Ceramic filters may not be as popular as some other types of water filters, but that may soon be changing. As more people become aware of the high-quality results, and low cost, of ceramic water filters, increased sales will follow.
In simple terms, ceramic water filters use ceramic materials, often in cartridge form, to filter out many types of contaminants. They are especially good at filtering out bacteria and sediment from incoming water. The reason they are so good at these tasks is because the size of the pores within ceramic filter cartridges is much smaller than the size of most bacteria and other debris found in water. This small size keeps the contaminants from flowing through the filter.
Some of the harmful bacteria that ceramic water filters will trap include: ceramic jewelry tray E. coli, fecal form, Salmonella, Streptococcus, cysts such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
Consumers can find ceramic filters in a variety of styles. Easy to use countertop units are very inexpensive and small in size. You will also find whole house filters that hook up to the main line coming into your home and undersink filters that fit neatly under your sink. Or portable ones for camping or emergencies All of these units are easy to install and long-lasting.
Filters that use ceramic cartridges do have to be cleaned periodically. Cleaning is easy and fast in most units, with many units offering cartridges that can be cleaned as many as 30-40 times before replacement is necessary.
The more advanced, and more effective ceramic water filters, use a staging system. This means that the incoming water must pass through several different stages, each one designed to perform a certain task. The first stage usually removes larger contaminants such as volatile carbon compounds (VOC’s), pesticides, insecticides, and industrial solvents.
The next several stages will remove suspended particles, chlorine, heavy metals, and hundreds of other contaminants that may be in your water. The last stage uses the ceramic cartridge to remove any bacteria or other contaminant that may be remaining in the water.
Multi-stage ceramic water filters cost a bit more than single stage filters, but they are worth the added cost for those consumers who want the best protection when it comes to their drinking water.