When you compare the prices of drinking water filters, it's easy to become confused. The assumption that paying more for a drinking water filter means removing more impurities is a dangerous one. We looked at 10 of the top rated drinking water filters and found they ranged from $34.95 to $420.00 -- quite a broad price range! What factors go into making one water filter so much more expensive than another? Mark up can be a concern.
You may know that resellers buy a product from a factory and then "mark up" the price in order to make a profit. Companies that do not manufacture anything are called resellers. These folks travel the world over in search of products that may be purchased for a miniscule amount and sold for alot more. In this respect, water filters are no different from any other merchandise.
So, if you can buy a drinking water filter (or any other product for that matter) directly from the factory, you will save money. At times you save the cost equivalent of buying two, or even three, of them. It all depends on how much the reseller marks up the product. You can see that all the manufacturers of drinking water filter are almost charging same price for their units or will be in the same range. While prices vary, the average falls near $140.
00 for a counter top system. So, are those very cheap models any good? The names that we hear the most, those that are most highly advertised, are Brita and Pur. Let's examine them and see if they are truly worth it. For $34, you can purchase a Brita drinking water filter that attaches to your faucet. While you won't find any chlorine in water treated in this manner, chlorine by-products, known as THMs, will be untouched. To me it seems quite illogical to block one, but not the other.
Chlorine and THMs have both been linked to cancer. In women with breast cancer, the level of THMs in their fat cells is much higher than what is found in the fat cells of women without breast cancer. Experts believe that chlorine is responsible for several hundred new cases of rectal cancer every day. As effective as Brita drinking water filters can be in removing some impurities, against some contaminates, it falls short. These include VOCs (chemicals found paint thinners, dry cleaning solvents and gasoline) and MTBE, a gasoline additive. All of these substances have been found in public reservoirs and cannot be removed by treatment facilities.
The concentration limits established by federal regulation as "safe" are regarded by some in the scientific community as far too high, given that even low exposure, when continued over years, can increase the incidence of heart disease and cancer. PUR drinking water filters remove even less impurities than Brita. Many people may buy PUR drinking water filters to improve taste and reduce odor. Unfortunately, a large percentage of them are completely unaware about the dangerous chemical contaminants that are not filtered by the PUR filters they buy. What they fail to understand is that while chlorine can be removed easily, THMs are much more stubborn.
These filters also do not block pesticides and herbicides that are commonly used throughout the United States. Anything that is used in the environment eventually ends up in the reservoir and finally makes it in to your home. As hazardous and difficult to remove as these chemicals are, a good drinking water filter should safely extract them. The finest drinking water filters are sensibly priced and block almost anything. Research and spend time looking before you decide.
Please check my website listed below if you would like more information. You will discover that the ones that are promoted widely and frequently do not usually turn out to be the best.
Rich Eng serves as the leader of a high growth healthcare services business for a Fortune 500 company. A 20 year industry veteran and "holistic health and fitness" coach, he constantly researches better ways to improve one's mind, body and spirit. Visit his site at http://www.clean-filtered-water.com to learn more about the drinking water filters he personally recommends and why he chose this product after extensive research.
