Tap water is the most accessible source for most residents of the metropolis. But, unfortunately, its composition and condition are far from perfect. It is easy to establish, you just need to take a sample and take it to the laboratory for analysis. Usually before feeding into the pipes, the liquid is pre-cleaned. But the condition of treatment plants and the methods themselves are far from perfect. Transportation is carried out on old, sometimes even rusty pipes. Therefore, a whole bunch of different impurities flows from the tap again. The easiest way to clean is to install water filters. But, there is no universal equipment for any type of fluid. Therefore even after installation of system, it is necessary to be convinced of purity of the received result and to carry out additional check.
The number of purification levels and the composition of the filtration system depends primarily on the composition of the water in the pipes. The quality of the liquid is most often affected by such indicators as:
rigidity;
high concentration of iron;
the presence of rusty fragments;
turbidity;
unpleasant smell or taste.
It may also contain chemicals, the increased dose of which will adversely affect human health. All this can be determined by passing water samples to a special laboratory. The results will help to choose the most optimal composition of the treatment system. Household filters can be represented by a large set of equipment or narrowly focused. The latter struggle with specific problems and are cheaper than whole systems. That is why it is important to know the composition. If you need to adjust the stiffness, then a softener is enough. Then you do not need to filter the liquid through several stages. There are several stages of purification:
basic;
deep.
In the first case are applied cartridges with activated carbon. It effectively cleans from:
large elements;
chlorine-containing substances;
heavy metals;
oil residues;
organics.
It is the selection of cartridge filling that helps to solve the problem of softening and deironing. If the basic cleaning is not enough and the tests show deviations from the norm, you need to create a complex for deep cleaning. Membrane filters or reverse osmosis are used here.
Laboratories perform several types of tests. It all depends on the number of indicators on which the study is conducted. To compare the state of the liquid before and after filtration, the basic parameters are enough. This comparison will help determine how well the filter is chosen. It is desirable to repeat the analysis a short time after operation. In the process may appear:
uncharacteristic taste of water;
odors;
the color of the water changes.
This can be caused by the removal of heavy metal salts. Over time, people can get used to it, but you need to be sure that this is not the result of improper installation. It is very important not to forget about timely replacement of cartridges. Otherwise, bacterial growth can begin. The consequence is the appearance of mold in the fluid. This applies to most flow filters.
Also, this situation can occur with prolonged downtime. In this case, it is necessary to completely empty the tank and open the tap for five minutes. Especially if it is reverse osmosis filters. Variable elements are purchased about once every six months, depending on the intensity of the load.
In addition to the characteristics of water, when selecting the types of filters must take into account:
productivity;
the cost of consumables and how often they need to be changed;
pressure in the main water supply.
The latter factor is important for the speed of reverse osmosis systems. If everything is done correctly, then even a relatively budget device will do its job well.
Reverse osmosis filters are in the lead in terms of manufacturability and efficiency. Water passes through membranes, which traps all foreign substances. They remain on the surface and then go into the sewer. Water flows from the tap with properties similar to bottled. The cost of the system pays off fairly quickly.
The next type is flowing. They are usually installed directly under the sink. The pipe is cut and the equipment is installed. The filtered water is discharged to a separate tap. So share the technical and drinkable liquid. This variety removes rust, salts of heavy metals, toxins. The problem is that it is desirable to boil the filtered solution. The equipment does not fully cope with pathogenic bacteria.
If you only need clean water to drink, you can buy a filter jug. The characteristics of the obtained liquid are close to the flowing equipment. It is desirable to boil. In addition, the jug does not perform the function of softening. The scale in the kettle will not go anywhere. This filter depends a lot on the composition of the cartridge. Usually the composition includes ion exchange resin and activated carbon. Some of the liquid may enter the flask without entering the sorbent. Before buying, ask about the composition of the cartridge. The use of carbon fiber makes the cleaning process much more efficient.
It is possible to analyze properties of water of the house on the following parameters:
taste;
scent;
transparency;
color;
rigidity.
For example, transparency is defined as follows. Pour into a glass, about two inches of water and put it on a piece of text. The sharpness of the image will indicate the degree of transparency.
Taste is determined after boiling and cooling. Sweetness indicates the presence of chalk, bitterness - on high hardness and magnesium salts, tartness - on iron.
The degree of softening is indicated by how well the soap dissolves. The presence of a foreign chemical odor indicates poor quality.
You can use a TDS meter analyzer for cleaning. It is used to check the amount of electrolytes. If you exceed the norm, you can talk about the excessive content of acids and hard salts. The device is configured only for electrolytes, so they can not determine the salts of heavy metals.
After the tests, we can talk about the correction of the system. Iron purification, emollient or mineralization may need to be added.
