What are main filters (or prefilters)
A pre-filter, or pre-filter, is installed in the main line at the entrance to the home water supply system.
Hence the second name for prefilters - main filters. Most often, they purify water from the city water supply or are part of the water treatment system in the cottage. Main filters provide rough mechanical purification of water from sand, rust and silt. Pre-filters with a carbon cartridge also remove chlorine, phenols, benzenes, heavy metals and pesticides from water. After preliminary purification, the water becomes more transparent and gets rid of foreign odors, but remains unsuitable for drinking.
Features of main water filters
There is a gradation of filtration systems not only by type. Main devices are divided according to the principle of operation and features of purification of incoming water. Compliance with the selection criteria will always leave you with clean liquid at the outlet.
Flow-through main filters for coarse water
Before installing the filtration system, it is necessary to provide for mechanical cleaning of dirt, sand and other large impurities. For this purpose, coarse flow-through main water filters are used, which must be purchased to obtain a complete purification system.
During rough cleaning, a large fraction is retained inside the filter flask
They also differ in design features, which affects not only the quality of work, but also the cost of the final product:
- Mesh filters, where the element that retains mechanical particles is a mesh with a cell diameter of 50 to 500 microns.
- Cartridge models, where the main filter element is a cartridge capable of trapping particles less than 0.5 microns.
- Pressure options, represented by a tank, inside of which there is a filter element and a drainage pipe. Thanks to this design, it is possible to retain particles up to 30 microns.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION!
According to reviews, flow-through coarse water filters made using a self-washing system are better because they require less maintenance. Non-flush options will require shutting off the water supply system and dismantling the entire structure for cleaning.
Fine filters
After preliminary purification of the liquid from large fractions, fine cleaning is required. For this, a reverse osmosis system is used, which cannot be used in a country house. In this case, the following options will be optimal:
- A sorption filter, represented by a separate tank, inside of which there is an absorbent capable of retaining metal salts and other chemical compounds.
- Ion exchange system used in the presence of hard water.
Fine or final cleaning is carried out through osmosis, as the most reliable option
Main flow filters for hot and cold water
It is possible to install a main purification system for both cold and hot water. The choice of a certain type is determined by necessity. At the same time, certain requirements are imposed on such filters. This applies to a greater extent to the filtration of hot water. It must be made of heat-resistant materials to ensure reliable operation.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION!
Hot water filters can be used to purify cold water. Replacement is not allowed.
Availability and cost of replacement filters, which are consumables, is one of the selection criteria
How to choose a main filter
How much water per month needs to be purified?
Look at the meter readings to see how many liters of water you spend per month on average. This affects the size of the case, the choice of cartridge and the frequency of its replacement.
Where to install the prefilter?
Plan the space where you will install the filter and determine the appropriate size. As a rule, to replace a cartridge, you need to disconnect the lower part of the case together with the cartridge from the upper part. Leave some extra space under the filter.
If the installation location is difficult to access, pay attention to prefilters with the “American” type of fastening - it will be easier to install.
Need cold or hot water to purify?
The housing and replacement module must be able to withstand the appropriate temperatures. Cold water is considered to be water with a temperature from +5 to +35 degrees Celsius, hot - above +35 degrees.
By the way, with central hot water supply, hot water is dirtier than cold water.
Is there a real need to install filters to purify water in an apartment?
Long-term consumption of low-quality water can provoke the emergence and development of many different diseases. However, for some reason it is not customary to talk about the quality of the water that flows in our water pipes. But its additional cleaning is not just a whim, but a real necessity.
In order to understand exactly what type of filter you need, you should start with a chemical analysis of the water. In a special laboratory, research is carried out to determine the presence and quantity of certain impurities in a particular sample. This is necessary because depending on the region of residence, city, and sometimes microdistrict, the chemical composition of water can vary greatly.
Among the impurities that have an adverse effect on human health, but are present almost everywhere, are calcium, magnesium, iron and chlorine. We often have to deal with the spread of pathogenic bacteria through water. In addition, it is often discovered that the supplied water is contaminated with pesticides. Although this is more common in private houses than in apartments.
Neither the appearance of water, nor its smell or taste makes it possible to determine exactly what impurities fill the sample. Therefore, laboratory analysis is a mandatory procedure that must be carried out before deciding which water filter to choose for your home.
Main filter for cold water
In addition, please note that the impurities found in water in an apartment and in a house can be completely different. So, for a home, a lime filter in water is a common occurrence, while in the water supply system of apartment buildings such an admixture is quite rare.
Helpful advice! If you live in an apartment building, you can ask your neighbors if anyone plans to install a filter and pay for a water analysis together.
Filter selection criteria
In addition to the type of filter system, when choosing, you need to pay attention to other indicators that are more related to the operational features of the product.
Water consumption
Doctors advise drinking at least 2 liters of fluid per day. If we add here the consumption of liquid food, which it is also advisable to cook with filtered water, then the average amount drunk per day per person will be 3 liters.
To supply a family of three people per month you will need: 3 hours * 3 liters * 30 days = 270 liters. This indicator must be compared with the declared resource and performance of a specific model. Based on these calculations, purchasing a regular jug will be inappropriate, since it will require monthly replacement.
It is better to leave the installation of the main filter to specialists who know exactly what, where, and why
Availability of free space
With this indicator everything is extremely simple. Sufficient free space is required for installation under the sink. A similar requirement is put forward for the backbone system. The filter jug will take no more than 15 cm³.
Flow filter price
Very often, the choice of a particular model is based solely on cost. It will depend not only on the model, but also on the manufacturer and the number of filtration systems used, as well as the filtrate. The most optimal cost is a simple faucet attachment, which can be purchased for 600-700 rubles. The “under-the-sink” system has a price tag of 4-5 thousand. Reverse osmosis with all additional settings will cost 12-15 thousand.
Installing a flow-through water filter
Another criterion is ease of installation. In this regard, nozzles and simple filters for sinks, which do not require intervention in the centralized water supply system, benefit from this. The most difficult to install are main filters and osmotic options, which require special skills and tools.
Coarse filtration device
The main coarse water filter separates the largest particles. It is installed as an inlet filter for water, thanks to which the equipment in the apartment can operate for a long time. Also, rough pre-cleaning is needed before other methods of water filtration.
The main element is a metal mesh filter without replaceable cartridges. Some devices use several stages of filtration, where the size of the mesh cells is gradually reduced. A mechanical cleaning filter lasts indefinitely, since the filter element undergoes periodic cleaning by washing, which can be direct or reverse (the latter is more effective). If the mesh becomes completely clogged, it can be replaced.
USEFUL INFORMATION: Mineralizer for reverse osmosis: why it is needed, maintenance and replacement
Purpose
Main filters are used for mechanical cleaning, as well as chemical and biological. Chemical treatment is primarily the chlorination or softening of water through the use of reagents. This cleaning method is not recommended for use in apartments. For greater efficiency, filters use several stages of cleaning.
USEFUL INFORMATION: How to replace the cartridge in a water filter: filter maintenance, how often to change
Number of cleaning stages
Depending on the purpose, flow filters contain from one to three cleaning stages. If you know what impurities you need to purify water from, you need to choose the appropriate model.
Device selection
How to choose the best main filter for purifying drinking water in an apartment?
When choosing, you need to consider the following parameters:
- Loss of pressure in the water supply. It should be between 0.1–0.6 bar. In a house with low pressure, when installing a filter, you will have to additionally use a main pump.
- Bandwidth. For an apartment, products that pass through a volume of water of 20–50 l/min are suitable.
Domestic universal devices 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 beneficial properties are preserved thanks to modern technologies of mechanical filtration, ion exchange, disinfection with silver and sorbent. Reviews of the company's products are mostly positive.
Domestic also produces filters based on the latest advances in water treatment. The Aquaphor Viking series of devices is designed for fine purification of water from various impurities: sand, rust, excess iron content in water, metal salts and other substances. It also ensures the neutralization of chlorine, which is harmful not only when drinking water internally, but also when swimming.
USEFUL INFORMATION: Reverse osmosis connection diagram: assembly and installation
The Artesian household self-cleaning filter with washing does not require the use of replaceable cartridges. Its filtration element consists of high-strength stainless alloys. The filter element is galvanically coated with silver and wound with the finest string. Under the influence of water flow, it vibrates and impurities do not settle in the pores. Washing is done using a drain tap.
Of the foreign models, Atoll devices have proven themselves well. They have a reasonable price and high quality cleaning. Contamination of the cartridge is controlled thanks to the transparent body, which allows you to change it on time.
