Filters

Even though you may not realize it, many systems in your home that are there for convenience and to make your life easier require some sort of filter for them to function properly.  Filters are found in plumbing, irrigation, and cooling & heating applications.  When you are using water, a central air system, or a sprinkler system-there is a chance that there is some sort of filter helping that equipment to run correctly.

In areas where water is in short supply or where droughts are happening continually, the water that is available can contain sediment or other particles that wouldn't be found in an area where water is plentiful.  If the water is being used for drinking, it is a good idea to have a filtration system installed somewhere in the home.  One of the most common places to have this filter is underneath the kitchen sink.  A filter “housing” (a canister like part) is installed where water will pass through so that the water can be filtered.  The housing has two major parts to it: the top where the inlet and outlet for the water is and the bottom that screws into the top.  This is where the filter goes.  The bottom can be taken off pretty easily so that the filter can be replaced and water can continue to be cleaned.

Drinking water is also filtered as it passes through a refrigerator that has water dispensing capabilities.  It also filters the water that is taken into the ice maker so that the ice that is being made doesn’t contain “floaties”.  This technology has also been applied to drinking fountains that are found in some public places.

In some irrigation and sprinkler systems, the water comes from wells or other sources where

the water contains rocks and other debris that can clog up the pipes, system valves, or the sprinkler heads that are being used.  To avoid these problems it is a good idea to install a filter designed specifically for these types of systems.  They also have some type of housing and will be installed somewhere along the water line.  Where and how it is installed will be determined by the type of system the filter will be used in.

The air that goes through a central air system, whether it be to warm up or cool down the place where it is installed, needs to be filtered.  If the air isn't filtered, harmful debris and some disease causing organisms can be spread to the areas where the air is being dispersed.

In all of these different applications, there are a wide variety of filters available.  Some of them are as simple as only filtering out a single particle, while others are designed to remove more than one particle and some chemicals that can be found in air and water.  The filters used in different applications are also made of different materials.  Some are made out of plastic and soft materials, while others are made from metal so they can withstand more pressure and materials that are considered to be harsh.