Tap water does not always meet the requirements, so apartment residents have to decide on their own how to clean it. Some owners install wash filtersthus obtaining clean drinking water. But not only water for drinking and cooking needs cleaning: too hard water used for washing is detrimental to the health of hair and skin. Suffer from poor-quality water and household appliances, such as washing machines, kettles, water heaters. If the water that flows from your tap does not suit you in many ways, and not just in taste, it makes sense to install a main water filter.
Main filter devices are connected to the water mains through which water enters the apartment in order to perform the following pre-cleaning functions:
- Elimination of microorganisms, pesticides and other harmful substances.
- Removal of rust, turbidity and unpleasant odors.
- Improving the taste of water used for drinking and cooking.
- Reducing increased hardness by softening the water. Clean and soft water will help to avoid dry hair and skin, rashes, washing things will become more efficient, and clothes will be soft and pleasant to the touch.
- Protection of equipment from the negative effects of impurities, scale formation, clogging with solid particles.
Typically, main filters for purifying water entering an apartment are installed in pairs: one on a pipe with hot water, the second on a cold one.
Classification of water filters
Main filters differ in the following parameters:
- case material;
- appointment;
- number of cleaning steps;
- type of cartridge.
Material
Housings of main filters can be made of plastic or metal. Flow filters for purifying cold water cannot be placed on a hot pipe, as the housing may melt. The main stainless steel filter is universal and is used for both hot and cold water.
In order not to buy a fake, check the logo that is applied to the case by etching.
Purpose
The main filters serve for mechanical cleaning, and also chemical and biological. Chemical treatment is primarily chlorination or softening of water through the use of reagents. This method of cleaning in apartments is not recommended. For greater efficiency, several stages of purification are used in filters.
Number of cleaning steps
Depending on the purpose, flow filters contain from one to three stages of purification. If you know what impurities you need to purify water, you need to choose the appropriate model.
Cleaning degree
Particles from 50 to 500 microns are capable of retaining the so-called mesh filter, which purifies water from pieces of rust, sand, and scale present in the water. With other types of impurities, the particles of which have a size of 5 to 25 microns, the main water filter with a replaceable cartridge (cassette) successfully copes. After the resource is exhausted, cartridge models require replacement of filter elements, and the housing remains in place.
Cartridges
Cartridges for main filters are selected according to the composition of the filter elements. The model may contain:
- absorbent material;
- membranes;
- silver ions;
- polyphosphates.
The cheapest main filter cartridge provides mechanical filtration, for example using foamed polypropylene. The carbon cartridge ensures the removal of many harmful substances from the water.More complex systems are cleaned with compressed activated carbon and fibrous sorbent.
Many manufacturers, fearing competitors, do not disclose the composition of the filter elements they develop and keep it a secret.
There are standard designations for the most common types of cartridges:
- BA - for deferrization of water;
- BS - to soften hard water used for food purposes;
- with activated carbon - to remove the smell and taste of chlorine;
- with polyphosphates - against scale.
Types of main filters
Main filters for water purification differ in design and principle of operation. They must be selected depending on specific needs.
Coarse filter device
The main coarse water filter separates the largest particles. It is installed as an inlet water filter, so that the equipment in the apartment can work for a long time. Also, coarse pre-cleaning is needed before other methods of water filtration.
The main element is a metal mesh filter without replaceable cartridges. In some devices, several stages of filtration are used, where the size of the grid cells is gradually reduced. The mechanical cleaning filter serves indefinitely, since the filter element undergoes periodic cleaning by washing, which can be direct and reverse (the latter is more effective). If the mesh becomes completely clogged, it can be replaced.
Fine cleaning
Fine filters perform several functions, where the first stage serves to mechanically purify water, thus reducing the load on subsequent stages.
Devices for fine purification may include ultraviolet treatment of water and additional filtration, in which the liquid is freed from small insoluble particles and some chemicals, after which it can be safely used for drinking.
Water softeners
Sodium polyphosphate can be used as a reagent in a mainstream water filter for a bathroom. Water that has passed through a similar softener filter is no longer suitable for food purposes, but it is suitable for washing and washing.
To soften hard water without dissolving complexing substances, a special filter is used - magnetic. At the same time, water-insoluble calcium and magnesium compounds do not form hard-to-remove scale: under the action of a magnetic salt particles form an acicular structure and do not stick to the surface, but precipitate. Unlike scale, they do not affect the operation of heating appliances or plumbing. Electromagnetic water softener is able to bring its quality in terms of rigidity to the requirements of GOST (7 mg-eq / l). Softening partially takes over the reverse osmosis membrane.
Device selection
How to choose the best main filter for drinking water purification in an apartment?
When choosing, you need to consider the following parameters:
- Loss of pressure in the water supply. It should be in the range of 0.1–0.6 bar. In a house with low pressure, when installing a filter, you will have to additionally use a main pump.
- throughput. For an apartment, products that pass through themselves a volume of water of 20–50 l / min are suitable.
Universal devices of the domestic company Geyser are in demand. Main filters are designed to purify water from iron ions, rust, salts, mechanical impurities, harmful microbes and bacteria. At the same time, its useful properties are preserved thanks to modern technologies of mechanical filtration, ion exchange, disinfection with silver and sorbent. Feedback on the company's products is mostly positive.
The domestic company Aquaphor also produces filters based on the latest achievements in the field of water treatment. A series of devices "Aquaphor Viking" is designed for fine purification of water from heterogeneous impurities: sand, rust, excess iron content in water, metal salts and other substances. It also neutralizes chlorine, which is harmful not only when drinking water inside, but also when bathing.
Household self-cleaning filter "Artesian" with flushing does not need to use replaceable cartridges. Its filtration element is made of high strength stainless alloys. Silver is electroplated onto the filter element and the thinnest string is wound. Under the influence of the water flow, it vibrates, and impurities do not settle in the pores. Flushing is done with a drain cock.
Of the foreign models, Atoll devices have proven themselves well. They have a reasonable price and high quality cleaning. Cartridge contamination is controlled thanks to the transparent housing, which allows you to change it in time.
Installation of the main filter
After selecting suitable designs, the main water filters are installed with their own hands on pipes with hot and cold water. There are also universal devices that can be installed on any type of water supply.
Installation steps:
- The water supply valve is closed, the pressure in the pipeline is relieved by opening one of the taps.
- With the help of couplings and flexible piping, the selected filter crashes into the water supply. External valves are sealed with sealant.
During installation, the direction of water flow is taken into account. The input must be labeled IN.
- Holes are drilled in the wall and dowels are inserted. Fasteners are inserted in the upper part of the filter, self-tapping screws are screwed with a screwdriver.
Fixing the device to the wall is mandatory, because without it it will negatively affect the operation of the line, exerting additional pressure.
- The system is tested for leaks. Water descends within 5 minutes. This flushes the cartridge and removes air from the system.
The main water filter with a replaceable cartridge requires a determination of the composition of the water, on the basis of which its own cartridge is selected, which provides effective cleaning. If it does not fully meet the requirements, you can install another one at the next replacement.
The period of use of the cartridge is counted from the moment of installation. According to the instructions, it must be replaced after a given period of time, and if the water has a very high hardness or level of pollution, then this will have to be done earlier.
