How to install a main water filter with your own hands

The use of low-quality water has an extremely negative impact on human health , so experts recommend installing filter devices.

One of the most popular today are trunk-type devices.

They guarantee fast and thorough water purification, improving its properties and making it absolutely safe for consumption.

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Advantages of mainline cleaning devices

Installing such filters has the following advantages:

• The water is purified from mechanical impurities, such as pieces of rust. This will not only have a positive effect on the taste, but will also extend the life of pipes, as well as household appliances that use water: boiler, dishwasher and washing machine.
• Many mainline devices capture dissolved chemicals, making the water not only tastier, but also healthier.
• Installation is simple and can be done by hand.
• Replacing cartridges is easy and quick.
• Most filter models are compact in size. There are also bulk devices, such as ion exchange units and iron removal systems, but due to their size they are definitely not suitable for an ordinary apartment.

• With proper use, 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 reducer, which protects the water supply and household appliances from excessively high pressure and water hammer. Without a cleaning device, this device wears out too quickly. Instead of two separate devices, you can install a combined filter-reducer.

Purpose

The main purpose of such products is to purify drinking water from impurities of sand, dirt and hazardous chemicals. Additionally, main filters can disinfect liquids and improve the taste of incoming water. This becomes possible due to the filter capturing unpleasant odors and unnecessary tastes from metals and salts.

Also, the water passing through the system becomes much softer and safer for equipment. Filtration allows you to avoid mechanical damage to the device body by solid fractions, clogging of hoses with dirt and sand, and lime is removed.

High-quality main filters can improve the degree of purification of even artesian water. The system is easy to install and does not require any special maintenance.

Design and types of main filters

Mainline devices are installed at the entrance of the pipeline to the apartment and purify all the water consumed in it.

Professionals recommend making additional wiring at the place where the filter is inserted into the pipe, equipped with a system of ball valves. This will allow in emergency cases, for example, in the event of a breakdown or clogging of the filter device, to release water directly, bypassing it.

There are several types of main 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 mechanical impurities. Such filters are called mud filters. They are designed simply: it is a flow-through vertical flask, in which a metal mesh serves as a cleaning element. The device can contain several grids with cells of different sizes, which improves the quality of cleaning. The service life of such filters is practically unlimited: it is enough to remove and wash the filter element from time to time. There are also single-stage models with replaceable cartridges.

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

• Two-stage. The main function of the second stage is the removal of microscopic suspended matter and chlorine used for disinfection at treatment stations. The cartridges use fillers made 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 housing material. Devices made of special plastic or stainless steel can successfully withstand high temperatures.

Remember that hot water filters can be installed on the cold water pipe, but replacing them back is strictly prohibited.

Read more about mainline filters here.

conclusions

When deciding to purchase a mainline water filter, it is important to remember the following:

• First of all, you need to decide on the purpose of the device. Models are available for iron removal, free chlorine removal, mechanical filtration and softening;
• attention should be paid to such parameters as the number of cleaning stages, maximum performance and resource of the filter cartridge;
• Information about the method of purifying the liquid, the presence of a storage tank , as well as the materials used will not be superfluous.

What else to look for when choosing

When purchasing a main-line filter, you need to consider several important parameters, which include:

• Bandwidth. Mainline treatment systems can filter from 20 to 50 l/min. Each family has its own volumes of water consumption, which are taken into account when selecting a device.
• Reduced water pressure after the filter. Particular attention to this parameter should be paid to the inhabitants of the upper floors, where the pressure in the pipes may already be weak. If there is insufficient pressure in the system, individual household appliances, such as water heaters, simply will not work. Therefore, you should take this characteristic into account when purchasing. Another solution to the problem is to install a pump after the filter that increases the pressure in the system.
• Compactness. Before purchasing, you need to take measurements to ensure that the selected device will fit in the space allocated for it. After all, sometimes meters, filters, pressure reducers and taps need to be located in a rather cramped space.

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• Composition of fine cleaning cartridges. There are no universal cleaning elements that capture all types of impurities. Before purchasing a filter, it is advisable to conduct a chemical analysis of the water in order to know its composition and select a suitable purification system. For residents of apartment buildings, such an analysis will cost very little if they contribute.
• Manufacturer. In order for the filter to work for a long time and efficiently, it is worth choosing products from trusted brands. Aquaphor is also well known on the Russian market.

The best manufacturers

Installation of the main filter

After purchasing the device, a location for its placement is determined. It must be installed in such a way as to provide unobstructed access for replacing cartridges and maintenance. Many owners have a question about where to install the main filter, before or after the meter. The arrangement of devices will be as follows:

1. Stopcock.
2. An oblique mud filter that is sealed, just like the meter.
3. Water meter.
4. Check valve.
5. A filter, followed by a reducer, or a filter-reducer combining both devices.

For installation you will need:

• perforator;
• screwdriver;
• FUM tape ensuring tightness of joints;
• dry rags.

Connecting a main-line filter is easy. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• The water supply to the apartment is shut off, the tap in the kitchen or bathroom is opened. This will drain the remaining water in the pipes. But before starting installation, you will still have to place a basin under the insertion site for the remaining water in the system.
• Holes are marked on the wall for mounting the filter system. Its rigid fixation is mandatory, otherwise the vibrations that occur when liquid passes through the cartridges can damage the plumbing parts over time.
• Holes are drilled according to the marks into which the plastic parts of the dowels are inserted.
• The filter is connected to the pipes using couplings. The tightness of the joints on the valves is ensured by a wound FUM tape.

It is important to install the device correctly: the direction of water flow is indicated by an arrow on its body. The “in” marking is placed at the filter inlet.

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

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The entire installation process is clearly shown in the video.

The filter reducer is installed in a similar way, but its installation has its own nuances:

• The pressure gauge is located with the indicator or regulator facing up.
• The dirt filter is turned with the plug down.
• After fastening and checking the tightness, the gearbox is adjusted by tightening the adjustment screw with a screwdriver. The optimal pressure value for an apartment is 3 atm.

Do you need a filtration system at home?

A water purifier is necessary if you cannot drink tap water:

• it is cloudy and smells bad;
• with a taste of iron or rotten eggs;
• strongly reeks of chlorine.

Also, a filtration system is needed if the water pipes are old and rusty , because they are the source of:

• bacteria;
• silt;
• sand;
• gland.

Do you buy bottled water? As an alternative, you can install a water purifier, it will quickly pay for itself. But which model to choose depends on the quality of water and volume of consumption.

Replacing the cartridge in the main device

The technical data sheet of the product indicates the volume of water, after cleaning which requires changing the filter elements. Typically their service life ranges from one and a half to six months.

Instructions for replacing the cartridge:

• Turn off the tap at the water inlet to the apartment.
• Relieve pressure in the system.
• To avoid flooding your neighbors, place a basin or other container under the device flask.
• Use the key included in the delivery to unscrew the flask.
• Remove the filter element. Rinse the mesh that provides rough cleaning, replace the cartridges with new ones. Also clean the flask from contaminants.
• Place the flask in its original place and make sure there are no leaks.

The video below shows how to replace cartridges in filters for cold and hot water.

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

Pre-installation preparation

Before starting work, you should carefully think through everything and choose a place for installation. Small-sized filters can be installed anywhere, but for large filters it is better to take care of a small special room and make a kind of storage room.

Small filter flasks can also be installed under the sink, or directly at the inlet of the main line, which is a more correct option.

The filters themselves also need to be prepared and checked. We assemble the flasks, check the presence of filter elements (cartridges), and try them on for the planned installation location. We measure the dimensions so that we know what cuts will need to be made on the pipes.

Where to buy?

water filters from official online or offline stores from manufacturers.

If there is no representative office in your locality, look at the list of distributors with whom the company cooperates.

By purchasing a water purifier from a trusted place, you will protect yourself from being deceived by scammers who pass off fakes as originals.

Attention! When purchasing, pay attention to the integrity of the box, the packaging (check the presence of each part according to the design), and the absence of mechanical damage to the product. Also make sure that the warranty card is filled out and has the seller’s stamp on it.