Reverse osmosis water purification system: installation and reviews

Reverse osmosis - one of the most effective for today tap water purification methods. All renowned manufacturers of filter systems, such as Aquaphor, Geyser Atoll or have already adopted this technology. Consumers are also left to buy a suitable package and understand the installation instructions.

The principle of operation and characteristics of reverse osmosis

The process of reverse osmosis - nothing as desalination, i.e. decrease in the content of impurities in the liquid. Previously, he was used to convert sea water into potable, today the same thing has to do with water. The efficiency of modern household reverse osmosis system is more than 99%, ie the quality of the product at the exit closest to the distillate. How does this happen?

The osmotic filters any manufacturer (Geiser, Aquaphor, Atoll) uses one method of purification - punching flux through the semipermeable membrane. It received its name due to the fact that passes through tiny pores only molecules of H

₂O, oxygen, and even more elements, which were less than 1 x 10^-4 um, leaving other impurities from the back side.

Demineralized water after passing through the cartridges, and the membrane osmotic purification practically harmless, but no benefit from it. In order to increase its value and taste is better to buy a system with built-mineralizer.

For efficient operation of the membrane the liquid must be thoroughly prepared, removing from it the mechanical suspended matter and salts which can be neutralized in a simpler way. Stepped cleaning requires the use of multiple ink cartridges, so a single reverse osmosis filter is not produced. The complete system is already formed a set of compact and easy to assemble, even under the kitchen sink.

Popular brands of cleaning systems

Geyser

It produces osmotic purification system under the Prestige series. Some of them have been going with a mineralizer and separate faucet to get from one spout as absolutely pure and rich in water. Also comes bundled with a storage tank. Thanks to him, it is not necessary to wait until the thread passes through all the cartridges, and you can immediately dial the drinking water.

Geyser Prestige model:

• Basic equipment

Stepped system with mechanical and sorption charcoal filters as well as the tank of 7.6 or 12 liters. Price 8-8.5 thousand. rub.

• Geiser Prestige 2

Compact model with only two cartridges. Sorption retards mechanical impurities "picks" dissolved iron and softens water. The second stage of treatment - the osmotic membrane. Price about 5000.

• Geyser Prestige II

In the pump circuit is turned on, increasing the flow pressure up to 3 atm standard while passing through the osmotic membrane. Buy a set of advanced can be for 11-12 thousand. rub.

• Geiser Prestige M

reverse osmosis system with mineralization. prefilter cartridges removed mechanical slurry and chlorine compounds and mineralizer enriched water through calcite and magnetite. It comes with standard tank and dvuhklavishny valve for switching modes of the filters. Price about 9000.

• Geyser Prestige PM

The model is equipped with a pump and pressure, and a mineralizer. Buy it possible for 12000-13000 rubles.

Aquaphor

One of the leading manufacturers of household water treatment systems also turned his attention to reverse osmosis and proposed a number of effective solutions. Moreover, the base usually is one - Aquaphor Morion DWM-101S, but the sets of cartridges can be changed entirely. It is noteworthy that these systems when compared to the above discussed Prestige from Geiser, can efficiently operate even at reduced pressure without pump. Minimum pressure for most cartridges Aquaphor 1.5 atm, for which they have already received a lot of good feedback from the tenants of the upper floors.

By Morion can buy interchangeable filter sets:

• Aquaphor DWM-31 - Softening cartridge kit with mineralizer and purifies water at a rate of 15-16 l / h. Price - up to 5 thousand. rub.
• Aquaphor Osmo-50 - productivity 7.8 l / h with the pressure of 3.5 atm. Depending on the version, it can be purchased for 5-8 thousand.
• Aquaphor Osmo-Crystal 100 - DWM-31 analog, but at higher prices from 6 to 8 thousand. rub.

Aquaphor Morion models are equipped 5-liter storage tank built into the housing. This simplifies installation under the sink, and also saves a lot of valuable space in the cabinet. This structure should buy if the kitchen you do not have much space, but getting safe drinking water still want in non-stop mode. Aquaphor fit system and those who have installed on pipes flow meter. While Geiser Prestige Atoll removal or contaminants from said membrane spend about 60% of the total volume of incoming water, designs for this type MORION enough 20%.

Atoll

Atoll reverse osmosis system can be supplied in the conventional form of a set of cartridges with storage tank and in the form of a ready unit. Last, in the opinion, it is best suited for self-installation.

Main series:

• A STD-550

Standard 5-stage filter to be placed under a sink. In contrast to the same Geiser Prestige, capable of operating at a pressure in the conduit 2,8-6,0 atm. Models labeled "p" pump equipped with - they should buy, if pressure flow characteristics do not exceed a lower threshold of 2.8 atm. Price 11900 rubles.

• A-450 STD

Budget option with possibility of selection set. The number of simultaneously mounted cartridges 4-5 pcs, osmotic membrane -. Two- or three-layer. The base price of 9600 rubles. modification of the Compact with vosmilitrovym tank and 4 cartridges will be released a little more expensive. Mineralizer kit set with «m» designation, but the price of this is increased by only 400-500 rubles.

• SailBoat (aka Box)

Essentially the same set of replacement cartridges with storage tank, but compactly arranged in an elegant case. Instead, post-filter optional set mineralizer to improve the taste of water. Buy Box Atoll can be at a price of 17 thousand rubles, the model with fanfare in this group of products will cost about 22.5 thousand.

• A-5400 Ep

Ready-to-install under a sink unit with a filter condition indicator. In the base is a pump, can benefit from cleaning at low pressure in the tubes (0,7-2,8 bar). Fully automated operation scheme, all information displayed on the electronic controller of indicator panel. At his command turns on / off the pump and flushing of the osmotic membrane and the removal of particles delayed its drain. Price 54 400 rubles.

Unauthorized connection

Before you buy a reverse osmosis system, it is necessary to determine the pressure in the piping in your house (enough for a conventional pressure gauge) and the chemical composition of the water at least in the laboratory of SES. It will clarify the parameters of future filters and the need to connect a reverse osmosis system to an electric pump. Do not forget to take measurements of the internal space under the kitchen sink, if you are going it here to install the package.

When the osmotic system completely does not fit under the sink, you can make a separate storage tank.

The scheme of work:

1. Shut off the cold supply in flat and flush opening main kitchen faucet.
2. Make sidebar tee connecting the left and right sleeves divided pipe pieces (for sealing threaded connections, use FUM-tape).
3. Mounted on the housing cabinets under the sink filters brackets for hanging.
4. Bring food for the pump, if necessary.
5. Set the tape for removable mechanical filters.
6. Connect the pump output from the last filter before the membrane pretreatment.
7. Here, according to the scheme set 4-way bypass valve.
8. The next in this series is a membrane filter and after it optionally connect the tank and finishing cartridges. Osmotic usually fixed collar on the discharge pipe under the kitchen sink (siphon above).
9. Make removal of the overflow valve into the sewer. If the scheme does not provide for the drive, connected to the drain while the remaining 2 inputs.
10. Last Exit cleaning step is connected to a flexible hose tap for drinking water after it is installed on a sink.

Included with the Geyser Prestige filter, Aquaphor Atoll and is always a separate spout for drinking water - it will only install the sink. But you can feed from the tank to connect directly to a special dual-circuit tap or kitchen appliances, for which the necessary drinking water.

As for the effective operation speed of water treatment membrane must be sufficient pressure on filing, installation of reverse osmosis may require cutting into the pump conduit when the pressure would weak. Do not forget that these systems become energozavismymi and under the sink need to install the outlet.

Start-up and maintenance of the system

Fully mounted design should be washed before using. To do this, turn on the drive and close the valve, passing several liters of water through the cartridges. It should be cleaned already own tank when the valve is closed. Wait until it is filled, this may take from 40 minutes to 2 hours - depending on the volume of the reservoir and the pressure in the pipeline. Again merge all, and already the next portion of the water is suitable for drinking.

Stepped training systems always contain some amount of water, and if allowed to stagnate, the output will get the unpleasant taste of the liquid. To avoid this, include daily cleaning, releasing at least 500-600 ml for updates.

The appearance of a musty smell, which owners often mentioned in a review, possibly with the stagnation in the tank. Its maintenance should be carried out once a month. Some systems, such as the geyser or Atoll Prestige further include postfilter final purification scheme. This is also a way to solve the problem of stagnant water in the cartridge, but for a set under the sink still need to take care of.