HOW TO CHOOSE A WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM IN GARLAND, TX

Looking to install a water filtration system for your home or business in Garland, TX? If you've never invested in a water filter before, you probably don't know all that much about what you should be looking for, how much you should spend, and what separates a good filter from one that's not worth your money.

In this guide, we've laid out everything you should know before you buy a home water filtration system in Garland, so you can make the right choice for your situation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• To select a reliable water filtration system in Garland, TX, find out what your water contains and narrow down what you want to remove, then determine your budget and consider your preferred point of use.

• You should also make sure you're happy with the filter's installation and maintenance requirements before you commit to the purchase.

• If you're looking for expert guidance, consider hiring a reputable plumber with local knowledge of Garland's water quality, like Military Plumbing.

Read on to learn the five steps you should follow when choosing the best water filtration system in Garland, TX.

1. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR DRINKING WATER CONTAINS

The first step is to find out exactly what your tap water contains. After all, there's no use in blindly buying a water filter and simply hoping it'll target the right contaminants if you don't even know what those contaminants are.

All drinking water supplies, even treated tap water, contain trace contaminants. These can range from heavy metals like lead and copper to disinfection chemical contaminants like chlorine and their byproducts, as well as PFAS, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and many other contaminants. If you're on a well water supply, you might even have bacteria and tannins to contend with.

How do you find out what contaminants are in your tap water? A good place to start is to look at Garland's most recent Water Quality Report. This lists all the contaminants detected in the municipal system at the treatment plant.

You might also want to test for specific contaminants at home using a DIY test kit. This can help you detect impurities that aren't usually detected at the plant, like:

• Lead, which enters water through old distribution lines and plumbing

• Disinfection byproducts, which form when disinfection chemicals react with organic matter naturally present in the water

  
  

Lead pipes and service lines are a big problem across the US, and many have now been removed. You can check this map for an insight into the projected service lines with lead in Texas and beyond.

2. NARROW DOWN WHAT YOU WANT TO REMOVE

Next, determine which contaminants you want to remove from your tap water.

This involves doing some research and understanding the effects of different impurities, then making a priority list of those you want to reduce or eliminate from your water.

For instance, some contaminants primarily affect taste but don't have known health effects in trace concentrations. Disinfection chemicals like chlorine and chloramine meet this description.

Or, your main concern might be mineral buildup in your plumbing system, in which case, you don't need a water filter; you need a water softener.

Many contaminants are considered dangerous even in trace levels, like lead, microplastics, PFAS, and other harmful chemicals. You can learn more about the contaminants detected in Garland's drinking water and their possible health risks in this EWG 2013-2023 report.

Once you know what you want to remove, you'll be able to focus on the best water filtration system for the job. As an example, if you want to eliminate virtually everything and produce purified water, a reverse osmosis system that reduces dissolved solids is your best bet. But if you just want to enjoy better-tasting water and remove a handful of impurities with health effects, a basic activated carbon filter system might be just fine for you.

Overwhelmed by all the filtered water solutions available? We recommend contacting a local plumbing company with comprehensive knowledge about Garland's water quality and the best filtration systems available, like the team at Military Plumbing. We'll test your water and recommend the best solution based on our findings. Learn more about our water quality solutions or contact us to get started.

3. DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET

Before you start shopping for the right water filtration system, determine your budget. Some water treatment systems can cost in the thousands, while others are much more affordable; within the $30-$60 range.

The price you pay usually reflects the size of the system and the treatment it requires. Understandably, whole-house water filters with multiple stages of water treatment are more expensive than simple, single-filter pitchers or faucet-mounted models.

The right system for you should suit your budget as well as your contaminant removal preferences, so research your options and determine what you can afford to spend, both upfront and on long-term maintenance.

4. CONSIDER YOUR PREFERRED POINT OF USE

If you haven't already, step four is to narrow down your preferred point of use for a water filter.

This comes down to your water treatment goals:

• Do you want to remove impurities from your entire home's water, including the water used in your shower and appliances? If so, a whole-house water filtration system is worth considering.

• Or, do you just want to remove contaminants from your drinking water? In that case, you may as well spend less upfront on a point-of-use system at your kitchen sink.

  
  

If you've got your eye on a specific filtration method, this might dictate the point of installation. For instance, reverse osmosis systems are generally installed as point-of-use systems beneath a kitchen sink or on a countertop. They force water through a semi-permeable membrane in a process that wastes water. In a whole-house setup, an RO system is typically considered too inefficient.

Another example of how system type dictates point of installation is with water softener systems. The purpose of these systems is not to produce filtered water but to eliminate hardness minerals that can damage your plumbing, so they need to serve your entire household and intercept your incoming water line as early as possible. There'd be no use in installing a water softener at your kitchen faucet, as you wouldn't get any soft water benefits throughout your home.

5. UNDERSTAND YOUR INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

Finally, make sure you understand what's required from you in terms of installation and maintenance before you commit to a water filter purchase.

Some systems, particularly under-sink reverse osmosis systems (which need a dedicated drainline and faucet installation and whole-house filters (which are complicated to install) benefit from a professional installation. In that case, contact a trusted local plumber to help with the job.

Proper maintenance is also essential for keeping any water filtration system operating properly. Most systems require filter changes at least once a year. Check the product manual online and make sure you're happy to follow the maintenance schedule before you spend your money.

Maintenance costs money, but it's cheaper than buying bottled water and involves far less plastic waste, making it worth it for many people.

WHEN TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PLUMBER

So, when should you hire a professional plumber in your mission to find the right system for filtering your water? Essentially, if you're uncertain what you need, or you don't want to spend hours researching your options and testing your water supply, we recommend contacting a local plumbing company instead.

Our plumbers will come to your home and test your water, so we know exactly what it contains at the point of leaving your faucets. We'll then recommend the best solution based on our findings. Contact us to book your water quality testing today.

FAQ

Q: WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM SHOULD I BUY FOR MY WELL WATER IN GARLAND?

The best water filtration system for well water in Garland depends on what your water actually contains, so the first step is to test the water. Private well owners are responsible for monitoring their own water quality and should test at least once a year for bacteria, nitrates, and other common contaminants. Many well owners in Garland use a combination system, such as a sediment filter for particles, a water softener for minerals, and a UV system to kill bacteria.

Q: DO I NEED A WATER SOFTENER IN GARLAND?

There's a good chance that you will benefit from installing a water softener in Garland because the local water supply is often considered very hard, meaning it contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Hard water can cause scale buildup in pipes and appliances and leave spots on dishes and fixtures. A water softener removes these minerals and helps extend the life of plumbing and water-using appliances.

Q: IS GARLAND TAP WATER SAFE TO DRINK?

Yes, Garland's city water generally meets federal drinking water standards, meaning it's classed as being safe to drink according to EPA standards. That said, testing reports still detect certain contaminants at low levels. You might feel more comfortable installing a water filtration system to improve your water's taste and reduce potential contaminants that may still be present in treated water.

Q: WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT I NEED A WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM IN GARLAND?

Some common warning signs that you need a water filtration or softener system in Garland include white mineral buildup on faucets, spots on dishes, dry skin after showering, bad-tasting water, or odors coming from the tap. These are often caused by hard water or chemical disinfectants in the water supply. But many contaminants have no taste or odor, meaning they're difficult to detect in water without conducting your own testing.