'm using about 100gpd with city water in Bear, DE, with my family of four. I have a 10" by 44" filter with about 1cf of media. How often should I set my new control head to backwash? (see other thread if you want to help me decide on a control head) Backstory: My supplier in their wisdom did not provide a backwash head for my carbon filter, they said their company's MO (modus operandi) is to let customers run their carbon filter for a couple of years and then replace the carbon. Seems like a bad idea to me due to bacteria and such. Should rains**t (or anyone) be doing this? I've been running a year so far, and I think quality has degraded, but it's hard for me to say definitively. :( Thanks!

Currently we have a water softener and chlorine filter installed. I am considering put an RO system in for drinking water. I was wondering if there was another kind of filter that could be installed that would give me a reasonable quality of water without the expense and maintenance of an RO system. I realize it probably wouldn't be as good as an RO filter. But it also wouldn't be as expensive! I'm just looking for better than softened water. We currently buy distilled water for tea and coffee (I'm a snob - there is a difference!) and I'm looking to get away from that if it's reasonable. Thanks for the help!