If you are shopping for home water filters, you might want to know a little bit about how do water filters work. Your kids might be interested, as well. In order to briefly explain, without getting to technical, let us look at specific contaminants, what they are and how they are removed.

How do water filters work that remove chlorine and other chemicals?

Chemicals are trapped through a process called "adsorption". The chemical compound is attracted to a specific material and becomes trapped on the surface of the material. Carbon granules or blocks, for example, will trap chlorine. Specific filtering media is needed to remove specific chemicals. Some are more difficult to remove than others. Most home water filters have the necessary media to trap chlorine, but not chlorination byproducts, which are known carcinogens.

How do water filters work that remove cysts and lead?

Cysts, primarily cryptosporidium and giardia, cause waterborne illnesses and are resistant to public disinfection methods. The process used to remove cysts is similar to a spaghetti strainer. Of course the holes of the strainer are much smaller.

Home water filters that are certified to filter down to one micron (about the size of a speck of dust on a pinhead) will remove cysts. Lead content can be reduced in the same way, but the most effective lead removal is done with a process called ion exchange.

Lead is a heavy metal that causes brain damage at high levels and causes chronic health problems (such as heart disease, liver damage and high blood pressure), when a person is exposed to low levels over the course of his or her lifespan.

The metal has a slight electric charge which is attracted to the opposite charge, similar to the way magnets with a negative and positive charge are attracted to each other. Ion exchange takes advantage of the electric charge and traps the metal, exchanging it for potassium or sodium ions.

How do water filters work that remove all of these things?

Only home water filters with multiple stages can remove all of these things. The best systems combine ion exchange, submicron particle filtration, granular carbon and other filtering media to trap all of the common chemical contaminants. There are only a few systems on the market that can do all of that. They probably don't cost as much as you think.

How do water filters work to help you save money?

If you put all of the health aspects aside, a kitchen countertop purifier can save you thousands of dollars per year, if you are currently buying bottled. The cost of use for the best systems is less than a dime per gallon. You would pay at least ten times that for a gallon jug; more if you buy it buy the bottle.

As you are shopping for home water filters, you might want to consider a showerhead system, as well. Chemicals are absorbed through the skin and inhaled with the steam. Learn more and protect your family.