Overview of magnetic water filters

With an excess of hardness salts, water loses some of its beneficial properties. Once in the body, such liquid can harm organs. Household appliances fail faster and need frequent maintenance. Washing things in hard water is ineffective - the fabric wears out faster and loses its appearance. Filtration must be used to remove dissolved particles. One of them is a magnetic filter.

Principle of operation and device

It is possible to soften water by eliminating calcium and magnesium salts using a constant magnetic field. This device is called a filter, but it does not clean the liquid from ions, but converts them, after which the salts become safe. Manufacturers claim that with the help of magnetic filters for water purification for water supply and heating systems, it is possible to get rid of existing deposits - they will gradually dissolve and will not accumulate further.

Under the influence of a magnetic field, calcium carbonate turns into an unstable form - the mineral aragonite, which is not deposited on the walls of devices and in pipes due to its internal structure, which looks like needles. Such formations scratch old deposits and cause them to flake off. Scale residues are removed in the form of a sludge or are retained by a coarse filter.

After passing through the area of ​​the magnetic field, the water becomes similar in structure to spring water - soft and well absorbed by the body.

The effect of desalting the solution is the higher, the stronger the magnetic field or the higher the speed of the water. No structuring occurs in an immobile fluid. A side effect of magnetization is a significant decrease in chlorine concentration.

Field of application of magnetic water filters

The devices are used:

• in regions where there is a lot of calcium carbonate or magnesium oxide in the soil;
• in the plumbing systems of a private house or apartment to protect household appliances - boilers, boilers, washing machines and dishwashers;
• for magnetic treatment of water from scale in the boiler room;
• in cooling systems;
• in pumping equipment;
• at industrial plants.

An electromagnetic filter for softening water can be supplied with household appliances. It is especially important to use the device in those devices that heat the liquid - boilers, boilers - since when heated, a layer of scale forms, which is difficult to remove. At the same time, the heating elements heat the water longer, which affects the power consumption.

Filter types

Filters are divided into simple magnetic, the efficiency of which, according to experts, is about 50%, and electromagnetic - reinforced devices that slow down the scale formation process by 75%.

Among the models are:

• Simple magnetic filters for water softening. Affect calcium and magnesium salts.
• Magnetic coupling devices. Designed for regions where there is a large amount of iron ions in groundwater. Filter diameter up to 50 mm.
• Flanged magnetic filters. Designed exclusively for cleaning liquids from rust and iron oxides. The disadvantage of the device is that it weakly removes calcium and magnesium. Works as a coarse filter from dirt, sand, silt. Diameter up to 20 mm.
• Overhead devices - 2 pieces are attached to each other around the pipe with bolts. There is no need to cut the pipe - magnets do their job through metal-plastic.

All types of filters based on magnet do not lose their properties for 7 - 8 years.

Advantages and disadvantages of using

The advantages of magnetic filters include:

• Possibility of installation on a pipe of any diameter. This takes into account the magnetic field voltage required for the salts in the solution to change their structure.
• The device does not take up much space and is quickly mounted.
• The filter serves for many years, without the need to replace cartridges, there are no additional costs. The magnet gradually loses its properties, the service life of high-quality products is up to 10 years.
• Safety and environmental friendliness. Products do not emit harmful substances into the liquid. The filter design does not include flammable components or conductive parts.
• According to consumer reviews, magnetic filters do not completely protect pipes and household appliances from scale, but reduce its amount by more than 50%.

Disadvantages:

• The filter is effective only with high-speed water movement.
• Not suitable for hot liquids.
• Changes in the structure of salts are temporary. After a while, the substances restore their crystal lattice, therefore, the filter must be mounted directly in front of the heating device.
• Possible oxidation of the magnet and the appearance of green plaque on the plates.

Leaks can occur in the area where the filter and the pipe meet; therefore, special attention should be paid to installation.

Criterias of choice

The service life is influenced by the characteristics of the magnetic alloy itself. If it contains aluminum, samarium or cobalt, the susceptibility to corrosion will be less.

The neodymium-iron-boron alloy is less resistant to moisture, which in 4-5 years will lead to a complete loss of filter functions.

Neodymium magnets, although the most expensive, are suitable for large diameter pipes installed in factories. They are capable of creating strong magnetic radiation.

There are many counterfeit devices, so choose a better known manufacturer with a lifetime of no more than one decade.

When selecting a product, you need to know the exact diameter of the pipe. Making your own filter element requires some knowledge of physics in order to correctly position the magnets relative to each other. If you are not sure how to do this correctly, it is better to buy a ready-made one.

Features of installing magnetic filters

Inserting a magnetic filter is a simple process. This will require pipe cutting tools and fum tape.

Installation of the device on a metal-plastic pipe:

1. Shut off the water supply.
2. Use scissors or a pipe cutter to cut a section of the desired length.
3. Drain off remaining water and wipe both ends dry.
4. Inspect the inner walls for limescale. If there is, delete it.
5. Wrap the fum tape around the pipe ends and fit the fittings.
6. Insert the filter element and tighten the nuts.

After installation, observe for a while for leaks.

If, during operation, scale appears on the inner walls of the kettle, the process of “getting used to” the water may take place. In this case, the filter is removed for 2 weeks, after which it is mounted back. This happens because the liquid stops responding to the magnetic field and does not change its structure.

It is advisable to put small devices in front of each household appliance, given the fact that the structure of water is subject to the reverse process. It may be worth thinking about the ion exchange method, in which a chemical reaction occurs in water and particles are deposited and then removed from the liquid. The salt saturation will be less, but the lifespan of the household appliances will definitely increase. The ion exchange method is a guarantee of the absence of colloidal particles in the liquid.