POU Vs. POE Water Filters: Which Is Best For Hard Water?
Posted on: 13 August 2021
While hard water is safe to drink, it can have a variety of negative effects on both you and your home. An inexpensive water filtration jug can help to remove these minerals from limited amounts of drinking water, but many homeowners go the extra mile and install a water filter directly into their home's plumbing.
If you are considering installing a home water filter, you will have to choose between a Point-of-Use (POU) filter or a Point-of-Entry (POE) filter. These filter types come with their own advantages and disadvantages, so you should familiarise yourself with the properties of each type of filter before choosing one for your home.
Should You Choose A POU Filter?
Point-of-Use filters are installed under your home's kitchen sink, and filter out minerals and other impurities using carbon filters, reverse osmosis membranes or other filtration methods. They can provide you with clean, filtered water that can be used for drinking, cooking and washing your dishes.
Hard water can have a decidedly unpleasant aftertaste, making it less desirable as drinking water and altering the taste of food. As the water evaporates, the dissolved minerals are left behind, so hard water can also leave unsightly marks on your crockery, cutlery and glassware after you wash up. A POU filter in your kitchen will eliminate these problems.
Compared to POE filters, POU filters are considerably less expensive. They can also be installed more quickly and easily. However, these filters do not purify the water used by other kitchen and bathroom appliances and will not protect the rest of your home's plumbing from the negative effects of hard water.
Should You Choose A POE Filter?
The mineral deposits left behind by evaporating hard water aren't just bad for your dishes. Over time, these deposits can build up inside your home's pipes and plumbing. If these deposits are allowed to grow for many years, they can cause serious blockages, damaging appliances and causing pipes to leak and burst.
Hard water can also have a negative effect on your skin and hair if it is used for showering and bathing. The dissolved minerals can clog your skin's pores, causing dryness, acne and other skin complaints. They can also strip away your hair's natural oils, leaving it dry and brittle.
Point-of-Entry filters are designed to eliminate all of these problems in one fell swoop. Unlike POU filters, these filters are installed in your home's main water line, removing minerals from your entire home's water supply before they can reach your plumbing.
POE filters are larger and more expensive than POU filters and can be costly to install, especially if your home's main water line runs underneath your driveway or foundation slab. However, they can pay for themselves over time by protecting your appliances and reducing your plumbing maintenance costs, so a POE filter represents a better long-term investment.
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