Whole House Water Filters by Mandy Thomson

Whole House Water Filters by Mandy Thomson

So you know the benefits of purifying your drinking water and have already installed a filter for your kitchen tap. But what happens when you get thirsty upstairs and the closest water faucet is in the bathroom? This is where a whole house water filter system will benefit you.

A whole house water filter produces purified water for all water sources in your house. Because it is a point-of-entry system, you will have purifed wter for every faucet, bathtub, even toilet in your home.

Using filtered water to flush toilets and wash dishes may seem like a waste at first glance. However, reducing household chlorine chlorine could play a crucial role in the well being of you and your family. The Environmental Protection Agency states "Every household in America, on municipally treated water, has an elevated level of chloroform gas in the area, specifically in showering, washing dishes, washing clothes, and flushing toilets."

Chloroform is a poisoness byproduct of chlorine that may cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys. Chlorine has also been linked to asthma. Several studies have linked chlorine inhalation from swimming or working in pools to severe asthma-like symptoms.

Imagine the cost and hassle of installing a tap and shower filter in every water source in your home. A whole house water filter would more efficiently remove contaminants in the long run at the fraction of the cost. The initial installation will require a plumber. However, further maintenance (such as replacing filter cartridges) can be done on your own.

When choosing a water filter, check that the product is officially certified. Compare different water filter systems to see how efffective they are at removing different contaminants. Make sure your whole house water filter does not remove the healthful minerals with the contaminants. Removing important substances can cause mineral deficiencies in the long run. Also check that product comes with a warranty. (Usually this is free.)

The benefits of a whole house water filter far outweigh the costs in the long run. A whole house water filter will give you the peace of mind of a household water supply free from potentially dangerous contaminants. Besides good tasting and clear water for your entire household, you will be contributing to the long-term health of you and your family.

About the Author
Mandy Thomson, who is running the Home Water Filter System Guide at http://www.watersoftener-filters.com. Feel free to use the article as long as you use it in its entiety including the author information.

Beyond Paint: Decorating Walls With Stencils by Kathy Burns-Millyard

Beyond Paint: Decorating Walls With Stencils by Kathy Burns-Millyard

Painting walls in various colors is a quick and easy way to decorate any room in your home. But when you're looking for something a bit more artistic and unique, you might try your hand at stenciling.

Stencils come in a variety of forms: Simple geometric shapes to elaborate scenery. Really good stencils can actually reproduce famous paintings and designs too.

A simple room decoration stencil pattern to start with is borders. Stenciling borders can be done in addition to existing wallpaper, or as a replacement. Stenciled borders can be repeated geometric designs, or more detailed repeating patterns such as vines, flowers or leaves. Borders can also be placed at the top of a wall, the bottom, or in dead center for variating effects and design influences.

Stencils allow you to create friezes as well. This is done simply by starting with a strong contrasting color at the top, and carried downward through gradually fading tints until they are lost in the general color of the wall

There once was a pink and silver room belonging to a young girl, where the salmon-pink walls were deepened in color at the top into almost a tint of vermilion which had in it a trace of green. It was, in fact, an addition of spring green dropped into the vermilion and carelessly stirred, so that it should be mixed but not incorporated. Over this shaded and mixed color for the space of three feet was stencilled a fountain-like pattern in cream-white, the arches of the pattern rilled in with almost a lace-work of design. The whole upper part had an effect like carved alabaster and was indescribably light and graceful.

This is an example of very delicate and truly artistic treatment of stencil-work, and one can easily see how it can be used either in simple or elaborate fashion with great effect.

Irregularly placed floating forms of Persian or Arabic design are often admirably stencilled in color upon a painted wall; but in this case the colors should be varied and not too strong. A group of forms floating away from a window-frame or cornice can be done in two shades of the wall color, one of which is positively darker and one lighter than the ground. If to these two shades some delicately contrasting color is occasionally added the effect is not only pleasing, but belongs to a thoroughly good style.

One seldom tires of a good stencilled wall; probably because it is intrinsic, and not applied in the sense of paper or textiles. It carries an air of permanency which discourages change or experiment, but it may take a bit of practice to do well.

About the Author
© 2005, The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network - A large and growing portal of home decorating and decor articles, tips, advice and excellent home decor shopping sections. This article may be republished on any website, as long as it remains unchanged, carries this copyright and reprint notice, and has a live link to our site.