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This section will help you find answers to many questions about air purifiers and water filters. If you need further information, please call during office hours or contact us at info@Bestfilters®.com. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WATER FILTERS Why do I need to filter my water? The human body is 60 - 80% water. Every five to 10 days we need to replace all of our body's water to keep functioning smoothly, efficiently and to maintain good health. It is important to replenish our bodies water with clean, pure, filtered water. Our filters are longlasting, reliable, and provide water filtered down to 1 micron (a human hair is about 100 microns) to prevent long-term health risks due to gradual buildup of toxins, heavy metals, chemicals and chlorine. Most municipal water systems are chlorinated to kill bacteria and viruses. However, the chlorine can form carcinogenic compounds, such as trihalomethanes and chloroform. Also, this water still has to travel through miles of pipes before it enters your home. The pipes are usually not clean and contain heavy metals from solder joints, fixtures, etc. The only way to ensure that your drinking water is free of contaminants is to filter it yourself in your home or office. What can I do to improve the safety of the water in my home? You can install a home water filter. One of the easiest and most effective filtration devices is a system that treats water at a single point of use for drinking, cooking and watering plants. This can easily be installed as a countertop unit, or an undercounter unit with a separate faucet. It is also important to use a shower filter to remove chlorine while you shower. Why should I buy a water filter from Bestfilters®.com? We know you could go to your neighborhood super center or home center and buy a water filter, perhaps for a little less money than from Bestfilters®, but most of these are only good for taste and odor reduction and Chlorine removal. Our specialized filters don't stop there, we also remove dangerous chemicals, Lead, Giardia and Cryptosporidium, pesticides, herbicides. We also will never sell a filter with only GAC, (Granular Activated Carbon) like many of our competitors, because there is a high probability of the water "channeling", and the filter will lose its effectiveness. We always follow any filter containing GAC with a solid carbon block filter that will never channel. Isn't bottled water easier, cheaper and just as safe? It is perfectly legal to bottle water from wells, springs and even public tap water. You could actually be carrying home water bottles containing the same low quality water that comes out of your faucet. Bottled water is not always free of contaminants either, in 1990 a test by the Suffolk County, New York Health Dept. found that 9 of 88 brands tested did not meet state and Federal drinking water standards, even Perrier had that recall due to Benzene contamination. Sometimes you can even taste and smell the plastic water bottle. Also if water is bottled and sold within the same state, it is not subject to EPA regulations. Finally, bottled water is much more expensive than a home filter system, averaging about a dollar a gallon in comparison to less than 10 cents a gallon. What about water pitcher filters or faucet-mount filters? In our business, we refer to these as "feel good" filters. You get to "feel good" that you're doing something about your water quality, however, these small filter elements tend to be ineffective against everything but Chlorine, taste and odor. Also, they are very expensive to
use and need frequent filter replacement. Why should I be concerned with filtering my shower water? You can absorb more chlorine through your skin and lungs in one shower then you can in all the tap water you could drink in a day. Chlorine not only dries your skin and hair, studies show that long-term exposure to chlorine has been linked to various cancers, and, recently, to increased risk of miscarriage. Is the water filtration system independently lab-tested and certified by NSF and/or UL? Many water filter products, including our own Superior series water filter systems, are made with filter cartridges and components that are "NSF approved materials" but have not been submitted for laboratory testing or certification and therefore cannot be legally sold in California. However, all of our other water filters, including the new Bestfilters Countertop and Under Sink water filters, as well as, Multi-Pure and Doulton water filter systems are all rigorously tested by independent laboratories and then certified by NSF/UL to meet or exceed ANSI/NSF Standards 42 & 53. All of our shower filters are NSF Standard 177 certified for Chlorine reduction.
Is the water filter system state certified? Bestfilters, Multi-Pure and Doulton all are state certified to meet or exceed the stringent water filter standards for states that require certification and registration, including California. (Links for test results are within the product descriptions).
Does the water filter use a solid carbon block filter? All of our water filters utilize at least one solid carbon block filter tested to filter 1.0 microns or finer. We won't market a water filter that contains GAC (granular activated carbon) without an additional solid carbon block filter. This is because it has been found that the loose, porous structure of GAC allows "channeling" and its' filtering abilities become diminished or may fail. The granular structure of GAC may also allow contamination and support bacterial growth.
Is there a replaceable filter, and is it easily changed? Our entire product line features replaceable water filter cartridges designed for a specified term of usage before a filter change is needed, usually in the 500 to 2500 gallon range. Don't be fooled by uncertified, untested disposable water filters making unsubstantiated claims for 10,000 to 30,000 gallons of usage, these products may become saturated with contaminants and allow unfiltered water through the unit.
Is installation difficult? Our countertop systems can be installed in less than 5 minutes and require nothing more than a pair of pliers. Our Undercounter water filters can be easily installed by a handy homeowner or in less than an hour by a professional plumber.
How long has the manufacturer been in business? The new Bestfilters NSF certified water filters are made to our stringent specifications by an American company with a 20+ year history of manufacturing premium water filter systems. Multi-Pure has been a water filter industry leader for more than 33 years, and Doulton dates back over 150 years.
Bestfilters® and our team of manufacturers will be around whenever you need assistance and replacement filters. Does it use electricity or waste water? No. Unlike Distillation, our products do not need electricity, and our products do not waste water like Reverse Osmosis, which wastes from 39 gallons of water for every gallon you use. Our water filters provide a simple, elegant solution, filtering only the exact amount of water you need for drinking, cooking, watering plants or showering.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT AIR CLEANERS AND AIR PURIFIERS What is a HEPA Air Cleaner? HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters were developed during the early days of atomic research, in conjunction with the Atomic Energy Commission, to clean the air of hazardous radioactive particles. A true HEPA filter, like the Austin Air and Honeywell air cleaners capture more than 99.97% of all particles larger than .3 microns passing through the air filter. How big is that? A particle of tobacco smoke is 1 micron, household dust is 10 microns and a human hair is 70 to 100 microns thick. This type of indoor air purifier, a HEPA quality air filter, can help alleviate symptoms of allergies, asthma, sinus congestion and breathing difficulties. Today, HEPA air filters are the most advanced, environmentally friendly, and cost effective air purification systems available. How Polluted is Indoor Air? The U.S. EPA considers indoor air pollution a high priority health risk and estimates it to be 4 to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. We usually spend about 90% of our time indoors, more than half of this time in our homes. It makes sense to breathe fresh, clean HEPA-filtered air to reduce indoor air pollution and minimize allergies, asthma and other diseases. Everyday we typically breathe in two heaping tablespoons of airborne particles that our bodies must process and discharge. Medical experts agree that the smallest of these particles cause the greatest problems. What are the Sources of Indoor Air Pollution? Some of these sources are: fiberglass insulation, pressed wood furniture and flooring, dry cleaning, dust mites, lead, aerosols, pesticides, tobacco smoke, carpets, paints, pet dander, pollen, Radon gas, solvents, cleaning products, mold spores, animal hair, bacteria, drapes and plastics just to name a few. A true HEPA filter removes all of these contaminants. What about Electrostatic Air Cleaners? These products use a process of "charging" particles and attracting them to a collector plate. Electrostatic air cleaners are economical and energy efficient. However, they have limited air circulation, thus creating a small area of effectiveness and they do not remove gases or odors. They also produce Ozone, which can be a harmful irritant to people with respiratory problems. What about Ozone Generators and Ionizers? Ozone (O3) is an unstable form of oxygen (O2) that oxidizes pollutants. However, this aggressive form of oxygen also can attack lung tissue in asthmatics and others with sensitive lungs. The oxidizing effect of ozone generators and ionizers is suspected to be a cause of accelerated aging and cancer. Many people are highly sensitive to the ozone generated by these devices.
