Rural America is a beautiful place that offers breathtaking sunsets, open, star-filled skies and peace and quiet. Another reality of country living is that, if the land around your water well is sandstone, you can ruin up with sand and other sediments in your household water. Not a pretty sight. Especially when the sand clogs up your faucet screens and comes out your bathtub faucet. Who needs a loofah when you have gritty sand in your bath water? Fortunately for country dwellers like me, there is an easy, not-very-costly solution to this problem. Read this GE Smartwater Household Sediment Filtration System review to learn about this nifty solution!
Besides contaminating your drinking water, scratching your bathtub and clogging your faucet screens, sand and other sediment in your household water can also injure your hot water heater, the icemaker in your refrigerator, as well as other appliances. That’s why it’s so important to remove the impurities as soon as the well water enters into your home. That’s why I chose a household filtration system.
Price and Availability
I found the GE Smartwater Household Sediment Filtration System at my local Home Depot. It cost around $30. I later found one on eBay® for $14.99, so you can save money if you spy around. The poly spun replacement filters come in a handy two-pack. They cost around $7 a pack at Home Depot. According to the package, they remove “sand, soil, silt, sediment, and rust”, but they don’t remove Fluoride from your water. The directions site you’re supposed to change the filter every three months, or after cleaning 16,000 gallons of water, whichever comes first.
Note: This filtration system, model GXWH20F, fits water pipes that measure 3/4″ in diameter.
Pros
Everything’s In the Box
The first thing that impressed me about the GE Smartwater Household Sediment Filtration System is that everything you need is included in the box. You get the filter housing and head, one sediment filter, two- 3/4″ brass compression fittings, Teflon tape, canister wrench, grounding clamps and wire, mounting bracket with screws and a remote reminder for your refrigerator. (To remind you when to change the filter.) To install this system, all you need are a few tools.
Easy-to-Follow Instructions
The instruction booklet is sixteen pages thick. It made me say, “What?!?!” when I first saw it. Until I realized only five pages are written in English. The instructions were concise and easy-to-understand, at least to this avid “do-it-yourselfer.” I think as long as you have a basic understanding of plumbing, you could install this filtration system yourself.
Water Bypass Valve
My brother advised me to look for a water filtration system that has a “water bypass” on it, and I would advise anyone in the market for one to do the same. The water bypass allows you to shut the water off at the system so you can easily change the replaceable filter. Otherwise, you’d have to shut off the main water valve to your home.
Cons
None!
Conclusion
The GE Smartwater Household Sediment Filtration System was affordable to buy, easy to install and it does what it says it does. It has the capability of filtering four to twenty gallons of water a minute. I haven’t noticed a drop in the water which is a plus. For anyone who is shopping for a whole house water filtration system, I would highly recommend this unit.
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Filed under Whole House Replacement Water Filters by on Oct 22nd, 2010. 
Early fall is the time to check and maintain your homes operating systems for the winter weather ahead. Do a preliminary visual inspection and create a list of corrections or service needed, then do an operational test for heaters, furnace, hot water heater, etc.
Maintaining these items will prolong the life of the equipment and will help insure proper operation for the season. Here is a home maintenance list for you to do it yourself.
1. Furnace – forced hot air heat. Remove filter media and vacuum neat entire air chamber then install new air filter. If system is used for cooling also clean “A” coil if reachable in plenum. Check fan belts, pilot light, humidifier and media pad if needed. On older furnaces the pilot light may stay on all the time and you can see it, newer models are usually self igniting and light only when furnace is running. If you are not familiar with these parts call a service person to obtain routine cleaning. Keep the area clear around the furnace before startup. Test operation.
2. Oil Heat – Change fuel filters and service burners if needed. Check fuel tank for water assert and fill tank.
3. Forced Air Systems – clean registers and returns, consume grill on returns, vacuum clean out and reinstall the grill. On older forced air systems the entire duct work should be cleaned every couple of years. Witness flue pipe for blockages, leaks, holes and make sure vent cap is in residence on roof.
4. Central Air Conditioners -Clean the outside unit of leaves and debris and cover as owners manual suggests.
5. Window Air Conditioners – If possible remove from window or close vents and mask from the outside with an air conditioner cover.
6. Hot Water Heating Systems – check and lubricate circulating pumps, clean baseboard units and test system.
7. Room Thermostats – change batteries and change if needed, clean the contacts or sensor if visible, setup energy savings features and to winter settings, reprogram time and date. On older thermostats I would suggest replacing it with a new energy saving type, if this is a heating/cooling system make sure to purchase a dual system type thermostat. Test system
8. Humidifiers or Dehumidifiers – for free standing units change/clean filters. For furnace mounted humidifiers check, clean or replace the water media pad, or water level on float type humidifiers. Check water line/waste line for leaks. Test operation.
9. Hot Water Heaters – drain about 10 – 15 gallons of water from service valve, located at bottom of water tank, to consume sediment. If water has limited rust color at first this is ok, if after draining more than ten gallons the water is still has a rust color, it is a good sign that the tank is rusting and consider replacement. On natural gas heaters inspect flue pipe that it is secure and has no leaks.
10. Dryer Vents – Open outside vent damper and cleanout lint, use a vacuum cleaner and if possible push the flexible vacuum hose into the vent pipe to clean as far into pipe as possible. Turn on dryer on low heat and run for a few minutes to blow out any loose lint. Check that damper closes freely and test again.
11. Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Clean the mask of dust, change battery and test.
12. Fire Extinguishers – Check inspection tag dates and make certain they are fully charged or purchase new extinguishers.
13. Basement Sump Pump – Check that it operates by filling sump plot with water and visually inspect check valve for leaks.
14. Water Filters – Not necessarily a winter item, but check the dates of water filters on water dispensers or refrigerator and replace if expired.
15. Kitchen and Bathroom Exhaust Fans, Attic Fans – Clean or replace filters, check damper operation, inspect vent covers. Suggestion. If you have an automatic attic fan and it has its enjoy power switch you might want to it turn off the power to it for the winter season. So on those sunny descend or winter days the heat will quit in your attic helping heat the house.
16. Fireplace Chimney – Flue Pipe – Before start up of a wood burning fireplace the flue pipe needs to be inspected for nests or blockage. Open the damper slowly, if there are no signs of pests start fully, it is normal for some dust or ashes to fall into the fireplace. Leave the damper open and get a hair dryer turn it on high heat setting and blow the air up the flue line for 2-3 minutes to start an upward draft.. Next, take a part of newspaper and hold it approach the top of the fire box and light it to see it the flue line is clear and the smoke goes up the flue, check outside also to see the smoke come out of the top of the chimney. If the smoke goes up with no problem most likely the flue pipe is clear. Use caution when you acquire the first fire of the season and open with small pieces of wood to fabricate sure there are no blockages.
17. GFCI – Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters – test all GFCI outlets and circuits for operation, interior and exterior.
18. Doorbells & Horror Systems – This might be the perfect time to repair that doorbell that hasn’t worked all year. Test the fear system.
19. Generators and Backup Power Systems – If you have a backup electric generator have it serviced and test operation.
20. Gutters, Leaders and Splash block – Clean gutters and check that pipe connections are together.
21. Doors and Windows – repair or replace weatherstripping as needed. Occupy screens and install glass on storm doors.
22. Garage Door Openers – Repair or replace weather stripping on garage doors. Inspect, adjust and lubricate garage door openers.
23. Snow Blowers & Shovels – Service and test snow blowers or snowblower attachments for lawn tractors, for safe and proper operation and keep fresh fuel stored in a safe place outside. Replace broken snow shovels, brooms and sidewalk ice scrapers. Also make sure you have a snowbrush and ice scrapers for autos.
Make a visual inspection of items listed and make a parts or material list of things you have to purchase or order to perform maintenance. If you cannot do it yourself hire a service person to inspect and startup your heating system for you.
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Filed under Whole House Replacement Water Filters by on Oct 12th, 2010.
In this economy you have to pinch pennies’ wherever you go and as often as you can. Most people I’ve spoken to do not acquire the time to lop coupons, score deals or go green because they think it takes too long, cost too much to start, or doesn’t end up saving you a penny in the end. Not true!
It generally takes me about 30 minutes on Sunday afternoon to clip my coupons out of the Sunday paper and organize them. Takes about 10 minutes to scan the store flyers and circle my items, and I usually don’t spend more than an hour a week online looking for deals.
I start my task off by clipping the coupons that my family will actually use, (sometimes I score others if I know someone who’ll use it). I then look over the store flyers and compare prices. I organize coupons clipped onto the store flyer where I’ll get the most savings, like, I find that you can save a bundle getting your cola at Walgreens and the Dollar Store. And if I can get StoveTop Stuffing there for a dollar off the grocery stores, I’ve just justified the trip. They have substantial deals.
When I hear about a new product, I generally go to that manufacturer’s website and look for a coupon. In the last few years those little slight samples that we were use too, grew into a recede size sample. This gives you at least three days on average to try the product and set what you already have in your shower. If you think money all day long, and watch at everything around you in terms of value you can train yourself to see how even the smallest thing can reduce cost. And next thing you know. You’ve gone green. (All but the waste created with the Sunday paper coupons, but Lord knows we need them).
Simple ways to assign money everywhere.
Going Green with Home Heating
Make sure to seal your leaks. Draftproofing is one of the most important and most overlooked steps when updating your home. One of the easiest ways of detecting a leak in a window or around doors is to light a stick of incense and hold one up to the window, etc. Look for places where the smoke drifts. Those are the places you want to pay attention to. If the problem is with a door you can always secure a door sweep and add a thin foam lining around your door. Don’t objective stop with your living area, go down to your basement, up to your attic, into your garage, etc. and check there too.
With your windows, you can install a sure plastic barrier or storm window. This can cut heat loss anywhere from 25% to 50%. I know this sounds contrivance too simple. But you’re creating a dead air state inside the window. Exterior storm windows increase the temperature of the inside window. You can also keep your drapes and blinds open to let the sun naturally warm your house. But build sure to close them when the sun goes down. If your window is especially cold or you impartial think you’re losing heat out of it, you can get a sad out curtain and a curtain rod. Residence the curtain as close to the window as possible, next to it if you can, and make certain to let it down when the sun goes down each night.
Only heat the rooms of your house that you use the most. Living room, Kitchen, bedrooms. If you only spend your home office once a week you can always bewitch a nice energy efficient space heater. Set heaters provide more consistent heating but can cause injuries. If you have a fireplace, use it more and your furnace less. And most of all, use an extra blanket before you crank up the thermostat past 68 degrees. Temperature control is key. Programable thermostats can also help save you a bundle on energy costs by regulating the temp and shutting off to save power.
Going Green with Electricity and Lighting
One of the best ways right off the bat, is to shut down your computer when you’re not using it, or to set it to power saver. Never leave your gaming console on when you’re not using it- those things are secretly sucking up more power than you think. Using your ceiling fan at night is a large way to keep energy and sustain the air in that room circulating. A cracked window also lets air draft in.
I recommend running down to Home Depot or Lowes and buying dimmers, timers and/or motion sensors for your lights as well. My living room light is set to go on from 5am to 7am (when I leave for work) and from either 6 or 8pm depending on the season, and then off at bedtime. Not only am I saving power but I have one less thing to get out of bed to turn off.
GE Energy Smart compact florescent light bulbs are a smart buy for lighting. They’re compact, last long, and provide great lighting. And you can usually find a coupon for them in your Sunday paper.
A ground pump, or Geothermal heating, is also a great idea. It draws from the ground under the house to help cut energy costs. Now this isn’t cheap, but it does allow you to save on the average from 60% to 70% over the price of current natural gas. We secure that ours does the job well and we’ve seen savings too.
Cleaning products
If you haven’t tried Seventh Generation products you don’ t know what you’re missing. Not only are these products eco-friendly but they work. Another money saving item is Dawn Direct Foam It claims that one pump is enough to do a sinkfull of dishes and it comes threw on it.
I tend to keep an inventory list of what is where, taped to the cabinet door. When I start running indecent on a product that I normally use, I’ll go to that manufacturers website and search for a coupon if one didn’t come in the Sunday paper. GladeSwiffer and Pledge are three money saving sites. I don’t know about your house, but we have 4 dogs and 2 cats.
Going Green in your Kitchen
If you buy bottled soda you can re-use them for your water. I suggest getting a Britta Filter and re-filling those old bottles with water and storing them in a convenient place. You want them where you can remember to grab them on your way out of the house.
If you perform too powerful food and your family isn’t eating it, don’t let it go to waste. Fill 1pint ziplock freezer bags with a serving of the dish. Label it, and set it on a designated shelf in your freezer for your kids to easily make a healthy leftover meal in a urge.
If you can find a deal on a tall quantity of meat or veggies, its easiest, (unless you’re in a speed) to go ahead and prep your food for meals. Wash your veggies start off by portioning them out into ziplock bags. I find that keeping 3 cups at a time on hand of the basics (like onions, carrots, celery, bell pepper, leeks, and garlic) keeps the kitchen running smoothly and more organized. I usually have 2 heads of lettuce as well. I fragment out about 4 cups of fresh green beans per bag and with a rubber band I strap on the ham hock I’ll cook them with. Portion out 1 pound portions of meat for convenience . Keeping recipe items together in your freezer helps you exercise less time looking and more time cooking, or with your family.
I even go so far as to acquire several full meals, and oven ready deserts. My kids love my sugar cookies dipped in chocolate that I preserve in the freezer. The would last forever if the kids didn’t know about them. When you’re in a hurry to cook dinner it just makes sense to be organized. Also, include the kids in clean up. Each of you can stand on either side of the dishwasher and you are in charge of putting up those items. Around here, we race for 30 minutes of TV control. (This also teaches kids about chores, and goals)
Going green in the kitchen with your food loss is very easy if you spend some extra time in there making the items in your frig just as “in your head”, as the placement of your beauty products in your bathroom. As for water usage, the ideal pressure is 60 psi, and I recommend filling your sink with water to wash your dishes by hand, with the water off. You can do a whole load with less water than your dishwasher. Use the time to assume on the day, pray, talk to your children. In a hectic world you need to take a moment to cease. Rise your dish’s off without turning the faucet on full blast. If you do end up using the dishwasher, do your best to only run it once a day. Every model uses a different amount of water, you can save a boatload if you limit its usage.
Going Green with your water heater/ water consumption
Washing your clothes in cold water not only cuts down on the cost of heating your water, but the hidden cost of cooling that situation of the house in the summer. There are some tremendous detergents that work with cold water. I recommend using Woolite no matter what. Woolight . There is a great savings package available online right now. You’re not only able to use it with chilly water, but you’re lessening the wear and tear on your clothing and getting more uses out of them. They keep their shape longer and that’s less money you have to spend replacing ancient up items.
Hot water accounts for about 13% of your typical utility bill. If you haven’t already upgraded to a high-efficiency unit, keep in mind that the tankless water heater gives an average savings of $70 to $80 dollars a year. But because they take up to 22 years to break even-longer than the life of many models, it takes a while to see the savings. The consistency of the water temperature may also be a problem for you with the tankless. So you should go to Consumer Reports and research what’s best for your home. Make sure to use the handy “water-heater calculator”.
Make clear that all your seals are sealed with metal tape and an insulating jacket for every single water pipe you can get to. Coming both into, and out of the water heater. It may not be the industry standard but its just dreary smart thinking.
If you’re not using a low-flow toilet then you can easily convert yours with common household items. First get some food coloring and add a few drops to the water in the back of the tank. Wait about 20 minutes and check the toilet for color. If you watch any you have a leak. That can be easily fixed by asking someone at the hardware store. If you don’t have a leak, then get a quart sized mason jar, dip it in the tank and let it believe with water. Let it sink and sit in a vacant position in your toilet. This will reduce the amount of water outmoded to flush your toilet, saving on your water bill. I recently saw a low-flow toilet listed at $20 at Home Depot. That thing will pay for its self in less than a year.
Going Green with Pet Care
Years ago when I went organic with my pet care, I never really view about how my dogs would like it. As it turns out, they’re happier too! I have one dog with hip displacia, and another with sever allergies. Thanks to my brother-in-law who worked for Royal Canin, I found a great allergy reducing food that was as organic as it could pick up. Not only did the scratching and constant licking become bearable (for me and for him), but he seemed to be getting great more nutrition and on a better eating schedule.
As for the dogs basic needs, I usually shop at Foster and Smith I’ve looked around, and done the math and I always raze up saving with this company. The customer service is gracious and my orders always approach before I realize it. I highly recommend them.
Another excellent choice is Botanic Dog If you want to go as cessation to green and organic as it comes. Its better for your pets, and its what’s best for the environment.
Recycling
It takes no time at all to run down to the Dollar Store and grab several plastic bins for recycling. At my house we have one for each, soda cans, bottles, both light and dark, plastic, newspaper, magazines, and cardboard. I compost our food scraps which we rep throughout the day in a 10 gallon bucket under our sink. We take that out daily to our composter, toss it in, and give it a turn. It makes the best mulch for your spring garden. We even have a large bin for electronics and the like that we engage once or twice a year to an electronics recycler. That is very important. You never know what kind of precious metals or how powerful mercury is in electronics. Those can seep into the ground and contaminate the ground water. Not to mention that mercury is poisonous.
Going paperless with the bills you remember to pay in your sleep is also a great draw to cut down on paper and mail. I’ve gone green with my checking account and credit card. I get an email, and pay the bill. That simple. I use a Visa Debit Card and don’t use checks. I print out one monthly statement and file it. Otherwise I’ve taken care of much of the paperwork associated with paying quite a few bills.
Year round I make piles of newspapers and let it get about 3 feet tall. So the task doesn’t get too overwhelming, I don’t let the stack get any taller. I soak them in water until they’re soaking wet but not falling apart. Then I roll them up into logs about the size of firewood and bind them up with twine. When I add a final layer of paper soaked in lighter fluid I use a colored twine. I usually use these when we go camping or in our fireplace as a starter. If using a fireplace, make sure that your vent hood is closing all the way, and replace it if you think any air might be escaping. It’s a simple way to reduce waste, and heat your home.
Making a composter is a simple afternoon process. And making use of your food scraps is all about making the most out of your money. I built our Tumbling Composter in one afternoon for about $100.
A great set of instructions for building your own can be found at Wikihow After I finished this project I dug a good sized hole about 6×6x8 and added several bags of mulch, and fertilizers. I tilled the soil up and pushed it all back into the hole. I put up a fence around the hole far enough back that I would be comfy while in there composting or gathering soil. I fenced it in with chicken wire and 2×4’s cut to a height that my dogs couldn’t jump over. When I built my Tumbler I make it wide enough to straddle the hole. After the compost was done doing its thing in the barrel I would just dump it in the hole and stir it all up. We never had to buy any of that when spring came.
Going Green at the Grocery store
I’ve seen plenty of spots in those coupon booklets that come in the Sunday paper, advertising a mesh grocery bag for little to no money. This is a great idea. In many cases you’re supporting a cause, like breast cancer research, or just advertising wal-mart. Either way, this cuts down on the waist of bags, (unless you keep them for later use, like we do) and it limits the amount of groceries you can buy, keeping you on a budget better. Staying on the outer isle of the grocery store is also a good idea. Those items are the basic food groups and these days, tend to be the healthy, organic, whole foods. These may cost more, but when you make slow, daily changes to your life, and patiently wait a bit, you’ll see your savings start to add up, and you’ll be able to afford the good stuff for your family.
Cell Phone Applications for coupons
Cellfire A place to find and store coupons that link to your Kroger card.
Online resources
Planet Green at Discovery.com Solutions for Going Green .
Other great coupon resources
Kellogs
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Filed under Whole House Replacement Water Filters by on Oct 3rd, 2010.
It is hard to call our own shots, especially when they don’t necessarily agree with the opinions of others. It is hard to march to a different drummer. The essence of doing this lies in taking responsibility for and managing our own feelings.
It is easy to establish off our feelings and our thoughts as having been caused by someone else. It is easy to be a victim of circumstance, but when we allow this to happen, it limits options. It is far better to plan circumstances as they are, derive them, and then deem what can be done about them. It is far better to simply address each hiss as it arises and always seek to take the next right step.
No matter how much we would like for our circumstances to be the fault or responsibility of someone else, it just isn’t proper. Every action is a choice, and if our choices and actions lead us to difficult places, it helps to remember that they have also led us to more choices and options. The road less traveled may seem an empty one, but it calm leads to somewhere. Our destination and what we do with it are entirely within our control.
This is not to say that we can always rise from humble beginnings to a mansion or some such. This kind of “success” is not open to everyone. But we can have success within our means. We can score joy in the pleasures that are available. We can collect satisfaction in the things we have. We can be choose happiness over sorrow. We can choose peace over stress.
Anything we do, anything we are trying to deal with is more difficult with stress riding on our backs. And it doesn’t have to be that draw. The degree to which we experience stress is entirely under our own control. The fact is, we can meet our challenges head on and end up with a headache, or we can choose to step back, take some breaths, count to ten, and meet our challenges face to face. We can allow ourselves to do whatever it takes to be able to see all sides of an issue and make positive, proactive choices that truly take everything into account.
Sometimes it is impossible to catch a calm and centered approach to problems and because we simply do not take good enough care of ourselves. The draw to ensure that we are always able to meet our challenges face to face rather than head to head is to be sure that we are in optimum condition. If we make taking care of ourselves a top priority, everything else will plunge into place. In society today, it seems that people feel guilty for truly caring for themselves. The result is, exhausted, ill people dragging themselves around trying to deal with one stress after another and usually just compounding problem upon problem. There are simple ways to care for ourselves. If we form them a priority, and make ourselves #1, those around us will be happy we did in the long run.
We don’t have to meet our stresses with our eyeballs propped commence with toothpicks. People these days seem to think there is something sinister with sleeping enough. The rule has always been that human beings need at least 8 hours of sleep a night to truly function well and keep the immune system strong and healthy. Be clear to go to bed early enough to get at least 7 uninterrupted restful hours of sleep. If at all possible, take a diminutive nap during the afternoon. It is surprising how refreshing a ten or fifteen minute rest can be.
Eat well. Don’t fill up on junk food and processed food and quickly food. We must maintain our diet simple and wholesome with lean meats, whole grains, and recent fruits and vegetables. It is possible to eat lots of these things and stay healthy and slim by having one serving of protein and grain at each meal and filling our plates with fresh veggies and fruit. If we eat this way the majority of the time, we can happily allow ourselves treats on special occasions without a lot of stress over calorie counting, carbohydrates counting, or any other foolishness. Just eat good, wholesome food and plenty of it on a regular basis, and our bodies will be very forgiving of the times we enjoy special occasions. What’s more, as our bodies becomes more and more accustomed to eating healthy, wholesome food, these foods will become preferred. We will not have to force ourselves to eat well, and when we devour something that is outside of our usual daily fare, our bodies will be highly likely to self-limit by only wanting small portions of rich foods.
It is critical to stay hydrated. Remember that high school health book? It always told us to drink eight big glasses of water every day, and it was fair. Make sure that this is pure water that has been keep through a filtration system like Brita or Pur. These excellent systems will net rid of most of the chemicals and inferior metals in the water without breaking costing a fortune or filling the landfill with plastic bottles.
Water is absolutely principal for health. If we stay hydrated all of our body systems will work better. We will feel less hungry and assume more clearly. People who are prone to aches and pains will not feel them as often or at all by staying well hydrated. In fact, drinking enough water is an effective treatment for arthritis pain. Drinking plenty of pure water is a simple way we can boost our effectiveness and lower our stress throughout the day.
Be sure to engage in moderate exercise of some kind every single day. Take a brisk walk or bike ride, use a stationary bike, do a 15 minute stretching video. Whatever it is, just be sure to stretch and move for at least 15 to 20 minutes every day. This exercise regimen will not have us looking like body builders, but it will help boost the immune system and help us relax and feel more ready to face the challenges of every day life.
Steal some time every day to meditate, pray, or at least prefer a few minutes to think quietly. These few moments will assist with handling life more effectively. They can give us some time to put things into perspective and see solutions that may have been lurking in the background afraid to come out during the hustle and bustle of daily life. By taking just a few minutes a day to let our minds reorganize, we will be adding effectiveness and efficiency to our every day performance both at work and in our personal lives.
As we are sleeping, walking, thinking, and dealing with day to day challenges, it is important to remember to breathe. People tend to breathe shallowly, especially when under stress, but this is really the worst thing we could do. Our brains need oxygen to function properly and so does the rest of the body. We must be sure to breathe deeply into the bottom of our lungs, letting our stomachs relax. A breath in should last for a slow count of five. A breath out should last for a slow count of four. Be mindful of breathing. Nourish the body and mind with oxygen, and they will perform better.
Add beauty to life just like breath. Add a beautiful music CD to nap time. Keep a beautiful, tranquil Siamese Fighting Fish in a place that is easy to see. Take a daily walk during a lovely time of day to enjoy a certain quality of light, birds returning to the trees for the evening, or the early evening scents of dinner being prepared. Whatever activity is chosen, let’s try to do it the most pleasant way possible to enhance the enjoyment of the moment.
If there are issues in life that we simply cannot change or do anything about, we must let go of them. Sometimes this means little things, like accepting that the fact that the %$#@&* train is just going to blast the holy bejesus out of the house every single time it goes past no matter what hour of the day or night! Or it can mean big things like losing a relationship because the other person has simply changed their mind, or losing a friend or loved one to death. Whatever it is, we must shake our fists at it or mourn it appropriately, then let it go and move on. If we can’t change it, we mustn’t worry about it. If there is nothing to do, don’t do anything.
Above all, we must be kind to ourselves, whatever we do. We must treat ourselves well. We have to spend a lot of time with ourselves. We start out alone, and we end up alone. You are the most important person in your life. And I am the most important person in mine. By taking care of ourselves, we can be more fully present for each other.
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Filed under Whole House Replacement Water Filters by on Aug 28th, 2010.
My well water has always been very estimable for being hard and unconditioned. Some of my neighbors have orange toilet bowls and bath tubs from rust and iron. One neighbor’s water smells like rotten eggs – a sure sign of sulfur. So filtering your household water is pretty common around here. The only predicament I ever had with the water in my house is sandy sediment. Back in 2007, I wrote “GE Smartwater Household Sediment Filtration System Review”. I gave this water filter a thumbs up because it works well… as long as you keep the filter changed. But I kept forgetting. A friend recommended that I have a Culligan Depth Filter installed. Read this informative review and find out about the pros and cons of having a Culligan Depth Filter Installed in your home.
The Pros
My friend was right. The Culligan Depth Filter I rent sits quietly (most of the time) in my basement filtering the sandy sediment out of my water. It’s been several months since it was installed, and it’s working fine. The water in my house is filtered by Culligan 24/7 and I don’t have to lift a finger (except to write the monthly checks.)
Before the depth filter was installed, Culligan tested my water for free. They checked mine to find out if it needed conditioned, as well as filtered. It didn’t.
The installation of the Culligan Depth Filter was quick and easy. The filter is tall, but not real grand in diameter, so it doesn’t purchase up a lot of space. The filter requires a standard electrical outlet and a water drain to operate.
The Cons
An annoying con was communication with the Culligan office I deal with. I was given conflicting installation dates and times. I was told, for example, that my Culligan Depth Filter will spruce itself every 7 days. They set the timer for a specific day and time. You have to withhold track of when the filter purges itself because you can’t exercise any water during that hour and 15 minutes. I found out the filter actually purges itself every 6 days- not 7- when I started a load of laundry one night… right before the Culligan Depth Filter stopped cleaning my water and started purging itself. The water supply line plugged up instantly. I was ticked.
Now that I know my Culligan Depth Filter actually runs on a 6-day cycle, it’s easier to sustain track of. But, keeping track is still an disaster.
Another con of having a Culligan Depth Filter installed in your home is the cost. You can acquire and install a whole house water filter, plus buy oodles of replacement filters for the $200. a year the filter is costing me to rent. But, you pay for the convenience. If anything goes execrable, I’ll be on the phone to Culligan to fix it.
The biggest con is the length of the contract. I expected to sign a one or two-year commitment. Imagine my shock when the salesman handed me a five-year contract! I had 30 days to try the Culligan Depth Filter and keep it or send it packing. After that, if, for any reason, I don’t fulfill the contract, I still have to pay Culligan any remaining balance. So, no matter what, Culligan still gets their money for the depth filter.
Conclusion
Overall, I highly recommend having a Culligan Depth Filter installed in your home if you have a problem with sandy sediment. I’m very pleased with it.
Resources
http://www.culligan.com/en/products/? gclid=CNXw78vu55wCFado5QodHjDGGQ
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Filed under Whole House Replacement Water Filters by on Aug 23rd, 2010.