Water filter (for softening): choice, reviews

If a lot of scale is formed on the bottom and walls of the kettle, if it settles on the heating elements of washing machines or dishwashers, hard water is to blame. What then can be found in the human body, when people drink it every day? If a thick enough layer of scale is formed on a teapot in just a few weeks, then this is a signal for active action. But what to do in this case? There is a water filter for softening.

Rigid water - what is it?

So, the concept of rigidity applies to water. This is a certain amount of calcium and magnesium ions that are dissolved in the liquid. The term "hard water" was originally used in relation to such water, in which it was almost impossible to wash clothes. How and from where do calcium and magnesium salts enter the tap water? Most of the salts come here from numerous gypsum deposits and various limestone rocks and dolomites. These deposits are ground with natural water.

Calcium and magnesium salts are more if the liquid is very slightly mineralized. Conversely, a larger volume of minerals means less calcium salt. If we talk about magnesium salt, then in water, which is mineralized strongly enough, the volume of ions often reaches several grams in one liter. The salt liquid can contain up to several tens of grams of magnesium.

Harmful or not?

It would seem that a filter for water is not needed at all for softening , and excessively hard liquid is not as dangerous as it is said everywhere. It only brings certain inconveniences. For example, on the dishes where water is heated or in the form of scale. On the glassware there are white circles. Because of the increased rigidity, soap and other detergents lose much in efficiency - no foam is formed in the required volume. Clothes that have been washed in such water will quickly tear and wear out. Only a few washings are enough to make colored things lose their brightness.

In addition, the metals of the alkaline-earth group, calcium and sodium salts as a result of heating accumulate on the dishes, heating elements of household appliances. On plumbing devices you can see a white coating.

If you wash your face with water or wash your hair, you can feel how the skin literally contracts, and your hair loses its natural strength and becomes excessively stiff, brittle and dry. Harmful substances along with liquid penetrate into the body. Most often, salts accumulate in the kidneys and blood vessels. Therefore, the water filter for softening is the right fixture.

Hard water and calcium-magnesium balance in the body

Today there is a very interesting situation - on TV, on the Internet, on the radio, a lot of advertisements about people are pouring out about the terrible harm that excessively hard water can do to human health, as well as to various household appliances. This is one side.

Another - experts in the field of medicine constantly say that an insufficient level of calcium and magnesium will necessarily affect the musculoskeletal system. The meager magnesium content can lead to a heart attack. Maybe the liquid that is meant for drinking should contain enough of these salts?

According to the norms for one person you need about 200 liters of water. Most of this amount goes to various needs in the household. Only about 10 liters is used in cooking and goes for drinking. It may be easier not to soften it, but use a softener for water only with household appliances, while consuming and drinking the usual liquid from the tap? After all, there is a sufficient amount of calcium and magnesium salts. But the medicine recommends that you drink milk for the calcium balance. By the way, it is also quite tough.

The organization of health protection for the use of such water does not recommend anything special. Studies have been able to identify the connection of water with diseases of the cardiovascular system, but conclusions from this do not yet.

Ways of softening at home

The simplest method is traditional boiling, but in the process water loses not only magnesium and calcium, but also other useful substances. So, to soften without the need to boil, you can add calcined soda to the liquid . Proportion - 2 teaspoons per bucket. Soda should be thoroughly mixed and then precipitated. Even ancient Greeks used this technology. Ashes were also added to the water.

Today, there are other technologies, and no longer need to buy soda ash or stove to get ash. A filter for softening water can make the liquid better, and the body - healthier. There are also other technologies for softening.

Softening with salts

Yes, this is not a typo and not a mistake. There are special substances that can soften water. They must be used for dishwashers.

Today salt for water softening for the filter is used quite often. It is produced in the form of special tablets. With the help of these salts, dishwashers can last longer. Some models of this technology are equipped with even special sensors that show when it is necessary to refill the machine with salt.

Magnetic filters

These devices soften the liquid without the use of chemical reactions. This device affects the water with a strong magnetic field, which is created by two neodymium magnets. During the irradiation of water, a wide variety of impurities are removed, as well as magnesium and calcium salts. Rare earth magnets can be placed outside the pipe.

Manufacturers who developed and created the system, argue that this is an effective way to mitigate any water. But these statements are doubtful. There is a place where with the help of magnets you can achieve significant results - this is a boiler room.

In many shops you can find a magnetic filter on the shower to soften the water. It is necessary to simply turn the shower in front of the watering can. If you believe what they say about these designs in commercials and on site pages, magnetic systems saturate the body with vitamins, allows you to remove chlorine, soften and aromatize the liquid.

If you look at the packaging in more detail, you can find generally miraculous properties - supposedly water is saved twice by reducing the spray, its speed and pressure increase. The price of such a decision is not high. There are also nozzles with tourmaline, which can reduce the damage to the hair and skin from hard water.

Jugs with filters

Such a device is a container inside which is installed a special element. This is a simple and cheap option, but from time to time you will have to replace the filter cartridges. The filter element cleans and softens the water intended for drinking. At the heart of the cartridges is ordinary activated carbon.

Ion-exchange softeners

Hard water is the main reason why household appliances are out of order. Ion exchange water softening filters for the water heater are good at their task. The principle of operation is ion exchange.

The system consists of two tanks. In the first one there is an ion-exchange resin, in the second - a salt solution. The liquid that comes from the water pipe first passes through the resin and is saturated with ions. The resin then reacts with the calcium and magnesium salts and removes them. Further, the water passes through the saline solution. Missing calcium and magnesium are replaced by sodium. So hard water softens. These systems are better to install before the water heaters.

Reverse osmosis systems for softening

This is a fairly reliable filter for water to soften. The basis is a natural phenomenon - osmosis. The whole point is that water is purified from various impurities through a special membrane, including magnesium and calcium. But when passing through the filter, useful substances are lost too.

Filters "Aquaphor"

This company has been producing cleaning systems for quite some time. A suitable variant can be selected in an individual order depending on the region.

One of the most affordable models is the Aquaphor Trio. This solution is equipped with a separate crane, the process of filtration and softening is rather fast. The system not only softens the water, but also cleans it of chlorine, lead, heavy metals. The cost of the device starts from 1500 rubles. Also available are replaceable cartridges for filters.

"Trio Norma" is a system from the same series. It is also equipped with a separate crane, it is easy to use, and the efficiency of softening and cleaning is quite high.

In addition, the nozzle for the tap Aquaphor Modern is also popular. This filter combines various absorbents, which resulted in a high productivity. These filters "Aquaphor" can eliminate salts of hardness, clean water from chlorine and other impurities. According to the manufacturer, the service life is at least three years.

Solutions from Barrier

• The compact jar "Barrier Extra" is offered, which will be enough for a small family.
• "Barrier Eco" is much roomier and is designed for 350 liters. It can fit in the refrigerator door.
• Jug "Barrier Smart" is equipped with a time counter, does not require that purified water is drained from it.
• The improved Barrier Expert Standard system consists of several levels of cleaning. This solution can be installed anywhere. The filter not only makes the hard water soft, but also eliminates odors, as well as impurities of any origin.

Water softener: reviews

All those people who used or use water softeners notice that there is a positive effect from the filters. On the heating elements, less scale is accumulated. After washing, the water ceased to tighten the skin.

But when choosing not to trust unproven manufacturers. For example, the efficiency of magnetic filters is practically zero at home. Shower systems also give a dubious effect. Filters for water in our country are necessary - this is our healthy and bright future without disease.