5 Ways to Improve the Water Quality in Your Home

It’s very difficult to have complete control over the quality of your water, whether you are on your municipal supply or a well. But there are things you can do to improve your water quality.  

Test your water quality 

The best place to start when you are trying to improve something is to find out where you are. Getting a water quality testing kit is an easy way to check how your water fares in terms of cleanliness and safety. Once you know exactly what is in your water, you are better able to fix any issues. These kits are user friendly and can help you easily identify any contaminants or problems with your water.  

Flush your water 

When it comes to consuming water (and remember – your skin does some drinking as well!), it is best to flush your system by running your tap for two minutes before using the water. When water sits in the pipes, water quality can decline, and disease-causing bacteria can even leech in and contaminate your water supply. It’s also a good idea to use cold water for drinking and cooking. Although it might seem logical that hot water would remove harmful contaminants, it can actually be harmful by more efficiently dissolving chemicals.  

Change your filters regularly 

Your taps include a filter cartridge that, over time, can accumulate metals, sediment, and even harmful bacteria. It can become clogged and fail to work properly over time, which means it won’t be doing much filtering of contaminants (so they will be in your glass or tub instead!). If your cartridge doesn’t indicate how often it is changed, you should change it every 3-6 months, or whenever you notice a decrease in flow rate. If it is a tap that you use daily, you may consider changing it more often. If you are really concerned about the quality of your water – especially if testing revealed a specific issue – you might want to consider a whole-home water filtration/purification system. Alternatively, you can install a filter or a reverse osmosis system for one oft-used faucet.  

Use faucet aerators 

An aerator helps break up and diffuse air into the tap water you are using, making it healthier to consume (as well as reducing issues associated with municipal use of chlorine in the water system, especially in the spring). If you don’t already have an aerator on your tap, you can easily source one at your local hardware store. You should then routinely clean and replace them to make sure they can do their job effectively. 

Drain your water heater 

Your water heater can be a source of poor water quality if you don’t maintain it. Sediment, metals and bacteria can build up over time and make your water less safe to consume. It can also reduce your water pressure. Draining your water heater is something you can do on your own, but it can make for a costly fix if something goes wrong. If you are concerned, you can always call your favourite plumbers to help you with yearly maintenance! 

Water quality is something that you often don’t appreciate fully until it’s gone. With a little care, you can make sure the water coming out of your taps is clean and safe to consume!