How a Filter Can Improve Your Hot Tap
A good filter is the first line of defence against the build-up of bacteria and minerals that inevitably affects an instant hot water tap. Even if you clean your tap regularly, time will take its toll and eventually cause you to need a replacement. By choosing the right filter for your water situation, you can prolong the life of your tap for years and also improve the overall taste of your drinking water. Filters are inexpensive and easy to install, making them a great investment.
Mineral Build-up
Even the purest of drinking water contains some minerals and chemicals within it that, when built up enough, can cause the corrosion of a pipe or tap. As the water is heated, the impurities get separated out, which causes some sedentary build-up. When your hot water boiler heats water past 40 degrees, the lime build-up around pipes and other internal elements gets more severe. This can cause your water to start tasting unpleasant and can also corrode your pipes if left unchecked. Putting in a filter keeps the lime build-up away from your pipes and decreases the level of corrosion. Filters can be easily changed, meaning that you can remove the build-up long before it becomes a problem.
Bacterial Problems
In addition to trace amounts of corrosive minerals, even fluoridated water has at least some bacteria in it. For the most part, this bacteria is harmless, but sometimes bacterial-spread illnesses can become a problem. A bacterium thrives when it has a chance to build up in a moist environment. If your pipes or tap have scratches or irregularities in them caused by a mineral build-up, bacteria can find a home and start to breed. Usually, this will result in water that doesn’t taste quite right. On occasion, it can turn into a potential health hazard. As with avoiding mineral deposits, using a filter keeps bacteria away from your instant hot water tap and greatly reduces the chance that it will cause problems later on.
Hard Water versus Soft Water
Two terms you may be aware of when it comes to an instant hot water tap are hard and soft water. Whether you have hard water or soft water will depend on where your building draws water from. Both are suitable for everyday tasks, although they have some minor differences. Hard water has higher mineral content and is thus more likely to lead to a mineral build-up if a filter isn’t used. Soft water is less mineral-laden but tends to have a different taste. Both types of water benefit from the use of a good filter. For hard water, a filter can reduce mineral levels, and for soft water it can improve taste. When installing a water boiler filter , be sure to talk with your installer about needs based on your water type.
Regardless of what kind of water flows through your hot water tap , a filter will benefit you. It can improve the quality of your water and extend the life of your boiler, giving you more time to enjoy the benefits of having such a tap in the first place.