Magnetic filter to soften water: reduce hardness and purify water

Modern tap water often contains a large number of different salts, which makes it hard. The high salt content is harmful to the human body, but household appliances especially suffer from them, on the heating elements of which scale is formed, and it quickly incapacitates. Correct position will help a correctly selected filter to soften water.

Classification

There are various types of hard water softener. They are used for various purposes and at different stages. It is necessary to select a device that will best meet the needs of a particular family, and will also be able to function in existing conditions.

A hard water filter is used to soften the liquid. Thanks to this, it becomes suitable for drinking, cooking, safe for household appliances. The following types are found:

• ion exchange;
• polyphosphate;
• magnetic;
• membrane;
• electromagnetic;
• ultrasound.

To figure out which filters for removing excess salts and softening water are suitable for certain conditions, you need to learn more about each type.

Ion exchange devices

The filter contains ion-exchange material - a special resin, when passed through it in water, calcium and magnesium ions are replaced by sodium ions. As a result, purified water becomes softer.

After the resource of the ion exchange resin has been exhausted, its properties can be restored using ordinary table salt. However, the regeneration is incomplete, and after several cycles, the backfill or cartridge (depending on the design of the filter) must be replaced.

Advantages:

• High performance and long cartridge life.
• Reliable anti-scale protection.
• Effectively softens even very hard water.
• Ability to work at any pressure in the pipeline.
• Food grade ion exchange resin is suitable for the treatment of drinking water.
• Soft water after such a filter is great for swimming, has a beneficial effect on the skin and hair.

Disadvantages:

• Periodically, you need to replace cartridges to soften water or backfill.
• You can filter only cold or warm water, because with ionic purification, the temperature of the liquid should not exceed 40 ° C.

The principle of ion exchange is used in different types of filters:

• in filter jugs for which an appropriate replaceable cartridge is selected to soften water;
• in filters nozzles on the crane;
• in main filters;
• in multi-stage systems.

Polyphosphate filters

A polyphosphate filter is a flask containing crystals of polyphosphate salt. Water passing through them is saturated with sodium polyphosphate, which prevents the precipitation of calcium and magnesium salts in the form of scale.

Install it directly in front of household appliances: washing and dishwasher, boilers, heating boilers. A polyphosphate filter can prevent the formation of scale, but water passed through it cannot be used for cooking. The average period during which the polyphosphate filter works is six months, then you need to change either the flask itself or its contents.

Polyphosphate filter advantages:

• Availability.
• Low cost.
• Effective anti-scale protection in the washing machine.
• Easy to install.

Minuses:

• Water after filtration with polyphosphates can not be heated to a temperature above 55 degrees. With this heating, polyphosphate and calcium compounds are formed on the heating element, leading to equipment failure.
• Filtered water is not suitable for drinking, as well as for washing (it causes skin irritation).
• Backfill monitoring is required.
• Many fakes in the market.

Membrane Devices

These are the so-called reverse osmosis filters. They are the most popular now. This is due to the fact that they simultaneously perform several functions: they purify water from impurities and mechanical particles, as well as soften it. However, at the same time, useful minerals are removed. After passing through the reverse osmosis membrane, the water becomes as pure as distilled. To avoid this, at the end of the treatment, water passes through a mineralizer, which enriches the liquid with useful substances.

In addition to the membrane, the reverse osmosis system includes several degrees of pre-treatment that are needed to protect the main component of the device from damage by large particles and extend its life of life. The pre-treatment is carried out by passing water through polypropylene, carbon and mechanical single-micron filters.

Among the disadvantages of the reverse osmosis system, its high cost can be noted. Another minus is the exacting pressure on the system: not lower than 3-4 atmospheres.

Magnetic filters

The softener can work on a different principle. There are so-called magnetic filters to soften water. They are installed directly on the pipe. Inside them are magnets that can change the properties of water on a physical level. After the softening effect, hardness salts lose their ability to form crystals, compress and turn into scale. Due to this, plaque does not form on pipes and household appliances, which significantly prolongs their life.

The advantages of magnetic filters:

• Durability - valid for 5 to 25 years.
• There are overhead models for which installation no insertion into the system is required.
• No maintenance, flushing, replacement of consumables or materials is required.

Minuses:

• Magnets are demanding on the flow rate of water, its temperature and chemical composition, most devices are not designed for hot liquid.
• "Addiction" of water to the effects of magnets. Over time, the mitigation efficiency decreases, and the device must be removed for a while, and then installed again.

Electromagnetic filter systems

Electromagnetic filters are devices in a plastic case in which a microprocessor is integrated. It emits electromagnetic waves of a certain frequency. Fluctuations are transmitted through special wires, the ends of which are wound on pipes in front of household appliances that are protected from the effects of hard water.

Features of using a filter:

• Under its influence, the already deposited scale decomposes over time.
• You can install the cleaning device on a clean pipe of any material.
• The electromagnetic filter for water of increased hardness is connected to the mains. During operation, it consumes a small amount of electricity. But at the same time, the device does not require replacement of cartridges.

Important! Under the influence of the filter, the physical and chemical properties of drinking water do not change, i.e. it contains exactly the same amount of impurities, but they cannot be deposited in the form of scale.

Electromagnetic devices are the most expensive of all, but also the most effective. They can also be used with other filters.

How to choose?

Knowing all the features of the devices, it is easy to choose the most suitable for a particular family. To do this, consider the following factors:

• Filtration is necessary for the preparation of drinking water and for cooking, for softening washing water, for the protection of household appliances or for all these purposes at the same time.
• The required volume of water, which will correctly calculate the required performance of the device.
• Convenience and ease of maintenance.
• A substance that is used to reduce water hardness. This can be done using a magnet, resin, polyphosphate.
• Price is another important aspect, because everyone has their own capabilities.

It is necessary to carefully evaluate all the pros and cons of the filters and only then decide which type of softener to choose.