your Home

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Microwave Oven Comparison

When we purchase a microwave oven, we often need to compare different brands in order to choose what is best for us. This is often a tough proposition since there are numerous brands available in the markets and each brand has its own merits and demerits.

Some of the major aspects which are to be considered are:

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Size: A single brand might offer a variety of sizes and the sizes may also differ from one brand to the other. This makes it harder to choose and one needs to take into consideration the amount of space available in their kitchen or any other place where the microwave oven is to be put in.

Wattage: The wattage of a microwave determines the speed with which it will cook the food and while choosing, one needs to take this into consideration. The increase in wattage of an oven also means that it will increase in size which means that you need to carefully consider the objective of buying the microwave in the first place. The applications of the microwave in your home will be required in order to determine which is best for you.

Added features: The features of a microwave will differ from one brand or manufacturer to the other. While one brand might be offering a microwave oven with the convection feature at X price while another brand might be offering the grill feature at the same or slightly higher price. Then there are the microwave ovens which have the ability to sense when the food is cooked and there are those which offer features such as defrosting and many other such features. You need to determine which oven has the most usable features for your household when choosing the microwave oven.

Cost: The monetary factor is of course one of the biggest factors and one needs to look through different brands for the cheapest price available on an oven which has all the features which they require. The wattage and size etc. should also be taken into consideration before looking at the different prices.

In order to compare the different brands, you can take a number of different routes. While sitting at home and browsing around on the internet is one of the most preferred methods nowadays, going around to your local stores and browsing through the different types of microwave ovens is a much more efficient method since it gives you a practical knowledge of the product you are choosing and makes you aware of what is easily available and what is not. You should also look for user reviews and views given by different experts on a particular product in order to determine its usefulness and efficiency.

Microwave Oven Comparison

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Principle Behind Microwave Oven

Food is the elixir of life. So, care should be taken to have hygienic and nontoxic food. Microwave oven stands there for that purpose. It is a kitchen appliance that cooks food by using microwaves in the electromagnetic spectrum. For shorter wave lengths, there will be more energy in microwaves. This energy in microwaves is ample to vibrate the organic molecules in the food and thereby produces heat. Microwaves judder approximately 2.5 billion times per second. Microwave ovens heat food without affecting the container. Containers made of plastic, paper, glass, ceramic can be used for cooking in microwave ovens, as they are impervious to microwaves as well as they allow the waves to pierce them.

These waves are reflected by metal facades. Because of this, the microwave oven has metal coating inside so as to reflect the microwaves produced by magnetron to pass through the food again and again. Ceramic cook wares are largely preferable. The cookware should be kept open.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Microwave oven requires high voltage transformers for supplying current to magnetron which in turn ignites electrons to produce microwaves of desired frequency, inside the oven. There will be a micro-controller and a cooking chamber to facilitate cooking.

Inspite of having microwave ovens in your kitchens,a good number of you may be unaware of how it works.

It commences its work by passing microwave radiations, which are non-ionizable, through the food item, at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. These microwaves are generated by magnetron, the tube of electrons which is to be had inside the oven. By means of dielectric heating, water, sugar, fats etc. in the food absorb energy from the radiation. Since the microwave ovens use non-ionizable radiations, there won't be any risk of having cancer. Heat is said to be the movement of molecules. Many polarized molecules in the food like water have both positive and negative charges in them.

Based on the alternating electric field produced by the microwaves, the charges tend to align themselves which leads to the movement of molecules whose collision leads to heat. This heat cooks the food. As the microwave energy is immediately converted into heat, there is no harm of radioactivity in the cooked food. Food with more water content is cooked against the clock in comparison with those with less water. This technique causes the outer layers to get heated up first and foremost and from there, the heat is conducted to the inner layers.

The intensity of penetration of microwaves depends on the frequency and food composition. The lower the frequency, the greater is the rate of penetration.

In conservative ovens, the cooked food and the cookware will be at the same temperature which is not seen in case of microwave ovens. Here the cookware will be cooler than the food, because, the microwaves penetrate the cookware and heat the food first and from that one, the cookware is heated indirectly. The microwave oven expends less energy than conventional ovens, as it cooks faster only the food but not the cookware. These ovens don't trim down the nutrition value of the food as it cooks more rapidly.

As it depends on the amount of water used, steaming vegetables in microwave oven results in retaining 77% of nutrients, when compared with heating in stove.

Microwave ovens are used in restaurants, homes, industries, as they are both energy efficient and time efficient, supporting good quality. These microwave ovens are normally used for preparing food and reheating old stuffs in few minutes. Microwave ovens have some limitations, as they are not suitable for flavor-enhancing reactions, browning etc. Sometimes, bacterial destruction is not possible if it doesn't reach the appropriate temperature. This may lead to illness. Apart from these limitations, the role played by microwave oven in day-to-day life is highly appreciable.

Principle Behind Microwave Oven

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Sunday, October 23, 2011

What Are Water Purification Tablets?

Water is one of the most essential needs of the human body and represents 50% of humans bodily functions. Impure water can thus damage the human body a lot and the working system of the body can decrease in performance due to bad water which contains some harmful contaminants.

water shoes

A water purification tablet can be used to purify from contaminants and harmful chemicals. It cannot however clean the large particles, but those can be cleaned and removed by the process of filtration. These tablets can mostly work at microscopic level and can neutralize the chemicals and viruses which can affect the human health.

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These viruses and chemicals do need removal because many of them can cause different types of diseases like diarrhea, hepatitis, and some other harmful and dangerous diseases as well.

Water purification tablets can be made mostly of either chlorine or iodine. Chlorine is a common purifier and small amount of chlorine can also kill harmful bacteria in the water. Iodine can also help in cleaning. Tablets for purification may contain mainly one of the mentioned elements i.e. chlorine and iodine.

Companies that make purification tablets recommend using two tablets in a liter of water. This means that one tablet can purify half a liter of water. Using a tablet can also not be said as a difficult task. The tablets can be thrown in a container that needs purification. The container of water can then be shaken so that the tablet's ingredients can be mixed with the water evenly. The water should then be allowed to remain stationary so that the tablet can work on its job of killing harmful microscopic elements. After a few minutes, the water can be used for drinking purposes and the danger of a person getting any diseases through water can be significantly lessened.

These types of tablets can come in handy at the time of disasters as well. After an earthquake, the water present in the surrounding can be contaminated by harmful contents and clean water can be hard to find. A purification tablet can be used in such a situation to help in providing drinkable water to the victims. These tablets can also be taken on a trip to a forest in case clean water may not be available there for drinking.

What Are Water Purification Tablets?

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Are Everpure Water Filters the Best Quality?

Are Everpure water filters the best quality or the best price? If effective contaminant removal fits your definition of quality, then some of their models are of good quality, but not the best.

It is easy to see that the company does not offer the best prices. Their least expensive model costs 9.99, does not remove THMs, VOCs or other cancer-causing chemicals and replacement cartridges cost over 0. Other systems remove all of those things and more, with models costing 4.99 and replacement cartridges costing . It's kind of a "no-brainer".

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The Everpure water filters that do provide effective contaminant removal (those that reduce THMs and other cancer-causers) cost nearly 0. Why so much? One reason is the inclusion of a reverse osmosis step. Technological advancements have made this step an unnecessary expense, but some manufacturers still include it.

At one time, reverse osmosis was the best way to remove cysts and lead. It was used in areas where the mineral content was high, arsenic was present or salt was a problem. But, Everpure water filters were not designed for use in rural areas that might have these kinds of problems. They were designed for use by people that are serviced by a public treatment facility.

Reverse osmosis does not remove the cancer-causing chemical contaminants mentioned above, so Ever-pure and companies like them added additional steps to address those issues. They still don't use the most advanced technologies, though, so their prices are high.

Today, even the least expensive systems on the market will remove cysts. You only need to shop for a system that is certified to filter down to one micron. The best systems filter down to a half a micron. Cysts, as you may know, cause waterborne illnesses that can be deadly to those with poorly functioning immune systems. They are tiny parasitic creatures that are resistant chlorine and other disinfection methods.

Inexpensive systems will also remove lead, using ion exchange. If you compare product performance data, you will see that some systems remove more than 99% of all traces of the hazardous heavy metal. Ion exchange also improves the taste of your water, by exchanging metallic ions for sodium and potassium ions. It makes your water taste like it came from a spring. Many bottling companies add these minerals to improve the taste.

Water from systems that include a reverse osmosis step is relatively tasteless. To most people, it makes them think of old or stale waters. Our taste-buds recognize freshness by recognizing the taste of minerals. We prefer cold water, because it is less likely to contain bacteria.

Everpure water filters only reduce lead by about 98%. The company documents state that lead is reduced to the "federal action level". That level is not considered safe for regular long-term consumption. No amount of lead, regardless of how tiny, is safe for consumption.

Are Everpure Water Filters the Best Quality?

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Maintaining a Clean Water Supply in Case of a Natural Disaster

There are many types of natural disasters that can affect various parts of the world. Some of the worst ones include hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. What if you were affected by one of these disasters? Would you have the clean drinking water available that your family is going to need? In any type of disaster, water fast becomes the most needed commodity, so it's important for you to plan for the possibility. Keep a good supply of clean drinking water in your home, and look for other sources you could use if the public water system would become out of commission. The list below will help you make a plan to provide for your water needs.

water dispenser

Putting Together a List of Sources of Clean Water

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If you hear about an impending emergency, immediately take steps to stockpile as much clean drinking water as you can:

* Fill containers with ice water and place them in your refrigerator and freezer. You'll be able to melt the ice later in order to have the drinking water you need.

* Purchase a good supply of bottled water and ice.

* Use bleach to clean your bathtub, and then fill it with water.

* Fill any large, clean receptacles that you have with water.

Finding Water Sources that aren't so Obvious

Have you ever thought about other places in your home where you can find clean water? If not, now's the time to acquaint yourself with some of them, because someday they could make a big difference in your family's well-being.

* There is clean water in your toilet tank (not the water in the bowl!). If you've kept the tank clean and not added chemical cleansing agents to it, the water will be perfectly safe to drink.

* At any given time there is a quantity of water in your water pipes waiting be to run into your home. In an emergency situation you can drain this water out for use. Place a large container under the lowest-level faucet in your home. Go up and turn on the highest faucet which will release the air pressure within the pipes allowing the water to flow into your container. For homes with only one story, simply drain each faucet.

* You will be able to drain a large amount of water from your hot water heater. Shut off the power and allow the water to cool. Open the drain valve at the bottom of the tank and allow the water to drain into a large, clean container.

Since you might feel better if you sterilize some of the water you can retrieve from within the plumbing system in your home, you can always keep a supply of chemical purification tables with your emergency supplies for use if needed.

Outside Water Sources Which are Safe

It's possible that during an emergency situation you may not be able to use the water sources within your home at all. Therefore, you need to know where you can find clean water outside of your home. Some common sources that you can use include:

* Water that is still in your garden hose.

* Rain water which you've allowed to accumulate in a clean container or on a piece of plastic.

* Melted snow.

Once again, you should take care that the water you get from these sources hasn't been contaminated. If the water is questionable, you either need to do something to purify it or avoid it all together.

Guidelines for Careful Water Usage

Be careful when using water from outside water sources including streams, rivers, and lakes as well as other standing bodies of water. It may look clean, but you never know what kind of bacteria it might contain which could cause you to get very ill. In fact, there are contaminants in water that could even be fatal to you or a family member. If there's any question at all about the safety of the water, don't allow anyone to drink it until it's been purified.

It's important to know the tricks for finding clean drinking water in times of disaster. Your knowledge might end up being the difference between life and death. Some of the sources mentioned in this article, such as your toilet, may not sound particularly appetizing right now, but if you were ever parched with thirst and had no other safe water source available, you'd discover that yourself to be very glad you knew about them.

Maintaining a Clean Water Supply in Case of a Natural Disaster

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Price Comparison For Air Conditioners

Air conditioners are undoubtedly the most common home equipment these days. These have become so common these days that we hardly notice their presence in our houses. This trivial equipment can be found in different formats so as to match the users' demands and requirements for a long period of time.

Choose the Best Deal

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Getting a good air conditioner is no doubt the best thing you can do to maintain the atmospheric temperature of the room. These conditioners are strong enough to eliminate the presence of micro germs, bacteria and harmful objects floating into the air and can damage our health.

If you out in the market looking for a customized and really useful air conditioner, you can make a beneficial deal if you have first-hand information and other important factors in mind.

One of the important things about getting a quality air conditioner is deciding about the exact format of a website. Here, format refers to the kind of a conditioner, you can fix at different locations of you home, offices or any other places.

Secondly, you need to compare air conditioners prices before entering into any deal. Comparison helps in knowing the exact worth of your kind of conditioner and getting the most economical conditioner applicable for your needs.

Internet is the Source

In today's fast life, due to lack of adequate time, people just cannot visit store-to-store for getting their price quotes and other details. To avoid hassle, you can just enter into the web world and process your queries. You can visit websites dealing in you kind of air conditions, available in your price range. Just explore the offerings of different websites to look out the most affordable and economical deal in conditioners online. By looking on various air conditioners prices, you can buy the best and most affordable conditioner suitable for your needs and requirements.

Price Comparison For Air Conditioners

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Water Quality - How Are Drinking Water Quality Standards Determined?

How are drinking water quality standards determined? This article discusses what type of person is kept in mind when establishing how much of each contaminant is "safe" when ingested.

water cooler

To determine maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and drinking water quality standards, the government and it's agencies establish a level that "safe" for a 175-pound adult. They also assume that the contaminant in question is the only one that's present in the water.

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But it's clearly been proven that there's usually more than one contaminant found in a glass of tap water. In fact, 90% of all public tap systems contain traces of at least 10 synthetic chemicals and lead. Now this doesn't mean that every single glass of water you drink contains all of these contaminants, but it's certainly possible and it could happen.

One of the fuzzy areas when determining drinking water quality standards is determining how safe synthetic chemicals are when consumed. They do their best to determine the levels that individual chemical is safe at. But they fail to take into account when multiple chemicals come into contact with each other. When this happens, compounds are created that are exponentially more dangerous.

For example, when many synthetic chemicals react with chlorine (the major disinfectant used is treatment plants), they can form compounds called THMs that are highly dangerous and even carcinogenic! And what's worse is these kind of compounds aren't removed in most treatment plants!

One of the other major flaws of current drinking water quality standards is that MCLs are way too high for children. Since there immune and defense system is not fully developed yet, they are much more vulnerable to adverse health effects from drinking water contamination. Plus, they absorb 3 times as much water per pound of body weight than humans do, which means they get much bigger doses of contaminants.

If you're concerned like I am about drinking water quality standards, you can take matters into your own hands and install a simple water filtration system in your home. After much comparison and research, I invested in one that only cost 0 and it removes over 99% of most contaminants found in water. It hooks right to my kitchen sink, and it costs roughly 9 cents to filter a whole gallon of water. I use to spend a month on bottled water for my whole family, so pennies a day is a bargain for me!

But more importantly, I can set my own drinking water quality standards and assure that all the water my family and I drink is safe, pure, and healthy. And in my opinion, it's the only way to guarantee the quality of drinking water.

Water Quality - How Are Drinking Water Quality Standards Determined?

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Reverse Osmosis Systems - Are They Really "All That?"

In the world of water purification systems, reverse osmosis systems tend to be at the top. As well they should. A reverse osmosis water system is arguably one of the best water purification processes available today, at a reasonable cost.

Reverse osmosis systems use a semi-permeable membrane that prevents particles with a molecular structure larger than water, such as bacteria and disease causing pathogens along with organic compounds such as salts and other minerals, from passing through.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

This process is extremely effective in providing mineral free water and in desalinating water. It effectively removes contaminants such as salt, fluoride and lead, as well as minerals essential for healthy living, including manganese, iron and calcium.

That's great, right?! Not so much, unless you're processing photos.

There's a growing concern that continued use of mineral free water is actually bad for you.

You see, our body's need the naturally occurring minerals found in water. Manganese helps regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat and proteins, while iron is needed for healthy blood cells. Both calcium and manganese are essential for healthy bones.

The indiscriminant removal of materials simply based on molecular size by reverse osmosis systems is actually less desirable.

Additionally, reverse osmosis systems must rely on an added filtration system to remove harmful synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and chlorine that have molecular structures smaller than water, and pass through the tiny pores of the membrane.

Another downside of a reverse osmosis system is the amount of water used. For every gallon of purified water produced, two to three gallons have been used. Ouch! In order to prevent the membrane from getting clogged, many reverse osmosis systems use what is called "cross flow," to flush away materials that have been stopped by the membrane.

Plus, it's a slow process, producing about 12-15 gallons per day of treated water and sending another 30-45 gallons down the drain! Because of this, most reverse osmosis systems are designed to provide cooking and drinking water.

What about those contaminants that you expose your open pores to when taking a hot shower or washing your hands? Hmm...?

So, if reverse osmosis systems by themselves do not provide the healthiest water, and a filtering system must be used in conjunction with reverse osmosis to remove synthetic chemicals, why not use a filtering system to begin with?

A simple filtering system by itself will not provide better quality water than a reverse osmosis system. But a water purification system that uses a multimedia filtering system will out perform a reverse osmosis system and provide healthier, higher quality water.

Multimedia filtering systems provides the ability to selectively remove harmful chemicals while retaining the beneficial trace elements.

When considering water filtration systems, reverse osmosis systems may have the "Ooh, and ah" factor, but a more in depth look at their functionality is needed to make a true comparison and to afford you the ability to make a decision that is in the best interest of you and your family.

Reverse Osmosis Systems - Are They Really "All That?"

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Saturday, October 22, 2011

What to Use on Water Spots on Windows

Water spots on windows make it look unclean and spoil the look of your living area. You need a lively environment in your room through your glass windows. You have to look for a better way to beat out this problem. The first step you should be thinking of is what to use on water spots on windows.

water bottle

Go for glass cleaners that are recommendable for cleaning window. The cleaning agent you bought must be designed to wash out the water spot and the cloudy effect on your window. There are different types of cleaning chemicals but you have to go for the appropriate one that will clean up your window effectively.

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Those stains you called water spot are the exact result of hard water containing lime, iron and calcium. The more you ignore them on your window the more they become difficult to clean. It is advisable to get rid of the stains once you notice them. You don't need an expert to deal with this problem; you can clean the window yourself. What to use on water spots on windows should not be a problem. Mix water with white vinegar, have your glass polish, if you don't have one buy, they can be found easily and cheaply. Then clean the window. Vinegar works well only for newly formed stains. When cleaning the windows do it gently not vigorously. Don't use hard water you will be adding stains and you will never get a better result.

These are basically what to use on water spots on windows. If you had left your window with the stains for along period of time there are likelihood that water spots will not be cleaned. The only solution here is to buy or replace that glass window. Buying other chemicals and cleaning agents may still not work out well. The best option is just to replace the existing window with a new one. When replacing the window, go for thicker glass panels for it to last long. Color glass windows need even more attention because they are expensive. Replacing them can be an extra cost all together.

What to Use on Water Spots on Windows

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Tankless Water Heater Comparison - Deciding Which Model Works For You

If you are looking to conserve energy and save money, then you should look into the exciting new world of tankless water heaters. Chances are that even if you don't know anyone who owns a tankless heater, then you have at least seen pictures of them or have read about them on the internet. They are becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. In this article, you will learn about to make a smart tankless water heater comparison. There are two main types of water heaters, electric and gas. While both work to heat water without a tank, they do have different pros and cons.

The first thing to consider when making a tankless water heater comparison is what you will be using your water heater for. Think about the size you want your heater to be, and also consider how much hot water you use per day. If you are going to be using a lot of hot water, then a gas heater will be your best bet. With a gas model, you can get a much larger water flow. You can also use a gas heater outside. This is a great perk in the summertime. An electric model will generally have a lesser water flow for a cheaper price.

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Size and placement are two good things to consider when making a tankless heater comparison. If you have a lot of space and can definitely fit a larger model in your home, then there's nothing stopping you from fitting a gas heater in your house. When it comes to maximizing space, the electric heater can be your friend. Some models can be fit in virtually any room. Installation costs are also very low for electric models. To make a decision about which kind of tankless heater is best for you, weigh size and cost versus water flow and efficiency. This will be the best way to make the smartest consumer decision.

In the end, the key to making a smart tankless water heater comparison is in knowing what will work best for your household. A good idea is to find a space where you might want to fit the heater and narrow down your options by size. Then look at how much hot water you use, how much you're willing to pay for installation, and how much you want to save on your energy bills. No matter what decision you make, you will sleep well knowing that you are helping the environment and your finances.

Tankless Water Heater Comparison - Deciding Which Model Works For You

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

What Are the Best Water Purification Systems For Home Use?

There are a number of water purification systems on the market. Do you need one? And how do you go about choosing the right one for you and your family?

These are two important questions you'll want answered before you spend your money on the wrong thing.

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Let's take the first question, first.

Why You Need a Water Purification System!

Unless you've been living on some other planet, I'm sure you've been reading about the information that's come out recently about the lack of quality of our municipal water supplies.

Over 90% of U. S. water systems contain traces of at least 10 synthetic chemicals and lead. A report done recently by Ralph Nader stated, "after reviewing over 10,000 pages of EPA documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act...[it was found that] over 2,300 chemicals that can cause cancer have been detected in U. S. tap water."

A number of scientists believe that this rise in carcinogenic chemicals found in our water supply correlated with the rise in cancers over the past fifty to one hundred years.

A big part of the problem is the age of our water treatment plants, and the technology they use.

Most water treatment plants in the United States are fifty to one hundred years old. Some even older!

They were designed to purify our water of things like cholera, not high-tech pesticides.

Most of our water is purified by letting the water settle through sediment to get out the particulate matter, then it's sterilized by injecting an amount of chlorine in the water.

The chlorine kills any bacteria that can cause disease. The chlorine is, however, actually left in the water after it leaves the treatment facility. This is done because the transit time from the treatment plant to your house could be as long as a week or more. In that time, your water could become re-contaminated.

The problem here is you actually drink the trace amounts of chlorine when you drink tap water. That's certainly better than getting sick with cholera, but there has to be a better way!

You're right, there is!

Now, before you run off thinking that bottled water is going to save you from drinking all of these contaminants and toxins, think again!

Unfortunately, most bottled water comes straight out of a tap, just like your water. As a matter of fact, there are fewer restrictions on the quality of bottled water than there are on the quality of tap water!

The bottom line: you need to re-filter your water at the tap before you drink it.

How to Choose the Right Water Purification System

There are a number of water purification systems out there. Some work better than others. Oddly enough, some work too well!

There are also whole house filters, filters you attach to one faucet, and water pitchers that filter water. Which one should you use?

Most pitcher filters use a water filtration system that's too simple. They just can't get out all the stuff you need filtered out!

If you're just interested in filtering the water you drink or cook with, then you might want to consider filtering the water from just one tap. Drinking water, however, is not the only way you get water-born impurities into your body!

Your skin is actually your body's largest organ! We don't usually think of our skin as an organ, like the liver, but it is!

We both discharge and absorb toxins through our skin. When you take a shower, for instance, the hot water opens up your pores allowing impurities in your water to seep in.

To sum up, you might want to really consider filtering all of the water in your house, either with a whole house filter, or with a filter for each tap and for each shower head.

Some of the technologies used in water filters are granular activated carbon filters, metallic alloy filters, microporous ceramic filters, carbon block resin filters, and ultra-thin membranes.

The best water filters on the market use a combination of these technologies to filter and purify your water.

One thing you need your filter to do is to leave in the trace minerals naturally found in water so that it tastes good and so that we get these minerals into our bodies. Minerals like calcium are necessary to our health, and drinking water with trace amounts of calcium in it is one of the ways our bodies acquire that mineral.

There are a number of water purification systems to choose from. What you need now is an informative website you can use to further educate yourself.

These are two important questions you'll want answered before you spend your money on the wrong thing.

Let's take the first question, first.

Why You Need a Water Purification System!

Unless you've been living on some other planet, I'm sure you've been reading about the information that's come out recently about the lack of quality of our municipal water supplies.

Over 90% of U. S. water systems contain traces of at least 10 synthetic chemicals and lead. A report done recently by Ralph Nader stated, "after reviewing over 10,000 pages of EPA documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act...[it was found that] over 2,300 chemicals that can cause cancer have been detected in U. S. tap water."

A number of scientists believe that this rise in carcinogenic chemicals found in our water supply is correlated with the rise in cancers over the past fifty to one hundred years.

A big part of the problem is the age of our water treatment plants, and the technology they use.

Most water treatment plants in the United States are fifty to one hundred years old. Some even older!

They were designed to purify our water of things like cholera, not high-tech pesticides.

Most of our water is purified by letting the water settle through sediment to get out the particulate matter, then it's sterilized by injecting an amount of chlorine in the water.

The chlorine kills any bacteria that can cause disease. The chlorine is, however, actually left in the water after it leaves the treatment facility. This is done because the transit time from the treatment plant to your house could be as long as a week or more. In that time, your water could become re-contaminated.

The problem here is you actually drink the trace amounts of chlorine when you drink tap water. That's certainly better than getting sick with cholera, but there has to be a better way!

You're right, there is!

Now, before you run off thinking that bottled water is going to save you from drinking all of these contaminants and toxins, think again!

Unfortunately, most bottled water comes straight out of a tap, just like your water. As a matter of fact, there are fewer restrictions on the quality of bottled water than there are on the quality of tap water!

The bottom line: you need to re-filter your water at the tap before you drink it.

How to Choose the Right Water Purification System

There are a number of water purification systems out there. Some work better than others. Oddly enough, some work too well!

There are also whole house filters, filters you attach to one faucet, and water pitchers that filter water. Which one should you use?

Most pitcher filters use a water filtration system that's too simple. They just can't get out all the stuff you need filtered out!

If you're just interested in filtering the water you drink or cook with, then you might want to consider filtering the water from just one tap. Drinking water, however, is not the only way you get water-born impurities into your body!

Your skin is actually your body's largest organ! We don't usually think of our skin as an organ, like the liver, but it is!

We both discharge and absorb toxins through our skin. When you take a shower, for instance, the hot water opens up your pores allowing impurities in your water to seep in.

To sum up, you might want to really consider filtering all of the water in your house, either with a whole house filter, or with a filter for each tap and for each shower head.

Some of the technologies used in water filters are granular activated carbon filters, metallic alloy filters, microporous ceramic filters, carbon block resin filters, and ultra-thin membranes.

The best water filters on the market use a combination of these technologies to filter and purify your water.

One thing you need your filter to do is to leave in the trace minerals naturally found in water so that it tastes good and so that we get these minerals into our bodies. Minerals like calcium are necessary to our health, and drinking water with trace amounts of calcium in it is one of the ways our bodies acquire that mineral.

There are a number of water purification systems to choose from. What you need now is an informative website you can use to further educate yourself.

What Are the Best Water Purification Systems For Home Use?

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Common Drinking Water Treatment Methods

Drinking water treatment varies from area to area, but there are a few basic steps that most modern treatment entails. The water goes through several steps of filtration and chemical enhancement. Some chemicals are used to take out the larger particles from the water, binding them to other particles so they can be filtered out later. Other chemicals are added to kill some of the bacteria that cause some types of drinking water contamination.

water cooler

Unless the water comes from a well, any water that reaches the public supplies is required to be treated with chlorine. By the time it reaches the public, it has also been treated with aluminum sulfate and lime, among other chemicals. Some of these chemicals do remain in the water in some small quantity.

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Bottled water generally has a different drinking water treatment that it must undergo. Some bottled water is spring water and some is simply municipal tap water. Wherever the water came from, it is generally distilled to make it more pure. This removes the essential minerals from it and can change the taste.

The treatment of any water must end in a result that can pass EPA tests. The guidelines are set up to allow a small amount of many harmful substances. Some municipalities have stricter guidelines that the EPA requires, but most are simply trying to stay within those set guidelines. If there are known to be toxic substances in the supply that there are no EPA requirements for, those substances are generally not tested for and are not treated.

There is another layer of protection from drinking water contamination that many people use at home. Filters for the home come in several different types, including those that filter all water coming into the house. Those filters can remove contaminants that are still present after the preliminary municipal treatment.

Some use filters on their kitchen faucets to filter the drinking water or a shower filter for bathing. These usually use carbon as a natural filter material to remove chlorine and other chemicals that make up many of the drinking water contamination. Some also pair carbon with sub micron filtration and other effective methods of filtration. This type of drinking water treatment is effective for taking out many contaminants that would have otherwise reached the people in the household.

There are so many different types of drinking water contamination that most municipal treatment plants can't possibly keep up with them all. New ones are constantly being introduced as the landscape and population changes. When one type is mostly filtered out, another enters the local water supply. This has led to more and more of the public using their own filters as their own drinking water treatment.

Common Drinking Water Treatment Methods

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Freeze Proof Outdoor Water Faucets

A drip from a freezeproof outdoor water faucet is repaired just like one from any stem faucet, by replacing the washer. The difference is in taking apart one of these devices, specially built to prevent freezing in sub-zero weather. The packing nut and stem require several extra steps to disassemble.

water slides

Drips are a common problem with these faucets because their design leads many people to turn the faucet off too hard, causing unnecessary wear on the stem washer. The faucet is installed at a slight tilt toward the outside walls, so that when the handle is turned off, the small amount of water remaining in the faucet body continues to run out of the spout until the body is completely empty.

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This draining action makes the faucet freezeproof, of course, but instead of waiting a minute for the trickle to stop, homeowners unfamiliar with the mechanism often try to turn off the faucet harder and thus wear out the washer.

All the parts of a standard stem faucet are present in a freezeproof faucet, but the sloped, elongated body of the faucet allows the stem to stop the flow of water inside the house, where the temperature stays above the freezing point. Water remaining in the exposed body drains out of the spout.

Are you having a hard time replacing a stem washer on a freezeproof outdoor faucet? If so, here's a tricky technique for an elusive washer:

First, remove the handle screw and the handle. Unscrew the hexagonal packing nut--it is designed to come off, even though the faucet body may appear to be all of one piece with the stem projecting from it. Then put the handle back on the stem.

Turn the handle counter-clockwise to unscrew the washer end of the stem from the faucet body. Then pull the handle away from the faucet body. If the stem cannot be budged this way--the packing holds it very tight--remove the handle, set a pair of locking-grip pliers over the round part of the stem and pull the stem free. Then replace the washer in the ordinary way.

Freeze Proof Outdoor Water Faucets

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Friday, October 21, 2011

Eight Steps to Inspect a House

When you buy a house in Las Vegas, after checking the neighborhood, and after examining the layout of the house for your family needs, now, it is the time to look at the building itself.

To inspect a house, first, look at the structure. If there are cracks on the exterior walls, it may be indicated that either the structure is moving, or the soil below is sinking. However, if the crack is no more than the thickness of a quarter coin, don't worry about it. If the crack is more than the width of a pencil, it may have a serious problem. Furthermore, if there is only one or two hairline size cracks, it is not a problem. Due to the extreme hot climate in Las Vegas, the stucco is always drying too fast, therefore, crack lines occur. (Does the crack line will cause leaking problem in raining day? No, it will not, because, there is a water proved building paper behind the stucco.)

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

If there is a crack line at one side of the house, and the other crack line at opposite of the house, it may mean that the foundation of the house is cracked into two pieces.

If there are crack lines at the upper corners of the door and window openings, it may mean the building is either distorting or twisting. If there are crack lines showing at many windows and doors, it may be indicate a serious structural problem.

Crack lines may also show on the driveway. If the crack lines are not that many and are no more than the thickness of a quarter, it is not a problem.

Second, look the water marks inside the house at the ceiling. If there are brown marks on the ceiling, it means the roof is leaking. It may cost a lot of money to repair the roof. If the water amrks are close to the kitchen and bathroom, it means there are leaking pipes in the house.

Third, take look the mechanical system. If the outside box of the air condition is rustic and dirty, it may be said that you shall have a new one soon, after you buy the house. The life span of a air condition is only 10 years.

Fourth, look at the water heater. If the base of the water heater showing a lot of mineral liked product and the faucet at the base has a kind of rustic look, it may mean that the water heater shall be replaced soon.

Fifth, look at the electrical system of the house. If the house is built before 1970, make sure it has both 110V and 220V for the house. Look at the electrical outlet, make sure it has ground. Look at the outlet near the sink in kitchen and bath room; make sure, they have the re-set button, because it is required by the Uniform Building Code to have a Ground Fault Interrupter (FGI).

Number six, check the plumbing system. Some house has no water softener system, therefore, there are white mineral sediment around he hot water faucet. Those are hard to clean, may be need to replace.

For foreclosure house, the most scary story, the previous owner dump the concrete into the sewage system. So, it is necessary to flash all of the toilet to make sure that there is no drainage problem.

Seventh, check the mold problem. If there is a black line at the base of a shower pan or where the wall meet with the tub, it is the mold. Some infectious areas can be cleaned up by chemical, some may require to remove the sheet rock and to rebuilt all of the infected areas.

Finally, to check the backyard. How does the water going to be drained out from the back? Sometime, to built a drainage system in a backyard to bring the water to the street on the front can be very expensive.

After inspection the house with this seven steps, a home buyer can have a rough idea about how much is the cost to remodel the house after purchase.

Eight Steps to Inspect a House

WATER SOFTENER COMPARISON

Cheap Water Filters Choices

If you have thought about getting a water filter but do not want the expensive costs associated with it all I have compiled a list of them and their average cost which may change your find.

water bottle

Keep in mind the cost you are spending right now to buy bottled water whether it is from your local grocery store or wholesale food chain store can be expensive. If you purchase water on the go it is usually .00 per bottle and the case can run you anywhere form $.30 to $.40 per bottle depending on what kind of water you get.

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Here are my recent price reviews from a local store:

There are some people who complain about the faucet mounted water filter because they have to go to the hardware store to install the models. This is not the case. You need to read the box. I bought two and brought them home and installed them in a matter of 15 minutes for one model to 5 minutes for the other without any extra tools needed.

Here are my reviews:

PUR - faucet mount water filter - average price - This comes in a variety of colors, including white, chrome which is brushed or stainless steel with plastic. Meaning it looks like stainless steel but is plastic underneath the color exterior. The water tasted good. I did have a problem with a leak where I connected the unit to the faucet but I found that same problem with many of these filters systems.

Brita - this one cost about

The Aquaview Brita runs a little more at

I found both about the same with taste and installation. After a little tweaking on my part neither model had any leak from the faucet.

I would get a water filter and fill my own bottles for on the go travel considering I would have the filter paid for in a short amount of time versus the bottled water i am buying.

Cheap Water Filters Choices

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California's Water Supply: Top Fascinating Facts About California Water Consumption and Conversation

The Californian water supply system is one of the most unique water delivery systems in the world. Not only do individuals depend on freshwater daily-farms, industries, local governments, and other institutions must have ready-access to it too. Basic facts that you probably didn't know about California's water system includes:

water softener

Water demand in California is highest during summer time-when the air is hot and dry.

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• On average, over 190 million MAF's (acre-feet) of precipitation falls on California in the form of snow or rain, which predominantly originates in Northern California. To put that into perspective, 326,000 gallons of water constitutes one MAF-or enough to replenish two average-sized families for one year.

• A large portion of it evaporates or is absorbed into the ground

• What's left of the remaining ground water goes to freshwater river flows and basins, Delta outflows, and other environmental mandates (47%); irrigation systems (40%); and to the municipality water reserves and various industries (13%)

• Most precipitation in California occurs between October and April.

• California is one of the most susceptible states to water crises in terms of both flooding and droughts, the latter being the most common. It is only appropriate that people would have raised awareness of this crisis waiting to happen. A proactive approach would be to instill water saving techniques in each of the households.

• All-in-all, California employs thousands of rivers, reservoirs, pipelines, and canals to deliver water to its residents and industries. They are a mixture local, state, and the federal initiatives.

Major Water Authorities in California

The Central Valley Project and the State Water Project are two of the largest water suppliers in California. The former is a water delivery system, established in 1950, that pumps over seven million MAF's of water to residents of Sacramento and the rest of the San Joaquin River Delta, as well as portions of the San Francisco Bay area and Southern California.

The State Water Project (SWP) infuses only about half the amount of water as the CVP does-yet it's still a force to be reckoned with. The second-largest-CA-water-project SWP delivers enough water-primarily over the 440-mile-long California Aqueduct--to supply over 21 million people and over 750,000 acres of farmland with freshwater.

Finally, the California Aqueduct, the main artery of the CVP, starts its journey at the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant. From there, water is pumped in from the Joaquin River Delta and fed into a series of canals, which lead into various reservoirs, and back into canals that ultimately end near the heart of Los Angeles.

California's Water Supply: Top Fascinating Facts About California Water Consumption and Conversation

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