Posts

What Filters Do You Have in Your Home and How Often Should They Be Replaced?

Image
You are likely familiar with the HVAC and refrigerator filters in your house, such as a Samsung fridge filter , but have you replaced your humidifier water panel? When was the last time you changed your spa filter? There are plenty of filters in your house to change, but you might not know which to change or when. HVAC Filters You are probably most familiar with the filter in your HVAC system, in a duct or the furnace. Generally, you should change your air filter every three months. Depending on whether you have pets, you may need to replace it more often. A vacation home, on the other hand, can survive six months to a year without a replacement. Clogged air filters can’t remove allergens from the air and should be replaced immediately. Plus, a clogged filter makes your HVAC system work harder, raising your heating bill and potentially damaging your system. Portable Air Filters If you have portable air filters, such as in a nursery or your home office, you may b
Post a Comment
Read more

What Is the Difference Between a Water Filter and a Water Softener?

Image
While water filters and water softeners do have some similar duties, they are very different in how they work. The most common source for water in municipal systems is underground water, which has a higher percentage of minerals compared to surface water. A higher mineral count is a significant factor in making water “hard.” Knowing the difference between the purpose of a water filter and a water softener can help you decide which is right for you.  What Is a Water Softener? A water softener technically filters water, but it only filters out minerals that cause hardness and scale. They often use salt and ion-exchange resins to remove calcium and magnesium from the water. These ions are replaced with sodium ions. Because of this, salt-based water softeners need to be refilled with salt regularly. Non-salt-based systems don’t require the same maintenance but can be damaged by trace amounts of oil. Magnetic systems are cheaper than the other two types of softeners but
Post a Comment
Read more

Why Is Air Quality Worse in the Fall and Winter?

Image
As the temperature changes and fall and winter are ushered in, the air quality falls. You’ve likely already changed your GE, LG, or Samsung refrigerator water filter recently, but now would be a good time to check your furnace and air filters, as well. Below are a few of the reasons why air quality can decrease in the fall and winter months—all of which speak to the importance of having a properly functioning air purifier and HVAC system indoors. The Inversion Layer In the fall and winter, a warm layer of air, called the inversion layer , can rise above a cooler layer of air. Normally, air temperature decreases at higher altitudes. In the colder months, however, a cold layer of air can become trapped near the ground, and the warm layer above it keeps the air from moving. Inversion layers are more common in cities located near the mountains or in a valley. Inversions prevent smoke, dust, and other pollutants from moving upward, trapping them close to the ground and
Post a Comment
Read more

Is There Lead in Tap Water, and How Harmful Is it?

Image
It may come as a surprise, but lead in tap water could impact millions of homes in the U.S., including yours. Lead is particularly unsafe for children, and all sources of lead should filtered in your home, such as by using a GE, Kenmore, or  Samsung refrigerator water filter  like a DA29-00020B filter for drinking water. It’s important to identify whether your water contains lead, and if so, what steps you can take to purify and filter your water. How Does Lead Get Into Tap Water? The main avenue for lead coming from your faucet is old pipes. Pipes and other plumbing materials made before rules about lead were put into place may contain lead. As water corrodes the pipe,  lead can enter into the water . This happens most often with water that has higher acidity or a lower mineral count. Though steps have been taken to reduce or eliminate lead used in pipes, it may still be used for soldering plumbing materials made from other safer metals. If city water, for example, is not treated
Post a Comment
Read more

5 Home Maintenance Tasks You Shouldn’t Forget About

Image
Maintaining a home can feel like a full-time job. There are plenty of small but essential tasks that can be easily overlooked or put off. From draining your water heater to changing your GE or Samsung fridge filter , make sure you regularly carry out these maintenance tasks.  Maintain Your Water Heater Your first task is draining your water heater. Sediment and minerals can build up at the bottom of the heater, reducing capacity and decreasing heating efficiency. So, about once per year, drain the heater, flushing out the sediment, and refill the heater. You should also open and close the release valve a few times a year to ensure it still opens smoothly. Next, every few years, replace the anode rod. This rod can attract minerals that typically corrode and rust your water heater. Instead, the sacrificial anode rod rusts, and will eventually disintegrate if not replaced. Anode rod replacements and other involved maintenance is best performed by professionals, as the
Post a Comment
Read more

Should You Use Bottled Water or Fill Your Reusable Bottle with Filtered Water?

Image
Which is better: Using bottled water, or filling a reusable bottle with filtered water? One is convenient but more expensive. The other is more affordable but requires slightly more effort. With a Whirlpool, Frigidaire, or Samsung refrigerator water filter , you have filtered water on demand. Bottled water, however, is entirely grab-and-go. Each option has its pros and cons, which can help determine the right choice for you.  Reusable Bottle with Filtered Water Reusable water bottles come in a variety of materials and styles. Whether metal, BPA-free plastic, or glass, reusable bottles are a great, environmentally friendly way to stay hydrated—especially if you are using a GE, Maytag, or Samsung fridge filter to fill the bottle. If you’ve already decided to fill your reusable water bottle with clean, safe, filtered water rather than what runs straight from your tap, that’s great. Step two is keeping your water bottle clean. Reusable water bottles should be regularl
Post a Comment
Read more

Do You Really Need to Change Your Refrigerator’s Water Filter?

Image
When many homeowners are prioritizing tasks around the house, replacing their refrigerator water filter often isn’t high on the list—if they consider it at all. Switching out the Frigidaire, Whirlpool, or Samsung fridge filter generally makes the list near the bottom, some where after reorganizing the silverware. Except there’s that nagging little voice that says, “It is filtering the water we drink... When did I last replace it?” It’s that tension between remembering to replace it and acknowledging that it is filtering a home’s drinking water that’s responsible for countless homeowners asking themselves: “Do I really need to change the fridge’s water filter?” If you have ever asked that question, read on. How Often Should I Change My Refrigerator Water Filter? How often one should replace a fridge’s water filter partially depends on how regularly it’s used. For the most part, those in the industry who are filtration experts suggest that you switch out your refrigerator water f
Post a Comment
Read more