The need to have a source of clean water in the house is obvious, but only in rare cases, central networks guarantee the proper level of its quality indicators. In this regard, consumers turn to various devices that allow cleaning at one level or another. Manufacturers of filtration equipment offer the most advanced means of water purification in domestic conditions. It remains only to make a choice based on your requirements. For example, today a water purification system for an apartment using replaceable filters is common. In some cases, coolers and flow-through cleaning systems are also an optimal solution. An overview of the most popular filtering devices will help you make the right choice.
Pitcher Type
This is the simplest version of a home water purifier, which is an ergonomic filter container. The advantages of this solution include ease of use, small size and affordable cost. But there are many drawbacks of jug type devices. First of all, the water filter used in them does not give a truly qualitative result in the form of getting rid of harmful microorganisms. Optimal cleaning in this case is possible only if the active sorbent is changed daily, which in itself is unprofitable.
There is another drawback of such devices. Despite its compactness and ergonomics, the filtration process is slow. Depending on the model, a pitcher water purification system for an apartment can pass 1 liter of fluid in 4-20 minutes. The low cleaning rate is due to the fact that activated carbon particles are used as an absorbing element. Some manufacturers increase the fraction of these grains in order to increase productivity, but in the end, the already low quality of filtration decreases.
Reverse osmosis filters
This method can be called one of the most popular in our time. The principle of reverse osmosis is that a liquid under natural pressure passes through a membrane from a contaminated medium to a purified one. In the process of this transition, water gets rid of foreign inclusions. On the market, such a water filter is represented by small devices that are equipped with special membranes that implement reverse osmosis.
In terms of efficiency, this is one of the best options, but there is a negative aspect to this advantage. The fact is that, in addition to harmful microorganisms, salts and smell, useful elements are washed out of water. For example, calcium and magnesium do not enter the body after treatment with reverse osmosis. Today, disputes are still ongoing regarding how harmful this depletion of water is, but this option is still not recommended for continuous use. On the other hand, the reverse osmosis water purification system for an apartment, in some versions, provides ionization of the medium. That is, eliminating harmful substances and healthy salts, such a filter nevertheless provides nutrient filling for the body.
Bottled water coolers
Such installations have also established themselves as an easy-to-use filtration tool. However, the cooler cannot be considered as a cleaning device, since it initially supplies ready-to-use water. The user is only required to periodically change the water tank. But with all the advantages of this approach to obtaining purified liquid, many people doubt the process of bottled preparation as such. The fact is that many enterprises use the same filter system for treating reverse osmosis water. That is, all the disadvantages of this system can be extended to bottled water. Of course, there are other industrial cleaning technologies, but it is impossible to trace the quality of their implementation.
Flow-Through Systems
Such devices also use a cooler, but a different cleaning principle is implemented. This is an ultrafiltration system that involves the use of activated carbon. Unlike pitcher devices, cleaning elements are represented not by granules, but by microporous baked blocks, which have high kinetic efficiency. Thanks to this solution, the ultrafiltration system for water purification for the home covers a large absorption area of unwanted substances. For comparison, it is hundreds of times higher than in the case of granular filters.
During the operation of the device, water under the influence of pressure passes through coal blocks, being purified from heavy metals, excess salts, chlorine and other impurities. By the way, the limited range of cleaning function is the main disadvantage of such systems.
Water cleaning nozzles
Traditional flow-through filtration devices include special nozzles mounted on a tap. The advantages that such a water purification system for the home possesses include a rather low cost, compactness and mobility. This device can be taken with you to the cottage and used there for its intended purpose - the nozzles have different designs, allowing you to install in almost any water supply.
The disadvantages of such devices include a low cleaning rate, as well as small amounts of sorbent. Accordingly, filtration is slow, as a result of which it is not possible to count on high-quality water treatment. But technologies are developing, and with them, water purification systems are being improved. Reviews, for example, note that manufacturers optimize the workflow by supplying such devices with very convenient containers for storing ready-to-use water.
How much do cleaning systems cost?
Although outwardly most filtration systems are small devices with elementary controls, their designs and the internal structure are noticeably different. Therefore, the price range is quite wide. For example, standard pitcher models can be purchased for 1-1.5 thousand rubles. In the 4-6 thousand segment, an ultrafiltration water treatment system will be available. The price of models that implement reverse osmosis also varies in the middle range - from 2 to 8 thousand.
Filter Manufacturers
Among domestic manufacturers, the most common products are Aquaphor, Barrier and Geyser. In the lines of these companies you can find filters with any cleaning system, including modern membranes for reverse osmosis. Foreign brands are also widely known to the Russian consumer - Bork, Vitek, Honeywell, etc. can be distinguished. Functional, reliable and productive water purification systems come out under these brands, reviews of which also note their ergonomics in operation. True, at a price such models are more expensive than the same products from Barrier and Geyser.
Conclusion
There are many aspects to consider when choosing a system for filtering water. First you need to determine the performance of the system so that you do not have to waste time waiting for the process. Next, you should choose the type of structure in which the water treatment system for the apartment or private house will be implemented. For example, there are compact installations on the crane, and there are massive coolers, which require a lot of free space. But the main question concerns the principle of cleaning. Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed high-quality disposal of water from all harmful substances. But the optimal ones include reverse osmosis and ultrafiltrational cleaning. It should not be forgotten that much of the effectiveness of filtration systems depends on the quality of their service on the part of the user.