Why Should You Change Your Refrigerator Water Filter Every Six Months?

The life of refrigerator water filters is dependent upon the volume of contaminants in the water as well as the amount of use of the filter. Well water is more likely to contain contaminants not found in publicly treated water and may need more frequent filter changes. As a rule of thumb, the filter should be changed as specified by the manufacturer or at least every six months.

Carbon is the primary substance used in water filtration methods because carbon has the potential to absorb many of the chemicals found in water. Most refrigerator water filters, which meet NSF/ANSI 42 certification standards, use granular activated carbon (GAC) to attract chemicals and impurities responsible for bad taste and odor, such as those that are a by-product of chlorine. These filters are not capable, however, to rid water of more dangerous, health-threatening contaminants. The method by which water is channeled through GAC filters does not allow sufficient time to complete the absorption of such substances. Various bacteria are formed, trapped and allowed to multiply, which further contaminates water processed by the filters. Carbon is not capable to absorb heavy metals, such as lead. GAC filters may trap some heavy metals and sediments, but allow others to filter through to the output water. Failure to change the water filter, every six months, allows unabsorbed water contaminants and newly formed bacteria to saturate the filter, forcing the filter to leak contaminants back into processed water. The water output may contain more contaminants than the filter was intended to remove in the first place.

Technology has lead to the development of more absorbent carbon-based filters, solid carbon block filters. These filters include solid blocks of carbon to absorb contaminants from water. Water takes longer to strain through carbon blocks than it does carbon granules, so that carbon blocks provide sufficient time for the absorption of more health-threatening containments. While carbon block filters are capable to absorb toxics, pesticides, TTHM’s and other contaminants, they cannot absorb heavy metals or contaminants that are by-products of agricultural fertilization, such as nitrates or sulfides. The composition of carbon blocks allows them to restrain heavy metals and bacteria away from output water, however, nitrates and sulfides are not filtered. Even so, carbon block filters are sufficient to meet NSF/ANSI 53 certification standards. Failure to change carbon block filters, every six months, allows contaminants to saturate the filter, forcing the filter to leak contaminants into the processed water. When sediments are not removed from water, those sediments buildup and corrode filter fittings and water fixtures, causing them to leak. This type of damage to filters and fixtures may cause the output water to contain more contaminants than the water input to the filter. Failure to change the filters might also reduce the water pressure, within the filtering system, forcing it to be ineffective.

Some refrigerator water filters may include fiber water filters. These filters are made of tightly wrapped fibers of rayon or spun cellulose, which trap rust, lead and other sediments found in water. When used alone, these filters are ineffective in reducing any chemical or health-threatening contaminants. Fiber filters are best suited for use with other types of filters to reduce the concentration of sediments. They should be replaced, every six months, to avoid a build-up of sediments that would force the filter to leak the contaminants back into the processed water.

Did you know that the indoor air is at least six times more contaminated than the outdoor air? Unfortunately, you cannot clean the outdoor air but what you can do is to improve the quality of the indoor air. The only device that could help you do this is an air purifier. It eliminates the indoor air from various contaminants, such as simple dust, volatile gases, pollen, pet dander and dust mites. More sophisticated air cleaning devices can even rid of dangerous bacteria and viruses leaving your house a healthy place to live at.

You might be asking yourself why you should waste your money on an air purifier. And you would be surprised what indoor air contaminants do to your health. They irritate your respiratory system and with time may cause a lot of disorders. So, buying an air purifier that would clean the indoor air of your house is not a waste of money. On the contrary, preventing serious health disorders from occurring can actually save your money and time.

Those, who suffer from allergies or asthma and other respiratory diseases, know how poor indoor air quality affects their health. Indoor air pollutants may aggravate the symptoms of these diseases. It is not true that closing all the windows and doors helps the indoor air keeping clean and healthy. All the contaminants from the outdoor are brought to your home by heating and cooling systems. All of these contaminants accumulate in your living environment putting you and your family in danger. The only way to change that is to buy a residential air purifier.

A lot of trials have been made in order to find out whether air purifiers can reduce health effects or not. The trials have showed that the use of air purifiers definitely reduces certain health effects. These include minor effects, such as eye and lung irritation. In addition, air cleaning devices may reduce the risk for some serious disorders, such as cancer and decreased lung function.
Those who cannot bear the tobacco smoke in their living environment should also consider buying an air purifier. Most air purifiers eliminate cigarette smoke from the indoor air, reducing not only disgusting smell but also serious health effects.

Children are extremely sensitive to airborne pollutants therefore those, who care about their children’s health, should seriously consider using an air purifier in their environment. Pet danders, pollen, volatile organic compounds, cigarette smoke are only few mentioned contaminants that may affect children’s health and cause serious illnesses. Since children are exposed to dangerous airborne compounds from the early childhood, they may get serious diseases, such as asthma, various allergies, lung irritation and even lung cancer in the end.

Anyone who cares to breathe the air that is clean, healthy, and free of various pollutants and allergens should buy an air purifier for their homes. It may be either portable or non-portable, depending on the area coverage. Especially those, who are extremely sensitive to the indoor air pollution, should consider having an air purification system. Such are asthma sufferers, people who have allergies, children, youth and the elderly people. Poor quality of the indoor air affects these people the most.
In the end, it is of course your individual decision you have to make on the use of air purifiers. Most health organizations recommend people to use air purification systems to improve their indoor air quality. There are various factors one should consider before making one’s decision on an air purifier. But what really matters the most is what you cannot see or feel – the indoor air quality. You shouldn’t take it for granted.

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They serve as our view to the outside world and bring the glowing sunlight into our home every day. What is this mystery product? Windows, of course. They are so much more than a view, however, as they also shield us from the cold air, the rain and anything else that the hand of mother nature decides to deal.

With all of this responsibility weighing upon them, windows take an absolute pounding – sometimes literally. There will inevitably come a time that every individual will need to consider repairs or completely new window replacements.

Window replacements are available as either wood or vinyl and can usually be matched to the current look of any home. The time to consider window replacements is when the cosmetics of the current window or the structure is beyond repair. Additionally, many individuals decide to replace their windows for insulation reasons. The majority of window replacements carry a warranty but, if cared for properly, are expected to last for up to 20 years.

As for installation, it is often recommended that the homeowner enlist the help of a local home improvement company or licensed contractor. If an individual isnt comfortable with window replacements or isnt familiar with the installation process, this will be the only option. The window specialist can provide the supplies or the homeowner can purchase them directly from a local home improvement store, which can often result in substantial savings. By purchasing the products, homeowners will sometimes save on the higher prices that contractors may charge for the convenience of providing the window replacements.

During the installation of window replacements, homeowners will want to pay close attention to the work being done. It is advisable to look for small cracks around the window that may lead to higher energy costs. How? If cool air finds its way through the cracks and into the home, the heating system will have to work harder to keep the homes interior warm. This will result in a higher heating cost. The opposite is true of the warm summer months with air conditioning having to work harder to keep the home cool if hot air is creeping into the home through cracks in the window construction. Window replacements should include caulking and weather stripping to help eliminate this problem. The company that provides the window replacements installation will also be able to provide some type of weather protection as well.

Climate modification is essentially the excessive heating of the planet, which results in dramatic climatic changes. So, are there ways to prevent climate modification?

Ways to Prevent Climate Modification

In many ways, the climate modification debate is benefiting from the current highly volatile issues concerning energy. The world wide industrial revolution has been powered by coal and oil. While coal is available in many countries, oil is not. Circumstances being what they are, the largest concentrations of oil are found in areas with significant political and armed conflict. One needs only look at the situation in Iraq to understand this fact. With the growing China economy, there now seems to be a universal understanding that oil alternatives are necessary.

Perhaps proving the concept of Karma, nearly all oil alternatives are favorable ways to reduce climate modification. Whether we are talking about hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal or even nuclear energy, each alternative power source produces significantly less pollution than classic fossil fuels. Less pollution is the key for one very simple reason.

A major byproduct of using fossil fuels for energy is the much discussed greenhouse gas. Whether using oil to produce electricity or just to gas up the car, the use of this medium produces carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas. Reducing the volume of it in the atmosphere will greatly reduce the greenhouse effect. As our energy production evolves away from oil, we should see improvements in the atmosphere. The bigger issue, of course, is whether we will get around to this anytime soon.

A second major way to prevent climate modification is to stop deforestation. Vast forests, such as the one found in the Amazon River Basin in South America are being clear cut. This has a devastating impact on climate modification. Nature being what it is, it has a natural method for filtering harmful gases such as carbon dioxide out of the air. It does this through photosynthesis with plants. Dense, huge forests are the biggest and best filters of carbon dioxide. By cutting them down, we reduce the ability of the planet to filter out the bad gases while we continue to pump more of the gases into the atmosphere. Any way you measure it, it is a formula destined to cause trouble.

Are there ways to prevent climate modification? Yes. We need to kick our oil habit and stop wiping out our forest areas.

Water Filters and Purifiers What are the health benefits?

Water filters, purifiers and water filtration systems convert ordinary tap water into perfectly safe drinking water. They remove impurities and contaminants by means of a fine physical barrier or a chemical process.

Health benefits of a water filter:

A water filter or water purifier is very beneficial for healthy living. Ordinary water contains numerous contaminants including bacteria, algae, viruses, fungi, minerals, and man-made chemical pollutants that cannot be seen with the naked eye. These contaminants not only cause the water to taste bad, but are also very harmful to your health.

A water filter kills all of these organisms and filters out the contaminants to make the water fit for drinking. Thus water filters save us from many dangerous bacterial and viral diseases that spread due to the contamination of water.

The working technique of water filters is based on sieving, ion exchanges and other processes. A water filter can eliminate particles much smaller than the holes through which the water passes.

Alkaline water ionizers provide alkaline water. The following are the health benefits of alkaline water:

Promotes optimal physical performance.
Protects DNA from oxidative damage.
Alleviates blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
Betters liver function exams in hepatic disorders.
Betters gastro duodenal ulcer and prevents recurrences.
Betters allergic disorders such as asthma, urticaria, rhinites and atopic dermatitis.
Betters hypertension and hypotension.
Betters serum bilirubin levels in newborn babies.
Impressively suppressed the growth of cancer cells transplanted into mice, demonstrating their anti-cancer effects.

The following are acid water health benefits:

Electrolyzed oxidizing water inactivates Escherichia coli and Listeria on plastic kitchen cutting boards.
It reduces bacterial load of treated alfalfa sprouts between 91.1% and 99.8%.
It can reduce food borne pathogens.
It is a useful disinfectant for hospital infections.

Water filters and purifiers can be purchased at water filter stores and online. The Pur water filter and Brita water filter are the two well-known brands of water filters.