mhb@wdl1.UUCP (11/01/85)
WATER FILTERS About three months ago I put out a request for recommendations for water filters. (I live in Silicon Valley, and there are various chemicals that get into the water, and appear to be dangerous.) I'll try and share what I learned with anyone interested: 1) There are two basic types: carbon filters (they remove large, organic, chemicals) and reverse osmosis (they are better for minerals in the water). Some systems combine the two. 2) Here in the SF Bay area, I am primarily worried about the former, so I decided to focus on filters. This would have been different if I had lived somewheres else. 3) I received recommendations for SEARS and for AMWAY. I could not get good statistics for the SEARS product (ie, how effective is it). I got data on the AMWAY product, it seemed to be good, but more money than I wanted to pay. 4) Looking around, I discovered a number of other products. All of them used either a granulate carbon filter or a compressed carbon filter. (There appears to be a minor advantage in compressed carbon, but the difference doesn't appear to be that big). 5) Finally, I selected a filter made by AMF CUNO (a fairly large company based in Meriden, Conn). Good points: it was inexpensive (around $110) and made by a reputable company. Bad points: it was granulated carbon and when I installed it (fairly easy) it had a minor leak. It took a lot of silicon tape to fix the leak. 6) So far, I'm happy with it. (However, Filter needs changing about once every 3 - 4 months for a family of four). Mike Bender