Water Filter

Water filters remove contaminants from water to help prevent water-related diseases and help purify water for a healthy source of hydration. Because a filter sifts out a wide variety of contaminants, it can get rid of unusual tastes and odors from less purified tap water.

Water filters also offer an eco-friendlier and cheaper alternative to bottled water. Plastics can take hundreds of years to break down, which causes devastating plastic buildup in the ocean or in landfills. Using a water filter, water dispenser, and refillable bottle can help protect against this pollution.

Water filters remove a range of contaminants from water sources to help improve taste, odor, and quality. The water quality can change depending on the water source, which means certain contaminants found in one water source may not exist in another.

Additionally, different types of filters remove different impurities. Certain filters may only remove sand, silt, and sediment while others may filter out additional contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, or chemicals. No filter can remove every impurity so a water filter system may use a combination of methods to achieve cleaner water. Each filter typically lists or states what impurities it can remove.

We carry MRCOOL’s PP sediment fiber, post carbon, and reverse osmosis membrane filter options for use with MRCOOL water dispensers. The water dispensers use a four-stage filtration system which may include the following:

PP Sediment Fiber Filter - removes large particles in the water. Needs replacing every 3-6 months.

Reverse Osmosis Membrane Filter - removes organics, chlorine, odor, and turbidity. Needs replacing every 6-12 months. Their RO filter works with their MTW04RO model only.

Post Carbon Filter - further removes heavy metals, bacteria, dissolved matter, and salinity. Needs replacing every 12-24 months.

Reverse osmosis (RO) uses pressure to force unfiltered water through a semipermeable membrane. This membrane blocks contaminants larger than a water molecule. Reverse osmosis filtering forces water to flow from the concentrated side with more contaminants to the less concentrated side with fewer contaminants. This leaves fresh, uncontaminated water on one side of the membrane while the contaminants stay on the other. Because of this, a reverse osmosis system removes up to 99 percent of harmful contaminants.

But be careful when using reverse osmosis water filtration systems. While they take out the bad minerals, they also get rid of the good. Reverse osmosis systems do work well in areas with a high amount of total dissolved solids (TDS). TDS consist of organic or inorganic materials. These can include metals, salts, or minerals including potassium, calcium, chloride, and other materials that may be present. Water filtered using a reverse osmosis filtration system also works well for cooking.

Sediment filters take out dirt, silt, sand, and other similar particles. If left untreated, sediment can clog pipes, which slows the water pressure in your home. It can also damage appliances like dishwashers, washing machine, and water heaters.

They work well as pre-filters or in conjunction with filtration methods like reverse osmosis or ultraviolet purification. They can also help extend the life of other filters. While carbon filters can sift out some sediment, they cannot remove it all. Sediment can clog up the carbon which reduces the lifespan of the filter.

A post carbon filter uses small granules of activated carbon, often coconut activated carbon. These filters remove chlorine, volatile organic compounds, and strange odors and tastes from the water using an adsorption process. This means the particles stick to the pores of the carbon granules.

Post carbon filters often see use along with an activated carbon pre-filter with RO systems. The pre-filter may trap chemicals and remove smaller particles. The water typically then goes through the membrane. Afterword, the post-carbon filter filters the remaining water to sift out particles missed by the pre-filter and the membrane.