From showering and bathing to cooking and drinking, water plays a big role in our daily lives. For this reason, it is important to ensure your family’s water is contaminant free. One of the easiest ways to do this is through the use of a home filtration system. Water filtration systems remove impurities from tap water. The most common systems use carbon or reverse-osmosis filtration to keep the water clean and pure.

Before you decide what kind of filtration system to use, have your water purity tested. Water testing can be expensive, but it is an easy to way keep your family’s drinking water safe. Start by requesting a consumer confidence report from the water district. It will tell you more about the water coming into your home.

Next, run tap water into a clear glass and hold it up to the light. Is the water clear or discolored? Do you see any sediment floating in the water? Be aware, air bubbles can form while water is coming out of a faucet or spigot. If this is the case, the water will look cloudy, but clear up within a minute or two. Air bubbles and related cloudiness are no reason for concern. After a close visual inspection, smell the water. You can expect a faint chlorine smell, much like that at a pool, but if you smell anything else – especially a rotten egg smell – you need to have the water tested. Also, take a quick walk around the house and look at the sink and bathtub drain, as well as fixtures and porcelain items. Make note of any red, green, blue or brown staining.

Ask the local Health Department for the name of a reputable local water testing facility. Professionals will cost a little more, but will be able to give you a lot of information. You can spend a little less by visiting a plumbing supply store and purchasing an at-home water quality test. This will be less expensive than a professional, but also less accurate.

There are two main kinds of filtration systems available – faucet mounted and in-line systems. A faucet mounted filter has a low installation cost, but will require frequent changes. The in-line system is more expensive, but more comprehensive than the faucet mounted option and requires fewer filter changes.

After you decide the kind of filtration system you want to use, go back to your water purity test. If your test returns with chlorine, chloroform, pesticides or organic chemicals, you should consider a NSF-certified carbon filter. If you need a carbon filter, consider installing a sediment filter ahead of the carbon one. The sediment filter will catch any solids that could potentially clog the sediment filter. Carbon filters are not effective against lead or other heavy metals, fluoride and some microbial contaminants.

Consider purchasing a system with a cutoff meter or a performance indication device. This will let you know when it is time to change the filter.

Before you purchase anything, be sure to carefully read the product claims. These will give you a good indication about what the system is designed to remove and what it will not remove.