How to choose a water filter

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1. The best manufacturers of water filters
   
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 filter
6. Features of choosing a pitcher filter
7. Features of choosing a filter for a summer residence
8. Features of choosing a main filter

The best manufacturers of water filters

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 customers who have tested it in action. The easiest way to find them is on the relevant portals dedicated to healthy lifestyles, as well as on the pages of similar communities on social networks.

Types of water filters

Despite the common tasks solved with the help of these devices, the principle of their functioning differs in many respects. There are the following types of water filters.

Jug

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

Advantages

• Inexpensive;
• High mobility, allow to use in any conditions;
• A large number of models that differ in volume;
• High filtering ability;
• Compact dimensions;

Flaws

• Slow cleaning speed;
• With excessively dirty water, the cartridges quickly fail;

Flow filters

Compact portable solutions designed to be mounted on a crane. They are a compact cylinder equipped with two porous membranes, as well as an insert made of a special filter material. The principle of their operation involves passing 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 the faucet and filter the water in real time;
• Inexpensive;

Flaws

• 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 and perform the function of cleaning the water flow without reducing its intensity. They are a flask made of durable plastic, in which a special filter element is mounted. Its density should not be excessively 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 interfere with the passage of water flow;
• Have good filtering ability;
• Well purify water from impurities, chlorine and iron;

Flaws

• Require frequent maintenance and element change;
• Careful monitoring of the absence of leaks is necessary;
• They can weaken the jet when installed in a multi-storey building;

Under sink filter systems

Multifunctional complexes designed for maximum water purification. Are established under a sink by integration into a water supply system. They allow solving the 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, which allows you to supply purified water in real time, without having to wait for the completion of the cleaning procedure.

Advantages

• The maximum possible degree of purification;
• The serviceability is several years in continuous operation mode;
• Allow to supply water in real time;
• High functionality;
• Getting rid of harmful impurities, as well as ionization and aeration;

Flaws

• The complexity of the installation;
• The need for a thorough analysis of the state of water before choosing a particular model;
• Expensive maintenance;
• High-quality road models;

Faucet nozzles

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

Advantages

• High degree of filtration;
• Minimum cost;
• Ease of operation;
• Compact dimensions;

Flaws

• High cartridge resource;
• Common models have a non-disassembled design;
• Require constant switching between filter and mixer;

ultrafiltration

A separate category of flow filters that purifies water based on the operation of a special membrane, the pore size of which does not exceed 0.1 microns. This feature makes it possible to purify water from both impurities and mechanical fraction, and from pathogenic bacteria.

Advantages

• Small size and ease of operation;
• Purify water from impurities and bacteria;
• Filter water well

Flaws

• high cost;
• Insignificant membrane resource;
• Require regular maintenance;

Reverse osmosis filters

Composite structures based on a reverse osmosis membrane. They perform multi-stage water purification and are distinguished by excellent functionality. Primary water purification is provided by a three-stage pre-filter that retains 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 reservoir;
• Long filter life without the need for maintenance;

Flaws

• high cost;
• Purified water becomes tasteless;
• Low 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, suspensions 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 quite a lot: cellulose filters are used to remove mechanical particles, special iron-removing cartridges are used to remove iron, and cleaning from chlorine will require a special carbon element.

Advantages

• High functionality;
• The degree of contamination can be controlled thanks to the transparent housing;
• Inexpensive;
• Various forms of filters for work in the most different conditions;
• Performance;

Flaws

• Require regular replacement of the filter element;
• Plastic filters may leak;
• To clean different contaminants, different systems of filter elements will be required;

Coarse filters

The most easy-to-use filters designed to purify water from large particles and contaminants – from 50 to 500 microns. They are a special mesh insert through which the flow of water passes and which traps debris and other fractions. Low maintenance, durable and reliable.

Advantages

• Unpretentiousness;
• Well retain mechanical particles and debris;
• Low cost;

Flaws

• Not able to filter fine particles, iron and chlorine;
• Poor quality metal inserts are prone to corrosion and oxidation;
• Require regular cleaning and maintenance;

The main criteria for choosing water filters

Number of cleaning steps

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

Filters with two or more purification stages are much more functional and perform their functions much better. As a rule, the first stage of purification consists in the removal of mechanical impurities, the subsequent ones purify water from chemicals, iron and even bacteria. The downside of such a system is whimsical maintenance and the presence of many components, each of which requires attention;

Module cartridge resource

Any filter element has its resource and needs regular maintenance. Cleaning or replacement of the filter is carried out at intervals from once every 2-3 months to once a year. Neglect of the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding maintenance rules can lead to a decrease in performance and damage to the device.

Features of choosing a water filter for washing

Complexes for fine cleaning, designed for installation in a water supply system, allow solving many different problems:

1. Rough water purification from impurities and large particles;
2. Salt removal, ionization and sorption purification;
3. Iron removal and softening;
4. Mineral enrichment and water conditioning;

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

An important design element is the 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 carried out under pressure from 2 to 3 bar. This is quite enough for high-quality water purification without compromising water pressure.

Features of choosing a flow filter

The flow filter is a great 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, models are quite enough, the performance 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 pitcher filter

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

1. Cartridges used in everyday life should de-ironize water well, as well as purify it from chlorine and various impurities;
2. The performance 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 sewerage in the country house, and a well acts as a source of water, preference should be given to traditional filter jugs. For domestic needs, a device of this class is more than enough;
2. In the presence of a central water supply, a flow 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 cottage is a more or less permanent place of residence, and the quality of the water leaves much to be desired, you should pay attention to the filtration systems installed under the sink. The high cost and whimsicality of such devices are more than offset by their quality and purity of water obtained at the outlet.

Features of choosing a 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. The design allowing installation in the place, necessary for the user;
5. Experienced plumbers recommend installing separate main filters for hot and cold water.

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