What is a water filter? How long is the service life of a water filter?
As an indispensable device in modern households and industries, water filters are widely used in various scenarios to purify water sources and improve water quality. Its role is not only to provide healthy and safe drinking water, but also to ensure the purity of water used in industrial production processes.
So, what is a water filter? How long is its service life? This article will explore these issues in depth.
What is a water filter?
A water filter, also known as a water purifier or water filter, is a device that removes impurities from water by physical, chemical or biological means. Its core function is to filter out suspended particles, harmful substances, microorganisms, etc. in water to obtain clean water that meets drinking or use standards.
What is the working principle of a water filter?
The working principle of a water filter varies depending on the type of equipment. The first is mechanical filtration, which removes suspended matter such as silt, rust, and large particles in the water through a microfiltration membrane or filter. This type of filtration is simple and efficient, and is usually used as the primary filtration step of a water filter. Secondly, activated carbon is the most common adsorption material. Through its porous structure and strong adsorption capacity, organic matter, odor, residual chlorine, etc. in the water are adsorbed on the surface of the activated carbon, thereby being purified.
In addition, some water filters use ion exchange resins to remove calcium and magnesium ions in the water through the principle of ion exchange, thereby achieving the effect of softening the water quality. This type of filtration is common in situations where the hardness of water needs to be reduced. Reverse osmosis technology uses the physical barrier function of a semipermeable membrane to block salts, heavy metal ions, organic matter, etc. dissolved in the water, and separates pure water and concentrated water by applying high pressure. Reverse osmosis technology is one of the most sophisticated water filtration methods currently available, capable of removing more than 99% of impurities in water. Some water filters have built-in ultraviolet lamps, which kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms in the water through ultraviolet irradiation to ensure water quality safety.
What are the classifications of water filters?
According to different filtration technologies and uses, water filters can be divided into many types:
Home water filters:
● Desktop filters: This type of filter is usually small in size and easy to install, suitable for drinking water filtration in home kitchens or offices. Common ones include activated carbon filters, reverse osmosis filters, etc.
● Central water purification system: installed at the main valve of the household water inlet pipe, it can fully filter household water, including drinking water, bathing water, domestic water, etc.
● Pipeline filter: installed on the tap water pipe, filters the water of the whole house, and is often used to prevent impurities in the pipe from entering the household water system.
Industrial water filter:
● Reverse osmosis water filter: used for industrial pure water preparation, widely used in pharmaceutical, food, electronics and other industries with high water quality requirements.
● Multi-media filter: using different media (such as quartz sand, anthracite, etc.) to physically filter suspended matter and particles in water, often used in industrial wastewater treatment, circulating cooling water treatment, etc.
Special purpose water filter:
● Water softener: mainly used to remove hardness ions in water, such as calcium and magnesium ions, and is often used in occasions where soft water is required, such as boiler water supply, household water heaters, etc.
● Ultraviolet sterilizer: specially used to kill bacteria and viruses in water, suitable for hospitals, laboratories and other occasions with extremely high water quality requirements.
What is the service life of a water filter?
The service life of a water filter is affected by many factors, including the type of equipment, frequency of use, maintenance, etc. In general, the life of a water filter can be divided into two levels: the service life of the equipment itself and the service life of the filter element.
Service life of the equipment itself:
● Household water filter: Household water filters are generally made of plastic or stainless steel, and the service life of the equipment itself usually ranges from 5 to 10 years. If the equipment is made of good material and properly maintained, the service life can be further extended. The length of the service life is also related to the water quality conditions and the use environment. When the water quality is poor or the use environment is harsh, the service life of the equipment may be shortened.
● Industrial water filter: Industrial water filters are usually more complex in structure and have a more demanding use environment. The service life of the equipment itself is usually around 10 to 15 years, but regular maintenance and maintenance are required, especially the replacement and maintenance of key components such as pumps, valves, pipes, etc.
Service life of the filter element:
The filter element is one of the most important consumables in the water filter, and its service life directly affects the filtering effect. Different types of filter elements have different replacement cycles:
● Activated carbon filter element: Activated carbon filter elements usually need to be replaced every 3 to 6 months, because the adsorption capacity of activated carbon gradually weakens with the increase of usage time.
● Reverse osmosis membrane: The service life of reverse osmosis membrane is usually around 2 to 3 years, but if the water quality is poor or the frequency of use is high, the replacement cycle may be shortened to 1 to 2 years.
● Ion exchange resin: Ion exchange resin used in water softeners usually needs to be regenerated or replaced every 2 to 3 years, but the regeneration frequency depends on the hardness of the water and the amount of water used.
● Mechanical filter element: This type of filter element (such as PP cotton filter element) is mainly used to remove large particles of impurities in the water, and usually needs to be replaced every 3 to 6 months to prevent clogging and affect the filtration effect.
What are the factors that affect the service life of the water filter?
First of all, the quality of water directly affects the service life of the water filter. If the content of impurities, sediment, rust, etc. in the water is high, it will accelerate the clogging of the filter element and the wear of the equipment, thereby shortening the service life. Secondly, the more frequently you use it, the faster the filter and the equipment will wear out, requiring more frequent replacement and maintenance. Therefore, commercial and industrial water filters usually have a shorter lifespan than household equipment.
Regular maintenance is essential to extend the lifespan of water filters. Regularly replacing filters, cleaning the inside of the equipment, and checking key components can effectively extend the lifespan of the equipment and ensure the filtering effect. In addition, the material of the equipment will also affect its lifespan. Stainless steel is generally more durable than plastic, especially in high temperature, high pressure or corrosive environments, stainless steel equipment has a longer lifespan. The installation environment of the water filter will also affect its lifespan. For example, in an environment with high humidity and large temperature changes, the equipment is susceptible to corrosion or damage, and its lifespan may be shortened.