Water softeners: varieties and subtleties of choice

The problem of hard water is typical of artesian wells. Not only residents of city apartments are familiar with it, but also owners of private houses living outside the city. Such water has suspensions of alkali metal salts of calcium and magnesium. The higher their rate, the greater the percentage of rigidity. Today, special filters are increasingly used for such water.

Hard water is the cause of the main problems of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the kidneys and joints, spoils household appliances. In addition, it causes disruptions in the engineering networks of water supply and sanitation.Filters are necessary to eliminate excess salts and protect plumbing, household appliances and pipes from calcium deposits, since the overgrowth of surfaces with calcium salts reduces heat transfer and contributes to the breakdown of technology. They are an effective measure to prevent negative factors associated with the use of water with a high concentration of alkaline salts.

Hard water compels the use of detergent and detergents in larger quantities. Its mitigation will allow you to normalize the consumption of detergent chemistry. In addition, the skin suffers from hard water: it begins to peel off, and sometimes microcracks appear. It is dangerous for people with sensitive skin and allergies. The filter is an indispensable device for providing such tenants with comfortable and acceptable conditions for living and maintaining body hygiene.

For example, it will help get rid of hard linen, which it becomes when it dries after washing in hard water. There will be no scaling on the walls of household appliances, detergents will lather in the proper amount, and the skin after washing or bathing will not be tightened.In addition, the use of a filter will make water suitable for drinking and cooking. It will be pleasant to the taste, and most importantly, it will not be harmful to the body, which few people think about when using it as food.

A hard water softening filter is more efficient than a boiling process.which many have unsuccessfully used, and other ways to solve the problem of hard water. For example, such devices do not need a large reservoir, constant reagent replenishment and waste disposal, such as the use of soda ash. With their use, it will be possible not to worry about the broken shower heads, the loss of color of the washed things and the quality of washing in general.

In addition, such filters will help restore the lipid layer of the skin, the natural beauty of the hair and will be the prevention of salt deposits in the kidneys. With their help, you can prevent pipe blockages. However, the choice of such a device should be deliberate, since with an excessive decrease in salt concentration, water will become dangerous for the cardiovascular system of the body. Therefore, we must take into account the fact that there are no universal devices.Before you buy, you need to know for exactly what purpose it is planned to use water.

In addition, you need to know that the hardness of the water is different. From this repelled when buying a filter to soften.

To understand what device is needed, find out the hardness of the water, which can be:

• very mild (less than 1.5 mEq / l);
• mild (within 1.5-4 mEq / l);
• medium hardness (in the range of 4–8 mg-eq / l);
• hard (8–12 mg-eq / l);
• very hard (more than 12 mEq / l).

This gradation is designed for drinking and household water. According to Russian standards, the permissible limit of water can reach 7 mEq / l, although today this figure is disputed, proving that it should not exceed 4 mEq / l. Usually the softest water is typical for wells of great depth, medium and hard run from the taps of the water supply of city apartments. The job of the softener filters is to replace magnesium and calcium ions with safe sodium ions.

In the modern market of filtering devices for water softening a lot of equipment has been offered to the attention of the buyer. Products differ in type of filtration, tank volume, quality and performance characteristics.In addition, they can be portable and stationary, as well as different attachment point.

To date, all varieties for water softening can be classified into categories:

• ion exchange;
• polyphosphate;
• magnetic;
• membrane;
• electromagnetic.

The basis of such devices is ion exchange resin, the passage of water through which allows you to make it softer. Such devices for water softening are characterized by high performance and durability of cartridges. They can be operated from an ion exchange column at any pressure of the pipeline and are suitable for softening drinking water. Appropriate for the treatment of bathing water, although filtering with their help can be extremely cold water. The principle of operation of such devices is used in filter-nozzles on the crane, main, multistage systems and in devices such as jugs.

Outwardly, such equipment is a flask with polyphosphate salt crystals. When water passes through them, it is saturated with sodium polyphosphate. For proper operation, these devices are fixed in front of household equipment (dishwasher or washing machine, boiler). Such devices are effective in water purification, they are inexpensive and protect household appliances from scale. However, purified with their help water is not suitable for food. In addition, approximately once every six months, in such devices, it is necessary to replace the contents of the flask or the flask itself.

Reverse osmosis devices are used not only to soften water, but also to clean it of debris. Such devices are in demand among customers, although their work in the water destroys useful minerals. During processing, the water becomes distilled, so you have to enrich it using a mineralizer. The membrane system is characterized by the presence of pre-treatment, which protects the main element from destruction and allows to extend the service life of the system. It uses carbon and polypropylene filters. The device is expensive, while it is demanding on pressure,the minimum figure is 3-4 atmospheres.

Such softeners to reduce the hardness of the water attached to the pipe. They are effective against lime and significantly prolong their high-quality operation. Magnets capable of changing the properties of water at the physical level are inside the devices. Due to these, salts lose the ability to create crystals, to extrude and form scum. Depending on the species can work from 5 to 25 years. They have false varieties that do not need a tie-in into the system, do not need maintenance and flushing. They are selected based on the speed of the flowing water and its temperature, because they are able to clean only cold water.

The category includes devices with a microprocessor in a plastic housing. The principle of operation is based on the emission of electromagnetic waves of the desired frequency. Such devices need to be connected to the network. They consume an insignificant part of the electricity, and they do not need to replace cartridges. These are expensive fixtures, in the process of which you can destroy the already deposited scale. The convenience of these devices for the home is the fact that they are compatible with any other filters to soften hard water.

Today, the buyer has the opportunity to choose a filter of any type from the proposed range. In order not to get lost in the variety of goods, you can look at the products of proven brands.

The rating of popular filters includes several discussed models, marked by reviews of real buyers.

• "Source Bio" SE-10. Option with five steps of cleaning, the crane in a set and a high quality of a filtration. The disadvantage, according to customer reviews, is low cleaning speed and insufficient fastening of the crane.
• Coolmart CM-101-CCA. A magnetizable filter that does not require a plunge into the water supply system, which has a capacity of 12 liters and is characterized by easy maintenance. The downside of the device is a low purification rate.

• "Barrier Smart". Filter jug ​​with a translucent funnel and the possibility of changing cassettes of 8 different types. Differs in stylish design, and also reliable connection of a funnel and a cartridge. The only drawback is the impossibility of installing on the door of the refrigerator.
• "Geyser Griffin". Another 1 filter jug ​​type, although it does not have a large capacity for filtered water.It works properly, it is characterized by several types of filters, high-quality assembly and reasonable price.

• Brita Aluna XL. Bucket German manufacturer. It has an indicator signaling the need to replace the filter. Made of durable plastic. The disadvantage is the price, and the lid has to be constantly removed to fill in the next portion of water.
• "New Water T5". A filter that removes hard water, including rusty. Differs in high speed and quality of a filtration, it is intended for cold and hot water. The only disadvantage of buyers is the high cost of the product.
• "Barrier Comfort". The laconic nozzle characterized by simplicity and reliability in work. Eliminates the unpleasant marsh smell of water, however, and reduces the pressure of the water when it performs cleansing.

Depending on the type of use, such a device is selected so that it maximally meets the needs of a particular family. It should function in the existing conditions. When buying, they emphasize whether it will be the purification of drinking water or piped water to protect the plumbing fixtures (shower, bath, toilet bowl).Sometimes cleaning is needed for all purposes at once, therefore the type of device in this case must be chosen appropriately.

Which option is better, the buyer determines for himself. However, experts recommend first of all to take into account the volume of water with which the filter must cope. On this basis, determine the performance of the softening device. For example, to reduce the salts of calcium and magnesium in drinking water is enough filter jug. Cabinet analog is able to purify more water.

Any softening filter should be easy to maintain and comfortable. It matters and its appearance. Portable devices with replaceable cartridges can be put, for example, in the kitchen. Magnetic filter on the shower for mounting winding on the pipe in front of the watering can. According to customers, it is effective for removing chlorine and even flavors water, in addition to softening it. Phosphorus option is not suitable for the purification of drinking water.

For buyers, the choice of the active substance can also be fundamental. If someone seems to be ineffective magnets to get rid of lime water, they can look at the products based on resin or polyphosphate.The softening element may be different, but when buying it is important to consider the temperature mark at which it can clean the water. After all, installing the device in a hot water system will not give the desired effect.

It is necessary to take into account the cost of the product. Each buyer has its own capabilities. For example, if it is necessary to purify only drinking water, it is enough to buy a jug with a softening filter, based on the usual activated carbon. The choice between the main and flow types is carried out on the basis of their advantages and technical limitations. The filter must be designed for a high content of harmful suspensions. At the same time, its maintenance should not create unnecessary burdens for users.

If magnetic devices are bought to use the filter at home, you need to take into account the fact that the liquid will get used to them over time. To restore the effectiveness of such a device, you need to remove it for a while. In addition, it is important to consider that their choice depends on the chemical composition of water. If you ignore the recovery process, the device will be ineffective after some time after work.

Trunk and flow models perform their functions during the purification of very hard water (up to 20 meq / l). They do not have complex mechanical components and moving parts. However, such devices require a network connection that the buyer should know. They are good where you need a large range (up to 2 km in length of the water supply from the place of installation). These products are suitable for those who are interested in automated configuration of the system. To remove harmful impurities, you can choose between reverse osmosis devices and sets of cartridges.

An interesting nuance is the fact that, in addition to blocking harmful suspensions, polyphosphates in the form of large crystals activate the growth of algae. If such a reagent gets on the skin, it will cause tissue irritation. Buy for the purification of drinking water, this filter can not be. But it is suitable for the treatment of water of medium hardness. However, the purchase does not exclude the risk of acquiring fake products. Choose a product of this type must be particularly thorough.

How to choose a filter for water, see the next video.