Mechanical water filters: what are and how to choose?

On the ground almost no clean water. As a result, polluted water leads to many unpleasant consequences, including diseases such as dermatosis, allergies and many others. To prevent various diseases, it is necessary to carry out mandatory multi-level water purification. The first step is the physical purification of water.

Methods, purifying water, today a large number. They are divided into mechanical, biological and physico-chemical. The simplest, as well as the most affordable way to get rid of water from impurities and small particles is the mechanical purification of water. Defending and filtering the liquid, it can be cleaned from sand, pieces of rust and other particles.This cleaning lies in the fact that, using a variety of devices such as gratings, sieves and other devices, impurities are removed from the water. As for surface contaminants, for such cleaning, septic tanks, oil traps, and oil-gas separators are used.

Because how correctly selected filter depends on the quality of water. Mechanical filtration is used to purify water, which is taken from rivers, lakes and other open water bodies. It is also used in home filtration systems and at large water treatment plants. Apply this filtering and wastewater treatment. It makes it possible to remove about 75 percent of insoluble substances from dirty household liquid, and up to 95 percent from industrial liquids.

Especially this cleaning is indispensable for owners of country houses. Of course, you can use the cesspool, but it has a lot of drawbacks, including an unpleasant smell and lack of proper hygiene. As a result, many come to the conclusion that it is better to use small sewage treatment plants with different filters. Similar structures, but on a much larger scale can be seen in the municipal sewage treatment plant,which are designed for townships and cities.

Even in the city, the water in the faucet is polluted just by moving through the pipes. Therefore, it can have an unpleasant yellow color, smell, be nasty in taste. To use this liquid in everyday life is not always possible. It is unpleasant to constantly clean off pots and kettles from plaque, repair a washing machine, drink tea with a hint of chlorine or with grains of sand. It is for this purpose that it is recommended to use filters even in an apartment.

Mechanical water purification, that is, using filters is used more often than others, since it is effective. Since it is recommended to begin a full cleaning fluid.

Filtering installations are divided by type, as well as particle size, which are trapped in several types.

• For fine cleaning - removes the smallest particles from the liquid.

They can be of several types.

• Cartridge. A special insert acts as a trap for third-party particles, which can be changed if necessary. Often it is made of metal mesh with a small cell or foam propylene, which is resistant to corrosion. The frequency with which it is necessary to change it is determined solely by how polluted the water is. Determine the contaminated cartridge can be reduced pressure.
• Wash. This filter is also a cartridge. However, its main advantage is that its main element can be removed, washed and reassembled. Washing installations work practically according to the same principle, but they differ in the elements that purify water: a disk, a grid and a grid with backwashing.

• For rough cleaning - catches large particles from the liquid. They are recommended to be installed at the very beginning of the cleaning system. Some types of this device can only be replaced and some cleaned.rinse and set again for future use.

They differ in such filtering elements as:

• grid;
• cartridge;
• dirt tank;
• pressure high-speed filter;
• backwash mesh.

Depending on which installed element performs filtration, devices for mechanical water purification are divided into several types.

• Filters with mesh filter element enjoy considerable popularity. Their filtering element is a stainless mesh that can hold various particles. The main advantages of this type is the utmost simplicity and long service life. It is worth noting that there is no need to frequently change or clean the mesh. To install such devices do not even need special tools. When installing this filter, the only thing that should be considered is the direction in which water flows. To properly install the filter device, you should look at the arrow that is on the filter.
• Flange and clutch filters are used in systems where pipes have a diameter of two inches. They are also easy to install and dismantle.When replacing this type of filter will not need to disassemble other parts of the plumbing.
• Purification devices with straight (straight) and oblique (oblique) tank for trapping dirt. The difference between these two devices exclusively in the location of the tanks. In direct models, it is located at an angle to the flow of water, and in oblique - at an angle of 90 degrees. Options with an oblique tank allow you to catch a large amount of dirt. They are better suited for pipes that are arranged vertically. Devices with straight tanks are suitable for pipes that are horizontal. At the same time, this species has a large reservoir volume, which makes the water more clean.
• Cartridge filters are often used in everyday life. The device is a flask in which there are cartridges that trap various impurities. Such filtration elements are easy to change. Most often cartridges are made of polyester or synthetic fiber.

Quite similar filters are necessary for cleaning hot and cold water. They work on almost the same principle, the types of filter elements are similar. However, for hot water it is not recommended to use filter installations that are designed for cold. This is due to the fact that they still have differences that are not always visible at first glance.

Filtering devices for cold and hot water have about the same structure.

The filter that purifies water mechanically includes the following elements:

• casing made of plastic or metal;
• cap;
• mounting tab;
• filter element (mesh, disc, cartridge, and others);
• nut that presses the filter;
• a key that opens the case;
• sealing element;
• waste element overpressure.

The housing of the hot water filter device is often made of metal and is opaque. It must be resistant to high temperatures and be of very high quality. Filters for DHW must have a higher throughput. The optimum throughput for a device on a hot water supply is about one hundred liters per minute.In addition, filter elements for hot water should be better to clean it, which will increase the service life of household appliances.

When choosing a water purification device for an apartment, it is better to choose models of filtering devices where there is a backwash. In such devices, the filter element has to be replaced much less frequently. As for the comparison of filters with grids (mesh) and with disks (disc), then the latter type will have better performance even under the same conditions, which is due to the larger filtration area. However, the size of the filtration unit is most important. Regardless of the shape of the filter element (mesh or disc), blocks of the same size will produce the same capacity, and for disc filtering devices of coarse or fine cleaning, the inlet water pressure is an important indicator. In addition, the cost of disc filters, as a rule, is higher compared to mesh ones.

Before you purchase a filter unit, you need to know the parameters of the system. It will be useful to check in advance the compatibility of the filter device connection with the diameter of the pipes.An important parameter when choosing a water purification device is also an understanding of how it will be installed: separately or into a multistage system. It is good if it is known in advance which filter is planned to be installed in order to understand how compatible it is with the plumbing system. In addition to the type of filter device, it is good to decide on the manufacturer and cost. For example, filters from Honeywell have proven to be reliable and high-quality in practice, and filters from Geyser are more affordable.

Mechanical cleaning is necessary if the water has an unpleasant taste, sometimes with rust or a specific odor. It is completely easy to install a filter for water purification.

You will need the following tools for installation:

• hacksaw or special pipe cutter;
• compaction material, for example, FUM tape;
• plastic pipe fittings;
• lock nut with metal pipe coupling;
• device for threading.

Water purification using various filters is a must if you want to get a quality product at the outlet.

Especially filters will please, if you follow some recommendations from experts.

• Filters for rough cleaning are recommended to be placed in front of the water meter.
• If the space for installing the filter is limited, it is better to opt for a filter with an oblique tank.
• Most often, the pipes for water have a horizontal location, and the filter device tank is directed downwards, which will facilitate its washing, and it is better to choose direct filters for such an installation.It should be noted that it is better when all the protruding parts of the device will be located at the bottom.
• An important point when installing a filter device is its correct location in relation to how water moves. To do this, pay attention to the arrows, which are applied to the external filter housing. The arrows, as a rule, show the direction in which the water should flow.

• Coarse filters must be cleaned. When dismantling the filter for cleaning should turn off the water. Before disassembling the oblique filter, it is necessary to prepare the container where the dirt from the tank will flow.
• For unscrewing oblique and straight filter devices use a conventional wrench. Sometimes the set may be special keys. When installing the device in place, it is imperative to pay attention to the condition of the rubber gaskets.
• You can extend the operation time of the filter device even during installation, given the water pressure. Some devices come immediately bundled with pressure sensors. If not, then it is better to additionally purchase such a sensor.

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