The use of hard water in a house or apartment leads not only to the appearance of scale on dishes, but also to the rapid breakdown of all kinds of household equipment: washing and dishwashers, heaters, boilers, etc. Meanwhile, it is not too difficult to solve this problem nowadays . It is enough to purchase and install a special filter in the kitchen, in the bathroom or in the basement to soften the water. There are several types of such devices in the modern market.
The main types of softeners
Such devices can be used to remove calcium and magnesium salts from water:
- Mechanical . These are mainly reverse osmosis systems.
- Chemical. Such installations are most often mounted in large country houses in combination with coarse and fine filters.
- Reagent-free . Of this group, in modern homes and apartments most often installed electromagnetic modern filters.
Reverse osmosis systems are mounted directly on the sink. Chemical and reagent-free filters are mainly used as main filters. When used in a house, full softening and purification of water are often performed . Filters in this case are installed on a common supply line at the entrance to the building or in the caisson. Also, such softeners can be mounted in a pipe directly next to the boiler, washing machine, etc.
Reverse Osmosis System: How It Works
By and large, this type of equipment is mainly used as a universal fine filter. However, the design of reverse osmosis systems includes, among other things, special perforated membranes designed to remove salts. The holes in such a material have such a small diameter that only water molecules themselves can pass through them. Any impurities present in it settle on the surface of the filter.
How do chemical softeners work
Reverse osmosis systems are mainly used only in urban apartments for the purification of drinking water. In large private houses it is more expedient to install more productive equipment - chemical softeners. Such devices usually work on the principle of ion exchange. A special gel-like resin containing a large amount of sodium is laid in their case. Upon contact with hard water, this element is exchanged with calcium and magnesium, as a result of which the desired effect is achieved.
The filter for softening water of this variety is able to serve in the house for many years. Considered an advantage of such devices and high cleaning speed. The disadvantages include mainly the need for periodic purchase and replacement of resin.
The principle of operation of reagent-free softeners
Particles of potassium and manganese salts are flat in shape and easily adhere to different surfaces. That is why when using hard water on the walls of dishes and parts of various kinds of household appliances, scale is formed. Under the influence of a magnetic field, salt particles take the form of very narrow and long needles. And, therefore, they cannot stick to anything. Moreover, acting on a layer of old scale, such needles gradually erase it.
The non-reagent household water softener filter is distinguished primarily by such advantages as low cost, long service life and ease of installation. Many owners of apartments and houses even assemble such equipment on their own from scratch. Some disadvantage of reagent-free filters is considered only the need to connect to an outlet. Electricity such devices usually consume about 5 watts.
Selection recommendations
Thus, it is best to use a reverse osmosis system to soften water from a centralized highway in a city apartment or from a well in an unheated cottage. Such filters are relatively inexpensive. At the same time, you can mount them, including with your own hands. When selecting equipment, you should pay attention to the volume of the storage tank and the timing of the change of filters.
Also, for the softening of water in apartments and cottages, electromagnetic reagent-free filters are also well suited. They cost even less than reverse osmosis systems. However, when using such equipment, you will have to pay for electricity, of course, a little more than before. When buying such a device, you should pay attention primarily to its power. The reagent-free main filter should be designed to soften exactly the amount of water that is usually consumed in a house.
Chemical softeners are ideal for installation on the basement floors of large cottages. When choosing them, you should pay attention to bandwidth. In addition, you should make sure that the resin (which is not cheap) will have to be changed not too often. Such softeners are usually selected already at the stage of designing a building water treatment system . Moreover, their installation in conjunction with filters for other purposes is most often trusted by specialists.
The mechanical device of which manufacturer to purchase
When choosing a filter to soften water in a house or apartment, among other things, you should pay attention to its brand. Most modern manufacturers produce high-quality devices of this type.
If we talk about reverse osmosis systems, then in this case good reviews deserved, for example, brands such as Raifil and Atoll. Raifil filters are praised for their ease of installation, volumetric tanks and the possibility of replacing cartridges when they expire with similar products from other manufacturers. Atoll systems are popular because they very effectively purify water from salts.
Resin and electromagnetic filters: the best brands
When choosing a chemical main filter to soften water, you should pay attention, for example, to Galaxy devices. Galaxy units are easy to assemble, equipped with a “dry” salt tank and have an additional regeneration mode.
A reagent-free group of devices is presented on the domestic market, including such popular inexpensive brands as AquaShield and Termite. The former are valued for being able to soften water, being located even a few hundred meters from a household appliance. In addition, they very quickly loosen scale on surfaces. Devices of the Termit brand are also convenient in use and are able to both supplement and completely replace chemical softeners in the house. In addition, there are models of such devices designed for installation on pipes of very large diameters.
Installing a water softener filter: features
Reverse osmosis systems are usually supplemented with a kit that includes a pipe faucet ¼ and a dad-mom tee. With the help of such valves, the equipment is inserted into the water supply. In addition, when using this type of softener, an additional tap is installed on the sink and a storage tank is mounted.
A chemical filter for water softening, as already mentioned, is most often included in the general water treatment system. At the same time, a mechanical filter designed to remove organics is first installed on the feed pipe. Next mounted coal. And already after him the softener itself crashes. At the next stage, the water treatment scheme is supplemented by a fine filter and a drive. The final structural element of such complex systems is usually an ultraviolet disinfecting device.
In most cases, electromagnetic trunk softeners are simply hung on the supply pipe immediately after the hydraulic tank in the caisson. Such filters are suitable for softening water from a well or a well that feeds into a house, almost as good as chemical ones.
Features of installation on boilers and household appliances
The use of a softener significantly extends the life of the heater, washing machine or dishwasher, shower stall, etc. Both chemical and reagent-free devices can be installed on boilers. The boiler water softener filter is mounted on the return pipe of the heating system in the immediate vicinity of the unit in front of the centrifugal pump.
Different kinds of household appliances are usually protected from magnesium and calcium salts only with the use of electromagnetic softeners. The latter are hung on the water supply pipe to the device body (they do not need to be cut in) or simply mounted on a wall nearby.