In the filters for washing, replaceable modules are used, through which water is filtered sequentially. The cleaning method is determined by the “stuffing” of the modules and the technical device of the model:
- . Water is forced through the membrane cartridge using the pressure of the water supply network. With impurities, water cannot pass through the membrane, and is drained through the outlet drain tube.
- use activated coconut charcoal. It, like a sponge, absorbs harmful impurities from the water stream: chlorine and organochlorine. At the same time, like a sieve, it retains rust, silt, sand and other particles. Such a filter is suitable for removing the main contaminants of drinking water.
- Aquaphor offers another type of filter for washing:. DWM are models based on reverse osmosis technology for convenient home use. They take up 2 times less space than classic reverse osmosis systems, and can operate at low pressure: 2 atm is enough (“classic” requires 3.5 atm).
If you choose a filter by type of contaminant, please note:
- Any good wash filter will deal with major water contaminants. For specific impurities it may be necessary to install special systems.
- Not all contaminants can be identified by the look, taste, or smell of water. To be sure that you are solving exactly the problem, it is better to first hand over the water for analysis.
Tap water almost never meets the requirements for purity - impurities appear in it one way or another, as a result of which taste characteristics, smell and even transparency change. It is clear that drinking water straight from the tap is not worth it. You can solve the problem by installing a main filter for water purification in the apartment. This device is mounted directly into the pipeline and allows you to clean the entire volume of passing water.
Main filters for cold or hot water are used for such needs:
- Water purification. This is very important, because not everyone can live above a deep well, and drinking water comes to houses, most likely from the nearest reservoir, river or lake. At the same time, urban treatment plants often do not remove carcinogens and heavy metals from the water, but only chlorinate, while a number of chlorine-resistant bacteria can remain in the liquid.
- Improving the taste of water. Chlorine, rusty metal, hydrogen sulfide - water with completely unexpected tastes can flow from a tap. Naturally, it also changes the quality of the food. And purified water allows you to cook really delicious dishes.
- Water softening to reduce exposure to skin and hair. After all, polluted water spoils hair and skin, leads to the appearance of wrinkles, rashes, and destruction of the hair structure. And purified water will not allow all these manifestations to form.
- Maintaining the performance of appliances and plumbing fixtures. If you do not remove solid particles and dirt, then scale appears on boilers, dishwashers and washing machines, electric kettles.
Different types of devices and how they work
Main filters for water purification in an apartment and in a country house are classified into:
The main filter for water purification most often works in combination with additional devices. Thus, a softener is installed complete with a coarse filter, which allows you to normalize the chemical composition of the liquid and prevent the formation of scale in equipment. Chemical-free filters with permanent magnets can act as softeners, the action of which causes the salts dissolved in water to precipitate without causing harm to plumbing and other appliances.
AND only after the coarse cleaning system, fine cleaning devices are installed- in this case, they will be less susceptible to contamination and cartridges will have to be changed less often.
Information about that is in a separate article on the site. In it you will find a video example.
Read about the room in another article. Troubleshooting is described.
Also can be purchased grain loading equipment. It is a main filter for complex cleaning, which allows to eliminate both chemical and biological contaminants. Outwardly, this is a large cylinder, the performance of which is in the range of 16-400 liters per minute. Such main water filters for an apartment or a private house are at the same time water softeners and deep cleaning filters. Of the minuses, it is worth noting their large size.
Rules for choosing a suitable filter model
So, the main water filter - how to choose for cleaning? Keep in mind that in ordinary apartments, as a rule, passes two lines - with cold and hot water. If we are talking about individual heating systems, then they need devices for purifying cold water.
Important: The main hot water filter is made of materials that are resistant to prolonged exposure to high temperatures. It can also be used on highways with cold water, but not vice versa.
To choose main filters for cold water or hot, you must consider:
The mesh filters used are multi-layered and fixed in a metal pipe. With its help, water is purified from all large particles (sand or scale), the size of which exceeds 50 microns. It is better to choose a main water filter with flushing - it is able to catch more contaminants. When choosing a mesh filter, you must check pipe diameter, on which the mount will be made, and in accordance with this value, purchase the device.
As for cartridge devices, the main mechanical water filter is a design of a flask, a cap and a replaceable cartridge. They are able to catch any small particles - accordingly, the thinner the degree of filtration, the more transparent and tastier the water at the outlet.
Cartridge for main filters for water treatment should be regularly change and purchase depending on the needs:
- BA - to normalize the amount of iron.
- BS - for water softening.
- With activated carbon - for cleaning from chlorine.
- With polyphosphate loading - eliminates lime deposits, protects appliances from scale.
The main filter is mounted directly into the water main. It is also advisable to install shut-off ball valves and a bypass at the site for supplying and discharging water from the filtering device. The installation site of the cartridge filter must be freely accessible, since the cartridges will have to be replaced regularly.. We eliminate the most common malfunctions.
Brief overview of filter manufacturers
Among the popular companies producing high-quality main filters, it is worth noting Honeywell and Aquaphor, New Water and Geyser.
Thus, the Aquaphor company produces a wide range of cartridge main filters - for drinking water, for household appliances (for washing machines or dishwashers), for showers. You can choose devices designed for operation with cold and hot water, eliminating chemical compounds or only insoluble impurities such as sand or rust.
The German brand Honeywell offers devices of unique quality, designed for ten times the operating pressure in the network. Here you can choose elements for coarse or fine cleaning, and the filter element is a metal mesh enclosed in an ultra-reliable flask.
New Water products are characterized by availability and high quality. The range offers main filters with a separate tap, and the degree of purification can be adjusted by installing certain cartridges.
And Geyser filters are high-tech scientific developments, thanks to which filter elements based on an ion-exchange polymer were created.
The quality of our tap water, to put it mildly, is far from international standards. Agree, drinking untreated tap water is an extreme activity that can result in serious health problems. Therefore, buying a good filter is paramount.
If you do not like to risk your health, then you are probably thinking about how to choose water filters. The variety of offers on the market will make even the most daring get confused.
We will help you put everything in its place and make a choice - this article discusses the existing types of filtering devices and their characteristics.
And also the main criteria influencing the choice of the most suitable filter, and the rating of the best manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, are given. For a better perception of information, visual diagrams and photographic materials, expert video recommendations for selection were selected.
There are several main types of household water filters.
To make a choice, it is better to study in detail the principle of operation, the advantages and disadvantages of each type, so as not to get lost in the variety of proposals.
Water filters offered on the modern market are represented by a wide range of devices and devices that differ in the principle of operation, degree and speed of purification.
View #1 - pure water pitcher
The simplest type of filter for drinking water - jug. It looks extremely simple, the name speaks for itself. The filter is a plastic container in the shape of a jug.
A replaceable cartridge is installed in a special hole. It purifies water from impurities in ways that combine mechanical, chemical, less often biological treatment.
To understand the principle of the filter jug, you need to consider its "heart" - a replaceable cartridge in the context.
Its insides can be very diverse, it all depends on the manufacturer, but the technology is always the same. Water enters the filter from above, successively passes through all levels of purification and enters the bowl of the jug.
The sink filter is one of the most useful devices for the kitchen. It not only purifies water from all kinds of impurities and harmful substances, but also simplifies the process of its preparation. Through an additional tap, which is mounted in the kitchen sink, you can get clean water instantly, without wasting time and money on buying bottled water or pouring water into the filter jug each time.
On sale you can see many different systems, but not all of them cope with the task of high-quality water purification. To choose a really good filter, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with our rating.
The best inexpensive water filters for washing: a budget of up to 5,000 rubles.
Inexpensive filters for washing cost an average of 1,500 - 5,000 rubles. It is rare to find membrane filtration, softening and mineralization in them, and the number of purification steps does not exceed three. At the same time, most models are quite capable of ridding water of heavy metals, chlorine, phenol, benzene and other chemical additives.
3 Aquaphor Crystal Eco
Three stages of water purification. Ion exchange and ultrafiltration
Country Russia
Average price: 4 950 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.6
Aquaphor Crystal Eco is one of the most popular budget “washable” filter systems. It is equipped with three stages of water purification, ion exchange, coal and ultrafiltration. The latter allows you to remove organic matter, impurities and bacteria from the water. There is no storage capacity in this model, since the maximum filter capacity is 2.5 liters per minute.
The resource of a standard filter module is designed for 8000 liters. Most users, speaking about this filter, name such advantages as low price, ease of installation, cheap cartridges and compactness of the system.
Negative reviews, in comparison with the Aquaphor Crystal model (without the prefix "eco"), have become much less. The number of complaints about the quality of the water softener has decreased. Much less scale began to form. However, for people with kidney disease, it is better to purchase more expensive models that can handle hard water.
2 Barrier EXPERT Hard
The most capacious cartridge. Best price
Country Russia
Average price: 3,183 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.6
"EXPERT Hard Barrier" is one of the best-selling filter systems in recent years. Among the best budget filters for washing presented in the review, "Barrier EXPERT Hard" stands out in that it has the most resource-intensive filter module. So, the cartridge of the Geyser Prestige 2 filter presented above is enough for 3500 liters, while the EXPERT Hard Barrier cartridge can be used for at least 10,000 liters.
Other advantages of this filter include the presence of a filter for softening water. This will get rid of scale in the kettle. True, there are complaints that this filter quickly clogs and after a couple of months the scale appears again. There is an explanation for this - in areas with very hard water, the filter, for obvious reasons, will clog much faster. You just need to change the cartridge in time.
Feedback from user Eduard:
If you take this filter, then immediately buy a drill for 12, otherwise you will go to the store again to make a hole in the countertop. Everything else is included, only the self-tapping screws for attaching to the chipboard are a bit short. In general, I like the filter, gaining a little more than a liter of water in a minute. This, by the way, is confusing, whether the filtering is going too fast. Maybe it affects the quality?
1 Geyser Prestige 2
The best ratio of price and quality
Country Russia
Average price: 4,990 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.7
The leading position in the category of budget filters is occupied by the domestic "Geyser". The company that supplies water treatment systems to the market was founded back in 1986 and today has a dealer network covering 120 cities in Russia. There are even European offices in Riga, Prague and Belgrade.
The Geyser Prestige 2 filter system is considered one of the best in quality in the budget price segment. With an average price of only 5000 rubles. the device has a reverse osmosis membrane for water purification, which dramatically improves the quality of filtration. Not many budget systems can boast of having a membrane.
Also in Geyser Prestige 2 there are stages of water purification from dissolved iron (iron removal) and purification from soluble hardness salts (softening).
Video review
Speaking about the advantages of this system, almost all users note the high quality of water purification, compactness, ease of installation and, of course, reasonable price.
The disadvantages of this model include a rather weak performance - only 0.3 liters of clean water per minute. For the needs of a small family of 2-3 people, it may be enough, but for larger families you will have to purchase a storage tank (it is not included in the kit), where purified water will be stored.
The best filters for washing: a budget of up to 10,000 rubles.
This category contains more expensive and efficient models. The increased cost, as a rule, affects not only the degree of water purification, but also the quality of materials and workmanship.
4 Siberia-Zeo Aquarius-BKP
High performance, use of zeolite
Country Russia
Average price: 9,060 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.6
Compact (42x38x14 cm), but very powerful filter with three filter stages. The maximum output of the device is 3 l/min. The package includes a filter module, designed for 6000 liters. There is a separate faucet. The quality of water after passing through the filter is significantly improved - it is purified from free chlorine, mineralized.
In the reviews, users note that when using this water, scale does not form in the kettle. Among the advantages compared to other filters of the same price category, the use of zeolite is noted. The first flask is transparent - it can be used to assess the degree of contamination. In one of the reviews, the user says that he carried water for analysis before and after passing through the filter - the quality of the liquid at the outlet turned out to be excellent.
3 AQUAPRO AP-600P
The largest storage capacity
Country: Taiwan
Average price: 9 931 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.7
High-quality, efficient filter model with five stages of purification. Of the features - reverse osmosis, iron removal, purification from free chlorine, water softening. The package includes a storage tank with a volume of 10 liters, a separate tap, a pump to increase pressure, a filter module. Replacement cartridges are inexpensive.
In the reviews, users note the excellent quality of water purification, its pleasant taste after passing through the filter. They like the possibility of additional installation of a mineralizer, the use of filters from any manufacturer - they have a standard size. During operation, the device does not make noise, does not leak, filters need to be changed no more than once every six months. Of the minuses, only a higher cost is distinguished compared to similar models, but the difference in price is compensated by inexpensive cartridges.
2 ECOSOFT MO 5-50
High quality materials and components
Country Ukraine
Average price: 7,169 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.8
Popular and high-quality model with five stages of cleaning. Installed under the sink, it does not take up much space - the dimensions of the product are 35x45x15 cm. The device kit includes a storage tank with a volume of 9 liters, a filter module, and a separate tap. Productivity makes 0,13 l/minute. With the help of a filter, even the worst tap water becomes drinkable without boiling. It is iron-free, cleaned of free chlorine, foreign mechanical and dissolved impurities, softened. The principle of charcoal cleaning is applied.
In the reviews, users note the high quality of materials and components, the reliability of the filter, and the good quality of water after cleaning. Even after a long time of use, it is not necessary to deal with leaks. Many people like that the filter can be installed independently, without resorting to the services of specialists. Of the shortcomings, only the high cost of cartridges is noted, but in terms of bottled water it still turns out cheaper.
1 New Water Econic Osmos O300
Compact size, easy installation and maintenance
Country Russia
Average price: 7 690 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.9
The first place in the ranking of the middle price category goes to the Novaya Voda Econic Osmos O300 filter. This is a fairly popular model, about which not a single negative review can be found - all users are completely satisfied with the operation of the device. Water after cleaning becomes softer, acquires a pleasant taste, you can drink it without boiling. The filter is easy to install, reliable, well made. Compact dimensions (23.5x29x22 cm) allow you to install the device under a sink of any size.
This sink filter is suitable for both apartments and private houses, for cleaning the hardest water. Eliminates all common pollutants - mechanical impurities, dissolved impurities (heavy metals, phenols, bacteria, viruses, hardness salts). The kit includes a filter module, a separate tap, a 3.25-liter storage tank. The maximum filter capacity is 0.7 l/min. Of the additional advantages, users note a quick-release membrane, ease of maintenance. If necessary, you can easily add a mineralizer or a post-filter with shungite.
The best filter systems for washing with reverse osmosis (membrane)
Membrane filtration is considered to be of higher quality, since the output is almost ideal in terms of purity of water. The pores of the osmotic membrane are very small and retain most of the contaminants, iron, oil products, and so on. It is important to note that the membrane is very dense and good pressure is required for water to pass through it. If the pressure in the water supply system is low, the filtration rate will be extremely low. In such cases, it is recommended to pay attention to models with a built-in pump to increase the pressure.
3 GEYSER PRESTIGE R
Built-in booster pump
Country Russia
Average price: 11,900 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.6
It is recommended to buy this filter system for washing if you have poor water pressure in your apartment / house. "Geyser Prestige P" is one of the few models that is equipped with a pump to increase water pressure. This will allow you to start the filtration process even in places with extremely low pressure (reverse osmosis requires at least 2 atmospheres to work, otherwise the system will not work).
Otherwise, Geyser Prestige P has everything that competitors have: 5 stages of cleaning, iron removal, softening, reverse osmosis, storage capacity of 12 liters. It is a pity, of course, that there is no water mineralizer, since for about the same money the competitor Atoll A-550m STD has a mineralization function.
Of the positive reviews, users note the high quality of filtration, inexpensive and very affordable cartridges (except for the membrane for 2000 rubles) and moderate drainage consumption (0.3 liters per 1 liter of pure water).
2 AQUAPHOR OSMO 50
Best price. 5 cleaning steps
Country Russia
Average price: 7,490 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.8
Aquaphor OSMO 50 is one of the most affordable reverse osmosis filter systems in terms of price. In addition to the membrane, there are 5 stages of water purification, a storage capacity of 10 liters and the functions of softening and cleaning from dissolved iron. In principle, this is enough to obtain high-quality water, as evidenced by user reviews. Water tastes better, scale and odors disappear.
There is, however, a significant disadvantage characteristic of many models with reverse osmosis - a high side flow of water into the drainage. For one liter of clean water, at least 6 liters go into the drainage. If you consume 300 liters of water in a month, then at least 1800 liters (almost two cubic meters) will go down the drain. For owners of houses with private sewerage, such a pleasure will result in a "penny".
Also, do not forget about the cost of replacing filter elements. Depending on the intensity of use, it may take 1500 - 5500 rubles to replace Aquaphor OSMO 50 filters. in year.
1 ATOLL A-550M STD
mineralization function. Price quality
Country Russia
Average price: 11,400 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.9
The ATOLL A-550M STD model was included in the rating of the best reverse osmosis filter systems. This is the most expensive filter system presented in the review. But the price, as they say, is justified. Atoll A-550m STD is equipped with two very useful elements: a mineralizer and an oxygen enrichment function. What is the use of this? As it was said at the beginning of the article, the membrane makes the water crystal clear, cleaning out both harmful and beneficial substances (minerals) for the human body. The water turns out almost like distilled, which is not good. So, in Atoll A-550m STD, after all the purification procedures (and there are 5 steps here), the water is additionally enriched with useful mineral elements. And the water becomes much more useful than after conventional reverse osmosis (membrane) purification.
Other useful features of the Atoll A-550m include a water deironing device (removal of dissolved iron) - it will be useful for residents of areas with very hard water. Also, the filter system is equipped with a very capacious storage tank of 12 liters, which will be more than enough to provide clean water to a family of 2 to 6 people.
As for the reviews, for the most part they are only positive. Users praise Atoll A-550m primarily for very high-quality filtration - the water becomes really tastier. Of the not entirely pleasant moments, quite expensive cartridges can be distinguished. They last for a long time, but after 2-3 years (depending on the intensity of use) you will have to pay almost as much for the cartridges as the entire system costs. Atoll A-550m STD - the best value for money!
How to choose a filter system for a sink?
Before choosing a specific treatment system, it is good to have information about the chemical composition of the water that flows from the tap. This will allow you to choose the filter that will purify the water as efficiently as possible. So, if you have very hard water in your apartment, you will have to take a more expensive filter with a membrane (reverse osmosis). Purification of very hard water is mandatory if there are people with kidney disease in the family. For less hard water, a budget ion exchange filter may suffice.
There are many ways to find out the chemical composition of water. For example, ask the local Vodokanal or conduct your own "mini laboratory study". Water hardness can be determined using a special test strip, and chlorine content can be determined using starch iodine paper (available at aquarium stores).
When buying a filter for washing, in addition to the price, you need to look at two important components: cleaning methods and the presence of a water softener. There can be several ways to purify water for each system for washing, and their quantity and quality directly depend on the cost of the entire system.
Membrane filtration
For example, in budget filters up to 3000 rubles. as a rule, there is no membrane filtration. Membrane filtration (ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis) is used for ideal water purification from viruses and bacteria. Only very fine water particles (up to 0.0005 microns) pass through the membrane, while all other impurities and bacteria are retained. The output is very pure water, almost like distilled. But the membrane has a significant disadvantage - useful minerals are filtered along with bacteria. Therefore, there will be no harm or benefit from such water. Buying a filter system with a membrane and a built-in mineralizer will help solve this problem. Thus, water completely purified from metal ions will be re-enriched with minerals.
Ion exchange
To purify hard water from heavy metal ions, only ion exchange is used in budget filtration systems. To purify water with the same quality as reverse osmosis does, ion exchange will not work, but still it is better than nothing.
Carbon filtration
Carbon filtration is a very useful feature that is present in most filter models. Coal serves to absorb chlorine, phenol, benzene, toluene, petroleum products and pesticides. It cleans from everything that is added to the water for disinfection. Even budget sink systems have carbon filtration, but some models may not have it.
Water softening
Water softening is an extremely useful function of the filter system. With it, you can reduce the content of calcium and magnesium ions in the water, which stimulates the formation of scale in the kettle, dishwasher and washing machine. This will not only save the housewife from unnecessary trouble with descaling, but also significantly extend the life of kitchen appliances.
To provide yourself with healthy and clean water in your home, you need to install a purification filter. This will help remove excess impurities, clean dirt and bleach, as well as harmful microorganisms.
purpose
The water purifier will protect household appliances and plumbing, increase its service life, and allow you to change consumables in them less often.
Some modern appliances require additional filters due to the increased hardness of the water. They are installed in front of the mechanisms and save expensive spare parts from premature wear. It can be a dishwasher, washing machine or other household appliances.
However, it is not only technology that needs to be considered. It is also necessary to install a filter for drinking water. This will allow the body to receive a better liquid with an optimal level of hardness.
Skin and hair are also sensitive to insufficiently soft water. Therefore, it does not hurt to install a water purifier on the shower. Unfortunately, most filters are recommended for use in cold temperatures, so you need to purchase a separate one for hot.
