Introduction

Water is an essential aspect of our daily lives. We use it for cooking, cleaning, and especially drinking. However, not all water sources are created equal, which is why installing a water purifier at home is crucial. Water purifiers come in different shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common – they filter out impurities from tap water. In this article, we’ll be discussing the different types of filters to look for in a water purifier.

Sediment filter

A sediment filter is the first filter cartridge in a water purifier and usually the heart of any system. As the name suggests, it removes any sediment and dirt from tap water. This filter also protects the other cartridges from clogging and enhances their life span. A sediment filter usually consists of a porous material, such as polypropylene, that traps dirt. These filters come in different strengths or mesh sizes to cater for different levels of sedimentation in your water supply.

Activated carbon filter

An activated carbon filter is the most important filter cartridge in a water purifier. Of all the filters, it removes the largest range of contaminants, particularly Chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and unpleasant odors and taste. Activated carbon utilizes carbon beams with a very high surface area, which attracts and traps these impurities. They come in various forms, such as granular activated carbon (GAC) and powdered activated carbon (PAC).

Reverse osmosis filter

If you live in an area with hard water, reverse osmosis (RO) filtration is essential. RO is a process that uses a semipermeable membrane to filter out water impurities. These impurities include heavy metals like lead and arsenic, salts, nitrates, and other dissolved solids. The RO membrane has small pores that only water molecules can pass through, removing the contaminants.

UV filter

A UV filter uses ultraviolet light technology to purify water. The UV light destroys harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, by disrupting their DNA structures. The filter is useful in cases where tap water has been found to contain a high level of germs that cause illnesses. The UV filter is usually placed after the activated carbon filter, which enhances the effectiveness of the UV process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, installing a water purifier with the right filter cartridge is crucial to maintaining good health. When it comes to picking filters, it’s essential to consider the quality of your water, and in some cases, the local water quality report can provide enough insight. There are other filter cartridges available, such as ceramic filters, ion exchange, and specialty media filters. However, the four filter cartridges mentioned above are the most common and provide a high level of impurity removal.