The best water filter in the apartment. Which water filters for washing are better

For any ordinary buyer, the question - which filter is better always remains a mystery and a difficult choice. There are at least 10 manufacturers with a wide range of models on the market, if you start to figure out which one is better, it turns out that almost all water purifiers are the same in terms of system requirements, the difference is only in build quality and price category.

Water filters for washing are divided into two types, the first are classic flow filters, the second with the highest degree of purification - reverse osmosis filters. In city apartments, there is not always a place under the sink, which makes installing a filter not always an easy task. On the one hand, these units must be installed directly in the cold water pipe, on the other hand, they must be located near the sink to ensure safe use. Based on this, installing a filter under the sink is by far the most convenient option for operation.

Filters under the sink occupy an area that is little used for other household needs, do not make eyesore, and do not disturb the interior balance in any way. At the same time, there is always quick and easy access to the water purifier installed under the sink, which is necessary for changing cartridges, as well as for caring for the filter housing.

It is important to place a multi-stage filter under the sink for safety reasons. Being far from the stove and at a sufficient distance from the heating route, the vulnerable elements of the water purifier will not experience increased stress from sudden changes in temperature.

The sink filter is one of the most useful devices for the kitchen. It allows not only to purify water from harmful substances, heavy metals, chlorine and sand, but also creates significant conveniences for obtaining clean water. Through an additional tap, which is mounted in the kitchen sink, you can get clean water instantly, without wasting time and money on buying bottled water or pouring water into the filter jug ​​each time.

Filter selection criteria for washing

Before choosing a specific treatment system, it is good to have information about the chemical composition of the water that flows from the tap. This will allow you to choose the filter that will purify the water as efficiently as possible. So, if you have very hard water in your apartment, you will have to take a more expensive filter with a membrane (reverse osmosis). Purification of very hard water is mandatory if there are people with kidney disease in the family. For less hard water, a budget ion exchange filter may suffice.

There are many ways to find out the chemical composition of water. For example, ask the local Vodokanal or conduct your own "mini laboratory study". Water hardness can be determined using a special test strip, and chlorine content can be determined using starch iodine paper (available at aquarium stores).

When buying a filter for washing, in addition to the price, you need to look at two important components: cleaning methods and the presence of a water softener. There can be several ways to purify water for each system for washing, and their quantity and quality directly depend on the cost of the entire system.

Membrane filtration

For example, in budget filters up to 3000 rubles. as a rule, there is no membrane filtration. Membrane filtration (ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis) is used for ideal water purification from viruses and bacteria. Only very fine water particles (up to 0.0005 microns) pass through the membrane, and all other impurities and bacteria are retained. The output is very pure water, almost like distilled. But the membrane has a significant disadvantage - useful minerals are filtered along with bacteria. Therefore, there will be no harm or benefit from such water. Buying a filter system with a membrane and a built-in mineralizer will help solve this problem. Thus, water completely purified from metal ions will be re-enriched with minerals.

Ion exchange

To purify hard water from heavy metal ions, only ion exchange is used in budget filtration systems. To purify water with the same quality as reverse osmosis does, ion exchange will not work, but still it is better than nothing.

Carbon filtration

Carbon filtration is a very useful feature found in most filter models. Coal serves to absorb chlorine, phenol, benzene, toluene, petroleum products and pesticides. It cleans from everything that is added to the water for disinfection. Even budget sink systems have carbon filtration, but some models may not have it.

Water softening

Water softening is an extremely useful function of the filter system. With it, you can reduce the content of calcium and magnesium ions in the water, which stimulates the formation of scale in the kettle, dishwasher and washing machine. This will not only save the housewife from unnecessary trouble with descaling, but also significantly extend the life of kitchen appliances.

The best inexpensive water filters for washing - a budget of up to 5,000 rubles

Inexpensive filters for washing cost an average of 1,500 - 5,000 rubles. It is rare to find membrane filtration, softening and mineralization in them, and the number of purification steps does not exceed three. At the same time, most models are quite capable of ridding water of heavy metals, chlorine, phenol, benzene and other chemical additives.

3 Aquaphor Crystal

Three stages of water purification. Ion exchange
Country Russia
Average price: 3,490 rubles.
Rating (2017): 3.5

Aquaphor Crystal is one of the most popular budget "under the sink" filter systems. Equipped with three stages of water purification, ion exchange and carbon filtration. There is no storage capacity in this model, since the maximum filter capacity is 2.5 liters per minute.

The resource of a standard filter module is designed for 8000 liters.

Most users, speaking about this filter, name such advantages as low price, ease of installation, cheap maintenance (cheap cartridges) and compactness of the system.

There are no less negative reviews. The most common complaints are about the quality of the water softener. It works for a C grade, without making the water noticeably softer. The water also continues to leave scale.

For people with kidney disease, it is better to purchase more expensive models that can handle hard water.

Video review

2 Barrier EXPERT Hard

The most capacious cartridge. Best price
Country Russia
Average price: 2,970 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.0

"Barrier EXPERT Hard" is one of the best-selling filter systems in last years. Among the best budget filters for washing presented in the review, "Barrier EXPERT Hard" stands out in that it has the most resource-intensive filter module. So, the cartridge of the Geyser Prestige 2 filter presented above is enough for 3500 liters, while the EXPERT Hard Barrier cartridge can be used for at least 10,000 liters. Three short advantage of the latter. Savings in a crisis does not fit.

Other advantages of this filter include the presence of a filter for softening water. This will get rid of scale in the kettle. True, there are complaints that this filter quickly clogs and after a couple of months the scale appears again. There is an explanation for this - in areas with very hard water, the filter, for obvious reasons, will clog much faster. You just need to change the cartridge in time.

Feedback from user Eduard:

If you take this filter, then immediately buy a drill for 12, otherwise you will go to the store again to make a hole in the countertop. Everything else is included, only the self-tapping screws for attaching to the chipboard are a bit short. In general, I like the filter, gaining a little more than a liter of water in a minute. This, by the way, is confusing, whether the filtering is going too fast. Maybe it affects the quality?

1 Geyser Prestige 2

The best ratio of price and quality
Country Russia
Average price: 4,990 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.5

Geyser is one of the leading domestic manufacturers of water treatment systems. The company was founded back in 1986 and today has a dealer network covering 120 cities in Russia. There are even European offices in Riga, Prague and Belgrade.

The Geyser Prestige 2 filter system is considered one of the best in quality in the budget price segment. With an average price of only 5500 r. the device has a reverse osmosis membrane for water purification, which dramatically improves the quality of filtration. Not many budget systems can boast of having a membrane.

Also in Geyser Prestige 2 there are stages of water purification from dissolved iron (iron removal) and purification from soluble hardness salts (softening).

Video review

Speaking about the advantages of this system, almost all users note the high quality of water purification, compactness, ease of installation and, of course, reasonable price.

The disadvantages of this model include a rather weak performance - only 0.3 liters of clean water per minute. For the needs of a small family of 2-3 people, it may be enough, and for larger families, you will have to purchase a storage tank (it is not included in the kit), where purified water will be stored.

The best filters for washing with a membrane - the average price segment

3 Geyser Prestige P

Built-in booster pump
Country Russia
Average price: 11,900 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.0

It is recommended to buy this filter system for washing if you have poor water pressure in your apartment / house. "Geyser Prestige P" is one of the few models that is equipped with a pump to increase water pressure. This will allow you to start the filtration process even in places with extremely low pressure (reverse osmosis requires at least 2 atmospheres to work, otherwise the system will not work).

Otherwise, Geyser Prestige P has everything that competitors have: 5 stages of cleaning, iron removal, softening, reverse osmosis, storage capacity of 12 liters. It is a pity, of course, that there is no water mineralizer, since for about the same money the competitor Atoll A-550m STD has a mineralization function.

Of the positive reviews, users note the high quality of filtration, inexpensive and very affordable cartridges (except for the membrane for 2000 rubles) and moderate drainage consumption (0.3 liters per 1 liter of pure water).

2 Aquaphor OSMO 50

Best price. 5 cleaning steps
Country Russia
Average price: 5,990 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.5

Aquaphor OSMO 50 is one of the most affordable reverse osmosis filter systems in terms of price. In addition to the membrane, there are 5 stages of water purification, a storage capacity of 10 liters and the functions of softening and cleaning from dissolved iron. In principle, this is enough to obtain high-quality water, as evidenced by user reviews. Water tastes better, scale and odors disappear.

There is, however, a significant disadvantage characteristic of many models with reverse osmosis - a high secondary flow of water into the drainage. For one liter of clean water, at least 6 liters go into the drainage. If you consume 300 liters of water in a month, then at least 1800 liters (almost two cubic meters) will go down the drain. For owners of houses with private sewerage, such a pleasure will result in a "penny".

Also, do not forget about the cost of replacing filter elements. Depending on the intensity of use, it may take 1500 - 5500 rubles to replace Aquaphor OSMO 50 filters. in year.

1 Atoll A-550m STD

mineralization function. Price quality
Country Russia
Average price: 12,900 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.5

This is the most expensive filter system presented in the review. But the price, as they say, is justified. Atoll A-550m STD is equipped with two very useful elements: a mineralizer and an oxygen enrichment function. What is the use of this? As it was said at the beginning of the article, the membrane makes the water crystal clear, cleaning out both harmful and beneficial substances (minerals) for the human body. The water turns out almost like distilled, which is not good. So, in Atoll A-550m STD, after all the purification procedures (and there are 5 steps here), the water is additionally enriched with useful mineral elements. And the water becomes much more useful than after conventional reverse osmosis (membrane) purification.

Other useful features of the Atoll A-550m include a water deironing device (removal of dissolved iron) - it will be useful for residents of areas with very hard water. Also, the filter system is equipped with a very capacious storage tank of 12 liters, which will be more than enough to provide clean water to a family of 2 to 6 people.

As for the reviews, for the most part they are only positive. Users praise Atoll A-550m primarily for very high-quality filtration - the water becomes really tastier. Of the not entirely pleasant moments, quite expensive cartridges can be distinguished. They last for a long time, but after 2-3 years (depending on the intensity of use) you will have to pay almost as much for the cartridges as the entire system costs.

Atoll A-550m STD - the best value for money!

Having experienced a wide variety of household water purification devices, consumers are increasingly inclined to use in-line filters, which are often called “sink filters” in everyday life.

They not only provide high quality water, but are also extremely beneficial to use. It is only important to learn how to choose such a device correctly.

This article will answer all the questions that pose before the consumer filters for water purification under the sink: which one is better to choose, what is the principle of operation and is it possible to install such a device on your own? And also consider customer reviews.

The advantages of flow filters will become more evident when compared with other varieties. Here are some water filters:

1. Pitchers: the most affordable option with very modest characteristics. The filtration rate is only about 0.1 - 0.3 l / min. Quality - depends on the configuration. In the cheapest models, cleaning is carried out by means of a mesh and activated carbon (chlorine, unpleasant odor, mechanical impurities are eliminated), expensive ones still have an ion exchange resin and a finely porous mesh (retains salts of hardness, iron and heavy metals). The volume of the filter material in the cartridge is small, so every 300 liters of purified water it must be replaced. An important advantage of the jug is complete autonomy, that is, water supply is not needed to use it.
2. Filter nozzles: the same filter material is used, but in larger quantities, so the resource is about 700 liters. The performance is also higher - due to the pressure (the cleaner is fixed on the mixer spout or connected to it with a hose). In a minute, you can get from 0.5 to 1.5 liters of water.
3. Flow-through: these installations use a much more efficient filter material, and in a very large volume. Due to this, the resource can reach 12 thousand liters, and 1 liter of purified water costs mere pennies.

Number of steps different models ranges from 3 to 8. The most effective of the flow-through water purifiers are reverse osmosis, which screen out up to 99% of contaminants.

The principle of operation of filters under the sink

The device is designed in such a way that water passes through all the cartridges in series, and each of them specializes in cleaning the liquid from one or another type of impurities.

The main advantage of flow filters is that the user himself can assemble a set of flasks, depending on the quality of the water supplied specifically to him.

Here are the types of cartridges produced today:

1. Ultrafiltration module (mechanical cleaning): according to the principle of operation, it is similar to a coarse mesh filter, only it has cells (in this case it is more correct to say - pores) of a much smaller diameter. Non-woven propylene is mainly used as a filter element, but many companies use their own designs that are more efficient or have a longer resource. The ultrafiltration module retains mechanical impurities - rust, clay, sand and other debris.
2. Carbon filter: this cartridge is filled with activated carbon, which has pronounced sorption properties, that is, the ability to absorb certain types of chemical contaminants. Over time, the carbon filter is saturated with them "to the eyeballs", so it needs to be changed periodically. If this is not done, the water passing through the filter will not be purified, but, on the contrary, will become contaminated, capturing part of the accumulated stock of harmful substances. The carbon filter may contain silver ions, which provide a disinfecting effect.
3. Artificial ion exchange resin cartridge: this substance filters water by chemical exchange, taking away harmful ions from it - magnesium, calcium, heavy metals - and replacing them with harmless ones, for example, sodium ions. Such modules do not need to be changed, but periodically they need to be regenerated using special reagents.
4. Iron removal cartridge: is set if the water is excessively saturated with iron, which is typical, for example, for many artesian wells.
5. UV processing module: has a UV lamp inside, the radiation of which kills all harmful animals - viruses and bacteria. This cartridge needs power supply.
6. Structurer: according to the latest scientific data, the effect of water on the body depends not only on its purity, but also on the internal structure. This concept primarily refers to the type of so-called clusters into which water molecules are combined. It is not for nothing that yogis recommend drinking thawed water in the absence of spring water - when the state of aggregation changes, its structure normalizes. In order not to bother with freezing, you can equip your filter with a structurizer with a bioceramic filler.
7. Module with reverse osmosis membrane: This element provides the highest degree of water purification. It works in the same way as the mechanical cleaning module, but it has such small pores that only the most compact molecules - water and gases dissolved in it - can squeeze through them. The membrane is made of semi-permeable polypropylene or cellulose acetate and is installed rolled up in the filter. The most effective ones ensure the removal of 99% of impurities. There are varieties with relatively large pores - the so-called nanofilters. Their efficiency lies within 92%.

The scheme of water purification in the apartment using filters

Unfortunately, you will not be able to limit the complete set of your filter to a single flask with a reverse osmosis membrane. This is due to two circumstances:

1. If the entire flow of impurities in the water is brought down on the membrane, it will quickly become clogged. Therefore, this element must be preceded by preliminary cleaning. Usually it consists of 2 stages of mechanical cleaning (coarse and fine) and a carbon filter.
2. Water seeps through the reverse osmosis membrane rather slowly, so it is usually collected in a special storage capacity. Here, the liquid can stagnate, so another carbon filter is installed at the outlet of the tank.

Thus, reverse osmosis filters in the simplest version are 5-stage.

Today, the usefulness of water purified by reverse osmosis is questioned by many. Opponents of this technology argue that with such water consumption, a person receives less many trace elements necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

A set of equipment of the highest degree of purification

Such considerations seem to us far-fetched. After all, a person receives all the necessary substances in the first place with food. As for water, the content of microelements in it is so scanty that in order to replenish the daily requirement, one would have to drink more than a dozen liters. In defense of reverse osmosis, here are a few more facts:

• Well-known health advocate Paul Bragg drank distilled water and lived to almost 90 years of age. I would have lived longer if I had not drowned while riding a surfboard (at such and such an age).
• In the tea tradition of China, tea brewed with pre-harvested dew is considered the most delicious. The latter, as you know, is formed from the purest water vapor.
• In some regions, people almost constantly drink rainwater, which is close to distilled in its composition.

Filter manufacturers are acting quite wisely: they do not prove anything to anyone - they simply offer everyone to install a special module on the filter, called a mineralizer. Passing through it, the water is saturated with various elements, such as fluorine or iodine.

Installation

Installation of a household water treatment system does not include any complex operations, therefore it can be carried out by the owner.

Moreover, each product comes with fairly detailed installation instructions.

The installation scheme for all flow systems is approximately the same and does not depend on the number of flasks and their technical characteristics.

Installation is carried out in a certain order.

Location selection

The location of the filter installation should be chosen taking into account the need for periodic maintenance or replacement of cartridges, that is, so that the device has sufficient free access. In this case, the installation method - horizontal or vertical - does not matter. The storage tank can also be laid on its side if necessary.

Please note that with insufficient pressure in the water supply (less than 3.5 atm), a pump will need to be installed in front of the filter, which will require additional space. It is also advisable to install a coarse filter in front of the protochnik (if there is a pump, it is placed before it), called an oblique filter or a mud collector.

Before starting work, we turn off the water supply with the root valve and relieve pressure in the water supply by opening the “cold” tap.

Installation and assembly of the tie-in

A tie-in is a tee with a tap attached to it. Both parts must be included with the product.

First of all, you need to disconnect the hose leading to the mixer. Instead of her to water pipe screw on the tee.

Now you need to take the tap and screw the so-called tubing to its outlet or, in other words, the tube, also supplied in the kit.

If the pipes are marked with different colors - usually red and blue, then the red one must be connected to the tap. After that, the valve should be screwed into the branch of the tee.

If space permits, the actions can be performed in a different sequence: first assemble the tie-in, and then screw it to the pipe.

All threaded connections must be carefully sealed. Usually, sanitary flax, tow or a special fluoroplastic tape (FUM) is used as a sealant, but an inexperienced installer may have problems when working with such material.

If you overdo it with the sealant, then when screwing on the part with an internal thread may burst. If, on the contrary, be careful, the connection will be leaky and will leak.

The best solution with a lack of practice would be to use a special thread "Tanget Unilock" as a sealant, which is very easy to use and, most importantly, even with some "overdose" does not lead to the destruction of parts.

Installing a filtered water faucet

This faucet must be attached to the sink next to the faucet. Many modern sinks already have a hole for this, but if you have a different model, you will have to drill it yourself. Get your drill and diamond bits ready, then do the following:

• If the sink has an enamel or other coating, make a hole in it for a 13 mm drill bit. The coating must be removed completely, reaching the metal.
• The cleaned metal must be drilled with a drill with a diameter of 7 mm. The speed of rotation of the drill chuck should be minimal. Particular care must be taken when the tool exits from the opposite side.
• Now the hole needs to be drilled with a 13 mm drill.

The faucet is attached to the sink by means of a clamping nut, which must be tightened with an ordinary wrench.

Installation of the storage tank and its connection to the drain pipe

The threads of the tank should be wound with several turns of Teflon tape. Next, a plastic tap should be attached to the container. The operation is performed manually, and it is important to avoid excessive efforts. The valve should be immediately transferred to the "closed" position.

The drainage of the drive is connected to the sewerage system using a special clamp. It is done like this:

1. On the pipe connecting the sink drain and the sewer, we select a horizontal or vertical section in front of the water seal and drill a hole with a diameter of 7 mm in it.
2. A rubber gasket must be glued to the pipe wall at the place where the hole is made.
3. We fix the clamp support. The hole in it must completely coincide with the one just made in the pipe. To do this, before the installation is completed, a drill must be inserted into the hole.

After that, both screws holding the support are tightened with force.

Putting the filter into operation

To hang the filter on the wall at the place of its installation, it is necessary to screw in two screws.

After the device is fixed, it is necessary to remove the plugs from it and connect the tubings of the corresponding color to the vacated holes.

Now the tap on the tie-in must be closed and after the resumption of the water supply by opening the root valve - open again, doing this as smoothly as possible. Next, open the tap for purified water, installed next to the mixer (the valve to the accumulator must be closed). After about a quarter of an hour, when all the air is forced out of the filter, water will begin to drip from the tap.

Filter after installation

In this position, it must be left for half an hour - this is necessary to flush the water purifier (the membrane, if any, must be removed for this time so that it does not become clogged with small particles of material in the cartridges).

After draining about 15 liters, close the tap for filtered water and open the valve on the water supply line to the storage tank. After filling it, the entire supply of water must be drained into the sewer (washing the tank), then repeat the operation again. Only after that you can install the membrane and use the filter.

Perhaps today everyone knows that human health directly depends on the quality of water consumed. But far from the best water flows from the tap, so you have to either clean it or buy it ready-made. and classification.

The system for dumping household waste in a private house should be well thought out so that the owners are comfortable and that the environment is not harmed. Here you can read an overview of the different types of cleaning systems.

Requirements for water treatment systems

The selected filter must meet a number of conditions:

1. Have dimensions that allow you to perform not only installation under the sink, but also periodic maintenance.
2. The pressure for which the filter is designed should not be higher than the actual user in the water supply. Typically, a reverse osmosis water purifier requires a pressure of 3 - 3.5 atm. If there is a discrepancy in this paragraph, an additional pump will have to be installed in the system.
3. All filter elements must have sufficient strength. This concerns, first of all, the material of the flasks. Plastic cases often do not withstand a sharp pressure drop and crack. Therefore, it is better to choose models with flasks made of stainless steel or glass-filled plastic. It is also desirable that the taps supplied with the filter be made of a metal alloy and have a ceramic gasket. Unlike them, plastic parts begin to leak rather quickly. Of course, not only durability is mandatory for all materials, but also environmental safety (plastic parts should not emit an unpleasant odor).

The performance of the filter, as well as the volume of the storage tank, when it comes to reverse osmosis installations, must correspond to the needs of the family.

There is no need to suffer with tedious calculations: usually manufacturers indicate how many people a particular model is designed for a family of.

Which water filter to choose under the sink

What are the best water filters? To choose the most suitable filter model, you need to know exactly what kind of pollution he will have to deal with.

Data on the composition of impurities - quantitative and qualitative - in tap water can be obtained free of charge at the local branch of Rospotrebnadzor.

In order to find out exactly what the water is “rich in”, it is necessary to send a sample for laboratory research.

In an abbreviated version (according to 14 parameters), it costs about 1,500 rubles, in a detailed version - about 3 thousand rubles. Today, some companies supplying filters can also provide such a service.

An approximate water analysis can be performed independently using special test strips. However, they make it possible to determine only the presence of a particular impurity, but not its concentration. Therefore, in this way, the quality of the outlet water is usually monitored during tests of the installed filter.

Based on the results of the analysis, a filter model is selected. A powerful 8-speed system is not always the best, as many of its modules may not be in demand.

For example, to purify water extracted from an artesian well, as a rule, a mechanical treatment module and an iron removal cartridge are required. Water in some areas of St. Petersburg, which does not have deviations in bacteriological and calcium-magnesium composition, is sufficient to be cleaned of chlorine residues using a carbon filter.

Complete set of the filter "Aquaphor"

In addition to using test strips, there are other ways to check the quality of the filter. To, for example, determine how well organochlorine is removed, methylene blue can be added to water. If this type of impurity is absent, the water will remain transparent. If she has a color, then the filter is not working efficiently, and the thicker the color, the greater the concentration of organochlorine.

Which manufacturer do you prefer?

As we have seen, water filters are different, which one to choose is up to you.

Let's take a look at the manufacturers. Each of the well-known filter manufacturers offers one or another “zest” that competitors do not have.

In Aquaphor filters, for example, the so-called Aqualen, developed in the company's laboratory, is used for mechanical cleaning. This innovation made it possible to increase the resource of the cartridge up to 12 thousand liters.

The “trump card” of the Geyser company is the special filter substance Aragon, developed by Soviet scientists to remove radioactive pollutants from water. Due to its high efficiency, it can replace a whole set of materials focused on cleaning from one or another contamination.

Cartridges based on Aragon can be restored with soda and citric acid.

The filter "Barrier Expert Standard" attracts with its simplicity of design: all modules can be easily replaced by yourself, without inviting specialists.

The question of whose products are better also interested journalists from the Control Check program, which airs on the country's main channel. Filter jugs from a number of manufacturers were tested. In addition to the already mentioned Aquaphor, Geyser and Barrier, filters from Brita and New Wave companies took part in the competition. After checking the purified water in the laboratory, the authors gave the palm to the Aquaphor filter.

Price

• its initial cost;
• the price of consumables;
• the cost of one liter of purified water.

The latter is determined by a simple arithmetic operation: the cost of a set of filter cartridges must be divided by their resource, unless, of course, it is indicated in liters (sometimes a time interval is indicated).

The cost of conventional cartridge filters for washing (without reverse osmosis) starts from 3 thousand rubles. For this amount, for example, you can buy the Expert Standard Barrier system. The Aquaphor Favorite filter will cost a little more - about 4 thousand rubles. Filters of the Geyser Bio series with Aragon cost from 3 to 5 thousand rubles. So, the Geyser Bio 321 model will cost 3.4 thousand rubles. At the same time, 2 thousand rubles will have to be paid annually for a new set of cartridges.

Of the high-quality reverse osmosis filters, the Aquaphor Osmo 100 system, costing 6.5 thousand rubles, can be considered the most affordable. The membrane for it will cost 1.7 thousand rubles. Pre-filters - from 70 to 310 rubles.

The price of other membrane filters can vary greatly. For example, the Atoll A550 STD system (designed for a family of 5-6 people) will cost 14.3 thousand rubles.

In cottage and summer cottages, people most often use well water. In this case, it is necessary for the owners of the well to monitor the quality of the water. read on our website.

About how to choose washing machine under the sink and install it, read in the block.

The current situation in ecology is such that the water coming from the tap in houses and apartments can only approximately be called drinking water. Therefore, more and more people are wondering how to choose a good water filter that guarantees complete purification from contaminants, will be inexpensive but good, and at the same time keep the water alive, that is, containing useful minerals. The modern market offers such an unimaginable number of models that it is impossible to give advice on choosing a reliable device without considering the principles on which its work is built. The article describes how to choose a water filter, and also gives recommendations on the use of certain cleaning methods.

Location

First you need to do the simplest. the water purification system requires periodic maintenance, so the most convenient place to install it is in the free space under the sink. This step has several advantages:

• the device is available and replacing cartridges will not be a problem;
• simplifies the communications scheme required to connect the inlet supply and filter outlet to a drinking water tap;
• it is possible to accommodate a sufficiently large device without impairing access to its parts.

When placing a water filter under the sink, if a reverse osmosis model is chosen, it is worth taking care of the availability of sufficient space,.

Basic designs

A modern water filter, if high-quality cleaning is required, will have at least three cartridges. This is sufficient to ensure good water quality at the outlet. A three-component system, however, may not provide a sufficient level of cleaning. For problematic cases, the industry offers a water treatment system with five and even six stages of purification.

Flow systems

At the moment we are talking about the so-called flow cleaning devices. The principle of their work is fundamentally simple:

• water from the supply of the apartment enters the first stage, where it is cleaned of mechanical suspensions;
• passing sequentially through the following cartridges, the liquid can get rid of salts, metal ions, chlorine, microorganisms.

After passing through the last stage, the water enters directly into the sink faucet. A simple multi-stage water filter requires good pressure at the faucet to work effectively. However, its functionality can be carefully selected to clearly meet the needs of the owners of the apartment or house. Later it will be considered how, with the help of various components, to turn a water purification apparatus into a device that can do clearly defined actions and get rid of certain harmful impurities.

Reverse osmosis systems

Reverse osmosis systems operate on a different principle. Water travels a more difficult path before entering the sink faucet:

• after entering the filter inlet, the liquid goes through several stages of purification, as well as during the operation of a flow device;
• the final stage of purification is a membrane that works with the help of cells literally a molecule in size. It passes liquid very slowly, so reverse osmosis systems are necessarily equipped with a storage tank, and therefore take up more space;
• Before entering the faucet, water can go through another stage of disinfection or, on the contrary, it can be saturated with minerals.

There are two key disadvantages that a reverse osmosis water treatment system has. The first is the large amount of space occupied and the inability to provide pressure corresponding to the water supply to the apartment. The second - the water at the outlet is absolutely sterile. According to the testimony of doctors, it is unsuitable for drinking and cooking. Therefore, a reverse osmosis water filter must be completed without fail with a mineralization system.

Helpful notes

The advice for choosing a reliable water filter is as follows: in the eyes of the buyer, the rating of a device that is easy to maintain should be above all. The requirements are the following:

• flasks with cartridges should be untwisted without the use of a special tool;
• when deciding how to choose a water filter, keep in mind: cartridges come in different sizes, so pay attention to installations with the most common sizes of replacement units on sale;
• the choice of a good water filter also consists in determining the size of the model for its convenient installation, the number of purification steps;
• it must be remembered that a quality product must have an environmental safety certificate for all the materials from which it is made.

Once a rough selection of a good water filter has been made, it is time to determine the technologies used for cleaning. But first, it is worth considering those products that are literally on everyone's lips thanks to aggressive advertising.

Water purification devices - Geyser and Barrier

These two products can be called desperate competitors when it comes to models designed for installation under the sink. In essence, the Geyser and the Barrier work on the same principles, the only difference is in the cleaning methods applied in three or more stages that make up the water filter itself.

Water purification system - Geyser

Geyser offers ready-made models capable, according to the manufacturer:

• purify water from chlorine ions;
• precipitate iron impurities;
• perform the finest cleaning;
• get rid of excess mineralization.

The company offers a wide range of solutions. In essence, the marketing policy is built in the same way, if we consider the Barrier water filter.

Water Treatment System - Barrier

To understand on what criteria to build a choice of a good water filter, just visit a specialized forum dedicated to models - Geyser and Barrier. There are reviews that characterize what has already been said in the article:

• The geyser, although it is positioned as the best, has maintenance problems - it is impossible to unscrew the flasks without a special tool, and it is very difficult to do this with a limited space. You can even find a video that clearly shows how inconveniently the top of the station is constructed;
• the quality of the system - Barrier, like its competitor, even in Moscow with rare cases of severe water pollution, is not always at a high level - there are often cases when the liquid at the outlet is cloudy or has a color;
• The proposed range of replacement cartridges for models - Geyser and Barrier does not always meet the needs of customers.

In general, it doesn't matter which water filter to choose: the Geyser, like the Barrier, is nothing revolutionary, using the standard mechanics of work, depending on the efficiency of the cleaning elements.

Cleaning technologies

So the turn has come to consider the most important component, on which the choice of a good water filter depends. The cartridge is exactly the device that is the cleaning point. Today, there are several types of these wonderful devices, the principles of which should be considered sequentially.

Mechanical cleaning cartridge

It is designed to remove various kinds of suspensions, ranging from excessive levels of large mineral salts to banal rust and dirt. It differs in the degree of filtration. The minimum recommended for installation is with a cell of 30 microns, and a fine mechanical water cartridge will not let particles larger than 5 microns pass through.

Bioneutralization Cartridge

In fact, in a porous structure, such a water cartridge contains colonies of bacteriophages that fight most of the known pathogens that live and multiply in the drinking liquid. When passing through such a cartridge, the water becomes disinfected and as safe as possible. Such a cartridge should be used in areas with insufficient water purification or chlorination.

Hard impurity settling unit

Such impurities are iron ions, minerals that make water hard. The output of such a water cartridge has soft, clean water. Technically, inside the cartridge are substances of both artificial and natural origin, the so-called sulfonated carbons. They perform ionic purification, while it should be borne in mind that if you choose a good water filter, you should prefer technology with artificially synthesized compounds, since such a cartridge is reliable, more attractive in terms of price and quality, corresponds to all the characteristics of efficiency of a block with natural components, but - significantly longer lasts before replacement.

The principle of operation of the membrane unit

A fairly complex multilayer device, the key element of which is a membrane with a cell size comparable to the size of one molecule. Such a water filter removes absolutely everything from the liquid. But its pros and cons are clear even by the principle of operation - this is an extremely low throughput, fast clogging, but - cardinal cleaning to the level of sterility. The price of such a device is very high, and the period of effective operation is quite short.

Special Purpose Water Cartridge

In such a single segment, cartridges can be combined to neutralize iron salts, free chlorine radicals and other harmful substances. Such a water filter requires a separate connection to the sewer for periodic washing out of the converted chemical compounds, so it is usually installed as a separate cleaning stage.

Secondary Mineralization Cartridge

A water filter that allows you to create "living" water again. Its use is recommended in reverse osmosis systems to make a chemically neutral, absolutely sterile liquid re-saturated with key minerals that a person needs to absorb water. This final step is definitely worth buying if you care about your health.

Impact blocks

As the last stage, a water filter can be used, the task of which is not to remove something from the liquid, but to perform a special action. For example, ultraviolet irradiation to ensure the destruction of bacteria or ultrasonic shock. Such devices are specific, and often their use is justified only by the desire of manufacturers to raise the price of products.

After considering the available technologies, one can clearly understand how to build an efficient treatment plant and give advice on choosing a reliable water filter.

An interesting video about choosing a cartridge:

We create a quality system

So, as a conclusion, we will describe the way in which the choice of a good water filter is made.

• It is necessary to decide whether the use of a reverse osmosis system is justified, whether it is worth putting up with a weak pressure, whether there are sufficient financial opportunities to replace expensive membrane cartridges.
• Select the installation location and choose a station model that is characterized by easy maintenance, compactness, and at least three cleaning stages.
• Decide what the water filter will do and purchase the appropriate consumables - cartridges.
• If necessary, provide for a separate final stage. This can be a water purification system that saturates the water with minerals or a special treatment station with a separate connection to the sewer.

Rating of the best water filters 2016

Finally, we have come to the most interesting moment and present you our rating of the best water filters for 2016. We have collected in it only the most reliable and high-quality models.

1. Aquaphor OSMO 50 version 5
2. Atoll A-550m STD
3. Atoll A-550p STD
4. Aquaphor DWM 41 Leader
5. Barrier EXPERT Ferrum
6. Geyser Prestige 2
7. Atoll A-450 STD
8. Novaya Voda Expert Osmos MO510
9. USTM RO-5
10. Atoll A-550 STD

Conclusion

As you can see, advice on choosing a reliable water filter comes down to choosing the number and types of cartridges. And here the market offers a huge selection. Dozens, if not hundreds of manufacturers, all of the above technologies, different sizes. And as mentioned above, if you want to know how to choose a quality water filter that does not cause problems, you should remember that this should be a device that uses the most common cartridge size.

It is easy and quick to purify the water supplied to our apartments by the central water supply, which often contains dangerous organic impurities, chlorine, rust, oil products, mercury, lead, and keep your household and you healthy with water filters for washing. A simple and inconspicuous device will become your indispensable assistant in kitchen matters. To prepare a simple breakfast or a gourmet dinner, you do not have to wait for the water to purify, as when using a filter jug. Just turn the faucet valve - and you get purified healthy drinking water!

The system is easily mounted under the kitchen sink; a miniature faucet for filtered water is placed on the side of the sink. You can buy a product with the number of cleaning steps you need. Each is responsible for holding a certain type of impurities. The more stages in the filter, the cleaner the water flowing from the tap will be. True, the price of such a device will be less budgetary.

You can buy a high-quality filter with 3 stages of purification today from 1900 rubles. 6-speed, of course, will cost more.

The equipment of which brand to choose - European or Russian - is up to you. Such domestic brands as Geyser, Aquaphor, Atoll have proven themselves superbly. The German company Grohe also enjoys consumer confidence.