Water filter: which one is better to choose? Add your price to the base Comment

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The World Health Organization notes that most human ailments are caused by the poor quality of drinking water. And that even a “respectably” looking liquid can contain a lot of harmful components in its composition. To everyone who values ​​their own health and the health of their loved ones, experts recommend purchasing water filters - we will now tell you how to choose them.

Weak spots

First of all, you need to find out the problems that the filter will have to deal with. To do this, you need to hand over water for examination, which will reveal which substances exceed the permissible norm. Then, if it turns out that in your water, for example, only iron exceeds the norm. It will be enough for you to install an iron remover, but knowing our water, most likely, the indicators of chlorine, hardness salts, organics and other impurities will go off scale in this case, you cannot do without a complex stationary cleaning system (flow type or reverse osmosis).

Price category

The cheapest options are pitcher filters and faucet filters, but their level of purification rarely meets the requirements of water, so we will not consider them further. Flow systems have from one stage of purification. Reverse osmosis systems have from 5 stages of purification (sometimes 4), the sales leader is a filter. If you need a premium-class purification system, then among the flow filters, this is undoubtedly the Expert line from Novaya Voda (for example, model M410). Among the reverse osmosis systems is the New Line line from Bluefilters. One of the brightest representatives of the middle price category is the Absolute 6-50 M reverse osmosis system.

Areas of use

What goals do you pursue: to provide purified water to your family, to give drink to office workers or to supply large volumes of water to your mini-production? For any of the options, you can choose a profitable solution. Especially for offices, a cleaning device has been developed that has a convenient design for use in crowded rooms and a pleasant design. For mini-productions, there are a number of special high-performance systems that filter up to 1500 liters per day. For home use, you can choose any system that meets your needs in terms of the number of cleaning steps, design and cost.

So, what do you need to know to choose the right drinking water filter?

1. The initial quality of the treated water, what do you not like in it, what impurities? It is best to find out by handing over water for chemical analysis to the laboratory.
2. Required water consumption per day, month, year and its purpose (cooking and household needs).
3. A place to place a water purification filter or water treatment system

Which water filter is better to choose?

To figure out which filter is right for you, you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Among household filters, there are such varieties:

• pitcher type filters
• flow under the sink
• flow table
• reverse osmosis systems
• ultrafilters

Before choosing a water filter, let's take a look at the pros and cons of each type in order.

Filter jugs

The filter jug ​​is the simplest and easiest to maintain, but the cartridge needs to be replaced frequently. The filter jug ​​is the most affordable way to purify water. The first thing that can be noted is ease of use and price. However, almost all models are expensive to maintain, as they require frequent replacement of the filter element. Activated carbon, silver ions and other elements (in more expensive models) act as a filter element. The resource of one cartridge is designed for approximately 300 liters. Pitcher filters are convenient for use in a family of 2-3 people or a small office. They purify water from pesticides, chlorine, mechanical impurities, remove color and unpleasant odor.

The most popular models among jugs are filters from manufacturers such as BRITA, Our Water, Barrier, Aquaphor. If your finances do not yet allow you to install a tabletop filter or a filter under the sink, then a tabletop one is the best water filter. The principle of its operation is as follows: water poured into a jug pours by gravity from one container to another. At the same time, it passes through the filter element. The volume of purified water depends on the volume of the jug and ranges from 1.2 to 2.3 liters. Modern models are equipped with a spout for convenient pouring of purified water into another container, a cartridge resource indicator (“calendar”), a flip that makes it possible to pour water without removing the lid. The speed of water filtration in jugs is from three to ten minutes. The advantages of the jug filter are that it does not require a connection to the water supply, so it can be used in the country, on vacation, etc. It does not require control, even a child can use it. The disadvantage is that the degree of purification is much lower than that of those filters that are connected to the water supply. The maximum volume of purified water at a time is just over two liters.

Flow under the sink

This is the most powerful and expensive type of filters, which is usually mounted in a cabinet under the sink. A crane is supplied with the system, which is installed next to the usual one. Such a filter traditionally has several degrees of purification: by combining different cartridges, you can independently choose a filtration system that best solves your tasks (sedum from rust, chlorine, water softening, fluorine enrichment, etc.).

This group also includes highly efficient reverse osmosis filters - they are cleaned by a membrane that allows water molecules to pass through, but does not allow microbes, bacteria and harmful substances to pass through.

The advantages of stationary filters include the highest degree of purification - up to 99% (for reverse osmosis systems). Durability is also an important plus: the average resource of such a filter is 5,000–10,000 liters, that is, you can use products without replacing consumables for up to one year. And finally, it's just convenient - at any time you can get crystal clear drinking water from the tap, without switching hoses, water overflows and waiting.

The disadvantage of stationary models is more complex, in comparison with other types, installation, lack of mobility. Some are put off by the relatively high cost of filters. However, experienced users consider the costs justified - given the rare replacement of consumables, stationary filters are slightly more expensive than simpler varieties. It is worth remembering the features of reverse osmosis filters: after them, the water becomes close to distilled in its chemical composition, and experts recommend using an additional mineralizer cartridge to avoid washing out useful substances from the body.

Flow table

Such systems purify water much faster than filters of the previous type. But in terms of quality, purified water is no better than from jug filters, and it happens that it is even worse. Such filters are created from one or two filter blocks. In order for filtration to occur, it is necessary to put on a special adapter on the flow filter and connect it to the tap.

These cleaning systems can be attached in two ways. Some models, in which the cartridge is small, are fixed directly to the faucet. Others are countertop mounted and attached to the faucet with a separate hose. These systems are inexpensive, and even a non-professional can install them in an apartment.

Among the shortcomings, we note that as soon as you connect the flow filter to the tap, the water will flow very slowly, since the device is designed to clean 200 milliliters per minute. Therefore, if you decide to wash the dishes or rinse your hands, the structure will need to be removed. But despite the fact that the system is dismantled quite simply, somehow I don’t really want to spend time on it.

Remember that the nozzles of the flow filters are placed directly on the faucet with centralized water supply, therefore, as soon as the pressure becomes strong, they can easily be knocked out. These designs are enough for a longer time in comparison with jug ones. The cartridge is calculated for a volume of water of about seven hundred liters. Therefore, it is better to change the cartridge itself after three months, and the filter every three years.

In some models of such a desktop filter, there may be a nozzle with a switch that will regulate the passage of water either through the filter or bypassing it. It's convenient enough. In models where such a switch is not provided, you have to remove and put on the nozzle daily when the water is not used for drinking.

Reverse osmosis systems

These are arguably the best water filters available today. They allow you to remove not only excess water hardness, excess iron and chlorine, but also all kinds of bacteria and viruses. The complete set of such installations looks like this: a system of pre-cleaning cartridges; reverse osmosis membrane; special post-cleaning filter.

The key filtering component of such systems is the reverse osmosis membrane. Its pores are much smaller than most known viruses, therefore, your body will be protected as reliably as possible.

The pore size of a reverse osmosis filter is equal to the size of a water molecule - 1 nanometer, while the size of viruses is 20 - 500 nanometers. But before the water gets to this reverse osmosis filter, it must go through pre-treatment.

At the pretreatment stage, three filters are used, their task is to prepare water before it passes through the reverse osmosis membrane. The first mechanical five-micron polypropylene filter purifies water from undissolved particles with a size of at least 0.5 microns, removes rust, sand and other mechanical impurities. Further, the carbon filter purifies water from chemical and organic impurities, primarily from chlorine and its compounds, as well as pesticides, petroleum products, heavy metals, dissolved iron and other organic and inorganic substances. It is very important to understand that chlorine destroys this molecular filter, so a cartridge that purifies water from chlorine is a must. The latest one-micron mechanical filter removes mechanical impurities smaller than 1 micron.

After the final cleaning with a reverse osmosis filter, the resulting distillate is physiologically inferior, so most of these filters are equipped with a mineralizer. Reverse osmosis is an expensive method of water purification: in addition to installing the entire complex, it is necessary to regularly replace the cartridges. With heavily polluted water, this method produces large wastes - from 5-8 liters of raw material, 1 liter of pure material can be obtained.

But despite the high cost, reverse osmosis systems top the list of water filters - and this is not surprising; their effectiveness has been confirmed by numerous studies and the impressions of ordinary users. These units, if desired, can be completed not only with a mineralizer, but also with a structurer - this will make the water rich in useful minerals that can improve digestion and blood circulation. The maximum degree of purification of such systems is 0.0001 microns. The frequency of replacement of the reverse osmosis membrane is once every 3 yearsf. The frequency of replacement of post-cleaning cartridges is once a year. Reverse osmosis systems are chosen by people who want to constantly consume highly purified water without overpaying for it (bottled products).

Ultrafilters

The working element of ultrafiltration systems is a porous membrane, which consists of a tubular composite. It traps bacteria and viruses, while maintaining the original mineral composition of the water. The microporous membrane is a reliable filter, since the diameter of its holes is 20 times smaller than the size of viruses, and more than 300 times smaller than the diameter of bacteria. Which water filter is better - reverse osmosis or ultrafilter? It all depends on your financial readiness. Both filters are good, but ultrafilters are more expensive than reverse osmosis systems, although the principle of their operation is the same.

Choosing a filter for washing, depending on water problems

In order to understand how to choose a filter for cleaning water for washing, you need to know what contaminants are present in the water. To do this, you need to do its analysis by typing in a clean (required) bottle with a capacity of one and a half liters of water. And then go to the sanitary and epidemiological station or test center. In the first case, it will be cheaper, but longer; in the second, it will be faster, but more expensive. The examination is carried out very thoroughly, on as many as thirty points. However, all of them can be divided into several general categories:

• the presence of radioactive substances (the most dangerous thing that can be);
• too high or too low pH (pH);
• excess salt;
• increased rigidity and large dry residue;
• excess of the norm of iron content;
• the presence of nitrites or nitrates (as well as similar compounds);
• bad taste, smell, color, increased turbidity;
• organic pollution (bacteria and viruses).

If the water is too hard

To determine excessive rigidity, sometimes expertise is not needed. This is noticeable to the naked eye: scale quickly appears in the kettle, limescale deposits on the sink and toilet bowl, ugly stains on washed dishes.

In this case, you should not install a flow filter, as it will be expensive to operate and will not give the desired effect. Systems of this type are, of course, equipped with softener filters, but the thing is that water softening cartridges will cease to cope with their duties too quickly. You will have to change them or restore them with a saline solution. However, harmful impurities will still be successfully filtered out. But this will not protect your kettle from scale. Very often you can hear negative reviews about this, but in fact, it is not the filtration system that is to blame, but the one who decided to use it to purify hard water.

Only a reverse osmosis system can effectively deal with hard water.

If microorganisms are present in the water

If an allergic person or a person who has a weak digestive system lives in the house, then immunologists strongly recommend antibacterial water treatment. This is also necessary for the elderly, small children, those who have recently

sick and has a weakened immune system. And then the choice of a water filter for washing is carried out taking into account these nuances.

In this case, the reverse osmosis filter will again help. Or you can advise a flow-type system equipped with a special hollow fiber filter. It consists of porous (with pores no more than 0.1 micron) tubes, thin and perfectly coping with viruses, bacteria, cysts. This is how blood plasma is cleaned in laboratories.

However, mechanical cleaning cannot remove very small bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to provide for the presence of an ultraviolet disinfectant in the filter. The power and throughput of different models of such disinfectors may be different. The more power and the longer the device works, the better the cleaning takes place. According to the standard, a power of 16 kJ/cm2 is sufficient.

If there are chemical contaminants in the water

To get rid of iron, chlorine and other chemical impurities, a flow-type system is enough (but the water should not be too hard). Types of filters for such systems are selected depending on water problems.

These can be complex cleaning filters and carbon filters that trap rust particles, remove turbidity and unpleasant odors. If necessary, care should be taken to have highly specialized cartridges in the system. These can be iron removal or water softening cartridges.

Key Water Filter Manufacturers

The most famous manufacturing companies in Russia are Barrier, Aquaphor, Atoll, Geyser, and the undisputed leadership belongs to the first two. As practice shows, most users choose products from the line of these companies, so we will focus on comparing these brands.

Should I buy a Barrier filter?

Barrier is a Russian company offering the widest range of filters for water treatment for both domestic and drinking needs.

Pitcher filters are available in 13 different designs, each of which has its own characteristics - some models are convenient to store in the refrigerator door, others are equipped with a cassette life indicator or require a large volume, and others are designed for children. The user has 8 types of cassettes to choose from, 6 of which are designed to deal with the most common problems in tap water: excess iron, chlorine, excessive hardness, lack of fluorine, etc. Depending on the variety, the cartridges have up to 6 layers of filtration and a resource of about 350 liters. Many users in the reviews note the excellent work of the filter.

A feature of the "Barrier" jugs is the presence in the line of special children's filters that have a colorful design, purify water and enrich it with the elements necessary for the child. Flow filters at the Barrier are divided into three types: main (providing preliminary water purification), shower heads and multi-stage cleaning systems installed under the sink. At

In this case, you can choose a cleaning device by type: water softeners and iron removers, complex filters, as well as reverse osmosis systems. A special faucet is supplied with the flow filters under the sink. The standard three-stage system from Barrier is designed to retain various mechanical particles up to 5 microns in diameter (rust, sand, etc.), as well as to remove chlorine and other harmful chemicals from tap water. There are special solutions for hard water or water with a high iron content. The filter resource is 10,000 liters, which is enough at a filtration rate of 2 liters per minute for about a year (for a family of two). You can also purchase filter elements to replace individual parts of the system.

The prices for the company's products are more than reasonable: for example, on the Barrier website, you can buy a filter jug ​​for 350–600 rubles (depending on the volume of the bowl and the presence of an electronic resource indicator), a three-stage filter for washing can be purchased at an average price of 3000–4000 rubles, and a reverse osmosis filter - for 7700 rubles.

"Aquaphor" or "Barrier": which is better?

The Aquaphor company is perhaps the most serious and almost the only competitor of the Barrier. The production of household cleaners under the Aquaphor brand was established more than 20 years ago (in 1992).

Now the company produces several lines of water treatment equipment designed to filter tap, well and well water, and the development and production of components for filters is also under the responsibility of the company. Aquaphor's quality system is ISO 9001:2000 certified (as well as Barrier).

The product catalog also includes a line of pitcher filters (some of them have an electronic resource counter), and nozzles for a faucet, and water pre-treatment systems in an apartment, and filters for a sink, as well as water treatment systems for wells and wells. However, "Aquaphor" is not comparable in everything with the "Barrier". Thus, the maximum module resource in Aquaphor jars reaches only 300 liters compared to 350 for Barrier, while the material of the jug itself is less durable. At the same time, the prices for the products of both companies are approximately equal.

Aquaphor also has high-performance flow filters (up to 150 liters per hour), tap attachments, multi-stage water purification systems (with a maximum resource of 8000, which is again somewhat inferior to Barrier), reverse osmosis systems. The latter, however, also deserved criticism from users - in the reviews there are often complaints that different modules need to be changed at different times, which creates inconvenience.

The prices for Aquaphor filters, we repeat, are in many ways similar to Barrier products: you can buy jugs at a cost of 300 rubles, a reverse osmosis filter - from 7990, step systems - from 3500 rubles. On the official website of the company sometimes there is information about promotions that allow you to buy products at a discount.

Is there an alternative?

Despite the presence of clear leaders, a large number of other manufacturers of water filters are represented on the Russian market - both foreign companies and domestic ones. We will not dwell on the first ones: despite their experience and high quality standards, they do not take into account Russian features.

tap water. In addition, recently the price of most foreign products has become unreasonably high.

Among domestic manufacturers, for example, the quality of products of the Geyser company, which produces household and industrial water filters, can be noted. The range of offers from Geyser includes several types of pitcher filters (priced from 300 to 900 rubles), reverse osmosis systems (from 9,000 on average), and filters for washing (from 3,000 for a standard system). Let's be honest, Geyser products have not yet earned such popularity as Aquaphor or Barrier filters, but in the future they have every chance to compete with these market monopolists. However, this will also depend on whether the company can offer any new solutions and cleaning technologies.

lilia_kraus

We just bought this one with reverse osmosis yesterday. The husband chose, learned and communicated with different companies for a very long time and came to the conclusion that an ordinary flow filter is not the best solution. I did not go into details, but he studied this issue for 2 weeks.

liana_lj

We have ATOLL for 10 years in a city apartment, five years in the country, the same amount in my mother's apartment. We are very satisfied! The water is tasty, you want to drink it. No scum. My daughter went to tennis, so the coach tried to take away her water all the time: she somehow treated him - she brought an extra bottle with her)) So, I support and recommend !!!

fynx_fynx

we have a geyser with reverse osmosis, I also bothered with it for more than one week, I came to reverse osmosis. tested water from the filter, from bottles of drinking water from the store and from the tap using a TDS tester, in the filter the readings are 10-12, in the tap - 165-170, in bottles - and even more (the norm for drinking water is no more 50 units). yes, the water becomes almost distilled, and there is nothing to worry about. =) you get all the necessary biological components (by the way, what is it, tell a biologist?)) you get perfectly from food.

palissenokk

we have a 7-stage reverse osmosis system AQUAFILTER (with mineralizer and structurer) since February of this year. I am very pleased! They began to drink more water, as it is always at hand. Tea, soup and so on - everything has become much tastier, recently I made tea from ordinary tap water, and poured it out, it is impossible to drink. And since February yesterday, for the first time, my husband changed cartridges. So it's not costly.

smell night

Reverse osmosis is needed, it's 100%. Many say they calmly drink water from the tap and do not die, so this is how you live in peace for now. What will happen in 10

years when all the sores come out, and all your slagging backfires? We do not live near holy springs, not near mountain rivers. It's the 21st century now, and people don't care much more when it comes to the effect in only a few years! And filter manufacturers are also good, cashing in on those who care about their health. Now it is difficult to find a filter that really cleans at least 50%, especially among Chinese and domestic ones, the most adequate today is Stimme Leibens. 96% of the iron is removed from the water, sometimes more, the examinations prove this. So here's my advice to you.

Vladimir Serpukhovskoy

The best water filter in my opinion is the eSpring. It combines a pre-filter for large particles, a carbon filter for the smallest elements and a UV disinfection lamp. Reverse osmosis technology is also used. I was really stunned when I found out that this system was actually recognized as the best in the world for water purification. The water turns out to be alive, pleasant to the taste. Yes, it is also smart, the microchip module shows when to change the cartridge and whether everything is fine. I highly recommend!

conclusions

To summarize, which water filter to choose. For one consumer or a small family, a pitcher type of filtration or a flowing table is enough. These devices are simple to use and inexpensive.

But if you need large volumes of purified water all the time, then it is better to purchase high-performance stationary filters. And it is very good if there is a financial opportunity to buy a product with a membrane type of filtration, because this device will give you the best water.