Water filter - stop skin complaint

Gnd

Hello, I have a child with ectopic exama and since moving into a new house, have also developed a real itchy skin. I bought an in-line filter for the shower but that seems to have clogged up in 2 months (the water is hard and unforgiving here!!!); it worked well for a while hence my follow-up.
I want to get a proper, whole house system and have seen 1000s, all at different prices and different levels of exhalation from the sellers.
I think I need the 3 cartridge filter (but am willing to be proven wrong?) system so the chlorine, junk and rubbish is removed before it gets to eat me away. Are there any experts, or gifted amateurs out there that can tell me who (S-SW england) or what I should be going for and what it might cost?

Thank you in severe anticipation!!!!:o

Basil1234

depends on a couple of things
firstly budget how much you can afford no point in suggesting something to find out you can't afford.
secondly how much water in ltrs per minute your boiler uses this information will be in boiler manual need this to get unit rated correctly or will not work my boiler uses 12ltrs per minute as an example.
i would recommend commercial ultra violet unit as this will kill all stuff dead period its what they wanted to fit to sewage farms then decided it would cost to many millions/billions to actually do.
anyway doesn't come cheap and this unit will allow 19ltrs per minute and costs £628 which i know isnt cheap but it does work.
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Plumbing/Water+Treatment/Commercial+Ultra+Violet+Unit+19L+Per+Minute/d20/sd2976/p92106

as to the other filter units which will allow about 10ltrs a min and
Reverse Osmosis units

will allow about 2 ltrs a min
which i think will not be man enough for whole household needs think showers and baths etc.


hope this has helped.
basil

kerri_gt

If you have developed red itchy skin as well are you sure the issue is the water and not something else that was in the house beforehand (for example did the previous owners have pets?).

I live in a very hard water area as well but have never found the water here vs elsewhere had any effect on my skin conditions nor affecting anyone else severely enough to cause a rash / flare up like yours. Could anything else be a trigger?

Lugh_Chronain

The problem with living in a hard water area is that it can dry your skin and leave you with eczema like symptoms, I'm no expert though I suppose it could even exasperate it if you suffer from eczema.

Maybe consider using an emollient as a soap substitute, and add an emollient to the a bath or shower as well.

Have a look at Emollients (Moisturisers) for Eczema at Patient.co.uk

And at the risk of sounding like a quacksalver, try rinsing your clothes in white distilled vinegar. Just use as you would a liquid fabric softener, the same amount. The acid in white vinegar is strong enough to dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents.

Biological detergents are also known trigger factors and fabric conditioners can make some people's eczema worse. Though you probably already know this.

Don't be too concerned about the smell of vinegar on your clothes after laundering them as this will dissipate as your clothes dry.

Gnd

Thank you all for the kind replies. Unfortunately it is a brand new house so past owners can't be blamed. I have used more emollients and magic potions than I care to name (medicated and Alo seem the best - might be a clue there?). My drift to filters is because I used a £30, 5 stage filter and this really seemed to assist, more bubbles in the hair and the like and less (Psychosomatic???) itching. (£30 x 25 would cost the same as a permanent system so @ 3 per year 8 years to neutral and cost more from then on - maybe I should move?))

I go away a bit and the second reason for believing it is home is that I seem to have less problems away - not always but on balance, most of the time. None of my neighbors seem to be worried so it may be that here is something LURKING in my system.

I get the cost but to get rid of this real pain (literally some times!) I am going to get a local firm to test the system and probably save for the tool-station system. lets see if it works and if not - I will have to go to the doctors, hate them so not my best option.

PS: will broach the white vinegar when the 'maid' is either in a good mood or drunk (don't tell her I said that!!!)