How to Find the Best Water Filtration System for Your Commercial Kitchen
There are over a million restaurant locations in the U.S. alone. Together, they generated an estimated revenue of $766 billion in 2017.
Amazing, right?
After all, Americans love dining out. The fact that the average household spent $3,365 on eating out in 2017 proves that.
As a restaurant owner, that's 3,000+ more reasons to meet your diners' needs and wants. Serving awesome food and drinks is a given.
It takes more than that to be a successful restaurant, though. You need to prioritize the safety of your patrons. That's why your kitchen should use only the best water filtration system.
But with hundreds of filtration products in the market, how do you choose the right one?
That's what we'll share with you today, so make sure you keep reading!
Why Equip Your Commercial Kitchen with the Best Water Filtration System
The U.S. is home to some of the world's safest and efficient public drinking water supply systems. It also boasts the largest water networks, consisting of 155,693 supply systems. Thanks to these, 286 million consumers enjoy access to safe and potable water.
The thing is, these systems don't guarantee 100% pure and contaminant-free water. This is true even if your restaurant is in one of the nine states with the safest drinking water. It's still possible for contaminants like lead (among many others) to be in your tap water.
You only have to think of the water crisis that plagued Flint, Michigan to realize why you need a water filter. Especially in your commercial kitchen, serving dozens, even hundreds of people daily.
With the best water filter system, you can get rid of harmful and deadly contaminants in the water. Aside from lead, filters also remove unwanted sediments that make water "hard." Hard water not only tastes bad - it can also mess up your expensive kitchen equipment.
More advanced water purification systems for business also deal with bacteria and viruses. They can also filter out other toxic compounds, like arsenic, pesticides, and insecticides. Chlorine, chloramine, nitrates, and radon are some other contaminants these filters can remove.
Filtering Your Options
There are two main types of water filtration systems for commercial kitchen equipment.
The first is the individual or separate filters. These filters only fit specific commercial kitchen equipment.
Your second option is a centralized water filter. This serves as the single filtration system for all water needs.
Why Equipment-Specific Filters Make Sense
For many commercial kitchens, these are the best water filtration systems.
Why so?
First off, because water-using appliances deal with different types and levels of contaminants. There's also the difference in water temperature to consider.
Take coffee brewers, tea makers, and espresso machines for instance. These water-using equipment need filters designed for hot water. Imagine what may happen if you use a filter only designed for cold water in these machines.
The best filters for these appliances should also serve as a water softener. That way, you can reduce scale buildup, which can shorten their lifespan.
It's also wiser to choose filters specifically designed for ice machines.
One reason is that ice makers have varying water capacity levels. That said, the filter you use in them should be of the same water capacity level. They should also be durable enough to withstand the freezing temperatures inside the machines.
What a Central Water Filter Has to Offer
The biggest advantage to central water filters is their ease of maintenance. Also, seeing as you only need one system for all your water use, you'll need less space. It's the more cost-affordable option for many commercial kitchens.
If you'll opt for a central filter, note that scale inhibitors can affect soda taste and quality. As such, you'd want to get a unit with a special function for bypassing soda dispensing.
One drawback to centralized filtration systems is potential downtime. If it malfunctions, your entire kitchen may suffer.
Think about it. You technically only have a single filter, right? So, if it breaks down, you may not get filtered water for all your water-using equipment.
Consider the Type of Filtration Technology Used
Sediment filtration is only the first step in efficient water filtration. Your commercial kitchen's water filters should also remove most contaminants.
The effectiveness of your filters depends on the technology they use for filtration.
Carbon Filters
As a porous material, carbon does a great job in absorbing impurities present in water. These include lead, radon, and some types (and levels) of bacteria. They can also remove pesticides, insecticides, PCBs, and even certain parasites.
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Most carbon filter-using systems also employ reverse osmosis filtering technology. RO involves the use of semipermeable membranes that serve as ultra-fine filters. That makes them more effective than carbon in filtering out much finer contaminants.
RO filters offer better protection against water with heavy metals and chlorine byproducts. They're also effective in catching other contaminants that carbon filters have missed. These may include chlorides, sulfates, and fluoride among many others.
Ultraviolet (UV) Light
Some of the best drinking water filter systems also use UV light to further disinfect water. The powerful UV light kills microorganisms as the water passes through the filters. It also helps get rid of bigger sediments and more solid contaminants.
Some systems use UV light as a pre-treatment step during the purification process. However, you'll also find systems that use this as the final water purification step.
Don't Let Contaminated Water Ruin Your Commercial Kitchen
Your final choice should also factor in your existing kitchen space and budget. Individual filters cost more but are often better because of their specific functions. Keep that in mind as you compare all your water filter options.
The bottom line is, the best water filtration system is key to your commercial kitchen's success. So, as early as now, invest in the right water filtering technology. That'll save you a lot in the long run, and help keep your doors swinging with hungry customers.
Once you're ready to equip your kitchen with the best filters, give us a call. We can help you find the best filters your kitchen and patrons deserve.
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