Rating of mainline water filters: their characteristics, cost, user reviews

Features of filter devices

Before choosing a water filter for the sink, please note that for the sink, you need to understand the configuration of the device itself. And it includes three elements: the filter itself, the faucet that is mounted on the sink, and connecting hoses or tubes.

That is, it turns out that the filter is installed in the cabinet on which the kitchen sink is mounted. A tap separate from the mixer is cut into the latter. And all these elements are connected to each other, and the filter itself is additionally connected to the water pipe. It turns out that if you need to wash dishes, you use a regular mixer. If you need to get clean drinking water, use a tap connected to a filter unit.

I would like to note that there is a huge variety of filters on the market. And many may think that making a choice will be difficult. In fact, filter devices installed under the sink are divided into only two groups:

• flow-through;
• reverse osmosis.

Therefore, when answering the question of how to choose a water filter, you need to understand these groups and understand how they differ from each other, and then choose the best one.

Flow type water filter Source geekhard.ru

Flow-through water filters

The very name “flow filter” implies the method of passing tap water through the filter elements. And it passes through a duct, entering one pipe and exiting the opposite one.

The device itself is a flask (module) made of food-grade plastic: transparent or opaque. It is screwed onto the head, which has two pipes: inlet and outlet. It is with these pipes that the filter is attached to the water pipe. Connection method: pipe thread.

Attention! To avoid confusing the inlet and outlet pipes, an arrow is marked on the filter head. This is the movement of water inside the device.

Today, manufacturers offer two types of flow filters: with a removable flask and a non-removable one. The second modules are gradually losing their relevance, the reason is the inability to replace the filter cartridge. That is, if the filter is clogged with dirt or its service life has expired, you will have to dismantle it, buy a new one and install it again.

Connecting the filter to the tap and water supply using plastic hoses Source avatars.mds.yandex.net

Devices with a removable flask differ only in that they have the ability to remove the flask, remove the dirty cartridge and install a new one in its place. To remove the flask, manufacturers add a special key to the module package. That is, it turns out that the filter can be used indefinitely. You just need to periodically change the cartridges, which have a certain service life. This option is, of course, cheaper.

As for the degree of purification, this issue is easily resolved today. Here the position is this: the more modules are installed in the filter unit, the cleaner the output water. Today, manufacturers offer devices with three to four flasks. And each of them performs its own functions in terms of water purification.

Filter modules

Filter modules today can be filled with different types of cartridges:

• intended for mechanical filtration (cleaning);
• for purifying water containing a large amount of metals;
• for hard water;
• purifying water from various harmful microorganisms;
• universal models.

Flow filter modules for washing Source stroy-podskazka.ru
That is, today it is possible to select a filter based on the characteristics of the water. This is very important for those private houses that consume water from wells and boreholes. To do this, you just need to do a water analysis, determine what is in large quantities in it, and then purchase the filter that can cope with all the problems. But keep in mind that the more problems, the more expensive water treatment will cost.

There is a standard selection of modules that can cope with the main problems of autonomous water supply from wells and wells:

• mechanical cleaning is a module filled with polypropylene fibers;
• filters with carbon sorbent, this module purifies water from organic impurities, heavy metals, salts, unpleasant taste and odor;
• modules called iron removers, that is, their task is to reduce the concentration of iron in water.

Standard equipment for a water filter for a flow-type sink Source shop.geizer.com

TOP 10 best water filter for washing

Sink filters for water purification are very often found on the shelves of plumbing stores. Thanks to the wide selection, it is quite easy to make a mistake and buy a low-quality product. So that you can buy a good cleaning filter, we have compiled a list of the most popular models.

• Geyser ECO Max.
• Geyser Classic BAF.
• Prio Expert Osmos MO580.
• Atoll A-575Ep w/pump/A-575p STD.
• BARRIER ACTIVE The power of beauty.
• BARRIER ACTIVE Power of the Heart.
• Atoll A-460E.
• 3M AP2-C405SG-Box.
• Aquaphor DWM-202S.
• USTM RO-5.

Below we will look at each of the listed models in detail.

Geyser ECO Max

The compact stationary unit is a flask made of food-grade stainless steel, inside of which there is an Aragon 3 cartridge with a combination of ion exchange resins and activated coconut carbon. This design allows you to efficiently purify water at a speed of up to one and a half liters per minute.

Modification of the cartridge involves mechanical, sorption and ion exchange operation. Its size is slightly larger than the standard one, so it is possible to use an increased amount of filter materials, which significantly improves the quality of work.

Price: from 5,699 to 7,490 rubles.

Geyser ECO Max

Advantages

• suitable for super-heavy water;
• cleaning with coconut charcoal is carried out;
• the housing is pressure tested at 30 atm.

Flaws

• one degree of purification.

Buying a water filter for the sink has recently become a necessity, the water flow was terrible. Eco Max suited us perfectly, installation was easy, at first the water came out almost white from the air, then everything became fine. It comes clean and tasty. It doesn't take up much space and the cartridges are inexpensive.

Geyser Classic BAF

It is used to purify tap water from chlorine, heavy metals, nitrates, pesticides, excess hardness salts and other impurities. The filter uses the company’s classic cleaning scheme with an Aragon cartridge. At the last stage, a new development of the Geyser company is used - a BAF cartridge containing a multicomponent load based on sorbents and ion-exchange materials. This allows you to remove not only chlorine and organic impurities, but also reduce the content of iron and heavy metals. The resource of the BAF cartridge is up to 10,000 liters, it is an excellent alternative to the SBC and MMV cartridges used in other models

Average price: from 2,965 to 6,900 rubles.

Geyser Classic BAF

Advantages

• three-stage cleaning system;
• coal cleaning was used;
• A separate faucet is included.

Flaws

• not found.

I think that Geysers are the best water filters for washing, they are incredibly easy to install, and the water turns out to be like spring water. Clean and tasty. The supply hoses are simply put on the fitting; this system was alarming at first, but everything was done reliably, not a single drop leaked. The included faucet is also of high quality. Everything is great, I really like it.

Prio Expert Osmos MO580

Premium water filters for apartment sinks, designed for use in areas with heavy, iron-enriched water. Mainly installed in industrial areas of industrial cities. This is due to a five-stage cleaning system with a mineralization effect.

Equipped with a ten liter expansion tank. The presence of several filters and a Japanese highly selective membrane guarantees the production of high-quality clean water. Self-locking fittings make installation much easier.

Approximate price: from 16,226 to 16,227 rubles.

Prio Expert Osmos MO580

Advantages

• equipped with a 10 liter expansion tank;
• built-in pump that increases pressure;
• 5 levels of operation (universal and bacteriological cleaning, deferrization, softening, mineralization);
• faucet included.

Flaws

• very low productivity (220 ml/min).

Finally found a water filter for the sink that is suitable in our area. The apartment is on the tenth floor, but the device has a booster pump, so there are no problems. It doesn’t work very quickly, fortunately there is a tank that lasts a long time and you don’t have to wait for cleaning. Installation is simple, replacing cartridges is also not a problem. Everything is done with high quality and without unnecessary problems.

Atoll A-575Ep w/pump/A-575p STD

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A reverse osmosis system, the distinctive feature of which is the presence of a built-in pump, which is great for low pressure in the water supply. High quality filtration allows the resulting water to be used even for medical purposes. The parts are made of plastic that does not emit harmful substances.

Increased productivity makes it possible to use the system in offices and cafeterias. Five levels of cleaning remove up to 99% of contaminants. The design includes a storage tank, after which a post-filter is installed for final filtration.

Price tag: from 18,000 to 30,804 rubles.

Atoll A-575Ep w/pump/A-575p STD

Advantages

• there is a built-in pump;
• a storage tank of 12 liters is installed;
• several degrees of purification, including a carbon filter.

Flaws

• not found.

We looked for a good water filter for washing in ratings and on forums. Atoll A-575Er seemed to be the best option. Now he works at the reception of our small hotel. The water turns out to be almost spring water, tasty and clean. Visitors drink with pleasure. The unit itself is complex only in appearance, but in fact it is very simple to install and use.

BARRIER ACTIVE The power of beauty

This device is relevant in Russia, since according to statistics, the majority of the population suffers from a lack of magnesium and zinc, and this particular unit not only purifies the incoming water, but mineralizes it with these substances.

Three-level filtration allows you to get rid of chlorine, heavy metals and various organic impurities. The model was created on the basis of proven Austrian technologies. Mineralization helps increase testosterone levels, regulates metabolism and has anti-allergenic properties.

Approximate price tag: from 5,090 to 6,890 rubles.

BARRIER ACTIVE The power of beauty

Advantages

• manufacturer's warranty up to 5 years;
• enriches water with useful substances;
• A clean water tap is included.

Flaws

• There is no storage tank or pump.

An excellent water filter for washing and the price is quite affordable. We bought it last year for our kitchen, it fits under the sink like a glove, it doesn’t take up much space. Apparently, thanks to mineralization, after six months we noticed a noticeable improvement in the body. The water is clean and scale and sediment no longer appear in the jug. You won't find anything better for this price!

BARRIER ACTIVE Power of the Heart

Like its predecessor, the heart power is also made using Austrian technologies and is not only a filtration system. Pre-filtration removes mechanical impurities and chlorine from the liquid; at the second stage, magnesium mineralization occurs and metals are removed; the third stage improves taste and conditions the water. Including magnesium in drinking water helps improve sleep and reduce stress levels, and also increases mental performance and energy production.

Prices: from 4,990 to 6,650 rubles.

BARRIER ACTIVE Power of the Heart

Advantages

• enrichment of water with useful elements;
• the crane is included with the equipment;
• impressive warranty period (5 years).

Flaws

• There is no tank or booster pump provided.

For a long time my husband and I were choosing which is the best water filter to buy for the sink, we got on each other’s nerves and this became the decisive moment - we bought one with an “anti-stress” effect. My husband installed it himself, and now we’ve been drinking healthy water for a couple of months now. This is even more economical than constantly ordering bottled ones. Profitable from all sides. Great stuff!

Atoll A-460E

This system is used for additional purification of liquid, which is subsequently used for cooking, drinking and other needs. The cleaning system includes filters and a special membrane, which is a kind of mesh that allows only water molecules to pass through. Among other things, oxygen enrichment occurs here. Filtration removes 99.9% of various impurities from water, which is why the water acquires ideal purity and a pleasant taste.

Cost: from 11,909 to 13,782 rubles.

Atoll A-460E

Advantages

• highly efficient filtration thanks to the membrane;
• spacious storage capacity of 12 liters;
• faucet included;
• enrichment with oxygen molecules during operation.

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Disadvantages

• the booster pump is not built in;
• very low performance (0.08 l/min).

A very good system, we have had it in our dacha for two years now. Due to poor water quality, you have to change cartridges every three months, but this is a small expense for the pleasure of using crystal clear water. In general, only he saves us. Cleans water perfectly, I strongly recommend buying it.

3M AP2-C405SG-Box

The unit, despite only one flask, is a complete replacement for three-cartridge systems. Effectively removes various mechanical impurities and contaminants, chlorine-containing elements, harmful microorganisms and heavy metals. By preserving natural mineralization, the water is supplied with a pleasant taste and smell. The quality of work is ensured by a high-tech carbon block in the design. When replacing the filter element, it is not necessary to shut off the water supply.

Average cost: from 5,499 to 7,690 rubles.

3M AP2-C405SG-Box

Advantages

• softens water and maintains mineralization;
• The cartridge is replaced without turning off the water supply;
• The design uses high quality carbon block.

Flaws

• no boost pump.

An excellent solution by the engineers; instead of a triple bandura, I now installed one neat flask. Saving space is obvious. You don’t even need to hang it; it stands perfectly in the corner of the cabinet. It dispenses its two liters per minute regularly, producing good quality water. After a month of work there are no complaints. I recommend!

Aquaphor DWM-202S

The Aquaphor water filter for sinks is a compact system that guarantees high-speed production of clean water, while it has a small storage system of five liters. Low pressure in the water supply system is not a problem thanks to the built-in pump, which produces virtually no noise.

The filter not only completely cleans the liquid, but also saturates it with useful elements, which has a beneficial effect on the user’s body. The electronic control system makes it possible to program water consumption and can save up to nine tons per year.

Approximate cost: from 21,290 to 24,900 rubles.

Aquaphor DWM-202S

Advantages

• sound and light indication of module resource;
• electronic flow setting;
• connection of the system to external consumers is provided;
• automatic protection installed;
• mineralizes with natural magnesium salts.

Flaws

• not found.

Cool modern filter. After 6 months of use, there is no scale in the kettle at all, although I used to clean it with citric acid every month and a half. Significantly improves the quality of drinking water, contains 4 filters. The tap is of good quality, the regulator turns easily. The filter is easy to install and has a convenient light indication on the housing.

USTM RO-5

The premium five-stage reverse osmosis system includes three pre-filters, an osmotic semi-permeable membrane and a carbon filter. The entire design allows the incoming water to be completely purified from harmful elements, including bacteria and viruses. The necessary elements for installation and connection are already included with the product. There is also a storage tank of twelve liters.

Cost range: from 10,060 to 10,600 rubles.

USTM RO-5

Advantages

• the package includes everything necessary for installation;
• equipped with a storage tank of 12 liters;
• Three pre-filters purify the water almost completely.

Flaws

• the pump must be purchased separately;
• low filtration rate (200 ml per minute)

After two years of use, no shortcomings were found, I just couldn’t believe that such a wonderful product could be purchased for a small amount. The quality of the water is at the highest level, we drink it ourselves and give it to small children. Consumables are quite accessible and very inexpensive. It's much cheaper than buying filtered bottled water. I advise everyone!

Reverse osmosis filter

So, let's move on to the topic of which water filter is better, and begin to understand the reverse osmosis filter. Firstly, it is a membrane filter. Purely structurally, it is a steel container, which is covered with a membrane inside. The latter is located horizontally and divides the tank into two equal parts.

The essence of water filtration is that small holes are made in the membrane, the diameter of which is 0.00001 mm. Only water molecules can pass through them. Neither dirt, nor dissolved particles, nor minerals will pass through the membrane. That is, the output is 100% purified water. There is no harm from it, but don’t look for any benefit to humans either. Therefore, today manufacturers add a mineralizer to the device, which provides purified water with the minerals necessary for humans, beneficial salts, and so on.

The only disadvantage of a reverse osmosis filter is the rapid contamination of the membrane. And although there is a drain pipe installed in the tank, which is connected with a hose to the sewer. All the same, such cleaning does not last long. Therefore, modern reverse osmosis filters installed in kitchens under the sink are a complex installation assembled on a frame.

Reverse osmosis filter Source sde.in.ua

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This installation includes cartridge filters that provide pre-cleaning, a membrane filter itself for water purification and a mineralizer. As for cartridge modules, here too the standard set, which was described above, is more often used.

A few important points:

1. A small amount of water pressure cannot create conditions under which liquid would leak through the membrane. For the filter to work effectively, a water pressure of at least 3 bar is required. If the water supply is provided by a pump from a well or well, then this pressure is present in the water supply network. If a private house is connected to a central water supply network, you will have to install a small pump into the home water supply system.
2. Filtering water using reverse osmosis is a slow process. Therefore, the filter package includes a tank for filtered water. It can have different volumes, which are selected to suit the needs of the residents of a private house. Most often these are containers no larger than 10 liters.

Reverse osmosis filter mounted under the sink Source water-filter.by

Types of filters for washing

There are filters made in the form of a jug, dispenser, or just a simple faucet attachment. And they also sell more capital ones, with installation in the kitchen sink.

There are two fundamentally different types of similar filters that are produced today by industry for domestic needs:

• Flow-through systems that purify water while located directly under the sink.

• Reverse osmosis, which purifies using special membranes.

Expert opinion

Borodina Galina Valerievna

Both options are widely used in many apartments, although reverse osmosis is somewhat more expensive and more complex.

Flow filters

Flow filters are made in the form of blocks (from 2 to 5), which are connected to each other in series.
Flow filters are considered affordable and have a small size. This filter is usually located in a niche under the sink.

Blocks perform several functions one after another:

• Mechanical cleaning of incoming liquid.

• Desalination of water.

• Its disinfection.

Before installing the filter and choosing its design, it is recommended to conduct a water analysis to determine the required filter units. If (which is not uncommon in today's cities) such an analysis shows an excess iron content, an appropriate filter is installed additionally.

First, a simple mechanical filter is installed to retain large particles that do not dissolve in water, but are transferred to it. These are, as a rule, particles of sand or clay, pieces of rust torn from the walls of pipes, etc. If such cleaning is not carried out, subsequent blocks will quickly become dirty and fail.

There are two types of mechanical filters:

1. Microfiltration – they retain particles up to 5 microns.
2. Ultrafiltration - they are ready to stop harmful impurities up to 1 micron in size.

The latter are more perfect and efficient, but also more expensive.

Next comes the chemical cleaning procedure. Activated carbon is usually used here, to which certain synthetic additives are added to increase its absorption capacity. This unit removes all chlorine compounds and various pesticides.

The most “advanced” filters of this type are equipped with a special silver additive. It destroys bacteria and significantly improves water quality and safety.

The next step is chemical cleaning based on the principle of ion exchange. The procedure removes heavy metal ions and even radionuclides. Dissolved salts are removed from the water, and it is softened.

Pros and cons of flow filters

This design has many advantages:

• The cost of such a filter, even if additionally equipped, is relatively low.
• The liquid filtration rate is high.
• Beneficial salts and minerals are retained in the water.
• A system of such filtration does not require a storage tank.

• Absolutely all liquid that passes through the flow filter is suitable for use.
• Water can flow through such a filter indefinitely.
• Replaceable filters – cartridges can be easily and quickly replaced. If the need arises.

This design has one disadvantage, but it is quite significant. Typically, complete filtration of water occurs at a speed of 1 l/sec. And when the tap is fully open, up to 5 liters usually flow out per second. Thus, it turns out that the liquid has time to be filtered by only 20% when the tap is fully open. This is usually mentioned in the instructions for the filter, but not everyone pays attention to it.

In addition, cartridges tend to become dirty over time, and accordingly, the degree of filtration decreases. If this is not taken into account, after a while the water stops being purified altogether.

Expert opinion

Borodina Galina Valerievna

The simplest flow filters can be purchased for 500 rubles, but these products are short-lived and not of very high quality. If you want to really purify your drinking water, spend at least twice as much. In the end, spending money on such a system will be much cheaper than going to some point of sale for purified water every day. And the degree of purification of such water is not always of high quality, despite bright advertising.

Reverse osmosis

Filters of this kind are successfully used on the ISS, in sea and ocean cruise ships, and in hotels on the sea coast.
Osmosis is a method of separating liquids into molecular components. What is a special membrane used for? Water under a certain pressure passes through such a membrane from a liquid with a high concentration of certain substances into a solution with an almost complete absence of them.

Industrial production of such filters began in the seventies of the last century. At first they were used for narrowly targeted purposes, but gradually began to be used at the household level.

The design consists of filter cartridges, a membrane and a storage tank.

This system works like this:

1. Before entering the membrane, water is purified from large, poorly soluble impurities.
2. Then it passes through the membrane, while up to 75% of the water with filtered impurities is poured into the sewer system, and the purified water is sent to a special storage tank.
3. The water from the tank is further purified and becomes suitable for use.

Filters of this kind have a production resource of 4,000 to 15,000 liters with a productivity of up to 250 liters per day. Approximately once every six months it is necessary to change the input cartridges, once a year – the finishing cartridges. This is easy to do; no special tools are required for this procedure.

Expert opinion

Borodina Galina Valerievna

Such products cost quite a budget, if you keep in mind their benefits for health and purification of drinking water - from 7 to 10 thousand rubles.

Pros and cons of reverse osmosis

The advantages are quite significant:

• After passing through such a filter, water becomes absolutely clean, free from impurities, germs and bacteria.
• This quality remains constant, regardless of the filter membranes.
• During membrane operation, only the quantity of filtered water decreases, but not its quality.
• There is no need to monitor the filtration speed.

• The supply of the storage tank is relatively large - from 8 to 12 liters of liquid.
• A liter of clean water accumulates in 5-6 minutes.
• The tank is completely filled with clean water in about an hour.
• Only water and oxygen molecules pass through the membrane; the membrane does not allow other particles to pass through.
• Already on the way from the storage tank, the water passes through an additional carbon filter, where final cleaning occurs.

This filter also has disadvantages:

• The dimensions of the system are relatively large; the storage tank does not always fit under the sink.
• Installation of a reverse osmosis filter can sometimes only be successfully carried out by a specialist.
• The cost of most reverse osmosis filters is still more expensive than flow-through filters, although their service life is much longer.
• Not all of the incoming water is used; part of it, along with retained particles, is sent to the sewer.
• To obtain 1 liter of clean water, up to 3 liters of running water is required; this is a significant difference when water consumption is calculated according to the meter.

• For normal operation of the filter, a certain water pressure is required; if it is absent on the upper floors or in the country house, the system will not work.
• The water coming out of such a filter is so purified that it has virtually no taste.
• For this reason, some doctors doubt its usefulness due to the lack of vital minerals in it.
• For the same reason, it is not recommended to drink practically distilled water without beneficial salts and minerals for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Let's sum it up

So, the best filter for water under the sink of the two indicated is a reverse osmosis device. Because it outputs completely purified drinking water, which is additionally beneficial for humans. Essentially, this is the same bottled water that is sold in stores. Only it is many times cheaper. But it should also be noted that of the two types of filters, this is the most expensive.

And one more point in favor of reverse osmosis technology. This concerns water hardness. If the analysis shows that the rigidity is quite high, then cartridge modules will not cope with it. Or rather, they will cope, but the service life of such filter elements is low. They quickly become clogged, after which they are subjected to restoration, and this is an expensive process. Therefore, if the water in the water supply system is hard, then only a reverse osmosis device is the best water filter.

Installation

To install the system yourself, you will need:

1. turn off the water;
2. cut into the water supply system and wrap the threaded connections with fum tape;
3. disconnect the supply line from the cold water tap;
4. connect and secure the insert;
5. remove the plugs from the filter, and instead connect them with multi-colored fittings corresponding to the cartridges.
6. drill a hole in the sink next to a regular tap (diameter 13 mm) for a drinking water tap;
7. insert the tap into the hole made and carefully tighten it with a nut;
8. Turn on the water supply and rinse the filter for 15 minutes.

The best manufacturers and models

Now the rating of water filters. It should be noted that recently domestic manufacturers have begun to produce competitive products. Therefore, the rating of water filters for washing mainly includes devices produced at Russian enterprises.

Let's first identify the manufacturers:

• Barrier. This is a brand name that belongs to . The company includes 4 factories and a research center. The brand has been present on the Russian market since 1993. The manufacturer produces both flow-through filter units and reverse osmosis units.
• Aquaphor. This is both the company name and the brand name. The brand has been on the market since 1992. The model line includes both flow-through units and reverse osmosis units. The manufacturer is proud that its specialists have developed their own filter element based on carbon fibers, which works as a sorbent. The company has 2 factories.

Trade brands of water filter manufacturers Source www.avers-filters.ru

• Geyser. This is the oldest brand that has been on the market since 1986. During all this time, specialists have developed their own filtration technologies and filter materials. They boast 20 patents. The developed new microporous ion-exchange polymer has received worldwide recognition.
• Atoll. This is an American brand, but the filters themselves are produced in Russia, where American components are used. The manufacturer offers only flow-through water filters for washing in four modifications, which are used for different water contaminants.

You can also add a Ukrainian brand called “New Water” to the rating of manufacturers. The company began its activities in 1996, and in 2006 became a member of the Water Quality Association, which already indicates the high quality of the filters produced.

So, having dealt with the manufacturers, we move directly to the question of which water filter to choose.

Water filter models

There is probably no point in talking about some kind of rating, that is, putting one model in first place, another in second, and so on. Let’s just announce popular models and indicate their characteristics.

Let's start with the Barrier, or rather, with its two modifications:

• Barrier EXPERT Ferrum;
• Barrier EXPERT Hard.

Advantages of the first:

• copes well with mechanical pollution, chlorine and iron;
• low price;
• does not reduce water pressure in the water supply network;
• replaceable cartridges;
• compactness, plus a good design.

Its disadvantages:

• does not reduce water hardness;
• replacement cartridges are expensive;
• If you do not use the device for a long time, a charcoal taste appears in the water, which goes away if you drain about 5 liters.

Comparison table of characteristics

In the table, we have compared the technical characteristics of the models presented in the rating so that you can easily compare and, possibly, choose your own option among them.

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