How to choose a main filter for water purification - a detailed guide

So are devices that are mounted directly on the flow line (or frame, or at the joint between the pipes).By the way, in many houses two "tracks" - hot water and cold-water, and therefore have to put the devices on each.Purpose of the main filters - water treatment from various suspensions (solids) and a number of chemical compounds.On the feasibility of buying say it makes no sense, since we all know the quality of the water we get from the highway.Sometimes it is enough just to look at the color, and no campaigning is no longer needed.

That is why we will not be distracted by issues like this water adversely affects our health, reduces maintenance-free service life of appliances, cookware and the like.Let us examine how the diversity of products offered to choose what is the best is right for us.To begin with, how to determine the feasibility of buying a particular model filter.

degree of purification

For this characteristic all main filters are divided into several classes.Much depends on the model of the cartridge, so all the features should be specified in the documentation for the device.Consider only the general, typical properties of various designs.

Single stage.These devices are also called "rough" treatment.They have faced almost all who set accounting of water consumption meters, boilers or speakers.The device of simple - the body is placed inside a metal mesh that holds all of sediment (sand, rust particles) that come from the highway.It is convenient because it does not require any maintenance costs.Mesh sufficiently removed from the body and rinsed in running water.Intended only for the mechanical purification of liquids.The efficiency may reach 98%.

two-stage - provides cleaning of smaller (microscopic) sediment, odors, chlorine.They literally "lighten" the water.

Three-stage - in addition to all the above, are able to soften water and remove the "iron" out of it.If there is a problem with intensive deposition of scale, for example, in a kettle, it is - the optimal variant filter.

housing

Usually, it is either a metal ( "stainless", brass) or plastic (with additional reinforcement to stiffen).If the filter is sold for installation in a WAN, "thread", then it is necessary to pay attention.Not every plastic can withstand both high temperatures and its variations.The scope of the specific model can be found in her passport.

cartridge

properly so called filter element.Versions different - corrugated, net, winding and several others.When you select should focus primarily on the chemical composition of water, which will have to be cleaned, because universal application of cartridges has not yet invented.

Bandwidth

Almost all commercially available models for home use, it is in the range of 20 - 50 l / min.Should be guided by the maximum water flow rate.For example, while the draw from multiple points (2 or more open faucet).Plus, at the same time it can be turned on and any appliances that in the process also "consumes" water (washing machine or dishwasher, for example).

Each family has its own way of life, in every house its own characteristics, the number of people living in it and a number of other factors that affect the amount and intensity of water consumption.All this must be taken into account.

pressure drop in the pipe downstream of the filter device

This feature is particularly important for those who live on the upper floors of apartment buildings or outside the settlements (in the suburban areas, if there is no stand-alone water supply system).Typically, in such homes there is insufficient water pressure coming from the highway.And if we add to this and reduced pressure after the filter (it can drop up to 0.5 bar), its ultimate value may exceed the critical (minimum).And this, in turn, adversely affect the operation of certain types of household appliances.

Therefore, when choosing the model you like the filter you want to compare this with the characteristic features of the water supply system.

Dimensions

main difficulty during the installation of the main filters in city apartments is the modest size of most of our kitchens and there is a headset.Therefore, placement of the device in any compartment causes some difficulty, especially when you consider suitable for him and hoses.Plus - the need for a "light" access for maintenance.Therefore, here a single recommendation can not be - you must focus on the local conditions.

Additional features

about them can be found in the accompanying documentation.For example, some models of washing the body is not required to disassemble.For this purpose, they have a special valve that is controlled manually.It may be a device that reduces the pressure of the incoming water at excessively high pressure.

Manufacturers are constantly working on a variety of improvements, so all the "services" of a particular filter can be found directly at the point of sale.

Practical advice

• Any cleaning member, depending on the design and application specifics, from time to time require or maintenance, or replacement.Given this, it is desirable to mount the main filter bypass (with appropriate isolation valves).In this case, you do not have time to change the cartridge or cleaning the screen completely shut off the flow of water in the home.
• Based on this, place the filter installation should be chosen so that access to it was free.
• Filters for hot water in terms of accommodation are universal, so they can be mounted on the "thread" HVS.But devices intended for the treatment of cold water on the "hot" pipe can be put not always.It depends on the characteristics of the specific model.

And the last - even if the source is an artesian well, do not look for absolute purity of water and limited only by the filter, which is installed before the pump.Additionally mounted unit never hurts.