Filters are useful gadgets that help improve the quality and taste of your water. Modern models have a different design and principle of operation, which determines their properties. The choice of household appliances must be approached very responsibly.
Scope of devices
Water filters are units that are designed to clean it from various polluting elements:
- insoluble foreign particles;
- chlorine and its derivatives;
- heavy metals (lead, mercury), iron;
- viruses;
- bacteria.
Most filters make the water less hard. Devices improve its characteristics, eliminate any deviations from the norm. With the constant use of purified water, a person feels better, prevents the development of dangerous diseases.
Filters are suitable for home use in apartments or in private houses in the presence of a well, a well. They also carry out water treatment for coffee machines, washing machines.
Review of popular models
The market offers many different filter modifications. Therefore, it is important to understand the characteristics of popular models in order to make the right choice.
Jug
The unit looks like an ordinary jug. Water is poured into its upper part, which is purified. It seeps by gravity into the lower tank through a special cartridge. This element contains granules with activated carbon inside. They carry out a rough cleaning of large particles, work as a sorbent, absorbing harmful substances.
Advantages of the filter jug:
- improves the taste of water;
- eliminates the smell of chlorine;
- retains rust;
- mobility and ease of use;
- low price.
The disadvantages of models in the form of jugs include their inability to destroy viruses and bacteria, neutralize heavy metals, pesticides. Such devices do not have a softening effect. It is necessary to change the cartridge modules every 2-3 weeks, as over time they lose their cleaning qualities. Also, when buying a similar model, you need to be prepared for its low speed (no more than 0.5 l / min).
Popular manufacturers of jug filters are Brita (Germany), Rosa, Aquaphor Standard.
Attachment on the crane
The compact unit allows you to quickly purify the water, since it is put directly on the tap. The device is mobile, it can be easily removed and moved to another place. Moreover, it is inexpensive, easy to use. Faucet nozzles help to retain small impurity particles (rust, silt), eliminate unpleasant odors.
Disadvantages of such models:
- do not cope with viruses, bacteria, fungi;
- do not get rid of increased water hardness;
- make only "superficial" cleaning;
- characterized by a small resource of work;
- have low performance.
The most popular filter nozzles on the faucet are called the products of the Morion company, Aquaphor Universal.
Flow devices
The devices are an improved version of the filter nozzles on the tap. They are equipped with replaceable cartridges - carbon, ceramic, polypropylene, ionizing, track-membrane. The latter type of bait helps in the fight against hard water.Thanks to special technologies, calcium and magnesium molecules are replaced with sodium cations.
Stationary flow-through devices have a number of advantages:
- get rid of mechanical impurities, smell and taste of chlorine;
- trap heavy metals, some organic compounds;
- for ease of use, the filter is equipped with a separate tap;
- both desktop and hidden installation is possible;
- long service life (hundreds of liters);
- the speed is about 1 l / min.
The disadvantages of flow-through devices include the need to involve specialists in their installation. To maintain a high degree of purification, it is necessary to change the cartridges in a timely manner, which is especially true for the carbon versions. Also, this model is not able to eliminate most viruses, bacteria, chemicals.
Salt filters are a separate type of flow-through device. They are installed on the main pipelines in the sequence indicated in the instructions. The salt water filter is designed to protect dishwashers and washing machines, water heaters from scale.
Units with a flow-through principle of operation are produced by many manufacturers - Aquakit, Aragon (replaceable cartridges), Atlas (Italian brand), Breeze Compact-Lux, Crystal, Poseidon, Prio (New water). Models such as Geyser Typhoon (main line for cold and hot water), Aquaphor Favorit, Aquaphor Trio Volna (with three replaceable cartridges), Aquaphor Osmo, Geyser Bio, Geyser Classic, Breeze Eurolux, Geyser Eco are also popular.
Ultraviolet aggregates
The devices are perfect for water purification from pathogenic microorganisms - viruses, bacteria. The principle of operation of the ultraviolet device is that the liquid passes through a special closed reservoir, where it is exposed to electromagnetic radiation. The degree of purification reaches 99%.
The advantage of ultrasonic filters is called their speed, reliability in operation. The disadvantages of such devices are considered their dependence on electricity, high cost. Such filters are installed together with other coarse cleaning devices. They are also ineffective against heavy metals, high water hardness.
Reverse osmosis filters
The equipment passes the liquid through a special membrane. Only water and oxygen molecules can pass through its holes. Other compounds in the form of heavy metals, salts, oxidizing agents do not penetrate the gasket and are discharged through the drain.
Reverse osmosis filters have many advantages:
- the degree of purification from harmful compounds is 99%;
- when installing the unit, a separate crane is mounted;
- the quality of the regeneration does not depend on the original composition of the water.
The disadvantages of reverse osmosis filters are called their high cost, the complexity of installation, the need for additional installation of the pump.
Popular brands - Aquakit, Emerald Almaz-60-11, Atlas, Crystal, Honeywell. Reverse osmosis filters can be ordered in online stores (Citylink) or in specialized retail outlets.
Other varieties
To obtain live and high-quality water throughout the day, you can use a membrane-type device called the Snowflake. It is made in the form of a plate, inside which there is a cleaning element. The filter directly affects the structure of water, thereby eliminating harmful impurities. The advantage of the device is that it functions without electricity and additional pressure.
Criterias of choice
Before purchasing filters, you need to evaluate how thorough the cleaning should be. It is recommended to pass water for analysis, which determines its composition, the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, and hardness. Preliminary diagnostics can also be performed at home. For example, the presence of limescale on the kettle indicates that it needs to be descaled.
The criteria for choosing household water filters are also called:
- unit operation mode - filters for domestic needs are cyclical or continuous;
- duration of operation without additional maintenance - filters require periodic replacement of cleaning elements;
- the performance of the purification system - it is necessary to determine the volume of water that must be obtained for a specific period of time.
When buying filters, their price is also taken into account. Typically, jug models are the cheapest, and reverse osmosis units are the most expensive.
