Prof Water continues to answer popular questions about water purification and filtering systems. Today we are going to talk about how to choose a water filtration system for your home.

A question from a client
I would like to know how to choose the right filter for water softening, what are the key factors to pay attention to when buying?
Why choose a water filter?
How to choose a water filter?Excessive hard water with a high iron content can significantly affect the comfort of our daily life. Its effect is manifested by white spots on the dishes, the stiffness of the laundry after washing, dry skin and lime deposits on many household appliances. All this makes you think about purchasing a water filter.
This type of device will allow us to effectively deal with the problems described above. Remember, however, that there are different types and sizes of filters available on the market — each designed to work in a specific environment.
Water filters are automatic devices powered by electricity. Their main task is to remove iron and soften water by passing water through an ion-exchange resin.
The most important element in the design and operation of the filter is the filter tank containing the resin – this is where ions are exchanged, after which your water supply system will supply clean water without harmful impurities.
Outside the tank, the water filter also consists of a control unit. He is responsible for filtering, cleaning and regenerating the device itself. The last element of the device is the reservoir in which the solution for the said regeneration is stored.
There are many devices on the market, but it is worth paying attention to those that do not require much work from us. Of course, compact devices equipped with an automatic electronic module will be more attractive. Their maintenance will be limited to the addition of special salt tablets once a month.
Some people wonder what the filter gives and whether it is necessary to use it. In fact, it has many benefits. First of all, it is important to remember that thanks to soft water, we do not need to deal with the damaging deposits that appear in the kettle, washing machine, dishwasher or even heating devices, so they can function much more efficiently.
Soft water also reduces the use of detergents and cleaning agents, as any impurities are removed much more efficiently. Of course, we cannot forget about the importance of the taste of water and its effect on human health.
Iron, even in small amounts, can be one of the most annoying elements found in water. Iron affects the tastes of foods and beverages, can help block pipes, and can cause a host of other unwanted problems. Because it has so many undesirable properties, iron removal is an important phase in water purification.
How to check if a water filter is needed?
How to choose a water filter?Filters – softeners will be needed when the water we use is too hard. Long-term use of such water leads to the destruction of household appliances. To determine the degree of water hardness, we can do a strip test or purchase a drip test, use the services of laboratories or sanitary and epidemiological stations.
You can also use the services of Profwater. We will not only help you conduct thorough water testing, but we will also select the right equipment and provide assistance if you need service.
A water filter will be necessary if the results show that we are using water that does not meet the hardness standards (calcium and magnesium content over 500 mg CaCO3 / dm3). The purchase of a device should also be considered when our water is normal, but still solid (more than 350 mg CaCO3 / dm3).
Which filter should you choose?
To purchase a quality product, we must pay attention to several important parameters that determine the effectiveness of the device.
Ion exchange resin volume
This is the most important parameter. If we decide to purchase a device with too small a resin reservoir, it will not be able to effectively soften all the water. It should be emphasized that the size of the filter depends on the hardness of the water, the size of the household and the number of people living there. Based on these factors, a filter with a specific volume is selected; in this matter, it is better to consult with the seller. After all, it is more often than not assumed that a filter for a house where 5 people live should have about 20 liters of resin.
The volume of resin also affects the frequency of regeneration. After a while, calcium and magnesium ions will saturate the solution so much that further water softening will be impossible. What to do? Our task is to place the salt tablets in the reservoir described above. Thanks to this, the device will be able to implement an automatic regeneration process. The brine is passed through the filter bed so that it is free of calcium and magnesium ions.
How to choose a water filter?
When purchasing, we must ensure that the filter is accompanied by a written safety certificate so that we can be sure that the use of the device will not be harmful to health. To benefit from the best solutions, salt-free devices can be selected. This equipment is suitable for softening drinking water. Its service life is also longer.
Programmer
A good quality filter should be equipped with an electronic programmer that allows you to make the most important changes. The economy mode, which we set when going on a long vacation, is especially recommended. As a result, the device operates less efficiently, resulting in lower power consumption.
Amount of water
The amount of water the device can soften is extremely important. If you have a medium-sized home with 5 people, you should buy a softener with a capacity of about 1600-1800 liters per hour.
Where and how to install the filter?
Filters are usually placed in a boiler room, basement or garage near the main water valve. Adequate space must be provided – the base of such a device is usually 30 x 50 cm. The height depends on the model and ranges from 1.20 to 1.50 m. Its installation must be carried out by a qualified installer.
Should you buy a water filter? This is a very common question as these devices are not the cheapest. In the end, in the case of polluted water, their purchase is fully justified. The effects of clean filtered aqua pro water purifier water will be immediately noticed and will also improve the comfort in our lives. The water will be tastier and healthier, after washing the clothes will cease to be hard, and scale will stop settling on many devices. Regardless, many people wonder if soft water is good for drinking. These questions arise from the misconception that such devices add salt to drinking water. The salt is only used to regenerate the softener. The only effect of the device is a slightly increased amount of sodium in the water.