How to choose a water filter: types and features

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.

Classification of household filters

These units may differ in technical characteristics and in the device. Therefore, when deciding which filter to choose for a house, apartment or summer cottage, it is very important to clearly define your needs and objectively coordinate them with real possibilities.

Jug

These are the most primitive devices, the resource of their cartridges is very small (as a rule, up to three hundred liters). Their main purpose is to rid the water of chlorine and unpleasant odors, and partially of hardness. Pitchers are mobile and compact; they can be successfully used both at home and on the road. With them, clean water is always at hand. The frequency of cartridge replacement is once a month. The maximum degree of purification is 20 microns.

Advantages:

• does not need to be connected to the water supply;
• extremely easy to use, does not require human control.

Flaws:

• in them, the degree of purification is an order of magnitude lower than in those “integrated” into the water supply;
• small volumes of purified water.

The amount of liquid purified at a time cannot exceed the volume of the jug itself - usually it is one or two liters. That is, if cooking requires three liters of water, the jug will have to be filled twice anyway. And this is not always convenient.

Pitcher filters - the most affordable water treatment device

A pitcher filter is the best option for those who have a rather limited budget or, due to the small size of the kitchen, cannot allocate space under the sink for a stationary system.

Faucet water purifiers

These are small-sized devices that are worn directly on the crane. Their advantage lies in the low price and the ability to take with you on trips.

Disadvantages - a small volume of sorbent and low productivity - up to half a liter per minute (if the manufacturers' advertising slogans say that it can be faster, do not believe it). And here, containers are also needed to store the purified liquid.

The filter nozzle has a compact size and affordable price

Flow-through for washing

Such water purifiers are not put on the faucet itself, but are placed nearby. Such installations are attached to the faucet with a flexible hose.

Their main advantages are sufficient productivity (higher than that of a nozzle on a tap) - up to one and a half liters per minute. Plus, there is no need for separate containers for purified water.

But such a filter takes up precious space in the sink. True, if he is handsome, this item can be excluded from the rank of shortcomings. Well, it should be remembered that it requires connection and disconnection after water purification.

The cartridge is located next to the faucet and is connected with a flexible hose

Flow under the sink

The stationary filter under the sink is built into the water supply. The unit itself is located under the sink, and a separate tap is brought out to it - exclusively for purified water. The frequency of changing cartridges is once every six months. The maximum degree of purification is 0.05-1 micron.

Advantages:

• high degree of water purification;
• sufficient performance;
• great resource;
• the presence of a separate tap for purified liquid;
• the convenience of use;
• the required volume of purified water is always available;
• location under the sink - no clutter of the working space.

The only drawback is the high price.

Stationary filters are chosen by those users who understand the value and importance of highly purified water and are ready to invest in their health.

Such a filter has a lot of advantages, but unfortunately, the price is high.

Home reverse osmosis systems

These are arguably the best water purifiers 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 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.

Thanks to reverse osmosis systems, it became possible to obtain water at home that is not inferior in quality to bottled water.

The main advantages of reverse osmosis systems over other purification plants:

• the highest degree of purification;
• low cost of purified water;
• constant supply of liquid (ten liters).

The configuration of such installations looks like this:

• pre-cleaning cartridge system;
• reverse osmosis membrane;
• special post-cleaning filter.

These units, if desired, can be completed with a structurer and a mineralizer - 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 three years. 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).

Trunk

Filters of this type are mounted directly in the water supply. They are designed to purify water from mechanical formations and chemical compounds. By type, they are divided into systems for coarse and fine cleaning, as well as for water softening.

The most suitable medium-sized apartments or houses are units capable of flowing from 20 to 50 liters per minute. But in some cases, the calculation of the required power is individual and depends on the maximum amount of water consumption. In addition, it must be borne in mind that the pressure in the plumbing system must correspond to 0.1 - 0.5 bar.

The service life depends on the intensity of use and can even be unlimited if used correctly, with the only condition that the cleaning cells need to be washed.

Advantages:

• thanks to the complex purification from bacteria and technical impurities, the taste of water improves;
• the service life of water pipes and household appliances will be significantly increased;
• it is small in size, easy to use, and you can replace the filter components yourself;
• Another advantage of these units is the low price of replacement cartridges.

There can be one drawback - the installation process. If you have not been involved in the installation and connection of the water supply, then most likely you will need the help of a specialist. But this is not such a serious minus.

Main filters are installed in the water supply

Video: an overview of water purification filters

What cartridges to choose?

The choice of cartridge will depend on the filter you are using and what kind of result you want to achieve.

For jugs, there are cartridges with several types of cleaning, in flow and main cartridges, each type of cartridge is designed for a certain type of cleaning, there is also a complex cleaning.

Depending on the type, the cartridge can perform one of the following functions:

• mechanical water purification;
• cleaning from iron;
• water softening;
• coal sorption cleaning;
• membrane ultrafiltration.

When choosing, consider a few simple rules:

• mechanical cleaning with a filtration fineness of 1 or 5 microns is required;
• on the riser, the water must pass through a mechanical deep cleaning of 10 or 100 microns;
• if you want to get rid of iron, choose a cartridge containing components designed for this;
• to soften water, it is better to take cartridges with ion exchange resin;
• to improve the taste of water and purify it from chemical impurities, pay attention to carbon cartridges.

Which manufacturer do you prefer?

It is no secret that both domestic and foreign companies are engaged in the production of filtration plants. Some have been realizing themselves in this area for more than a decade, while others are just stepping on this path, without making the main emphasis in their activities on water treatment systems.

If you can’t decide which is better, we recommend that you abandon the stereotypes that, “they say, everything foreign is better, better, more reliable,” and choose products from experienced companies with a name and positive reviews. By the way, there are enough of them on the Russian market. It is enough to look at the rating of water filters to understand that “our” companies are able to make solid, durable units.

It is better to give preference to domestic filters for one simple reason - they are intended specifically for our water, with its unique composition and typical shortcomings. In addition, it is easier to buy any broken or lost part specifically for “our” installations, while it is either very difficult or almost impossible to find spare parts for imported ones.

Requirements for water treatment systems for a house or apartment

Since the filter is constantly in contact with drinking water, it must be made of environmentally friendly, safe materials that do not emit either chemicals or a characteristic odor. Just smell the plastic parts and you'll know if the product is right in front of you or not.

The choice of a water filter should be based entirely on the principles of common sense - do not be naive to assume that a jug-type unit will serve you for ten years. But if you are single, accustomed to an active lifestyle, this one (or a faucet attachment) will suit you best. For a large family, it is almost impossible to overestimate the convenience and significance of a stationary device.