A flow-through filter for drinking water cuts into the water supply network of a house or apartment. It cleans the liquid from impurities - from heavy metal salts to organic suspensions and toxins.
Types, principle of operation and device flow filters
There are two types of in-line filters. These are stationary structures installed under sinks and attachments for taps. Despite the external differences, the principle of their action is identical: the liquid, flowing through them, is purified. As a rule, they are installed where there is a centralized water supply, since the liquid medium has already been additionally purified. But sometimes they are used in dachas, in private houses and for additional treatment after preliminary filtration.
It is not rational to use such devices, driving water from a well through them. A coarse cleaning system is needed that will retain sand particles and other large fractions of dirt.
The attachments retain fine mechanical suspensions and some chemical components, soften unpleasant taste and odor. Designs may differ in purpose depending on the type of contamination. They are of the sorption and reverse osmosis type.
The former are suitable for:
- softening hard water, getting rid of rust, lime and chlorine;
- removing excess metal salts;
- getting rid of dangerous bacteria.
As a rule, the sorption system consists of 3-4 modules, which are connected in series with each other. Water undergoes multi-stage purification, flowing through cartridge filters. Each stage uses a different filtration method to achieve a high degree of purification regardless of the initial contamination of the liquid.
The three best sorption flow-through filter elements, according to reviews, include:
- Geyser ECO. For the production of the filter housing, chrome-plated steel was chosen, which is not afraid of rust and does not affect the performance of drinking water. A three-level purification is provided - mechanical, sorption, ion-exchange. To improve the quality, the size of the cartridge has been increased and the resource has been increased to 12,000 liters. The performance indicator is high - 3.6 l / min.
- "Aquaphor Favorite". Differs in durability - manufacturers guarantee uninterrupted operation for up to 10 years. The filters are packed in a steel case. They clean the liquid from most dangerous impurities - salts of heavy metals and chlorine, toxic, oily suspensions and pathogenic bacteria. The unit is designed for increased water consumption - resource up to 12,000 liters, productivity - 2.5 l / min.
- "Barrier Expert Standard". The system of stepwise flow filtration, which purifies water from organic matter and chemistry. Built-in One Touch makes cartridge change quick and easy. The SmartLock system is installed, which does not allow the parts of the device to unscrew on their own. The resource and productivity are slightly less than those of the previous filters - 10,000 liters and 2 l / min, respectively.
Reverse osmosis options are equipped with membrane cleaning units. The high-tech diaphragm allows only water molecules to pass through, retaining all impurities.The purification in reverse osmosis columns is maximum, at the exit it gives practically distilled water. It is not recommended for food use. In order for the liquid to be drunk or used for cooking, you need to pass it through a special mineralizer. In domestic conditions, they are not installed so often - only in cases where the water is too bad.
Typically, reverse osmosis systems are used when it is necessary to achieve ideal water purity in industrial facilities.
Criterias of choice
First of all, the speed and efficiency of filtration processes are assessed, which depends on the type of device. The packing elements have not too high resource and productivity: from 300 to 3000 liters at a filtration rate and 0.2 liters per minute, respectively. But their installation is available to everyone. Such devices are suitable for small families living in apartments.
The performance indicators of stationary options are much higher, their service life without changing cartridges is up to six months. But not everyone can do the installation of a flow-through filter for cold or hot water with their own hands, because the device is cut into the water supply system.
Some options are not designed for high temperature applications. It is necessary to check whether the selected device is suitable for hot water or can only filter cold.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Stationary Filtration Device
Filtering devices are placed under the sink and equipped with a separate tap. Such installations for water purification in urban environments are the most popular.
Their advantages are:
- Convenience and ease of use. The water filter cartridges are easy to replace, and connection and maintenance are quick and easy.
- Cleaning the liquid from almost all contaminants.
- Improving the taste of drinking water, eliminating unpleasant odors.
The negative aspects of stationary filtration plants include the need to regularly spend money on replaceable cleaning cartridges. Their replacement is required at least every year, but in domestic conditions - every six months. However, there is no need to replace all modules at once. It all depends on the pollution. If the liquid requires constant softening, the ion exchange unit wears out, with an abundance of ferrous inclusions, the iron remover.
The price of simple, but high-quality filtration devices of the sorption type varies in the range of 3000-7000 rubles, the cost of reverse osmosis plants - from 7000 rubles and reaches six-figure amounts.
Pros and cons of the filter nozzle on the tap
The small device that mounts directly to the crane is simple and inexpensive. Even a schoolboy can connect the filter - the help of the masters is not required. Its main advantage is not only ease of installation, but also low cost and portability. Such a device can be taken with you on a trip or to the country.
A flow-through filter nozzle is also used as an additional purifier when arranging a water supply network with an integrated filter system. The use of a nozzle device leads to an improvement in the taste, color and odor of the water, provided that preliminary cleaning has been carried out.
Prices for flow-through filter nozzles for water purification depend on the configuration and brand, and range from 130 to 3500 rubles.
If the water is heavily contaminated, the use of nozzles becomes irrational: a tiny filter simply cannot cope with them. Also, the disadvantages of devices of this type include a small volume of absorbent material and the need for a reservoir for storing clean water.
To select a suitable filtration device, assess the degree of contamination of the water, the volume of consumption and the required degree of purification. Additionally, find out how much the consumables cost for the model you like and how easy it is to find them on sale.Usually, flow-through cleaners have no problem with this.
