Do I Need a Water Filtration System for My North Shore Home?

While the greater Chicago area generally receives high-quality Lake Michigan water, the aging municipal infrastructure and older home plumbing can leave residents with serious concerns about water quality. From excess minerals to lead contamination, water issues are not uncommon. That’s why many homeowners turn to a powerful filtration system to keep their drinking water clean and safe.

In this article, the plumbing experts at American Vintage Home discuss common water concerns for North Shore homes, along with signs that you may benefit from a whole-home water filtration system.

Common Water Quality Concerns

North Shore communities like Evanston and Wilmette face a wide range of common water quality concerns, including:

• Hard water: Chicago-area water is considered moderately to very hard due to increased levels of calcium and magnesium. These excess minerals can build up over time in plumbing, shortening appliance lifespans, and also cause issues like hard water spots, dry skin, and more.
• Chlorine: The municipal water treatment systems in urban areas use chlorine and other disinfectants to keep drinking water safe. Unfortunately, these chemicals can result in strong tastes and smells that can be bothersome.
• Sediment: Older municipal mains can release sediment, rust flakes, and particulate matter into household water that needs to be filtered out.
• PFAS: With increasing concerns about PFAS or forever chemicals, homeowners may want advanced filtration systems that offer purity beyond EPA limits.

Why North Shore Homes May Be At Risk

Older homes and infrastructure in the Chicago North Shore area can put homeowners at greater risk for water quality issues. This is especially true for homes with aging pipes or galvanized plumbing. Galvanized steel pipes are known to corrode over time, trapping sediment, rust, and even lead particles in water. Other issues include lead contamination from aging service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. 

Signs That You Would Benefit From A Filtration System

Powerful water filtration systems can make a dramatic impact on the quality, safety, and taste of your water supply. Signs you may benefit from these systems include:

• Metallic-tasking water: If your tap water has a metallic, bitter, or overly chlorinated taste, filtration can help improve the quality to ensure reliable drinking water.
• White spots: Mineral deposits on faucets, shower doors, coffee makers, or dishes are all signs of hard water issues. A softener or filtration system can reduce this scaling and protect appliances.
• Discolored water: If your water is brown, yellow, or cloudy, a water filtration system can help remove rust, sediment, or pipe corrosion.
• Dry skin and hair: Many homeowners appreciate that water filtration systems can eliminate the dry or itchy feeling that bathing in hard water can create.
• Low water pressure: Restricted flow from faucets or showerheads can be the result of sediment buildup, which can be prevented by proper filtration.
• Odors: Filtration is known to improve the musty or sulfur-like odor caused by water treatment chemicals, bacterial activity, or minerals issues.

Schedule Service with American Vintage Home

When you need quality plumbing services in North Shore, trust the team at American Vintage Home. Our team has experience working with older homes and provides filtration solutions that protect both water quality and aging plumbing systems. With 24.7 emergency service and free, no-obligation installation estimates, there’s never been a better time to improve your home’s water quality.

Call American Vintage Home today to schedule water filtration installation for your North Shore home.