Choosing a reverse osmosis water filter

A high-quality and durable filter is an indispensable part of a modern apartment or private house. Only using these cleaning devices can you be sure that the water will be clean, tasty and filled with healthy minerals and vitamins.

Today, systems with reverse osmosis can be considered the most popular and productive. The functionality of such products provides for several stages of liquid purification, as well as its mineralization at the outlet.

Main characteristics

Before considering the technical characteristics, you should familiarize yourself with the concept of reverse osmosis process. Reverse osmosis is the reverse of standard osmosis, in which the concentrated solution is passed through the membrane in the opposite direction. The concentration of the solution goes from higher to lower. The advantage of this process is that the membrane does not trap clean water, but stops pollutants.

Standard filters with reverse osmosis system have the following technical characteristics:

1. On average, the performance of such a filter is from 150 to 250 liters per day. Not suitable for domestic use, but ideal for home or apartment.
2. Depending on the manufacturer, the reverse osmosis filter has a certain resource - from 4000 to 15000 liters (one of the most expensive filters). If you pay attention to the general calculations, then a reverse osmosis filter, whose life is 5000 hours, is enough for 4 people for 1.5-2 years.
3. The cleaning system provides cartridges for both preliminary and final cleaning. The first is replaced at intervals of 5-6 months, the second - once a year. To replace cartridges, special tools are not required, the whole process takes from 10 to 15 minutes.

Structurally, the reverse osmosis filter consists of several cleaning compartments in which the respective cartridges are located. In addition to the cartridges, the main cleaning element that circulates the solution, the membrane, is also installed here. After cleaning, the liquid enters the storage tank. The volume of the tank is set within 8-12 liters.

The principle of operation of filters with reverse osmosis

As a small digression into history, we can say that synthetic membranes first began to be produced on a large scale in the 70s. Then at the industrial level began to produce and reverse osmosis systems.

The principle of operation of such filters is based on the osmosis process. Osmosis is a procedure for dividing a solution into certain components. This separation is due to the structure of the membrane itself, which allows fluid to pass through but retains larger contaminants. Unfortunately, with water, the membrane passes molecules of chlorine and other harmful minerals. Therefore, reverse osmosis systems are installed together with other cleaning elements.

After separation, the pollutants settle on the filter, and the liquid passes through further purification steps and passes into the storage tank. The reverse osmosis effect is also used in processes such as desalination.

This effect is the exact opposite of standard osmosis, and therefore often causes distrust among users. The main advantage of the process is the quality of the water obtained at the outlet of the installation.According to a large number of examinations carried out, after water purification by the reverse osmosis system, the content of harmful organisms and extraneous microorganisms in it is reduced 10 times lower than the established norm. Such indicators are very good, and today these systems have no analogues.

Another important advantage of reverse osmosis systems is their compactness and ease of installation. The dimensions of the filters mean installation “under the sink”, where it operates and does not take up too much space. These devices have a separate water tap, which also does not take up extra space and will be the perfect complement to any kitchen interior.

But there are several drawbacks of such systems for cleaning liquids:

1. The high cost of the filter system. Now the filter, working on the principle of reverse osmosis, can not be called affordable, depending on the manufacturer, the prices for it can be different and reach substantial amounts.
2. Expensive further maintenance. At intervals of 3-4 months, replacement of cartridges is required, the cost of which is quite high and leaves much to be desired. Also, after 1-2 years, the rubber membrane should be changed - the main element of the filtering system.

What is a filter structurizer

The filter structurizer is the element that directly performs cleaning. In filters operating on the basis of the reverse osmosis principle, bioceramic cartridges or tourmaline ionizers (the latest invention in the field of water purification) are such a structurer.

By design, such a device is a cylinder made of plastic, inside of which is a glass tube filled with cleaning granules. Both in bioceramic and tourmaline cartridges, clay and tourmaline itself are used in the manufacture of these granules. Tourmaline is a type of ordinary quartz with stronger cleansing properties. This mineral begins to act when heated, after which various electric charges arise on its surface, which create an electromagnetic field.

It is under the influence of this field that the ionization process begins, or rather, the appearance of infrared radiation with a constantly changing range. The interaction of infrared rays and water molecules leads to the structuring of a liquid. To all the positive qualities of such water, a dissolving, splitting and metabolic effect is added. Of course, such water is not only useful, but also extremely tasty.

Bioceramic and tourmaline cartridges do not perform the main cleaning function in reverse osmosis systems, they are installed exclusively to improve the taste characteristics of water. The validity of such a cartridge is at least 2 years, the installation process is quite simple: you just need to screw the filter to the system, for this purpose an internal thread is provided at its ends. Keep in mind the direction, since the cartridge has special designations in which direction the liquid should move, otherwise cleaning will not be performed.

How to choose the right filter with reverse osmosis system

Before buying a filter with reverse osmosis, you should understand the design differences of this product, the degree of purification and productivity. Pay attention to the following points:

1. Type of filter. It should be a reverse osmosis filter with an additional mineralizer installed. In addition to all stages of purification, the mineralizer saturates the water with useful organic substances, which gives the liquid a good taste.
2. The number of cleaning steps. The standard equipment of the filter implies 5 stages of cleaning (mechanical, carbon, fine, membrane and post-filter), but in modern devices a sixth one can be added - the passage of fluid through the structurer.
3. Destination. Filters based on reverse osmosis produce both coarse and fine cleaning, but are additionally equipped with a mineralizer.Therefore, the filter should be designed exclusively for all the main stages of fluid purification.

Rating of the best models

Akvafor OSMO 50 execution 5

• Type “under the sink”
• Productivity is 013 L / min
• Inlet pressure in the range from 350 to 650 atm Not equipped with a pump to increase pressure
• 5 steps of cleaning In addition chlorine, and also impurities of iron is eliminated
• Installed storage tank, the volume of which is 10 liters
• Standard equipment includes a filter module

Akvafor OSMO 50 execution 5 is a durable and reliable product that also does not require constant maintenance.

Expert Osmos MO530

• Type “under the sink”
• Productivity is 018 L / min
• Inlet pressure in the range from 2 to 19 atm Not equipped with a pump to increase pressure
• 4 steps of cleaning
• A storage tank is installed, the volume of which is 15 liters. A separate antibacterial filter is provided in the tank.
• Standard equipment includes a filter module
• Product weight is 55 kg

Atoll A-550 Patriot

• Type “under the sink”
• Productivity is 008 L / min
• Not equipped with a pressure boosting pump
• Five stage filter
• Installed storage tank, the volume of which is 5 liters
• Standard equipment includes a filter module

Geyser Prestige M (12 l)

• Type “under the sink”
• Productivity is 013 L / min
• Inlet pressure is from 3 to 10 atm. Not equipped with a pump to increase pressure.
• 5 steps of cleaning
• Installed storage tank, the volume of which is 12 liters
• Standard equipment includes a filter module

Praktic Osmos OU400

• Type “under the sink”
• Productivity is 0125 l / min
• Inlet pressure is from 2 to 8 atm. Not equipped with a pump to increase pressure.
• 5 steps of cleaning
• Installed storage tank, the volume of which is 38 liters
• Standard equipment includes a filter module
• Product weight is 35 kg