The water purifier is essential if you want to drink pleasant tap water, but that’s not all because this device offers many advantages to its user. It comes in different models so that choosing a water purifier requires determining your needs before purchase. It is also necessary to distinguish the purifier from the softener. If you want to continue to use the water in your house, installing these two devices may be necessary. Let’s take a look at the different models of water purifiers and softeners.
The advantages of the water purifier
In France, in the majority of our towns and villages, tap water is drinkable. But depending on the region, it can be very calcareous or even have a unpleasant taste. It is also sometimes extremely charged in elements harmful to health beyond a certain threshold. If you still want to drink tap water rather than buy bottled mineral or spring water, there is no other solution than to buy a water purifier.
Cet filtration device operates at several levels, namely:
- It improves the taste of water,
- It rids the water of excess limescale,
- It filters:
- heavy metals,
- pesticides,
- les nitrates.
- It neutralizes algae,
- It eliminates fungi,
- It can even transform capable parasites, viruses and bacteria into harmless agents.
Water purifier: the different models
It is thanks to its filter system that the purifier transforms a microbiologically hazardous water into drinking water. Different models can be found today in specialized stores. You should know that if you drink impure tap water, you take a big risk. Indeed, dirty water can be the cause of very serious diseases such as cholera, hepatitis B, streptococcal infections, dysentery or even a pathology caused by Escherichia coli (E-coli) … It is therefore better to invest as quickly as possible in a water purifier which comes in different categories.
The under sink water purifier
He purifies up to 10,000 liters of water and offers a fairly high flow rate, around 2 liters per minute. The water is purified by an activated carbon filter. This device restores the natural taste of water, eliminates pesticides, bacteria and chlorine. Its cartridge needs to be changed once or twice a year.
Its installation requires some minor plumbing work. It must therefore be entrusted to a professional if you have no experience in this field.
The UV water purifier
It consists of a chamber, a transparent glass quartz sleeve and a UV lamp. The latter is completely protected from water by the sleeve. The entire device is sealed with O-rings.
The particularity of the UV water purifier is to operate without any chemicals but to emit light using ultraviolet rays. It is this light that immediately eliminates the dangerous potential of viruses and other agents that can reside in the water. Its effect increases in proportion to the intensity of the energy supplied. As soon as it is in place, the water can be drunk. It then no longer presents any health hazard to the consumer since the micro-organisms are inactivated.
This type of purifier is highly recommended for people who recover rainwater or use a well and in this case it can be associated with a centrifugal prefilter.
Some models are equipped with LED lamps but their power is lower than that of UV lamps.
This purifier in no way modifies the mineral characteristics of the water, which are completely preserved. There is no risk of leakage of UV radiation which remains confined inside the device. In this way, users of this type of device are not exposed to any risk.
osmosis
Thanks to the reverse osmosis system, this water purifier with filtered water reserve produces pure water since it is freed of all its impurities after passing through an extremely fine membrane and through various filters. . It is equipped with several filter cartridges. This model is placed under the sink. Its installation must absolutely be entrusted to a technician who is responsible for its maintenance.
The reverse osmosis eliminates bacteria, heavy metals, chlorine. It filters up to 10,000 litres. After that, you just have to replace the cartridges. Depending on the water consumption, this replacement should be done between once and twice a year. As for the membrane, it is changed every 2 to 5 years.
The filter jug
It is a model of great simplicity but it is also the most basic and the smallest of the range, recommended for filtering the water consumption of a family on a daily basis. Filtration is limited to 5 liters maximum per day. This water filter jug has a cartridge that should be replaced at least once a month, or more frequently depending on usage. It is an ideal small device at home but also on vacation.
faucet water filter
Very basic, this very simple device purifies tap water since it eliminates almost all of the elements dangerous to health such as heavy metals, bacteria, drug residues, pesticides, chlorine, etc. It is equipped with a activated carbon cartridge and can be installed by anyone since all you have to do is screw it onto the faucet.
It is necessary to replace your tap water filter two to three times a month since it can only filter a maximum of 1,500 liters.
What about the water softener?
Il is ideal for reduce limescale some water. In other words, it softens it so that it can be used by the washing machine, the dishwasher and other appliances without the risk of damaging them. A hard water (too limestone) is indeed a scourge for this equipment, but also for the pipes, the shower, the bathtub, the sink, the washbasins, the toilet bowl which end up scaling up. Their lifespan is therefore extended with this type of device. Installing a water softener is also useful for taking care of your skin, hard water being irritating.
Please note, however: we recommend do not drink softened water because it can lead to health problems, especially in people who are prone to hypertension. Indeed, some systems add sodium to the water. In addition, if the device is installed on old pipes, there is a risk of drinking water in which dissolved zinc and lead have been deposited.
At present, it is recommended to install a water softener only on the hot water network in order to allow all family members to continue drinking tap water without health problems. And we generally advise to opt for the softener only when the water is very hard, that is to say around 30°F. This hardness can be measured using indicator strips. It is also possible to inquire about this point with your water supplier.
What to remember before buying a water purifier
The water purifier is preferable if you want to eliminate bad odors from the water as well as the taste of chlorine. On the other hand, the reverse osmosis system is necessary to rid the water of pesticides and heavy metals. The filter jug is sufficient for daily consumption, while filters under sinks or at the tap are preferable when you want to filter a large quantity of water. Finally, nothing prevents combining several types of purifiers such as a water softener and a UV water purifier.