How to choose a water filter

Despite the various treatment systems used in city water supply networks, the water quality in many cities is poor. For this reason, many townspeople are forced to use filters for water purification – special devices that filter out harmful impurities and slags. To obtain a drinkable liquid, it is enough to select the correct filter model and install it in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

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1. The best water filter manufacturers
2. Types of water filters
3. The main criteria for choosing a water filter
4. Features of choosing a water filter for washing
5. Features of choosing a flow-through filter
6. Features of choosing a jug filter
7. Features of choosing a filter for a summer residence
8. Features of the choice of the main filter

The best water filter manufacturers

The best brands on the market are:

1. Geyser;

2. Barrier;

3. Atoll;

4. Aquaphor;

5. New water;

Before giving preference to a particular model, you should familiarize yourself not only with its technical features, but also with the reviews of buyers who have tested it in action. It is easiest to find them on the corresponding portals dedicated to healthy lifestyle, as well as on the pages of similar communities in social networks.

Types of water filters

Despite the common tasks solved by these devices, the principle of their operation is very different. There are the following types of water filters.

Jug

A mobile filter, the design of which includes two separate compartments, as well as a special filter element (usually coal). Water is poured into the upper tank, passes through the filter and flows into the lower tank. Filter cartridges can be different: disinfecting, deferrizing, with activated carbon and built-in ionizers.

Advantages

• Inexpensive;

• High mobility, allow you to use in any conditions;

• A large number of models differing in volume;

• High filtration capacity;

• Compact dimensions;

disadvantages

• Slow cleaning speed;

• With excessively dirty water, the cartridges quickly fail;

Flow filters

Compact portable solutions designed for crane installation. They are a compact cylinder equipped with two porous membranes and an insert made of special filtering material. Their principle of operation involves the passage of water through the filter insert at the moment when the tap is open, which directly affects the ease of use.

Advantages

• Compact;

• Long service life;

• Can be installed on all types of mixers;

• Installed on a tap and filters water in real time;

• Inexpensive;

disadvantages

• Slow water pressure – no more than 0.5 liters per minute;

• The vast majority of filters of this design are non-separable;

• May interfere with crane operation;

Main filters

They are integrated directly into the water supply system and perform the function of purifying the water flow, without reducing its intensity. They represent a flask made of durable plastic, into which a special filter element is mounted. Its density should not be too high so as not to create excessive resistance to water flow. There are main filters for hot and cold water.

Advantages

• Inexpensive;

• There are models for cold and hot water;

• Do not impede the passage of water flow;

• They have good filtering ability;

• They well purify water from impurities, chlorine and iron;

disadvantages

• Requires frequent maintenance and element change;

• We need careful monitoring for the absence of leaks;

• Can weaken the jet when installed in a multi-storey building;

Under-sink filter systems

Multifunctional complexes designed for maximum water purification. Installed under the sink by integrating into the water supply. They allow solving problems of cleaning from mechanical and harmful impurities, as well as conditioning and ionization of water. They work on the accumulative principle and have a reservoir of significant volume that allows you to supply purified water in real time, without the need to wait for the completion of the purification procedure.

Advantages

• The highest possible degree of cleaning;

• Serviceability is several years in continuous operation;

• Allow to supply water in real time;

• High functionality;

• Getting rid of harmful impurities, as well as ionization and aeration;

disadvantages

• Labor intensity of the installation;

• The need for a thorough analysis of the state of water before choosing a particular model;

• High cost of maintenance;

• High quality road models;

Tap nozzles

Compact and inexpensive models, easy to operate in urban and suburban mode. They are a compact container that is fixed directly to the tap and purifies the water using a built-in filter.

Advantages

• High degree of filtration;

• Minimum cost;

• Ease of operation;

• Compact dimensions;

disadvantages

• High resource of the cartridge;

• Common models are unbreakable;

• Requires constant switching between filter and mixer;

Ultrafiltration

A separate category of flow-through filters that purify water based on the work of a special membrane, the pore size of which does not exceed 0.1 microns. This feature makes it possible to purify water as contaminants and mechanical fraction, as well as from pathogenic bacteria.

Advantages

• Miniature and ease of use;

• Purify water from impurities and bacteria;

• Filters water well;

disadvantages

• High cost;

• Insignificant membrane resource;

• Require regular maintenance;

Reverse osmosis filters

Complex structures based on a reverse osmosis membrane. They carry out multi-stage water purification and are distinguished by excellent functionality. Primary water purification is provided by a three-stage pre-filter that retains the mechanical fraction, chlorine, iron and other impurities, while the main water purification is provided through a special reverse osmosis membrane.

Advantages

• Maximum quality of water purification, remove up to 99% of impurities;

• Capacious tank;

• Long operating time of the filter without the need for maintenance;

disadvantages

• High cost;

• The purified water becomes tasteless;

• Poor performance;

• For high-quality cleaning, the membrane requires significant pressure in the system, which implies the installation of a pre-filter with a built-in pump;

Cartridge line filters

The most common type of water filtration device today. They are installed directly into the water supply system and purify water from large particles, suspension of various substances, iron and chlorine. They are a transparent plastic flask with a filter element inside. Depending on the required functionality, the material from which the latter is made can vary significantly: cellulose filters are used to remove mechanical particles, special iron-removing cartridges are used to remove iron, and chlorine removal will require a special carbon element.

Advantages

• High functionality;

• The degree of pollution can be controlled thanks to the transparent body;

• Inexpensive;

• Various forms of filters to work in a wide variety of conditions;

• Performance;

disadvantages

• Require regular replacement of the filter element;

• Plastic filters may leak;

• Different filter element systems will be required to clean different types of contaminants;

Coarse filters

The most easy-to-use filters are designed to remove large particles and impurities from water – from 50 to 500 microns. They represent a special mesh insert through which water flows and which retains debris and other fractions. They are unpretentious in care, durable and reliable.

Advantages

• Unpretentiousness;

• They well retain mechanical particles and debris;

• Low cost;

disadvantages

• Not able to filter fine particles, iron and chlorine;

• Low-quality metal inserts are prone to corrosion and oxidation;

• Requires regular cleaning and maintenance;

The main criteria for choosing water filters

Number of cleaning steps

The simplest filters have a one-stage cleaning system. They are designed to combat a certain type of contamination – mechanical, chemical, designed to remove iron, chlorine and other substances. Such a filter is selected depending on the initial state of the tap water;

Filters with two or more stages of cleaning are much more functional and much better perform the functions assigned to them. As a rule, the first stage of purification is to remove mechanical impurities, the subsequent ones purify water from chemicals, iron and even bacteria. The disadvantage of such a system is whimsical service and the presence of many components, each of which requires attention;

Module cartridge resource

Any filter element has its own resource and needs regular maintenance. The filter is cleaned or replaced at intervals from once every 2-3 months to once a year. Failure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for maintenance may result in decreased performance and damage to the device.

Features of choosing a water filter for washing

Fine purification complexes designed for installation in a water supply system can solve many different problems:

1. Rough water purification from impurities and large particles;

2. Removal of salts, ionization and sorption purification;

3. Iron removal and softening;

4. Mineral dressing and water conditioning;

Before choosing such a device, a thorough analysis of the water supplied to the mains should be carried out for the presence of diverse contaminants. Depending on the results obtained, appropriate filtering systems are selected to neutralize a particular source.

An important element of the design is an osmosis filter, which passes purified water, as a result of which the resulting liquid becomes almost a complete analogue of distilled water.

Preference should be given to filters equipped with ion exchange resin inserts. Their task is to soften water and replace magnesium and calcium ions with sodium and potassium ions.

In order for the water pressure to be sufficient for daily operation, it is necessary to give preference to systems in which filtration is carried out at a pressure of 2 to 3 bar. This is quite enough for high-quality water purification without compromising the water pressure.

Features of choosing a flow-through filter

A flow-through filter is an excellent mobile option that you can take with you on a trip, business trip or to the country.

Preference should be given to collapsible models with replaceable filters.

1. The pressure force in this situation plays a secondary role: for such operating conditions, there are quite enough models, the productivity of which will be at the level of 0.3 to 0.6 liters per minute.

2. The functional features of the filter are selected based on the quality of water and the presence of certain impurities in it, as well as chlorine, iron, phosphates.

Features of choosing a jug filter

The universal volume of the filter jug ​​is 1-1.5 liters;

1. Cartridges used in everyday life should be good at deironing water, as well as purifying it from chlorine and various impurities;

2. The productivity of the devices should be at around 0.3-0.5 liters per minute;

3. Filtration range – from 2 microns;

4. The frequency of replacing the filter element is once every 2-3 months;

Features of choosing a filter for a summer residence

1. If there is no central sewage system at the dacha, and a well is the source of water, preference should be given to traditional filter jugs. For household needs, a device of this class is more than enough;

2. In the presence of central water supply, a flow-through filter, made in the form of a nozzle on a tap, becomes optimal. Given that the chemical composition and the presence of impurities are stable, you can choose an inexpensive non-separable model;

3. If the dacha is a more or less permanent place of residence, and the quality of the water is poor, you should pay attention to the filtration systems installed under the sink. The high cost and whimsicality of such devices is more than compensated for by their quality and purity of the water obtained at the outlet.

Features of the choice of the main filter

A high-quality main filter should have the following characteristics.

1. Tank volume – from 2 to 3 liters;

2. Two- or three-stage cleaning system;

3. Corrugated cartridge with a capacity of 40-50 liters per minute;

4. Design that allows installation in the place required by the user;

5. Experienced plumbers recommend installing separate main filters for hot and cold water.

In the following articles, our experts will tell you how to choose a Turk for aromatic coffee and the secrets of choosing a kettle for the stove.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.