Installing a main water filter

The deterioration of communal systems has led to poor quality water supplied to the apartments. To release it from mechanical suspensions and other impurities, the installation of a main water filter is increasingly practiced. This is a simple and convenient way to get clean water, suitable for technical use and for drinking.

Benefits of Trunk Cleaning Devices

Installing such filters has the following advantages:

• Water is cleaned of mechanical impurities, such as pieces of rust. This will not only positively affect the taste, but also extend the life of pipes, as well as household appliances that use water: a boiler, dishwasher and washing machine.
• Many pipelines capture dissolved chemicals, making water not only tastier, but healthier.
• Installation is simple and done by hand.
• Replacing cartridges is quick and easy.
• Most filter models are compact in size. There are also volumetric devices, for example, ion-exchange plants and iron removal systems, but they are definitely not suitable for an ordinary apartment because of their size.

• With proper operation, the device will last for many years before it needs to be replaced.

It is mandatory to install a main filter in front of the gearbox, which protects the water supply and household appliances from excessively high pressure and water shocks. Without a cleaning device, this device wears out too quickly. Instead of two separate devices, you can install a combined filter gear.

Device and types of main filters

The main devices are placed at the entrance of the pipeline to the apartment and purify all the water consumed in it.

Professionals recommend that in the place of the filter insert into the pipe make an additional wiring equipped with a system of ball valves. This will allow in emergency cases, for example, in case of breakage or clogging of the filter device, to empty the water directly, bypassing it.

There are several types of trunk filters. Depending on the number of degrees of purification, they are divided into the following types:

• Single-stage, designed for rough cleaning of sand, rust and other impurities of a mechanical type. Such filters are called mud collectors. They are arranged simply: this is a flowing vertical bulb, the role of the cleaning element in which is played by a metal mesh. The device may contain several grids with cells of various sizes, which improves the quality of cleaning. The service life of such filters is almost unlimited: it is enough to remove and rinse the filter element from time to time. There are also single-stage models with replaceable cartridges.

Mud filters are necessarily present in more complex systems with two or three stages of cleaning. Mechanical impurities are the main problem of worn-out water pipes in the post-Soviet space. Without solving this problem, it is impossible to guarantee the normal operation of household appliances and a fine filter system.

• Two-stage. The main function of the second stage is the removal of microscopic suspensions and chlorine used for disinfection at treatment plants. The cartridges use fillers from sorption materials.

• Three-stage, where the third stage is responsible for softening the water and removing iron impurities from it. The best option for a city apartment.

There are filtering devices designed for hot and cold water and differing in case material. Successfully resist the action of high temperatures are capable of devices made of special plastic or stainless steel.

remember, that hot water filters It is allowed to put the HVS on the pipe, but reverse replacement is strictly prohibited.

Read more about main type filters here.

What else to look for when choosing

When buying a trunk-type filter, several important parameters must be taken into account, which include:

• Throughput. The main sewage treatment systems can filter from 20 to 50 l / min. Each family has its own water consumption, which are taken into account when selecting a device.
• Decrease in water pressure after the filter. Particular attention should be paid to the inhabitants of the upper floors, where the pressure in the pipes can already be weak. With insufficient pressure in the system, individual household appliances, such as water heaters, simply will not work. Therefore, you should consider this characteristic when buying. Another solution to the problem is to install after the filter a pump that increases the pressure in the system.
• Compactness. Before buying, you need to take measurements to make sure that the selected device fits in the designated place. Indeed, sometimes counters, filters, pressure reducers and taps need to be located in a rather cramped space.

• Composition of fine cartridges. Universal cleaning elements that trap all kinds of impurities do not exist. Before purchasing a filter, it is advisable to conduct a chemical analysis of the water in order to know its composition and select the appropriate purification system. For residents of apartment buildings, such an analysis will cost quite a lot.
• Manufacturer. In order for the filter to work for a long time and efficiently, it is worth choosing products of proven brands. Honeywell, Geyser and Aquaphor are well-known in the Russian market.

Installation of the main filter

After purchasing the device determine the place to place it. It must be installed in such a way as to provide unhindered access for cartridge replacement and maintenance. Many owners have a question about where to put the main filter, before or after the counter. The layout of the devices will be as follows:

1. Stopcock.
2. Slanting mud filter, which is sealed, as well as the counter.
3. Water meter.
4. Non-return valve.
5. A filter, followed by a gearbox, or a filter gearbox that combines both devices.

For installation you will need:

• hammer drill;
• screwdriver;
• FUM tape ensuring tight joints;
• dry rags.

It is not difficult to connect a trunk type filter. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• The water supply to the apartment is shut off, the faucet opens in the kitchen or in the bathroom. So the remaining water in the pipes will merge. But before starting the installation, you still have to put a basin under the insert for the remaining water in the system.
• Holes for mounting the filter system are marked on the wall. Its rigid fixation is required, otherwise the vibrations that occur when the liquid passes through the cartridges can damage the water supply details over time.
• The marks are drilled holes in which the plastic parts of the dowels are inserted.
• The filter is connected to the pipes via couplings. The tightness of the joints on the valves provides a winding FUM tape.

It is important to install the device correctly: on its body the direction of water flow is indicated by an arrow. At the entrance to the filter is marked "in".

• The device is fixed on the wall with self-tapping screws passing through the mounting holes in its upper part.
• They check the quality of the installation: they resume supplying water to the apartment, after which one of the taps is opened for 4–5 minutes. During this time, the cartridge rinses and air escapes from the system. In case the connection leaks, a dry rag is left under it for the first time.
• From the moment the installation is completed, the service life of the cleaning elements is counted.

The entire installation process is clearly shown in the video.

The filter gearbox is installed in a similar way, but when it is installed, there are some nuances:

• The pressure gauge is located with the indicator or regulator up.
• The sump filter turns down with a stopper.
• After attaching and checking for leaks, the gearbox is adjusted by tightening the adjustment screw with a screwdriver. The optimal pressure value for the apartment is 3 atm.

Replacing a cartridge in a trunk device

The technical passport of the product indicates the volume of water, after cleaning of which a change of filter elements is required. Usually their service life is from one and a half months to six months.

Cartridge Replacement Instructions:

• Turn off the tap at the entrance to the apartment.
• Relieve system pressure.
• In order not to flood the neighbors, substitute a basin or other container under the flask of the device.
• Unscrew the flask using the included key.
• Remove the filter element. Rinse the mesh for rough cleaning; replace the cartridges with new ones. Also clean the flask from contamination.
• Put the flask back in place and check for leaks.

The video below shows the replacement of cartridges in filters for cold and hot water.

Timely replacement of the filters will ensure the purity of the water, as well as prevent a drop in its pressure due to clogging of the cartridges. Compliance with these conditions guarantees a long and high-quality operation of the main filtration system.