The use of hard water in a house or apartment leads not only to the appearance of scale on the dishes, but also to the rapid breakdown of various kinds of household equipment: washing machines and dishwashers, heaters, boilers, etc. Meanwhile, solve this problem in our time is not too difficult. It is enough just to purchase and install a special filter for water softening in the kitchen, bathroom or basement. There are several types of such devices on the modern market.
Main types of softeners
The following devices can be used to remove calcium and magnesium s alts from water:
- Mechanical. Basically, these are reverse osmosis systems.
- Chemical. Such installations are most often mounted in large country houses in combination with coarse and fine filters.
- Reagentless. Of this group, electromagnetic modern filters are most often installed in residential buildings and apartments.
Reverse osmosis systems are mounted directly on the sink. Chemical andreagentless filters are mainly used as main filters. When they are used in the house, complete softening and water purification are often performed. Filters in this case are installed on a common supply line at the entrance to the building or in the caisson. Also, such softeners can be mounted in a pipe directly next to the boiler, washing machine, etc.
Reverse osmosis system: how it works
By and large, equipment of this type is mainly used as a universal fine filter. However, the design of reverse osmosis systems includes, among other things, special perforated membranes designed to remove exactly s alts. The holes in such a material are so small in diameter that only water molecules themselves can pass through them. Any impurities present in it settle on the surface of the filter.
How chemical softeners work
Reverse osmosis systems are mainly used only in urban apartments to purify drinking water. In large private houses, it is more expedient to install more productive equipment - chemical softeners. Such devices usually work on the principle of ion exchange. A special gel-like resin containing a large amount of sodium is placed in their body. Upon contact with hard water, this element is exchanged with calcium and magnesium, as a result of which the desired effect is achieved.
The filter for softening water of this variety is able to serve in the house for many years. It is considered an advantage of suchdevices and high cleaning speed. The disadvantages are mainly only the need for periodic purchase and replacement of resin.
The principle of operation of chemical-free softeners
Particles of potassium and manganese s alts have a flat shape and easily stick to different surfaces. That is why when using hard water, scale forms on the walls of dishes and parts of various household appliances. Under the influence of a magnetic field, s alt particles take the form of very narrow and long needles. And, therefore, they cannot stick to anything. Moreover, acting on a layer of old scale, such needles gradually erase it.
Reagent-free household water softener filter is distinguished primarily by such advantages as low cost, long service life and ease of installation. Many owners of apartments and houses even assemble such equipment on their own from scratch. Some disadvantage of non-reagent filters is only the need to connect to a power outlet. Such devices usually consume about 5 watts of electricity.
Recommendations for selection
Thus, to soften water from a centralized line in a city apartment or from a well in an unheated cottage, it is best to use a reverse osmosis system. These filters are relatively inexpensive. At the same time, you can mount them, including with your own hands. When choosing equipment, you should pay attention to the volume of the storage tank and the timing of filter changes.
Also, electromagnetic non-reagent filters are also well suited for softening water in apartments and cottages. They are even cheaper than reverse osmosis systems. However, when using such equipment, you will, of course, have to pay for electricity a little more than before. When buying such a device, you should pay attention primarily to its power. The main filter without reagent should be designed to soften exactly the amount of water that is usually consumed in the house.
Chemical softeners are ideal for installation on the basement floors of large cottages. When choosing them, you should pay attention to the throughput. In addition, you should make sure that the resin (which is expensive) does not have to be changed too often. Such softeners are usually selected already at the design stage of the building's water treatment system. At the same time, their installation in combination with filters for other purposes is most often trusted by specialists.
Which manufacturer's mechanical device to buy
When choosing a filter for softening water in a house or apartment, among other things, you should pay attention to its brand. Most modern manufacturers produce high-quality devices of this type.
If we talk about reverse osmosis systems, then in this case, good reviews deserved, for example, such brands as Raifil and Atoll. Raifil filters are praised for their ease of installation, large tanks and the ability to replace cartridges at the expiration date with similar ones.manufacturers. Atoll systems are popular because they purify water from s alts very effectively.
Resin and electromagnetic filters: top brands
When choosing a chemical main filter for water softening, you should pay attention, for example, to Galaxy devices. Galaxy units are easy to assemble, equipped with a “dry” brine tank and have an additional regeneration mode.
The reagent-free group of devices is represented on the domestic market, including by such popular inexpensive brands as AquaShield and Termit. The former are valued for being able to soften water, being located even a few hundred meters from a household appliance. In addition, they very quickly loosen scale on surfaces. Termit brand devices are also easy to use and can both supplement and completely replace chemical softeners in the house. In addition, there are models of such devices designed for mounting on pipes of very large diameter.
Installing a water softener filter: features
Reverse osmosis systems are usually completed with a kit that includes a ¼ pipe tap and a male-female tee. With the help of such shutoff valves, equipment is inserted into the water supply system. Among other things, when using this type of softener, an additional tap is installed on the sink and a storage tank is mounted.
The chemical filter for water softening, as already mentioned, is most often included in the overall systemwater treatment. In this case, a mechanical filter is first installed on the supply pipe, designed to remove organic matter. Next, coal is mounted. And already the softener itself crashes behind it. At the next stage, the water treatment scheme is supplemented with a fine filter and an accumulator. The final design element of such complex systems is usually an ultraviolet disinfection device.
Electromagnetic main softeners in most cases are simply hung on the supply pipe directly after the hydraulic tank in the caisson. Such filters are suitable for softening water from a well or a well supplied to a house, almost as well as chemical ones.
Features of installation on boilers and household appliances
Using a softener significantly extends the life of the heater, washing machine, dishwasher, shower, etc. Both chemical and non-chemical devices can be installed on boilers. The boiler water softening filter is mounted on the return line of the heating system in the immediate vicinity of the unit in front of the centrifugal pump.
Various household appliances are usually protected from magnesium and calcium s alts only with the use of electromagnetic softeners. The latter are hung on the pipe supplying water to the body of the device (there is no need to embed them) or simply mounted on the wall nearby.
