Which main water filter to choose for an apartment

Rating of main water filters

The best main filters for cleaning running hot and cold water

First, let's get acquainted with the variations of filters that are suitable for purifying water of almost any temperature. They can be considered universal. They are, of course, more expensive, those that are designed for a liquid of low temperature, but they are able to cope with their task, regardless of which pipe they are connected to.

No. 6 - Raifil PS891O1-O-PR-BN 1/2

An inexpensive model, which is chosen precisely because of its low cost.

The model has only one stage of cleaning and is most often used only for hot water. The set includes a filter module. The accumulator is absent, the porosity is 5 microns. The filter itself is made of plastic, but thick enough.

The main advantage of this filter is its availability. But it is important to remember that the model is still plastic and not the most durable. It is noted that over time, leaks begin to appear. Also, the model does not withstand high pressure, the tightness of the joints is broken.

No. 5 - Geyser Typhoon 10 SL 1/2

The model is perfect for cleaning both cold and hot water. The device perfectly withstands high pressure and is capable of cleaning liquid heated to 95 degrees.

The package includes a filter module. There is no storage tank for liquid. The maximum capacity is 45 l / min. The porosity is greater than that of the options described above and amounts to 10 microns. The body is made of stainless steel, strong enough, but has welded seams that can start to rust.

Nice and compact filter - that's what users say about it. The price, in their opinion, is also acceptable. However, the filter is a little difficult to install: it's all about the guides, because of which the device must be positioned so that there is a lot of free space under it, otherwise the flask cannot be removed when required. Some also write about the insufficient quality of this option - the filter may leak.

No. 4 - Geyser 4Ch

This filter is deservedly in demand among buyers. It perfectly copes with the task of water purification, has a durable stainless steel body, but not without its drawbacks.

It does not have a storage tank, the outlet water pressure is 8 atm. The porosity is 5 μm.

Users choose this model for its durability and reliability. It is noted that the device does not rust even in high humidity conditions, when the case is constantly covered with condensation. No leaks were found either. What are the cons? This device requires the installation of bags that are longer than the filter itself. And there are no instructions for installing them. The device is suitable for filtering water both from a well and from a pipeline. By the way, the filter bag can be cleaned. But you can buy it only through official representatives.

No. 3 - New Water A082

An affordable model that makes water more transparent with ease.This means that both your health and the pipes in your house will be safe.

This filter is used to remove fine mechanical particles such as sand or rust from water. The steel body is specially electroplated. The model has a filter module included. The productivity is not the greatest - about 15 l / min. The model can withstand temperatures up to 93 degrees.

Stylish appearance, external reliability and good cleaning quality are what buyers choose this model for. However, the lower part of the filter begins to rust over time - perhaps the reason lies in a poor-quality alloy. The device has welded seams, quickly loses its external beauty, as the decorative coating begins to peel off.

No. 2 - Aquaphor Viking Mini

A model with a very nice value, perfect for both cold and hot water. By the way, it is made by a brand that is trusted by very, very many, because its products have long established themselves as one of the best on the market.

The main filter is compact and allows you to choose a different combination of replaceable filters. The body is made of steel, durable, excellent withstand high temperatures.

In general, the model has almost no drawbacks noted by buyers. It perfectly cleans water, makes it transparent, and has a long service life. In addition, the manufacturer gives a long-term guarantee for the use of the device. The compactness of the sizes also attracts - you do not need to free up a lot of space.

No. 1 - Aquaphor Viking Midi

The older brother of the model described above. The device also has a nice price, smooth operation, durability and is suitable for installation in any room from home to office.

The dimensions are small, but still larger than that of the Mini. The case is strong, steel, certainly more reliable and durable than plastic, even the best. Unfortunately, the model requires the installation of only original cartridges.

The model practically does not rust even after a long time of use. The filter proved to be excellent from all sides. The build quality, excellent water purification, ease of cartridge replacement are noted - the filter confidently takes the first place on our list.

The best main filters for cold water purification

Now let's talk about main-type filters designed only for cold water. They are in great demand in the market, since it is a cold liquid that users want to clean more often than a hot one. By the way, finding models for cold water purification at a low price is much easier than universal options.

No. 6 - New Water B120

An inexpensive compact filter that is perfect for those people who care about household appliances connected to the water supply. The model is installed directly at the liquid inlet to dishwashers or washing machines.

The list of accessories includes a filter element. The capacity is 13 l / min. The maximum water temperature for which this option is designed is 35 degrees.

The main disadvantage of this filter is that it is not designed to purify water to a drinkable state. It is also fragile. But on the other hand, its low cost is fully justified. And the dimensions of the device are compact, and the installation is extremely simple. The outlet water becomes softer and you can avoid using fabric softeners and anti-limescale products.

No. 5 - Geyser 1P transparent ½

One of the cheapest main-type filters, which is distinguished by reliability and cleaning quality sufficient for its price. Has a transparent, durable body, which is relatively small in size.

The device has one stage of cleaning and does an excellent job of removing suspended particles from water. Productivity is small - only 10-15 l / min. The temperature of the liquid at the inlet is 40 degrees, and the pressure is 7 atm. The porosity is 5 microns.

Users write that the body of the product is made of high-quality plastic and perfectly withstands moderate water pressure. The flask mounting system is convenient, the design is generally reliable and very simple. The filter is nice and does not spoil the appearance of the place where it is installed. Cons - fittings with plastic thread, lack of gaskets and poor connection reliability as a result. This can cause the filter to leak.

No. 4 - Jumbo Geyser 10

Not a bad filter to live in your home. It is quite efficient, compact and easy to use. In general, it is considered an average model in terms of price and quality.

The model is made of plastic, has one stage of cleaning, the productivity is 15-22.5 l / min. This filter can purify water with temperatures up to 40 degrees. The outlet water pressure is 7 atm.

The model is distinguished by its compact size, excellent level of water purification from suspended elements. Allows the use of cartridges of various types. Ease of installation and high build quality also appeal to the user. There are downsides - the filter may start to leak. And the resource of its cleaning is small.

No. 3 - Aquaphor Gross 20

This filter is more expensive than the above options. But it is more reliable and generally collects more positive customer reviews. The performance compared to the filters described above is tremendous!

The productivity is 76 l / min, and so far this filter on our list beats the record for this indicator. The model is designed for water purification up to 40 degrees, for pressure up to 6.2 atm. The dimensions are not the most compact (60 cm height), but they are justified by the huge performance of this option. Filter weight - more than 3 kg.

Users believe that the price for this filter is quite justified and cannot be considered high. The fastening is convenient and reliable, and the filter element perfectly cleans water from mechanical impurities. Unfortunately, this filter does not like very cold water and may fail - it cannot be left in an unheated house. Otherwise, he copes well with his tasks.

No. 2 - Barrier VM ½

Inexpensive and functional filter with a porosity of 1 micron. It is called an honest filter for little money, as it is cheap and does an excellent job.

This option has one stage of water purification and is designed for good purification of water from the water supply. It's easy to mount. But the kit may not contain the necessary adapters for installation on pipes, and this must be borne in mind when buying.

Buyers write that this is a good option for those who save money. But, unfortunately, the low price still affects the quality.The filter needs to be changed when its resource comes to an end, otherwise there is a risk that the device will not withstand high pressure in the pipeline one day. Suitable for both a private house and an apartment.

No. 1 - Aquaphor Gross 10

A reasonably priced filter that deserves to be ranked # 1 on our list for cold water applications. The model has high performance and copes well with its tasks.

Device productivity - 57 l / min. The filter works with water up to 40 degrees at the inlet, withstands pressure up to 6.2 atm. The dimensions are small - the model is 35 cm high. Its weight is just over 2.5 kg.

This filter has an optimal price-performance ratio. It is easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and replaceable cartridges are sold at an affordable price. Over time, the device may leak, but in general, this is a good option for those who want to have a powerful filter without spending a lot of money. Wall mounting is reliable and the device itself does not take up much space.

Field of application of main filters

High quality of water in the house is a guarantee of your health and long-term service of a number of household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, plumbing fixtures, etc. But if there are a lot of harmful impurities in the liquid flowing from the tap, then it makes no sense to talk about the quality of water. Most often, such problems are faced by residents of large cities. Utilities operated water purification plants simply cannot purify water well enough to make it safe. A special device helps to solve the problem, which is installed individually in the apartment and cleans the water entering it through the pipes from dangerous impurities. This is what mainline filters are for.

The main filter, unlike other types of filtering devices, is built directly into the water supply. These are pipes with cold and hot water. And ideally, the filter device should be there and there. This is the entrance step to the plumbing system in the apartment.

On a note! The main filter can be used not only in an apartment, but also in a residential private house or in the country. There is usually just one device installed between the tap and the well as a source of water (if you simplify this whole scheme of supplying water to the dwelling as much as possible).

What are the main tasks of the main filters?

• Purification of water from rust that gets into the liquid during its flow through outdated, in places rusted pipes.
• Purification of water from sand, if the filter is installed in a private house, where wells are most often used as a source of water.
• Reducing the level of water salinity and softening it.
• Improving water quality.
• Creation of potable water.
• Protecting household appliances from the formation of lime deposits and extending their service life.
• Removal of pathogens from water.
• Improving the organoleptic properties of the liquid - taste, color and odor.

Advice! To know which filter and which cartridge is worth buying for the greatest purification efficiency, it is worth taking a water sample and analyzing it in a laboratory. Then it will be easiest to choose the optimal and most effective filtering device.

Principles of operation of the main filter

A filter installed at the inlet of the water main to the apartment allows you to obtain purified liquid at all points of the water intake - for example, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, etc.In general, any filter is a one- or multi-stage system that, depending on the configuration, removes certain particles that pollute the water. The best filter systems have several cartridges at once and allow you to drink water directly from the tap.

Each filter has a specific flow rate that varies from 10 to 50 l / min on average. Also, when choosing a device, it is important to take into account the pressure level that it can withstand: low or high.

The filter element itself is installed in a special housing, which can be made of plastic or metal. Inside the cartridge is a sorbent that collects harmful impurities. For example, it can be a charcoal filter.

Advantages of inline filters

Why are main filters so good?

• They perfectly cleanse the liquid, improving its organoleptic parameters. Despite their apparent simplicity, they are very effective.
• Easy to use - the main thing is to choose and install the device correctly. Next, you just need to occasionally clean the filter nets or change the cartridges and that's it.
• Easy to maintain. In some cases, you don't even need the help of a specialist to place and connect such a filter, if you have already taken care of installing a ball valve in front of the filter, just in case. It will also allow easy maintenance of the filtering device.
• They have a high performance - such a filter will allow you to get a lot of clean water without interruption. Think of the filter jugs, which provide only a few liters of clean water per day.

There are also downsides. This is the need to insert the filter directly into the pipeline, and the installation of a ball valve is also required. Here you cannot do without the help of specialists. Fortunately, these are one-time jobs that do not require large expenditures.

Types of main water filters

As a rule, the design of the filter element includes various cartridges designed to capture various substances and components.

• Mechanical filters will remove sand, rust, debris, clay, etc. These are the basic elements found in every filter system.
• Chemical cleaning filters remove chemical components such as manganese, iron, etc. They are often used to soften water.
• Biological filters trap parasites - they are often special UV sterilizers.

Mechanical filtration elements can be divided into coarse and fine filters.

• Coarse cleaning elements pre-purify the liquid, which becomes suitable for household purposes. They remove large mechanical impurities from the water - for example, sand.
• Filters for fine purification are used to remove fine suspended matter, organic matter, gases, microelements. As a rule, they mean the presence of a special cartridge.

These options, in turn, are subdivided into several more categories.

Table. Coarse filters.

Filter type	Description
Mesh	The most simple ones. They are a fine mesh that captures particles of 20-500 microns in size. They do an excellent job with sand, clay, rust particles. Usually the mesh in such filters is resistant to rusting, can be easily washed or replaced with a new one. Some models have a backwash system, when the filter itself, if necessary, is rinsed with purified water. This is the best way to deal with the contamination of the strainer. Advantages: large selection, simplicity, reliability, protection of equipment from clogging. Disadvantages: small impurities are not captured.
Disk	Such elements are also excellent at capturing large particles. But they have a higher performance and capture elements 20-200 microns in size. Here, the filter element is a system of discs that have special grooves and are made of polymers. When water flows through the filter, the discs contract and form a complex system of tubules, through which the liquid is cleared of large particles of debris. These contamination filters are washed manually. They do not last long, wear out, are less durable than mesh ones, and periodically require replacement. But they are also cheaper than the latter.
Sack	These filters are filter bags with high cleaning efficiency. In most cases, the water at the outlet from them is drinkable. The material from which such a bag is made is not afraid of the effects of temperatures, chemical components. This filter retains even tiny particles, 1-100 microns in size. Pros - high performance, low cost. Cons - the need for regular and fairly frequent replacement, despite the possibility of washing such a filter, as well as the inability to purify the water from the smallest particles and microorganisms.

Fine filters are also different. But they are all kinds of cartridges designed to capture this or that pollutant - gas, parasites, bacteria, trace elements, the smallest suspended matter. And depending on the state of the water, you need to choose a cartridge - that's why you need to conduct a laboratory analysis of a liquid. Cartridges are:

• Coal, which are effective against chlorine, metals, organic compounds.
• Polypropylene, designed to remove small mechanical components.
• Softening type BS, designed, respectively, to soften water.
• Deironing type BA, which allows you to remove iron from the liquid.
• Polyphosphate, which make the liquid softer and remove salts from it.

It is important to know that all filters and cartridges are divided into those that work only with cold water, and universal ones that can be installed on pipes with both cold and hot liquid. They are outwardly similar to each other, and therefore, when choosing, it is important to carefully read the descriptions and instructions for the cartridges.

Attention! Do not install a model designed for cold water on a hot line! This is dangerous and can lead to rupture of the filter and subsequent negative consequences.

Also, all main-type filters can be divided into three categories depending on the number of purification stages: one-, two- and three-stage.

• Single-stage ones remove only mechanical elements, roughly purifying the water. The easiest option.
• Two-stage will help eliminate excess chlorine and microsuspension.
• Three-stage, in addition to all of the above, remove both iron and salt. The best option for those who constantly see scale in their kettle.

The more complex the system, the cleaner the outlet water. You need to choose the complexity of the filter depending on the initial quality of the water. which can be found after laboratory analysis.

Flow-through water filter: how to choose the best option?

So, how to choose the optimal main water filter? Let's get acquainted with the main characteristics, requirements and recommendations.

Most importantly, before purchasing, check that the device has a quality certificate and a passport. Next, think about which filter you need in terms of the quality of cleaning, depending on the results of the laboratory analysis of water obtained earlier. It is also important to understand what kind of water you need at the outlet - drinking or technical. The level of fluid consumption in the house and the dimensions of the selected filtering device are also taken into account.

Look at the case. It can be plastic or metal. Of course, the metal case is more reliable and durable, but there are also good plastic options. At a minimum, they can have special internal reinforcement to increase their strength. Typically, plastic products are used on cold water lines, and metal products are suitable for any temperature level within the permissible range.

By the way, when choosing a filter for hot water, it is better to opt for the option with brass threads. It is more reliable.

Advice! Carefully study the passport of the device - there are all recommendations for using the product, the recommended level of water temperature and pressure in the inlet line are also indicated. Do not exceed these figures during using the filter so that it does not fail ahead of time.

Look at the flow rate of the product. It should be suitable for your level of water consumption. In this case, we recommend looking at the maximum level of water consumption in the house, provided that all taps are open and all household appliances that consume liquid are running.

Filter sizes matter. In any case, the device will take up some place or space. You should not try to put a large powerful filter in limited conditions. Even if you install it in the cramped space of your choice, remember that you need to maintain it regularly. Evaluate how convenient it will be to access the device and change the cartridge. There will be no special recommendations here - you need to focus on the individual characteristics of each house. And yes, the dimensions of the outlets and connections must also be taken into account - the filter must fit your pipes. Or you will have to buy special adapters to install the model.

When purchasing, evaluate what is included in the package. Find out if it will be easy in your area, city or area to get replacement filter elements. It is important to take this into account so that in the future there will be no problems with servicing the selected model. To replace the wearing parts of the device, try to buy only those elements that are recommended by the manufacturer.

The main filter is an excellent option for those who want to have always clean water in their home. Yes, it needs maintenance, but in general it is a real lifesaver that will save money on buying bottled water and always use clean liquid. In addition, such a filter will reliably protect your household appliances from scale and precipitation, which means that the risks of its failure and the need for repair will decrease significantly.