Clean water in the house and in nature: how to choose a water filter?
We independently test the products and technologies that we recommend.
Filter for home without reverse osmosis
Models without reverse osmosis can be of several types, each of which has its pros and cons:
- Jug. This is the most common and simple water filter designed for infrequent use. Usually a jug is used when tap water is quite acceptable for cooking, but is not suitable for drinking. The volume of the water tank can vary from 1.5 to 4 liters. Depending on the manufacturer, the filter resource can range from 200 to 500 liters. However, it is worth noting here that much depends on the degree of water pollution: so the filter resource in one house with relatively clean water will be 90% of that claimed by the manufacturer, and in another house it may fall to 40-50% if the liquid is very dirty or chlorinated. Some models, such as BRITA Marella XL Price from 899 up to 2 180 ₴, have a calendar indicator of filter contamination, on which the number of days worked is manually set. This is a convenient feature that allows you to see when you need to change the cartridge. Pitchers are able to purify the liquid from pesticides, heavy metals, organic impurities and active chlorine compounds. The disadvantage of such models is the low filtration rate, as well as the small volume of the tank. The cartridges themselves perform mechanical and carbon cleaning and on average cost from 3 to 20 dollars, depending on the country of manufacture.
- The nozzle on the faucet. The device is attached directly to the faucet and starts working when cold water is turned on. In comparison with pitchers, the resource is increased here, and can reach from 750 to 3000 liters. However, the filtration rate usually does not exceed 0.5 L/min, so it is impossible to open the faucet too much. The advantage of such nozzles is that some models can be attached to bottles and used as hiking filters. The disadvantage is the frequent cutting of the nozzle, which is why the clamping ring and nut become unusable over time. Usually the device is equipped with a pollution indicator, so you will not miss the date of filter replacement. By themselves, models of this type are inexpensive (approximately similar in price to pitchers). But it is quite problematic to buy a replacement cartridge, and it costs almost as much as the device itself.
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| Nozzle on the faucet for clean water |
- Desktop. A distinctive feature of this type is the presence of its own crane, as well as fasteners for installing the filter in the countertop. Using a flexible hose, the device is connected to a water tap. However, due to the fact that such a design is not very convenient (you often have to disconnect / attach the hose), some users additionally make a tie-in to the water pipe with a valve and use the filter separately from the main tap. According to the degree of cleaning, desktop models are head and shoulders higher than jugs and nozzles on taps, and have from 1 to 5 cleaning steps. The resource is also increased and can range from 1 to 30K liters. Installation of the unit does not need additional skills or tools — even a beginner will supply it. A desktop filter is the best option for families from 2 to 4 people.
- Under the sink. Like the desktop ones, they have their own faucet, but they are initially mounted in such a way that they do not occupy the main faucet. Cleaning cartridges are placed in special plastic flasks. Ideally, they purify water from petroleum products, pesticides, chlorine ions and other harmful substances, while capturing particles up to 0.8 microns in size. They can have from 1 to 6 stages of purification. It is worth noting that the higher the level of water purification, the lower the flow rate (head). The units have a considerable working life, and some models have a pump for pumping water. The disadvantage of some devices is the inability to use third-party cartridges while the original filters are quite expensive. Cartridges are used the same as for reverse osmosis, and can be coal, mechanical plus sand, as well as fine cleaning from petroleum products, heavy metals, nitrates, etc. Also note that it is better to insert the tap into a metal sink, since the wooden countertops at the junction get wet and swell over time.
- Trunk (flow). A trunk-type device is embedded directly into the plumbing wiring, usually at the entrance to the apartment. Single-stage filtration of all incoming water is performed. In fact, trunk devices are necessary to detain large solid particles that come with water from urban networks or wells. They cannot be used as the main cleaning devices, but it is better to combine them with one of the above filters. They have a very high cleaning speed (up to 50 L/min). Different filters (of different composition) can be used in flow devices. Also note that unlike other types of devices, mains can be installed on both cold and hot water. Flow filters are mandatory for installation in catering establishments and children's institutions. To always monitor the pressure in the pipes, purchase a device with a built-in pressure gauge. To reduce the pressure at the outlet, it is worth taking a model with a pressure reducer. Mechanical sand cleaning cartridges with particle retention up to 5 microns are usually installed in the main system. Components for 1 µm are also supplied, but they are more expensive than the first ones.
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| Main line for cold and hot water |
- Pre-filter. It is also called a pretreatment filter and is used to purify water in front of a household appliance, such as a washing machine or dishwasher. Pre-filters purify water from salts and minerals, so that less scale is formed on the heating elements and in the drum of the washing machine. The resource of such devices is very large, and taking into account the fact that it will be infrequent in operation, it will have to be changed only after 8 months – 1 year. However, the degree of filtration is quite low — grains of at least 90 mk are delayed.
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| Pre-filter for household appliances |
Choosing a reverse osmosis device
The principle of reverse osmosis is as follows: from the water pipe, water enters the coarse filter, where rust and silt are separated. Then, when passing the next two filters, the water is purified from smaller impurities and chemicals. After that, it enters the reverse osmosis membrane, where it undergoes molecular purification: water molecules pass through the holes, and other substances remain. For example, water is purified from cadmium and phenol, harmful substances that are passed by other filters, but are delayed by reverse osmosis. Thus, the unit, working on the principle of reverse osmosis, allows you to achieve almost distilled water. It can be used to sterilize non-sterile items in medical institutions, as well as as pouring into household devices, for example, an iron (due to this, scale is not formed). So that the water is not tasteless, it passes the last post-filter, which increases the taste qualities.
Please note that after passing through the system, only 30 – 40% of clean water remains, and the rest is discharged into the sewer. Therefore, the water consumption with the reverse osmosis device is doubled. However, if you live in the private sector, then the waste water can be used to water the garden, and thus use all 100% of the liquid. Due to the low throughput (from 0.13 to 2 liters / min), a storage tank is provided in the design, where clean water is collected. Given this, you will have to expand the space under the sink to fit the entire structure. Also, the disadvantage is the complexity of installing the device, so you need to use the services of a wizard. The cost of reverse osmosis devices is usually twice as much as similar ones for washing without this design feature.
The cost for carbon cartridges varies from $ 2 to $ 10, and for mechanical cartridges plus sand and fine cleaning at 0.01 microns from $ 10 to $ 20. The price for original branded cartridges is correspondingly higher than for third-party components.
Parameters to pay attention to when choosing reverse osmosis:
- Degree of purification. Filters can have from 2 to 9 stages of purification. The more steps the water passes through, the cleaner it turns out at the outlet. However, it is worth noting that for household needs (obtaining water for cooking), 5 stages of purification are quite enough. Higher purification is necessary only in extreme cases when the water is heavily polluted (you can find out this by conducting appropriate analyses). Note that the higher the degree of purification, the more expensive the filter.
- Mineralizer. After passing through the membrane, the water loses almost all substances useful for the body and becomes distilled. To improve the water quality, a mineralizer is installed (in some models it is included), which saturates the water with useful micronutrients such as calcium, fluorine, etc. We recommend installing such a device on all models to improve water quality. In the models of some companies, for example, Organic, the mineralizer can be purchased separately.
- UV cleaning. Some models are normally equipped with UV lamps, which use radiation to destroy bacteria and microorganisms in the water. In particular, such cleaning is necessary not for city water supply, but for wells if the house is built in a swampy area.
- Pump. All reverse osmosis devices need to maintain the operating pressure (at least 3 atm). The pump will be very useful in the case when the pressure in the city water supply is much lower, for example, on floors from 8 and above. If you have a well or a well, then this element is not needed, since the necessary pressure is created by a deep pump.
- Capillary membrane. This is a fine cleaning system, inside of which there is a filter with small capillaries (tubes). These tubes trap the smallest particles and even bacteria (although the cleaning itself is mechanical, not chemical). The capillary membrane is installed immediately before the post-filter. Unlike a conventional cartridge, the capillary membrane can only be changed to the same one from the same manufacturer. Therefore, before buying such a model, pay attention to the possibility of purchasing spare parts in your country.
Selection of tourist filters
Tourist models are very convenient when hiking and traveling abroad. They have small dimensions and weight, so they will easily fit into a backpack. Devices can be of the following types:
- Suspended. The filter has the form of a heating pad or a large pear, into which water is poured, and the hose is discharged into a clean tank. The water flows by gravity, simultaneously being purified through a carbon filter. The resource of devices of this type does not exceed 2000 liters, but this is enough for several trips. The downside is the need to suspend the unit, which forces you to carry a tripod with you or look for a tree for these needs.
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| Suspended type Tourist filter |
- Pumping. The device is a pump with a ceramic filter inside and a water intake tube. There is a pump inside, pumping which we take water. There is an additional fine mesh on the tube to block the ingress of algae and other debris. A huge advantage of such devices is the possibility of attaching a filter to the bottle so that clean water flows directly into it. The resource of pumping units ranges from 1 to 7K liters, and some models (at the request of the manufacturer) can boast a resource of 50K. The filter allows you to clean the liquid from heavy metals, organic impurities and petroleum products. Naturally, pumping-type devices are several times more expensive than suspended ones.
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| Tourist filter pump type |
Conclusion
A jug or table filter should be used when it is necessary to clean the liquid for drinking, but at the same time tap water is quite suitable for cooking. Trunk units are best combined with other types of filters, for example, with a desktop or a device for washing without reverse osmosis. Thus, there will be double filtering for relatively little money. For washing machines and dishwashers, you need to use pre-filters. In field conditions, the best option would be a pump-type filter with a bottle mount. And if you want to provide your family with the cleanest and most useful water, then purchase reverse osmosis devices and a mineralizer.
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