🚰 Coarse water filter: choice, models, characteristics

It is unlikely that anyone will dispute the fact that water is a symbol of the life of our entire planet and each of its inhabitants. Everyone is about 70% liquid, so they need it every day. At the same time, it is important not only the quantity, but also the quality of the composition. Harmful impurities, metal salts, tiny particles of rust from pipes, as well as sand and algae - such components do not carry any benefit, impairing not only the taste and smell of water, but also the health of any organism. There are various methods of getting rid of unpleasant "fellow travelers", but the best solution is a complex effect. Today, the HouseChief editorial staff will talk about the first stage of liquid processing, about such an important element of water supply as a coarse filter.

Functionality and principle of operation of coarse filters

To begin with, it is worth talking in more detail about the device itself and its purpose. A coarse filter is similar to tonsils in the human body - it is at the forefront of protection, trapping the largest pollutants on its surface. The following basic functions of the hero of our review can be distinguished:

• purification of drinking water from impurities that harm the well-being and general state of health of residents of a house or apartment;
• prevention of various kinds of pipe blockages, leading to a lack of normal pressure and wear of plumbing equipment.

What is the principle of the coarse filter based on? Everything is elementary - a mesh element of a certain type is incorporated into the design of the cleaning device (we will talk about them later). Under the influence of pressure, the liquid passes through the absorbent material, and large contaminants are deposited on its surface. The process takes place exclusively mechanically, without the use of electronic technologies.

Product classification: what are the coarse water filters

The next important step in finding the best product is to determine the optimal filter type. Today, there are several of the most common pieces of equipment - let's consider each of them separately.

Cleaning mesh filter

The most common and simplest option at the moment is a strainer. Simple design, easy installation in the water supply system and long service life without replacement working parts - these are the main advantages that attract both ordinary homeowners and experienced plumbers.

Disc filter

Unlike the previous type, disc cleaners have a more complex principle of getting rid of silt, sand and rust. The main active component is flexible plastic discs, which, under the influence of pressure, change their shape, creating grooves - impurities that are objectionable to a person fall into them. They have a higher quality degree of purification than mesh samples.

Pressure filter cleaning

The most powerful types of devices can be safely called pressure filters. They have a mechanical pressure regulator that allows you to change the power with which water passes through the thickness of the filter material. But, despite the high quality of cleaning, pressure filters are rather cumbersome and require periodic replacement of elements to maintain efficiency.

Important information! In addition to the samples we have described, there are also cartridge-type filters. Often, various information resources and stores mislead customers, presenting them as coarse cleaning devices. In fact, they are necessary for fine filtration, which affects both the order of their installation and the requirements for maintenance. If you are interested, in the future we will tell you about this category of plumbing equipment.

How to choose a coarse filter: choosing the best device for various parameters and conditions

The next stage of our review will be the analysis of various conditions on which the choice of one or another cleaning device directly depends. Let's get down to this important step without delay!

Productivity and volumes of consumed water

First of all, it is worth considering the monthly consumption of water for drinking, hygiene procedures and household needs. The bottom line is that each product has its own performance limits.

Housing type	Illustration	Suitable filter type
Apartment		Mesh or disc
A private house (normal conditions)		Mesh or disc, plus cartridge
Private house (hard water, from a well or well)		Pressure, plus cartridge

Required filtration level

In this case, everything again depends on your place of residence and the composition of the liquid. It is unlikely that it will be possible to independently analyze the presence of certain harmful components, therefore it is better to take the sample to a chemical laboratory. This kind of research will help you understand if simple mesh equipment is enough or if more serious "defense" is needed.

Useful advice! Do not want to bother with the installation of complex devices, but do you care about both your health and the well-being of your household? In this case, a household tabletop filter jug ​​can be used as an alternative. You just have to pour dirty water into the upper container, and in a few minutes you will have a sufficient volume of purified liquid without harmful impurities at your disposal!

The presence in the house of specialized equipment (household and measuring)

Owners of washing machines and dishwashers, hot and cold water meters, as well as other special-purpose devices should be more careful about the choice of one or another option. The presence of one or two meters is unlikely to require additional costs and installation work, and other situations are a reason to buy at least one more auxiliary filter.

Production cost

At this point, it all depends on the needs and paying capacity of the homeowner. A basic mesh filter is not that expensive - it is a must-have in any home. More advanced options have solid price tags, but the need for their use arises either in extreme conditions (own well), or in other special cases described earlier.

The best manufacturers of coarse filters and their products

Having gone through all the stages described by us, we got to the most interesting and responsible point - the choice of a manufacturer and a specific model. HouseChief editors decided to help their readers by compiling a small rating of domestic and foreign firms that produce worthy products in different categories:

Brand name	Specialization	Popular model	HouseChief editorial score
	Disc and cartridge filters	Barrier VM ½	7,9/10
filter Barrier VM ½
	Mesh filters	Stout ½ mesh coupling - 500 md	8,0/10
filter Stout ½ mesh coupling - 500 mkr
	Strainers and pressure filters	VT.389.N.04	8,2/10
filter VT.389.N.04
	Disc, pressure and cartridge filters	Aquaphor Gross 10	8,7/10
filter Aquaphor Gross 10
	Mesh filters	ITAP oblique ½	9,2/10
ITAP filter oblique ½
	Pressure filters	Honeywell FK06-½ ”AA	9,7/10
filter Honeywell FK06-½ ”AA filter Honeywell FK06-½ ”AA

Rules for installing coarse filters

Having purchased a copy of the device you like, there is only one step left - to install the device into the water supply system. This procedure is easiest when working with a coarse strainer. The basic procedure is shown below:

Illustration	Description of action
	Remember, the filter is always placed BEFORE the meter, this is very important! First of all, we wrap one thread on the pipe with plumbing flax or assembly thread (if desired, you can additionally seal the connection with paste)
	We fasten the filter to the prepared thread using a wrench or adjustable wrench (pay attention to the direction of flow, it is indicated by an arrow on the body of the device)
	After sealing the second thread leading to the meter, we connect it to the outlet of our filter
	The main procedure is completed, it remains only to conduct a hydrotest, making sure that there are no leaks

It is also imperative to monitor the position of our device in space. The installation rules in this regard are not complicated - they are presented below in the screenshot, just remember them.

Disk, pressure and cartridge devices are installed according to the same scheme, but due to a number of features, we recommend entrusting their installation to professional plumbers - you will save a lot of nerves and time.

Tips for cleaning the filter from accumulated impurities

As with any equipment of this kind, filters tend to clog over time. Each type has its own characteristics of cleaning from sand, rust and dirt:

Illustration	Item type	Cleaning method
	Mesh (oblique or straight)	Unscrew the cork, take out the mesh and clean it under running water (use a brush if desired)
	Disk, pressure, cartridge	We unscrew the lower part using a special key (included in the kit), take out the working element with the filtering material and clean it

Products with a self-cleaning design stand apart. You can find out about the presence of such built-in mechanical cleaning on the packaging with the product or in the online store.

Conclusion

Our article has come to an end. We have tried to convey the maximum of useful information about the coarse filter. Admit it, you hardly imagined that he plays such an important role in the water supply system? What if you have installed such a device a long time ago and are using all its advantages? In any case, it is very interesting for us to know the opinion of the readers. Tell us about your position in the comments. And we conclude our story and wish each of you good health and no breakdowns in water equipment. Until next time!