How does a 3 way tap work, and do you need one? We’re going to hazard a guess here that your kitchen tap is one of the most important and used pieces of kit in your kitchen, and you need it to operate fault free every time you turn it on. We understand! Somewhere along the way you may have decided to upgrade and install a 3 way filter tap that connects to your under sink drinking water filter, which we think is the right choice to ensure you have access to fresh filtered water any time of the day or night. In this article we cover what a 3 way mixer tap is, how they work including how to connect a 3 way mixer tap to a water filter, rounded off with some expert insight into whether this type of tap is worth having and which one would most likely work for you. What is a 3 way mixer tap? Envisage this. Two different taps wrapped up into one perfectly formed single spout unit that’s capable of delivering hot, cold, and filtered water. This is what a 3 way mixer tap is. The most common models will have either two or three levers. If it’s a two lever model, the hot and cold will be controlled by one lever and the filtered water with the second lever. If it’s a three lever model, there are separate levers for hot, cold, and filtered water. When you’re browsing the internet, you’ll come across alternative names for a 3 way mixer tap, such as tri-flow taps, 3 way water filter taps or 3 way filter taps. They are all essentially the same thing! How does a 3 way tap work? We take it for granted, don’t we, that you’ll go to your kitchen sink, turn on your 3 way tap and out will flow fresh filtered water. Everything will just happen magically, but how does a 3 way tap work? Hot, cold, and filtered water are dispensed out of the same spout, but there are two chambers within the spout, so the filtered water is completely separated and never encounters the hot/cold unfiltered water. This feature is often referred to as dual flow. Do 3 way filter taps need a pump? The easy answer to this question is sometimes. If you have very low hot water pressure you may need a hot water booster pump. That’s the main reason we supply them. Some of our 3 way taps operate successfully with only 0.5 bar of pressure, such as the Verona and Monza styles. Do 3 way mixer taps work with water softeners and RO systems? Yes, they do. You can enjoy hot and cold water that has been treated by the water softener and then filtered water that goes through a separate drinking water filter system. There is a lot of chatter about whether it’s safe to drink softened water and we’re going to cover this in a future article so as not to detract from what this blog post is all about – how does a 3 way tap work. How to connect a 3 way mixer tap to a water filter We’re going to talk specifically about the high quality Acquapuro 3 way mixer taps here because that’s predominantly what we stock. Acquapuro taps are supplied with three flexible hoses that attach to the hot, cold, and filtered water feeds. Each flexible hose has a 3/8’’ connection. Two 3/8’ x ½’’ non return valves are also included for connection to your existing hot and cold water feeds. They will screw directly onto a 15mm compression fitting. A 15mm compression fitting is often called a washing machine tee. All of our 3 way filter taps in stock are compatible with our drinking water filters and water softeners. If you already have an existing water filter system that you didn’t purchase from us, our water filter taps range will also be compatible if the filter has an inlet and outlet connection, which all should have. It would be strange if they didn’t! You will also benefit from the fast and easy solid fix 3 way mixer tap installation method. This is where a large nut is spun up a threaded shaft and then tightened by two screws. This gives sturdy and strong support over the full circumference of the tap base on even the thinnest of stainless steel sinks. You will receive a detailed installation guide for your plumber to follow with every 3 way tap. (is it worth putting an installation guide in as an example?) Compatibility with other drinking water filters We mentioned earlier on that the 3 way taps we stock are compatible with a whole range of drinking water filters, water softeners and reverse osmosis systems, not just the ones you can buy from Fountain Filters. They can replace any kitchen tap that has three separate connections or connected to a water filter system that’s hooked up to the mains cold water supply. Brita mixer taps are just one example of compatibility with the versatility of Acquapuro taps. With the help of our trusted supplier, we can help you replace your Brita product with an Acquapuro 3 way mixer tap. Is it worth having a 3 way tap? Ah, the million dollar question and here’s our pennies worth. A 3 way tap is worth having if you’re invested in your health and well-being and want clean, fresh filtered water without the need to install a second tap on your kitchen sink. Installing a 3 way mixer tap is the best thing you can treat yourself to if you want to cut down on plastic waste and stop buying bottles of water. And, if you’ve visualised having a 3 way tap after scrolling through hundreds of kitchen design ideas then it’s 100% worth having. How many times have you thought about buying something, changed your mind, bought something similar but not quite the same, and then regretted it? We’ve all been there. What we don’t want you to do, is look at your kitchen tap every day and wish that you’d bought a tap from our water filter taps range. We associate words such as functional, efficient, space-saving, hard wearing, and durable with 3 way mixer taps. Having a drinking water filter and 3 way tap is such a popular option in busy households throughout the world. 3 way taps come in at a higher price range than a single flow drinking water filter tap, but here are some of the top benefits we think you’ll enjoy. Access to filtered water whenever you want it. You can cook with it, drink it, fill your kettle with it, and top up your reuseable water bottles before you venture out. Having a 3 way tap is so convenient. One tap instead of two - there’s no need to install a separate tap to enjoy your filtered water, so there’s less space taken up at your kitchen sink. You’ll save money in the long run. Having access to your own filtered water will save you having to buy bottles of water, often in single use plastic, when you’re out and about. Just think how environmentally friendly you’ll be. Which 3 way tap is good for you? With so many options out there when it comes to 3 way taps, we think the most important things you should be considering are your existing or planned kitchen layout, the atmosphere you want to create, the functionality you want the tap to have, and access to some good quality and realistic expert advice. It’s also worth thinking about your water pressure, as some taps work better with high-pressure systems. A high pressure system is when you only have hot water storage. A low pressure system would be gravity-fed, and you’ll have cold water storage in the loft and a hot water cylinder in an airing cupboard. The type and style of your 3 way kitchen mixer tap needs to work with the type of kitchen sink you have and the available space you have on and around the sink. What type of kitchen tap are you upgrading from? Do you currently have one, two or no tap holes. Our 3 way taps only need one hole for installation. Do you have kitchen cupboards or shelving above the kitchen sink? If you do, then the height of your new kitchen tap is a key factor. You don’t want the top of the spout touching anything as that just wouldn’t look good and you wouldn’t be able to swivel the spout so functionality would be severely impaired. It’s important to look at the dimensions diagrams on each of our 3 way taps as this will guide your choice. And then there is the style and finish of the tap to consider. It should reflect the atmosphere you want to create in your kitchen so that it harmonises with the rest of your kitchen décor. Types and styles of 3 way taps We all like what we like when it comes to home décor. Once you’ve got your desired 3 way tap functionality nailed it’s onto the next exciting part. What style of 3 way tap do you prefer? And what finish? Chrome or brushed steel, a white or black spout? At Fountain Filters we stick to the classic styles because of their longevity of popularity. Some things just never go out of fashion. Acquapuro 3 way taps are like the little black dress of the kitchen tap world! We’ve categorised our 3 way taps range into five style categories. Contemporary It’s all about the base with this 3 way tap. The contemporary SQ range is available with different spout options for the brushed steel finish and seven for the chrome finish. The Milano SQ is a beautiful example of a contemporary brushed steel 3 way tap. And then we have the Verona SQ which is one of our most highly sophisticated chrome finish 3 way taps. No wonder our Acquapuro SQ range is so sought after. Professional Both the Aquila and Milano styles are professional style 3 way mixer taps, available in chrome and brushed steel finishes. The less industrial looking of the two is the popular Aquila range. This 3 way tap features a tightly wound spring which is both practical and stylish. The underside of the two-way spray holder neatly hides the filtered water outlet. The Aquila 2 lever brushed steel 3 way tap is a popular choice when you're after a more serious working kitchen vibe. It's also available in chrome. Slightly more industrial and bold looking is the highly sought after Milano range with its professional and detachable spring spout. At the simple press of a button, you can deliver a shower spray to all four corners of your kitchen sink. The Milano is the only one of the range which doesn’t have a separate outlet for the filtered water. Hot, cold, and filtered water come out through the same spray head. This is the one tap in the Acquapuro range where we suggest allowing the filtered or unsoftened water to run for a few seconds before drinking it. Minimalist We love the minimalist design of the Sorrento 3 way taps range. With its single curve, flat topped spout it’s sure to take pride of place at your kitchen sink. Water flows from a single aerator, with the filtered water being dispensed through a central opening in the aerator, and the hot and cold flowing from around the outside of the central opening. The Sorrento is modern, neat and one of our all-time best selling chrome finish 3 way taps. Timeless A timeless classic. The Verona 3 way tap is incredibly popular, and we can see why. Households around the world love the curved swan neck spout. That’s why this style will always stand the test of time. Filtered water remains separate from the untreated hot and cold water, all the way from the connections to the spout. Modern We call this the modern Monza classic. The Monza 3 way tap has a beautiful angular design and as with the Verona, filtered water remains separate from the untreated hot and cold water. A beautiful 3 way tap that will benefit any modern kitchen. Need help – we are here! In this article we’ve explained what a 3 way mixer tap is and described how a 3 way tap works. If you are unsure about any aspect of which model of tap is right for you, we are only one phone call or message away. Call 01352 838 281 Message us It’s much better to call with lots of questions rather than guess. That’s why we are here for, at Fountain Filters we are water filtration experts we’d rather you reach out and ask as many questions as you want. We are here to help!
0 Can you drink rainwater harvesting UK
Can you drink rainwater? Rainwater harvesting in the UK If you knew for certain that your rainwater was clean and free of any contaminants it would be perfectly safe to drink and we would all be encouraged to collect it, drink it, and enjoy it. The nation would be lapping it up! But we hate to put a spanner in the works and tell you it’s not quite as straightforward as that because physical, and environmental factors play a part and rainwater isn’t nearly as pure as you might initially think. Never assume that you can drink rainwater. If you don’t know what’s in your rainwater, it’s probably best to err on the side of caution and avoid drinking it. If you want to use rainwater but not drink it, feel free to use it in the garden, wash your car with it, and fill your washing machine with it. In this article we set out to answer some key questions about drinking rainwater including ‘can you drink rainwater’? ‘Is rainwater safe for drinking’? making rainwater safer by looking at rainwater filter options. We’ll also touch on the fundamentals of rainwater harvesting, specifically rainwater harvesting for drinking in the UK. Can you drink rainwater? There’s a difference between ‘can you drink rainwater’ and ‘should you drink rainwater’. If you find yourself in a survival situation and rainwater was the only drinking water source available to quench your thirst, then the ‘should you drink rainwater’ question would be easily answered. That rainwater could be the difference between life and death. However, we’d like to think that most of us are not in a survival situation day in and day out. Leaving the survival scenario aside, as water filtration experts we wouldn’t recommend drinking rainwater unless you’d had it properly tested and treated if necessary. You must be 100% certain that it’s safe as there could be parasites, bacteria, heavy metals, animal or bird faeces, and viruses lurking in it. Any of these contaminants would pose a significant health hazard to anyone drinking that water. As rain falls from the sky it collects particles and contaminants. As rain hits your roof it soaks up anything that happens to be up there. And how many of us know what’s on our roof? Lots of lovely bird poo probably! You can be sure that rainwater will absorb anything that it passes through. It’s all starting to look like that pure, clean, fresh rainwater isn’t quite as refreshing and appetising as we hoped. Cue upset stomach. Can you tell we’re steering you towards believing that no rainwater is safe to drink. Is rainwater safe to drink? The temptation to just say NO and move on is strong, but that’s not going to equip you with the information you need on the subject of ‘is rainwater safe to drink’? Rainwater not safe to drink should be emblazoned across the sky in huge letters! We’ve touched on some of the reasons why drinking rainwater may not be the perfect way to stay hydrated. Having an upset stomach would be bad enough, catching a nasty disease even worse, and dying for the sake of a sip not worth it at all. Bacteria, viruses, parasites, and anything else rainwater picks up on its journey from the sky to your mouth means that it’s not the ideal thing to do. Contaminants don’t jump out of the water and say ‘hey, be careful – I could make you very ill’! If rainwater was safe to drink, surely the UK wouldn’t need to treat it, concentrating instead on treating groundwater sources. They’d just collect rainwater, store it, and pump it directly to your tap. We’d all be super healthy! Rainwater myths While writing this article we’ve come across some interesting and potentially misleading information out there on the world wide web. Here’s a couple of things that made our jaws drop. Rainwater is more alkaline than tap water – NO. It’s the opposite. Rainwater is generally slightly acidic with a pH of 5.0-5.5. Rainwater becomes even more acidic when it combines with sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxides that are generally produced from emissions from power plants and cars. The higher the pollution, the higher the acidity of the rainwater. You’ve probably all heard of the term ‘acid rain’. Depending on where your tap water is sourced, it’s generally more neutral or alkaline – pH 6-8.5. Rainwater is good for the body – we’ve read that it keeps bones healthy, nourishes the cells in your body, and boosts your immune system. Yes, water does all these things and that’s marvellous, but in everything we’ve read it does stipulate that rainwater should be treated before drinking. Isn’t one of the sources for tap water just rainwater that’s been treated. All those articles that we’ve read just come at the ‘can you drink rainwater’ issue from a different angle. The only difference between rainwater and tap water is that rainwater won’t contain chlorine. The information out there on rainwater can be misleading, so be careful! How to filter rainwater to drink We hope that we’ve made is clear that regardless of how you’ve collected it, no rainwater is safe to drink. Rainwater is only safe to drink AFTER you have treated it. Our focus here is on how to purify rainwater for drinking at home, so we’ll skip the use of water purification tablets as a rainwater filter method. Let’s look at some options so that you can choose a rainwater filter system that suits your needs. Boiling rainwater Can you boil rainwater and drink it? Yes, it’s a key step in making rainwater safer to drink. Boiling water will significantly improve the quality of the rainwater and will remove certain types of bacteria, viruses, or parasites. You will most likely need an additional rainwater filter to remove chemicals and any other contaminants not removed by boiling. The boiling point of water is 100°C / 212°F. But did you know that the boiling point of water can be affected by how many impurities are present. Water to Go bottle Can you collect and drink rainwater? You most certainly can with a water filter bottle by Water to Go. It’s an ideal rainwater filter system when you’re on the move. You can basically fill up your bottle with rainwater or any other non-saltwater source. We get quite excited by the Water to Go filter bottles because it means you’ll never run out of clean fresh water. Try these water filter bottles yourself. Collect some rainwater in a clean container in your back garden and then pour it straight into your Water to Go bottle. It really is that simple. Rainwater filter Can you drink filtered rainwater? Absolutely! And this is where we can help you filter out a variety of parasites, bacteria, heavy metals, animal or bird faeces, and viruses from your collected rainwater. If you can get your rainwater tested regularly that would be useful in determining what’s in it that you need to filter out. Remember, that the composition of rainwater doesn’t stay the same. We recommend that your rainwater is stored in a sealed tank after treatment and that this water tank is disinfected regularly with something like bleach or Milton disinfecting fluid. You need sufficient water pressure in the collection tank to push the water through to the rainwater filter system. This means the collection tank must be situated at least 10 metres above the filtration stage. Or you could use a water booster pump. So, what type of rainwater filter do you need to make it safe to drink? You’ll need to remove both large and small particles using either a spin-down filter or a single or twin sediment filter system (or both). You will need to contact us directly for information on spin-down filters. Chemicals can be removed using a carbon block water filter cartridge. This type of cartridge can be found in many of our drinking water filter systems and mains water filter system for home. The removal of bacteria, cysts, and microorganisms is best tackled by an Argonide NanoCeram water filter cartridge. These are available in three different sizes for either drinking water only or wholehouse contaminant removal. An alternative to the NanoCeram water filter cartridge would be to use a UV water treatment system to remove bacteria, cysts, and microorganisms. A combination of one or all the rainwater filters above will ensure that your rainwater is safe to drink. Rainwater harvesting to drink Before we draw this article to a close, it’s important not to forget about rainwater harvesting as a means of collecting, storing, and using water that falls from the sky. What is rainwater harvesting? Rainwater harvesting is essentially the collection and storage of rainwater that falls onto the roofs of buildings instead of letting it run-off down the gutters and into the drains. In the long-term rainwater harvesting can be a more sustainable way of running your home and saves you money on your water bills because it cuts down your use of mains water. People choose to harvest their rainwater to use it for non-drinking purposes such as flushing the lavatory, in washing machines, and watering the garden. A properly set up rainwater harvesting system will filter the rainwater and store it below ground where it’s less likely bacteria will form. What’s good about rainwater is that it doesn’t create limescale and so if you’re using it to flush the loo or in your washing machine it doesn’t create that horrible scale that hard water tends to. Can rainwater harvesting be used for drinking water? If you wanted to use a rainwater harvesting system for drinking water, it would have to go through some sort of rainwater filter to make it potable. If you didn’t do this you would not be able to use it for drinking, washing in, or cooking. We’ve talked about some of the rainwater filter systems already. We believe it would only be economically viable to make your rainwater potable if you were living in an area that had no mains water connection. If you are on mains water then it would be more beneficial to use your harvested rainwater for non-drinking purposes and stick to mains water for drinking, washing in and cooking. We hope that we’ve provided you with sufficient answers to the question of ‘can you drink rainwater’ and provided a small insight into the concept of rainwater harvesting. In conclusion, if rainwater is properly treated then it would be safe to drink, but only if necessary. If you are on mains water, it would make more sense to limit the use of rainwater to non-drinking purposes. We do love those water filter bottles though! We’re easy to contact if you have any questions about rainwater. You can call us on 01352838281 or use our valuable helpdesk to send us a message.
0 How to recycle water filter cartridges correctly
How to recycle water filters the correct way (by water filter experts) We are getting asked more frequently about recycling water filter cartridges and how to do it. People are becoming more environmentally conscious and want to play their part. Firstly, by taking the decision to install a water filter in your home or business you’re already showing a commitment to ditching single use plastic bottles and saving money in the process. If you want to find out how much you’d be saving by switching to a water filter instead of single use plastic, then look at our handy calculator. Secondly, we hear a lot of chatter about how we must reduce our carbon footprint. But what does that mean exactly and how does that relate to the disposal of water filter cartridges? Reducing your carbon footprint means changing how you approach and participate in activities that produce greenhouse gases. For example, if you want to reduce your carbon footprint at home then you could incorporate these small steps into your household routine: properly insulate your home lower your thermostat in winter and raise it in summer. switch to LED lightbulbs. recycle effectively for e.g., water filter recycling. turn off lights. unplug appliances when not in use. Fountain Filters actively encourages you to reduce your carbon footprint and we’re going to guide you through how to recycle water filters below. What are water filters made from? Water filters, fridge water filters and the cartridges that go inside them are made up of different materials. You might be wondering, with all of these different materials… are all water filter cartridges recyclable? Let’s look at some of those materials before we dive into how to recycle water filters. Some housings, outer casings of cartridges, cartridges and components can be made from either Polypropylene (PP) or High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Polypropylene (PP) One of the top five most common plastics. It’s easy to identify. Just look for this image. It’s the number 5 in the chasing arrows symbol. Sometimes, you’ll see a 5 in the symbol and sometimes you’ll see the letters PP underneath the symbol. PP has good chemical resistance to acids, alkalis, and most solvents. It is also resistant to moisture and has a high melting point so it can be heated. It’s lightweight and strong. The most common items that you’ll see made of PP are yoghurt pots, margarine containers, syrup bottles, bottle caps, straws, Tupperware, and other plastic food containers, take away food containers, cups, and plates, items used in the automotive industry, sunglasses, cling film, cereal box liners, food packaging e.g., crisp packets, biscuit packets, chocolate bar wrappers. And of course, Polypropylene is used in the plastic parts of water filters! High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) As with PP, this is also easy to identify. Just look for this image. It’s the number 2 in the chasing arrows symbol. This stiff, durable, strong, and safe material doesn’t react with food and beverages. Milk, water and juice bottles, children’s toys, outdoor furniture, shampoo, soap and personal care items, and hard hats are just some of the items made from HDPE. HDPE is very easy to reuse and recycle. As with PP, some of the plastic parts of our water filters will be constructed of HDPE. Some of our cartridges contain loose media such as GAC/KDF, Activated Alumina, and OneFlow. Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) / Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF) Used in our Pearl M, Moby M and Doby M water filter cartridges. The type we use are made from coconut shells as they are high in carbon. GAC is effective at removing chemicals from water. KDF is a gold-coloured copper-zinc alloy formulation that helps reduce chlorine, lead, mercury, iron, and hydrogen sulphide from water. Activated Alumina We use Activated Alumina media in our fluoride reduction cartridges, such as the Oyster Fluoride water filter. Activated Alumina is an adsorbent for many chemicals including arsenic and fluoride. OneFlow Highly effective OneFlow media is used in the majority of our hard water filters such as the Doby Taste and OneFlow. It’s one of the most effective solutions for tackling those pesky limescale problems. OneFlow is a white sand-like substance that circulates with the water flowing through the cartridge. This media uses a process called Template Assisted Crystallisation (TAC) which attract the hard water ions. The TAC and ions combine to make microscopic crystals that detach from the media and then flow away instead of forming limescale. Carbon Block Compressed carbon made from coconut shell and a highly effective material for water filtration. We use this in many of our drinking water and mains water filters. Brass Components are sometimes used when we build our mains water filters for home and business use. So, based on what types of materials are used for water filtration products, lets now look at. How to recycle water filters If you want to be environmentally conscious at home, it’s important to start looking and becoming familiar with the water filters you have and the packaging they come in. You will also need to familiarise yourself with your local council’s recycling dos and don’ts. If in doubt, please don’t just throw items into your kerbside recycling bins and hope for the best! Read our section on ‘don’t wish cycle’ below. How to recycle Polypropylene (PP) / High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) filter cartridges Any rigid plastic parts in our water filter housings, fridge water filters, inline filters, water filter cartridges, empty canisters and components are made of either PP or HDPE. These can be placed in your kerbside recycling bin. Remember to look for the marks if they are there. It’s either: If you are in any doubt about recycling PP and HDPE water filter cartridges check with your local council. But please remember that if there is any loose media inside the rigid plastic part, you must remove it and give the cartridge a rinse before placing in your recycling bin. It’s easy to do this, either by unscrewing the bottom of a cartridge or cutting into the cartridge with something sharp. Please do this carefully to avoid any injuries. If you ignore emptying the loose media and just throw the entire thing into recycling it will go to landfill and take up to 30 years to decompose. It may also contaminate other items and lead to problems when items are sorted at recycling depots. How to recycle Carbon block/GAC filter cartridges This is an interesting one as there are many uses for both compressed carbon block and granular carbon. GAC can just be poured out of the plastic canister. The canister normally unscrews at one end. For inline filters you’d have to cut into it and remove the GAC. Compressed carbon block cartridges are made from coconut shell, such as our Pearl T cartridge. These are totally recyclable after use but takes a little effort. To recycle these type of filter cartridges follow the steps below: Remove the plastic ends and put these into your plastic recycling. The caps are glued on can be prised off. This can be done by carefully pushing a blunt knife in, or you could saw off the ends. Pull off the plastic mesh and give it a good shake. Put the mesh in your recycling bin after giving it a good shake to remove any remaining carbon. What’s left is the compacted carbon. The compacted carbon can be broken up by whatever means you find the easiest. There are lots of uses for that broken up carbon. Let’s look at how you can recycle the carbon you find in water filter cartridges: Break it up into soil, add it to compost or put some in with your pot plants. The carbon will increase aeration, and water retention in the soil. Here’s something to bear in mind though before adding to soil, compost, or pot plants. If you’ve used that filter cartridge to remove contaminants such as heavy metals or arsenic, then the carbon will have trapped and concentrated them. Heavy metals won’t break down further in the compost and may end up in the plants you’re growing. Minimise bad smells by rinsing the used carbon grains or broken up compressed carbon in cold water. Then lay it out in the fresh air to dry out. Or inside if it’s raining! Once it’s dry, put the carbon in a sock or cloth bag and leave it in required places like the fridge, the loo, as a car air freshener or a drawer freshener. You can even put it in your smelly trainers or your pet’s bed. It will absorb the smell. Change it as often as your change your water filter cartridge, so every 6-12 months. Fight mould by following the process for bad smells above. Leave the sock or cloth bag in any areas where mould is growing or could grow. How to recycle loose media such as KDF / Activated Alumina / OneFlow Unfortunately, you’re going to have to put this into your general household waste. There is no way to recycle these kind of filter cartridges but remember, don’t pour the cartridge down the sink or lavatory. Our plumbing and water systems aren’t designed to cope with the materials used in filter media. The media may also contain harmful contaminants that shouldn’t be introduced into the water supply. How to recycle ceramic water filter cartridges Using ceramic filters in your compost ensures better water absorption and drainage. To recycle this type of water filter, place the broken ceramic pieces into your compost heap after removing the plastic filter mount. Spread evenly into your compost using a trowel and cover it in compost. You can compost used ceramic water filter cartridges and they’ll help with soil drainage. How to recycle UV glass lamps and sleeves If the glass quartz sleeve or lamp is broken do not put it into recycling. Put it out with your general household waste. How to recycle UV membranes We are still doing some research into how to recycle UV membranes so for now just place in your general household waste for landfill. Check with your local council if they can be recycled. How to recycle Brass and other metal components found in filter cartridges Place in your general household waste. Check with your local council if you are unsure. These will go to landfill. Plastic components The plastic components found in filter cartridges should be placed in your general household waste. Check with your local council if you are unsure. These will go to landfill. How to recycle fridge water filters Fridge water filters, both internal and external cartridges are essentially made of the same types of material as all other water filters and water filter cartridges. Therefore, when it comes to recycling fridge water filters, these shouldn’t be treated any differently. It’s important to remove all the plastic parts and dispose of any loose media inside – either into general household waste or if it’s GAC, into your garden, compost, or pot plants. Or any of the other fabulous uses as mentioned above. Don’t Wish Cycle If you’re not sure about water filter recycling, don’t ‘wish cycle’ it. Wish recycling is when you toss anything into the recycling bins and hope for the best. We know it’s desirable to feel you’re doing good things, but it’s probably not the best way to go about recycling water filters as you could be causing contamination of actual recyclable materials. And then it would all have to go to landfill, so you’d be doing more harm than good. But let’s be honest, how often have you just opened the recycling bin and thrown something in thinking that they’ll sort it out at the other end. I know we’ve done it before, have you? Why we shouldn’t wish cycle When recyclable and non-recyclable items are mixed, it can lead to contamination and waste. People working on conveyor belts, or machines, must sort the good from the bad. This takes time, costs a lot of money, and increases rather than decreases waste. If it proves too difficult the whole lot goes to landfill. The quality of the recycled products decreases. For example, placing dirty items into recycling can cause trouble such as a paper towel that’s covered in grease or oil. The oil can mix with other non-soiled paper or towels and cause holes which renders the clean paper useless in recycling terms. Non-recyclable items can damage machinery which costs money and time. Manufacturers recycling information We’ve looked at some of our manufacturer’s websites to see what information they have about recycling water filters. The results are not startling, but what we have found is listed below. We will update this section as and when we find additional information. Doulton – there is limited information on their website but as they manufacture ceramic cartridges, these can be recycled. Look at the information about how to recycle ceramic cartridges above. Argonide – All components in the NanoCeram and Deal water filter cartridges are constructed of food grade materials and basically harmless. They can be disposed of in kerbside recycling. However, the cartridges cannot be scrubbed down and reused even though it’s tempting to get a bit more use out of them. This is because they are final barrier/dead end filters. Water to Go – There is lots of valuable information about how to recycle water filters on their website. Water to Go products are 100% recyclable so you can dispose of them sustainably. The casing and end caps can go in your plastic recycling, and the grey membrane can then go on your compost heap and biodegrade. Samsung – after a very long and protracted online chat with Samsung technical support they said they could not answer our questions about water filter recycling. However, as the outer canister of most of their filters is PP or HDPE, these can be recycled once the media contained within the cartridge is removed. 3M – there is some information on their websites water filter cartridge product pages. Outer casings are made of polypropylene so can be recycled. See information about PP and HDPE above. What if to do if your water filter cartridges aren’t recyclable If recycling water filter cartridges isn’t an option for you because you’re buying a brand that isn’t recyclable, the most obvious thing to do is change to a brand that is. Other than that, just place in your normal household waste and they will go to landfill. What we’re currently doing at Fountain Filters We don’t currently offer water filter recycling services, but this is something that is set to change soon. We will update this blog when things are in place. However, to reduce our carbon footprint and be more environmentally conscious here’s what we are doing. We re-use our cardboard packaging. We do treat ourselves to corrugated brown paper and other brown paper to wrap cartridges, so they are protected when we dispatch them. Other than that, we don’t believe in sending out products in new fancy cardboard boxes. What matters is that the product inside is going to solve your water filtration problems. We hope that once you receive your parcel, that you re-use as much of the packaging as you can. We break cardboard boxes up to use as void fills in boxes. We avoid bubble wrap like the plague. But if some is sent to us, we re-use it. If we have a product that is returned for whatever reason, we re-purpose the parts of it that we can. It’s very rare that we get returns so this doesn’t happen often. We don’t ever re-purpose damaged items. That would be wrong. When customers are buying water filter cartridges containing loose media, we encourage them to buy the media only. This saves on plastic waste as the canisters can be emptied and reused. (links here to loose tac and fluoride media) As you can see, recycling water filter cartridges is relatively straightforward. If in any doubt about any aspect of water filter recycling, please give us a call on 01352 838 281, send us a message or contact your local council.
0 Best drinking water filter taps UK
The best drinking water filter taps A drinking water filter tap is often considered to be a statement piece in your kitchen and believe us when we say that people deliberate for hours over what tap is going to be the best for them. All water filter taps are not the same, but they all complement our range of drinking water filters, or water softeners if you want an unsoftened drinking water supply. We hate to break it to you but as with anything else, you get what you pay for. If you buy cheap, you’ll invariably receive cheap. We work with a trusted number of high-quality suppliers to offer our customers the best drinking water filter taps we can. What we’ve learned over the years is that it’s best not to offer water filter tap and filter combos. This is because people have different filtration requirements that require a variety of solutions. We much prefer to flip it around by offering a range of Pearl and Oyster drinking water filters with a choice of single lever drinking water filter taps, or people can choose the ‘no tap’ option if they decide they want to install one of our 3-way taps. This gives people the flexibility they desire when making those all-important buying decisions. But remember, if you’re wanting a mains or whole house water filter you DO NOT need a drinking water filter tap. That’s because those filters are plumbed straight into your cold-water supply. So, are you ready to kick the plastic bottles aside and invest in a more sustainable way of drinking filtered water? What are the different types of water filter taps? There are three main types of water filter taps: drinking water filter taps, 3 way taps and boiling water taps. Let’s talk about the best water filter taps for each of the categories. Drinking water filter taps These are single lever water filter taps that dispense cold filtered water directly from your under-sink drinking water filter. This tap is installed on your kitchen sink and is in addition to your existing kitchen tap. You would choose this type of tap if you wanted to keep your existing kitchen tap and wanted a separate dispenser for your filtered water. If you already have a water filter installed and just need a new drinking water filter tap, we do sell these separately. We also supply blue tubing as an option on all taps. Here is a selection of our best water filter taps. Single lever chrome drinking water tap The single lever chrome drinking water tap is one of our best tap filters for drinking water, this point of use tap with fitting kit has a sleek chrome finish and a single lever. It can be supplied at no additional cost with the drinking water filter of your choice. Long reach single lever water filter tap The long reach single lever water filter tap is perfect for when you want something a little taller, this chrome tap has a 20.5cm spout height with a reach of 15cm. Stainless steel swan neck drinking water filter tap The classic swan neck spout is always a popular choice when it comes to water filter taps. This modern design has a nice long lever that’s easy for children, the elderly or those who suffer from joint pain in their hands and fingers. 3-way taps 3-way water filter taps are also often called mixer taps or tri-flow taps. Our 3 way kitchen taps selection essentially allow you to enjoy hot and cold unfiltered and cold filtered water from the same unit. We think they complement our range of drinking water filters perfectly as you don’t need to install a separate drinking water filter tap in your home which would sit alongside your larger kitchen tap making the area around your sink look cluttered. You would choose a 3 way tap if you don’t want to install an additional tap just for filtered water on your kitchen sink and want something a little bit grander and eye catching. Let’s look at some of our best 3-way drinking water filter taps. Verona 3 lever chrome 3-way tap You can’t beat a classic chrome tap and the beautifully designed Verona 3 lever chrome 3-way tap has it all. Featuring 3 levers and a swan neck spout you can be sure that this tap will compliment any kitchen style. We also have this in brushed steel. Milano 3 lever chrome 3-way tap If you’re more of a detachable spout with a shower spray kind of tap lover, then the professional Milano 3 lever chrome 3-way tap will be right up your street. We are in absolute love with this tap and it’s no wonder we sell so many. The detachable spout and push of a button spray lets you blast water to all corners of your kitchen sink. Washing your sink down has never been easier. As with the Verona, the Milano is also available in brushed steel. Aquila SQ chrome & black 3-way tap When the chrome and brushed steel water filter taps just aren’t on your radar and you fancy something a little bit different, the Aquila SQ chrome & black 3-way tap may just tick all your boxes. This tap is a solid piece of highly engineered kit that won’t disappoint. The SQ stands for square – a sophisticated, professional 3 lever square body with three circular handles. If you’re less taken by the square base, we also stock this same tap with a circular base. And if you don’t like the black spout, you can have white. Boiling water taps Boiling water filter taps are increasing in popularity and are much quicker and more convenient than boiling a kettle. Because they are quicker to use that makes them more environmentally friendly which is a good thing. We’re just waiting for our trusted supplier to launch theirs! So stay tuned and you will soon have a selection of the best boiling water filter taps to choose from. One thing to be mindful of is how boiling water taps differ to hot water taps. Boiling water taps tend to dispense water in the range of 92-100°C whereas hot water taps will dispense water anywhere between 80-98°C. Our advice is to always check the specifications of the tap you intend to buy to make sure you are getting what you want. Benefits of each type of water filter tap Drinking water filter taps are smaller in size and cost less than 3 way taps. They are the perfect choice for drinking water fountains in offices, gyms, or any environment where you want to offer fresh filtered water on tap. 3 way taps are convenient, economical, and environmentally friendly. I’m sure you’ll agree that stacking your shopping trolley with plastic bottles of water is tiresome, cumbersome, and expensive as is remembering to fill up your water filter jug such as a Brita if you have one of those. We had someone on the phone just the other day who wanted to conveniently switch from a Brita to one of our drinking water filters for that very reason. Even the cheapest bottled water is more expensive in the long run than investing in a drinking water filter and a tap. And the good thing is you’ll never run out of fantastic tasting water all year round. In the long run, investing in a water filter tap and filter combination will prove to be more economical as you only need to pour what you need. How many times have you bought bottled water, drank half of it, and left the other half rolling around in your bag or on the floor or back seat of your car. And then when you do have a clear out you end up throwing it in the bin. As for being environmentally friendly it goes without saying that if you can avoid single use plastic then you’re reducing your carbon footprint and doing good things for the planet. Boiling water taps are a higher initial financial cost but are the most cost effective in the long run. We can see why they are becoming so popular. You spend less time standing around for the kettle to boil, you only use what you need, and you’ll save money on electricity. Buyers beware! We know you want the best drinking water filter taps for your kitchen but be very cautious of buying a cheap one as you may be disappointed. They may look shiny and beautiful, but if you placed that cheap tap alongside one of our water filter taps, you’d notice the difference straight away. Our taps are heavier with superior quality components, are lead free, and have chrome or brushed steel finishes that stand the test of time. See your water filter tap as a statement piece and an investment. When would you choose a particular tap? You would choose a single lever drinking water filter tap if you wanted to keep your existing kitchen tap and wanted a separate dispenser for your filtered water. You would choose a 3 way tap if you didn’t want to install an additional tap just for filtered water on your kitchen sink and wanted something a little bit grander and eye catching. And for boiling water taps, you’d choose these if you wanted the convenience of instant hot water at the touch of a button. Things to consider when buying the best drinking water filter taps Design – the design of the water filter tap is all down to personal choice. From the shape of the spout to the number of levers, you will find the best-looking tap to meet your needs. Reach – the reach of the tap is often more important that the height of the tap. All our taps have exploded diagrams that give measurements. Finish – will it be chrome, brushed steel, brushed nickel, stainless steel, or something else? Space – think about how much available space you have? Our water filter taps shouldn’t take up any more room on your kitchen sink than your existing kitchen tap does. The single lever drinking water filter taps take up even less room but are in addition to your existing kitchen tap. As for the drinking water filter, our Pearl and Oyster systems fit neatly in the cupboard under your sink. Warranties – It is commonplace that you tend to get a 1-year warranty on the tap finish and a 3–5-year warranty on the workmanship. After sales service - Is the company, you’re considering buying from easy to contact before you spend your money. If they are not, then you must consider how easy they are going to be to contact after you’ve ordered from them. We pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service and our reviews are testament to the hard work we put in. Water pressure – this is an important point and should not be overlooked as your choice of water filter tap will be determined by the type of water system in your home. You’ll be pleased to know that our 3 way taps will work on any high-pressure system, but if you have a low-pressure water system you’ll need to choose a tap that will work effectively at low pressure to ensure a decent flow rate. Low pressure systems have a cold-water tank in the loft and a hot water cylinder somewhere else in the house. They are also known as gravity fed systems. High pressure vented systems are where you have a combi boiler fitted to a wall and often located in the kitchen or airing cupboard. Combi boilers are fed directly with mains pressure cold water, heated, and pumped round your home. High pressure unvented systems are where you have a hot water tank but no cold-water tank. The water in the tank is heated by immersion heaters that are attached to the side of the tank or a central heating boiler in an airing cupboard. Ease of installation – each of our 3 way taps is delivered to you with easy to understand fitting instructions including an exploded diagram of the tap showing you how all of the components fit together. If you don’t rate yourself as competent at DIY it’s best to get your trusted plumber to install the tap and filter for you. Do you need a tap adapter? – It’s amazing how many people get caught out by not buying a 1/4" or 3/8tap adapter to connect the drinking water filter to the tap. And they then find out that it’s not so easy to just go and buy a single adapter from a plumbing store. Build quality – you’ll be able to tell straight away if the tap is of good build quality. We have been working with the best water filter taps UK supplier for over 10 years and we know that their Italian manufactured taps are engineered to a very high standard. Price – we all have a budget but buy the best water filter tap you can afford. You won’t regret it. Choosing the right type of drinking water filter for your tap - It’s important to think about what your needs are. What is it that you want to change about your water? What do you want to filter out of your water. Different types of tap water filters work well for different uses. Our under-sink water filter systems are the best tap water filters for purifying your water compared to wasting money on single use plastic water bottles. Put a couple of examples of Pearl and Oyster filters that we do – pearl T, oyster taste and fluoride, and for hard water the oyster taste and oneflow. And the inline filter would be good to put in as an easy option. Cleaning your water filter tap We fully understand that people like a gleaming kitchen tap and have all these fancy cleaners to do the job that should be replaced by simply using soapy water and a soft microfibre cloth. Some of those fancy ‘guaranteed to eliminate everything’ cleaners could very well be so abrasive that they remove the lovely finish on your tap, and this would invalidate your warranty. We suggest that you keep things as simple as they can be and wipe down your tap with some warm water and a pea sized amount of washing up liquid or hand soap. Then just buff the finish up with a dry microfibre cloth as this won’t scratch the finish. If you get a build-up of limescale on your tap you could soak a cloth in Vikal limescale remover spray or lemon juice and secure it over the affected area for an hour or so. Then just simply rinse the cleaner away and wipe it over with a dry microfibre cloth. You shouldn’t need to do this very often if you wipe over your tap consistently. Better still, install a OneFlow hard water filter and you won’t get the limescale in the first place! Removing muck around the base of the tap is easy with an old soft bristle toothbrush. Our final thoughts As you can see it’s not one size fits all and there is quite a lot to think about before buying the best drinking water filter tap you can. We know from experience that people are very particular about the taps they choose. It’s important that you choose the best quality tap you can and seek out a company that offers great before and after sales service. At Fountain Filters we are confident that between us and our trusted supplier, we can answer any question you might have about water filter taps. Feel free to contact us with your questions and we will help you find the best water filter tap!
0 Home water purification guide
Home Water Purification - The Only Guide You Need! With so many water purification methods available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That's why we have created this ultimate guide where we will cover why water purification is important, the different methods of water purification, and how to ensure you're drinking safe water. With our expert tips and advice, you can rest assured that you and your family are drinking clean and safe water. So, let's dive in and learn all about water purification. What is water purification? Water purification is the process of removing anything that is suspended, dissolved, or somehow contained within water that you want to remove. Public water supply The standards for drinking water quality vary country to country and are typically set by governments. These standards usually include permissible levels of contaminants, depending on what the water is going to be used for. In England and Wales water quality standards are set by The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), and in Scotland the Drinking Water Quality Regulator (DWQR) monitors the quality of water samples taken by Scottish Water. Where does the public water supply come from? Depending on where you are in the world, your water may be collected from various sources and then treated using various methods of water purification before it reaches your tap. These sources include: Groundwater: Rain falls through rock and settles deep underground. Water can emerge via springs or may be extracted from boreholes or wells. Upland lakes and reservoirs: Usually situated above any human habitation and areas may be protected to restrict the threat of contamination. Rivers, canals, and low land reservoirs: Water that originates from these sources will have a significant level of bacteria and may also contain algae, suspended solids, and a variety of dissolved organic compounds. Rainwater harvesting: Rainwater is collected from a roof-like surface and channeled to a tank, cistern, or deep pit such as a well, shaft, or borehole. It’s useful for watering gardens, livestock, irrigation, domestic use with proper water purification methods to make it drinkable, and domestic heating systems. Desalination: normally carried out on an industrial scale with reverse osmosis systems. What is the process of water purification? The purification of water has one main goal and that is the removal of contaminants to ensure the water is fit for purpose, whether that's for drinking or for use in industrial or medical processes. This process can vary massively and is dependent on the quality of the water being treated, what the budget is, and the expected quality standards of the processed water. Raw, untreated water can contain several unwanted things such as sediment, micro-organisms including bacteria, cysts and viruses, algae, dissolved organic and inorganic compounds, agricultural chemical residues, fluoride, and pharmaceuticals. Water purification methods used by water suppliers and local authorities differ depending on local conditions and requirements. Let's look at the most common methods: Coagulation: this process consists of adding a chemical known as a coagulant to the water to destabilise the suspended particles and bring them together. Particles can be inorganic or organic. Examples of inorganic particles are clay and silt. Examples of organic particles are algae, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and natural organic matter. Both inorganic and organic particles contribute to the turbidity and colour of water. Flocculation: follows coagulation and involves gently stirring or agitating the water to encourage the formation of larger particles or flocs. This can be achieved through mechanical mixing or by allowing the water to flow through a series of baffles or channels. These flocs can then be easily removed from the water through settling or filtration. Rapid sand filtration: These filters effectively remove impurities and ensure clean, safe drinking water for communities. Rapid sand filters are designed to remove impurities from water through a combination of physical and biological processes. Water moves vertically through a bed of sand which often has a top layer of activated carbon or anthracite coal. This top layer improves the taste and smell of the water by removing organic compounds, particles, bacteria, and other contaminants. Granular activated carbon (GAC): adsorbs high levels of chlorine and other chemicals to improve the taste and smell of water. Ultraviolet disinfection: UV disinfection is a chemical-free method of water disinfection that uses ultraviolet light to kill or inactivate microorganisms. Chlorination: one of the most widely used methods of water disinfection. It involves the addition of chlorine or chloramine to water to kill or inactivate microorganisms. Ozone: a powerful method of water purification that involves the use of ozone gas to kill or inactivate microorganisms. Desalination: the removal of salts and minerals from seawater to produce water that’s suitable for drinking or irrigation. Sometimes the water suppliers are required by governments or local authorities to add fluoride to water to improve dental health. Although fluoride is a naturally occurring element found in soil, water and some foods, some areas of the UK may still add hydrofluorosilicic acid (fluoride), which is a waste product of the phosphate fertiliser industry. There is much public disagreement about the safety of adding fluoride to water and whether the benefits to dental health outweigh the possible risks. Home water purification With so many water purification methods available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. With our expert tips and advice, you can rest assured that you and your family will be drinking clean and safe water. People have many and varied reasons why they decide to install a water filter. It can be as simple as just wanting to improve the taste and smell of the water to effectively treating hard water because of the frustrating problems with limescale. Or you may be receiving regular boil notices from your water company and decide that you want to take control and make your life easier by installing your own system for water purification. Alternatively, there may be specific things you want to remove from your water, such as chlorine or calcium and magnesium because you or a family member are suffering from irritating skin complaints such as eczema or psoriasis. If you’re on a private water supply, that can be a whole different ball game. You may have received notification from your local authority following a water analysis test that you are obligated to remove various contaminants from your water. Residential Water Purification There are a variety of water purification methods at home and the solution for you will differ from what’s right for someone else. It's important that you work out what your goals are for home water purification. What is it that you want to remove from your water? Is it just drinking water you want to treat or the whole house? Bearing that in mind let’s look at the problems people have with their water, and what can be done about it. Mains water problems You may be experiencing one or many problems with your mains water that you are keen to find a solution for. Some of the most common mains water problems include: The strong smell and taste of chlorine. Unsightly limescale deposits on your household surfaces and appliances. Objection to the fluoridation of your water. Evidence of heavy metals in your water, for example, lead. A combination of the above. Finding a solution to these problems is where we come in. It might be one or a combination of water purification methods that you’ll need. The smell and taste of chlorine is one of the simplest things to deal with. Carbon filters are highly effective at removing chlorine. These are usually granular activated carbon (GAC) or carbon block, which is made from GAC by pressing it into a solid form. Carbon filter media can be manufactured from a few things including charcoal and bituminous material, but most are made from coconut shell. As mentioned, carbon filters are highly efficient at removing chlorine – something in the order of 95 to 99%. They also remove a host of other chemicals such as hormones, PAHs, endocrine disruptors, some volatile organic compounds, trace pharmaceuticals, trihalomethanes, agricultural chemical residues, and many more (depending on the quality of the filter cartridge). Heavy metals in water are often due to old lead pipes in buildings that were constructed before the 1970s. But there can also be lead from the old types of solder used in copper pipe joints. In addition, lead and other heavy metals may be present in the water supply in trace amounts. There are some carbon block filters that remove metals. However, many heavy metal filters made from a combination of GAC and a medium called KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion). GAC/KDF 55 removes up to 98% of metals such as copper, nickel, chromium, lead, and mercury. The benefits of the combination filter are that you get both chemical AND metals reduction. Reducing and removing fluoride requires a specialised filter. These are usually combined in a multistage filter system with the first part handling the fluoride. The second stage would deal with other things which may vary depending on a person’s wishes. A fluoride filter is a container filled with Activated Alumina (AA), not to be confused with aluminium (which is completely different), specially manufactured for the task. AA is often used as a desiccant, but in this instance it’s a different form that’s specifically developed as a food grade material that doesn’t leach into the water. Bearing in mind that levels of fluoride in water are low a typical 93% removal efficiency means that AA filters do an excellent job. As with most water treatment equipment it’s worth ensuring you obtain good quality filters from a known source. And then there are the problems associated with hard water. Hard water contains high concentrations of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. These minerals are picked up as water flows through rock formations, such as limestone and chalk, and will vary in concentration depending on the region. Hard water is generally safe to drink, but it can cause numerous issues within your home. Hard water can leave behind scaly mineral deposits on surfaces, such as sinks, taps, and shower heads, which can be difficult to remove and look unsightly. These deposits can also build up within your pipes, reducing water flow and potentially clogging pipes up. Furthermore, the minerals in hard water can make it harder for soaps and detergents to lather up and rinse away, causing soap scum on your dishes and making freshly washed laundry stiff and rough. In addition to the cosmetic and cleaning issues, hard water can also have an impact on your health. Some people may experience dry or itchy skin, as the minerals in hard water can strip away natural oils. Similarly, hair can become dull and brittle when washed with hard water. For those with sensitive skin or certain skin conditions, hard water can exacerbate symptoms and cause further irritation. You’ll be pleased to know that there are ways to combat those hard ions! Let's look at the three most common ways to soften or condition hard water: Salt-based ion exchange water softeners - these are the traditional water softeners that have been used for decades. They replace the calcium and magnesium ions in hard water with sodium ions through a process called ion exchange. While effective in softening water, these systems require regular maintenance and the addition of salt to regenerate the sodium ions in the resin. As an alternative to salt-based water softeners, salt-free water conditioners use a different technology called Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC). Instead of removing the minerals, these systems convert them into microscopic crystals that are unable to stick to surfaces. This prevents the formation of scale and reduces the negative effects of hard water. Salt-free water conditioners are low-maintenance and do not require the addition of salt or a power supply, making them a popular choice for those looking for an eco-friendlier option. Magnetic and electronic descalers - these innovative devices use magnetic or electronic fields to alter the structure of the minerals in hard water, preventing them from forming scale. Magnetic descalers utilise powerful magnets that are placed around the water supply pipe, while electronic descalers emit electromagnetic waves to achieve the same effect. These descaling devices are easy to install and require minimal maintenance. However, their effectiveness can vary depending on the hardness level of your water and the specific model used. By narrowing down factors such as water hardness level, how much water is being used, installation requirements, maintenance, personal preferences and cost you’ll find a system to solve your problems with hard water. What kind of water purification system do you need? Once you know what problems you want to solve and have an idea of which kind of home water purification system you want, you’ll then need to consider the size of the unit. Our range of easy to install drinking water filters are suitable if you only want to treat your drinking water and they can provide up to 4 litres per minute (depending on water pressure). If water flows through the 2.5” x 10” filter cartridge too quickly there is insufficient contact time with the filter medium for the water to be treated effectively. All our drinking water filters come with a choice of single flow drinking water filter taps which is installed onto your kitchen sink, or you can upgrade your existing tap to one of our 3 way taps which will give you hot, cold, and filtered water. Cold water tap filters, also known as our Moby range, treat the cold water for your existing kitchen tap only and are good for up to 10 litres per minute. Our cold water tap filters use 4.5” x 10” housings and cartridges. Although bigger than the drinking water filters, they are still small enough to be installed under the sink. The next size up are whole house water filters, also known as our Doby range. This type of system is plumbed into your mains water supply just after the stop cock and will treat all water from every tap in your house. Because these are bigger units using 4.5” x 20” housings and cartridges they can cope with a flow rate of up to 25 litres per minute. However, they are difficult to fit in undersink cupboards, although it can be done! And finally, we have our largest units such as our Ofres, HiFlow and Big Bubba range of filters which are suitable for flow rates higher than 25 litres per minute. You can calculate what size system you’ll need using the following assumed flow rates: Kitchen or bathroom tap – 6 litres per minute Standard shower – 9 litres per minute Power shower – 15 litres per minute Toilet flush – 3 litres per minute Washing machine – 3 litres per minute Dishwasher – 3 litres per minute You can assume not all water outlets will be used at the same time but do take account of maximum occupancy as well as the usual number of people in the household at any one time. For example, if you have a 4-bedroom house with two bathrooms and 4 or 5 occupants then assume that maximum water usage is likely to be: 1 shower (9 Lpm) + kettle fill at the kitchen sink (6 Lpm) + dishwasher (3 Lpm) + toilet flush (3Lpm) = 21 Litres per minute. Private water supply problems If you don’t receive a bill from a water company, you’re more than likely on a private water supply. Your water may be coming from a well, borehole, natural spring, stream, river, lake or pond and each source will throw one or more problems at you that you’ll need to rectify by installing some sort of water purification process. You can’t tell just by looking at water if its good quality or safe to drink. Many people think that drawing their water from a private water supply is going to be the ‘purest’ water they’ve ever had. This is far from reality. The water may have fallen as rain some distance away from where you’re drawing it, travelling underground, and overground collecting various chemicals and microbiological contaminants before it reaches you. There is no way of knowing just how old that water is. If your supply is from surface water, it may contain animal faeces. A private water supply could contain viruses, bacteria, or protozoa. Viruses: the smallest micro-organisms to be found in water including Norovirus and Hepatitis A. Bacteria: A major source of illness in drinking water comes from bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and E.coli. Protozoa: these are small creatures such as amoebae, for example Cryptosporidium. There may also be chemical contamination in private water supplies, including inorganic chemicals, organic and physical contaminants. We are happy to look at any analysis report so we can provide water purification recommendations. The easiest way for you to send this to us is via our contact page. For any private water supply we highly recommend installing a pre-filter such as our Moby single or twin step-down sediment filter containing 20 micron + 5micron cartridges. For bigger households then a bigger sediment filter will be needed, such as our Doby versions. This type of filter will ensure that any sediment is removed before the main water disinfection process. If you opt for using UV water treatment, then the pre-filter will protect the UV quartz sleeve. If you choose not to do this any sediment in the water will coat the outside of the quartz sleeve making the UV ineffective and your water unsafe. Ultraviolet lamps emit UV radiation that kill microorganisms in water and are used extensively to sterilise a huge variety of things. These include items for consumption such as fruit juice and bottled spring water. If they are good enough to comply with all the regulations food and drink manufacturers have to adhere to it gives you a good idea about how effective they are. Having said that you need to be sure that you obtain a good quality unit with the correct ratings for your expected water use. Most UV filters for private residential use are very similar; there is a power supply/controller known as a ballast. Plus, a stainless-steel tubular vessel, called the reactor, with a water inlet and outlet. Inside the reactor is a quartz sleeve and UV lamp. The sleeve is a glass like tube that separates the lamp from the water it’s sterilising. The UV radiation shines through the water, killing any biologicals in it. The faster the flow rate the longer the water is required to be in contact with UV. That means a bigger unit correctly rated for your property. Fortunately, most UVs have the maximum flow rate included in their specifications, so you can calculate your household needs and select something that is more than capable. There are many cheap, unbranded products available, but the support from the manufacturers can be problematic, so get a decent one. If you’re very remote or off-grid something to consider is power supply consistency. Ultraviolet lamps are easily damaged by power fluctuations and being switched on and off. They need to be powered up constantly, even if you’re not there. That may mean you need an alternative to UV disinfection. In that case there are filters that have pore sizes so small that no microbiological infection can get through. This is known as nanofiltration because the filter cartridge pore rating is below the micron range. Not all nanofilters are the same, some have quite restricted flow rates due to the tiny pore size, but there are modern designs such as Argonide’s NanoCeram that offer high flow rates with a 0.2 micron ratings. These are ideal for a final stage in a filter set to remove microscopic contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, and cysts. If you opt for this type of filter, you’ll need to replace the cartridge regularly. That is likely to be every six months, depending on how silted up it becomes. Note that you’ll still need sediment filters prior to a NanoCeram to remove larger particles that would otherwise block up the nanofilter prematurely. It’s also worth disinfecting the pipes in your house at every cartridge change by placing Milton’s Fluid (or similar) in one of the housings and running it through the plumbing to all outlets. Conclusion If you’ve got this far you now know more than most people about the huge variety of water filtration and treatment systems available. You’ll have learnt that the right system for your situation is not the same as for other people – it’s all about your water supply and how you want to improve it. When you’ve considered all of this, the best thing to do is speak to an expert who can help guide you through anything you’re not clear about. Finally, you can get in touch with Fountain Filters with no obligation. We will assess your needs and advise you of what will work best for your needs. Remember, the best filter is the one that solves your specific water problems, not the one with the highest specs or the most expensive.
0 Best Mains Water Limescale Filter
What is the Best Mains Water Limescale Filter? Hard water is a problem for many households in the UK, but it’s more widespread in the south and east of Britain. There are also pockets in Scotland, Wales, and northern England. Northern Ireland is lucky to have predominantly soft or only moderately hard water. There’s a lot of confusion about hard and soft water. Strictly speaking, soft water is water that has an absence of dissolved minerals. Those minerals are usually calcium carbonate (CaCO3), magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), but can also contain low concentrations of bicarbonates and sulphates. Conversely, hard water has high mineral content. Hard water isn’t a problem, it’s the limescale deposits that are the issue. And it’s also not very easy to prevent. Let’s look at what can be done to prevent or reduce limescale. Water Softeners Water softeners have been around for a long time, and many people believe they are the only method of treating hard water. The way they work is to replace the hard ions (the dissolved minerals) with sodium ions. The reaction takes place within an ion exchange resin inside the water softener vessel. That resin gets depleted quite quickly so must be regenerated regularly by backwashing using a brine solution. The water softener has an electronic control unit that triggers the backwash cycle, usually in the middle of the night when there’s no requirement for any water use. To create the brine for the backwash the householder needs to add salt regularly. The period depends on the size of the softener and varies from 3 to 10 days. Without this regular maintenance a water softener stops working. The resulting water will lather soap and detergents nicely. It won’t clog up your water heaters and appliances with limescale, but due to the increased level of sodium in the water it’s probably best not to drink it. That’s especially true if you have a heart condition such as hypertension (high blood pressure) or have a high salt diet. A water softener is not a water filter and so it does not improve the quality of the water. However, if you’re looking for the best water filter for removing calcium then a water softener is as close as you’ll get. Hard Water Filters Mains water filters for hard water have improved greatly over the last few years. One of the benefits of using a filter-based system for treating hard water is that it can be combined with other filtration stages easily to really improve the water quality through your entire home. Sequestration Filters Hard water filters come in two guises; the first uses food grade polyphosphate crystals that gradually release the phosphate onto the water to inhibit the formation of scale by chemical sequestration. The sequestration method, is where complex phosphates combine with calcium and magnesium ions to form a stable compound to inhibit the creation of limescale. This method works reasonably well, especially in slightly hard and moderately hard water regions. Polyphosphate crystals can be added to carbon block filter cartridges to make a single stage hard water filter. These are low maintenance only requiring a cartridge change at 6 to 12 monthly intervals. Electronic and Magnetic Devices Limescale reduction systems that use magnetic fields are often hailed as the perfect solution. Low cost, they require no maintenance, just install, plug into the electricity supply, and leave it to get on with its job. That sounds like a magical solution, but electrical current, electro-magnets, and radio frequency type systems have failed to pass any scale control standards designed by recognised independent testing agencies. There are conflicting reports from people who have bought and installed these types of scale control systems. The most positive results seem to be achieved by the manufacturers themselves. We’ll allow you to make your own mind up. TAC Filters The third type of water filter to remove calcium and lime problems is generically called a TAC water filter. Template Assisted Crystallisation (TAC) is the latest method for treating limescale. Developed in the early 2010s it has proven itself to be one of the most effective solutions for tackling limescale problems. Hard water flows into a filter housing containing a cartridge about 30% full of TAC media. This is a white sand-like substance that circulates with the water in the filter cartridge and interacts with the dissolved carbonates. Those media granules have crystallisation sites where the hard ions are attracted. They combine to make microscopic crystals that detach from the media and then flow away. Those microscopic crystals are inert so don’t “stick” and create limescale easily, thereby solving the problem. The bigger the TAC system the less frequent the maintenance – some last for 3 years before requiring a media change. TAC water filters can be combined with other mains water filters to significantly improve water quality. For example, the Doby Taste and OneFlow Hard Water Filter puts a carbon block filter in front of a TAC filter that uses Watts’ OneFlow TAC media. It filters out chemicals such as chlorine, PAHs, hormones and endocrine disruptors, trace pharmaceuticals and agricultural residues (among other things), and then in the second stage treats the limescale problem. The Best Mains Water Limescale Filter - Conclusion As you’ve seen, there is more than one filter to remove lime from water, and your own situation will vary from other peoples. The best limescale filter for you needs to be considered carefully taking several things into account. Heating hard water makes it particularly susceptible to forming limescale. This is why treating hard water extends the working life of boilers. Any appliance that’s fouled by limescale becomes much less efficient – up to 50% in many cases. So, installing either a mains water filter, or one dedicated to the hot water heater feed, will save you lots of cash. It will also protect your plumbing, stripping out the existing scale, and restoring your water pressure and flow rate. If you want to improve the taste of very hard water and reduce limescale problems, then a twin carbon block and TAC type of filter will be best. On the other hand, in medium hard water areas your best mains hard water filter will be one containing polyphosphate (unless you don’t want that type, of course). And finally, a water softener may be best if you want to remove the hardness entirely, although you’ll need to have an unsoftened supply to your kitchen cold tap and plan to carry out weekly maintenance. Get in touch with Fountain Filters with no obligation. We will assess your needs and advise you of the best mains water limescale filter to effectively remove or reduce lime and calcium based on your home and your requirements.
Do Water Filters Work? An expert insight The short answer is a resounding yes. Otherwise, we’d all be drinking infected water and getting ill very frequently, just as people did years ago. Cleaning up water at the municipal level for a public water supply is very similar to having a water filter in your home. The main differences are scale and what is used as the filtration medium. Of course, different filter media and methods are used to remove varying infections and contamination. Let’s look at a few of the issues around water filtration in more detail. Let’s start by explaining how a water filter works. How does a water filter work? It’s a simple question but not necessarily a single easy answer. At its most basic a water filter works by passing water through a permeable barrier leaving unwanted items within the filter. That could be by creating a physical barrier, such as a sediment filter, or a reaction, such as a scale reduction filter. Some water filters aren’t strictly filters at all even though they perform a similar function, for example a UV filter. That simple answer now leads to more specific queries such as if a type of water filter works better than others. So, let’s look at the most common types of home water filtration and answer some of the questions we get around the different types of systems and their effectiveness. Do alkaline water filters work? There are two parts to this answer. The first is that alkaline water filters DO work to produce water that it is 8 to 10 pH. In that regard they do work. The second part answers the implicit intent of the question “do alkaline water filters work to improve health?”. It’s not a good idea to be drinking highly acidic or alkaline liquids, but there’s a range that’s closer to neutral that’s considered safe by medical experts and government health authorities alike. Some people say that consuming alkaline water can help neutralise acid in the body. This is said to improve the immune system and boost hydration. There may also be benefits for bone health, however, this is likely due to the minerals calcium and magnesium being used to make water more alkaline being absorbed by the body. It’s not the fact that the alkalinity helps, but the dissolved minerals are the ones that make the difference. The same is true of the claim that alkaline water helps prevent and treat kidney stones. It’s the calcium bonding with the oxalates that are present in kidney stones that’s effective. On the other hand, the stomach contains highly concentrated hydrochloric acid. So, when mildly alkaline water enters the stomach, it’s immediately neutralised. The problem with giving a definitive answer is that there just isn’t enough independent research data available. Very few large studies have been done to support or debunk the claim. Do carbon water filters work? The effectiveness of carbon water filters has a very definite answer – carbon filters work very well and are highly effective. There are various forms of carbon filters. Carbon filters tend to be made from coconut shells or bitumen and be in either granular or block form. They are also generally regarded to be more efficient than granular activated carbon (GAC). This is because water can create channels through the granules, during prolonged use, leading to lower contact time of water to carbon medium. It’s an efficiency thing. And as it happens, carbon block filters are actually made of granular activated carbon pressed together to make the block. The micron rating of a carbon filter is less important than with sediment filters. The way they work is ADSORPTION (yes, adsorption, that’s not a typo). This is where the compounds and molecules of the contaminant stick to the carbon molecules within the carbon block filter medium. However, as with all cartridges, the one drawback of carbon block cartridges is that when they’ve reached the end of their working lives they need to be replaced. Whereas granular activated carbon in larger filter vessels can be regenerated to extend the life of the medium for up to three years. However, this type of filter is usually more suitable for commercial rather than domestic applications. If you want this type of carbon filter look for the term “backwash” in the specifications. In summary, do carbon water filters work? Yes, but you need to know what the best one is for your needs. I can hear you saying, “that’s all very good but do charcoal water filters work better?” The truth is that charcoal water filters are very similar to carbon water filters, but the material they are made from is different. Charcoal water filters are effective, but activated carbon filters are more efficient at filtration due to being more porous than charcoal. Do filtered water bottles work? Filtered water bottles are not a recent invention, but they have improved drastically over the last few years. Most are designed to filter out the same things as carbon water filters. But in addition, they also remove bacteria, cysts, and other microorganisms out of water from streams, ponds, and rivers making the water safe to drink. These kind of water bottles are ideal if you’re out adventuring in the wilds. They give you the comfort of knowing that if you run out you can still make your own potable water supply. Although filtered water bottles are more expensive than filling an ordinary bottle from your drinking water filters at home they are well worth the extra cash. In an emergency you’ll thank yourself for the purchase. On to the next regularly seen question… Do fridge water filters work? Much like the other water filters we’ve looked at here, a fridge water filter does the same job, but is specific to low flow rate chilled outlets in refrigerators. They come in a variety of forms. They may be generic or branded to match the specific make or model of refrigerator you have. These types of filters work as well as any other carbon filter, and some have scale reduction elements in them too. One of the advantages with a fridge water filter is that they often also supply water to an integral ice maker. The great news is that the resulting ice has a pristine quality to it that you just don’t get by filling up a tray with water from the tap and putting it in the freezer compartment. Having hinted at scale reduction, let’s move on to a final enquiry we often get. Do hard water filters work? Treating hard water is not easy, but it can be done. The usual method is to use a water softener. These replace the hard ions – calcium and magnesium carbonate – with sodium ions. The problem with that is that it means there’s residual sodium left in the water, so it’s not ideal as drinking water due to heart health risks. In addition, you need to have an electricity supply and drain so that the regular backwash can take place to regenerate the resin medium. Then there’s the weekly addition of salt blocks to add. But water softeners do work well to remove the hardness. There are other methods though. Let’s just take a step back and look at this from a different angle. The problem usually isn’t that the water is hard, it’s that the scale builds up in appliances, ruins shower heads, and makes skin and hair feel unpleasant. In fact, going back to the beginning, removing the calcium and magnesium carbonates means taking away minerals that are vital for our health. Both minerals are important for bones and teeth, as well as the keratin in our hair and nails, among other things. Having said that, you should ensure that you have plenty of these minerals in your diet too. With that established why not treat those dissolved minerals instead of removing them. That's exactly what hard water filters do. The low-cost method is called “sequestration”. This is where a food grade polyphosphate compound is gradually introduced into the water supply to inhibit the formation of limescale. While it can work well in medium hard water areas it’s not so good where the water is classed as hard or very hard, let alone extremely hard. A more modern innovation is template assisted crystallisation (TAC). These are becoming more common and have been around since the early 2010s. TAC works by passing cold water through a sand like filter medium where the water circulates within a filter cartridge or vessel. The dissolved minerals interact with the TAC media on “crystallisation sites” where they form microscopic crystals that then break away and then just flow through the plumbing with out sticking and forming scale. It’s a totally physical process, no chemicals are added to the water, the maintenance is low with an annual filter cartridge change, and no electricity or drain is required. Conclusion That’s a selection of some of the burning questions many people have when they are considering buying a water filter. There’s a lot of information available online, not all of it is sensible or based on real world knowledge and experience. All the water filters we’ve mentioned work well for most people but there are always specific circumstances that mean that the solution for one person may not be correct for another. So don’t be shy, get in touch with Fountain Filters and we’ll answer your queries and point you in the right direction as to which water filter is right for your needs. You will end up with a water filter that works for you. There are no stupid questions when it comes to water filtration.
What is a Filter Water Bottle? A filter water bottle is essentially a BPA free bottle that has a filter cartridge insert to give you filtered water on the go. The best filter water bottles turn water (except salt water) from anywhere in the world into water that's safe to drink. This can include water that's come from rivers, lakes, streams, puddles, and even your kitchen tap. What's the Best Water Bottle with Filter I can Buy? We consider that the best water bottle with filter is one that uses 3-in-1 technology. This is why we choose to stock Water to Go filter water bottles at Fountain Filters. 3-in-1 technology uses a three stage water filtration process including mechanical, electrical and activated carbon technologies. Mechanical Filtration Mechanical filtration is where tiny contaminants are trapped so they don't remain in the water. The smaller the pore size or micron rating the smaller the particles the filter will trap. Depending on where you're using your filter water bottle, some of these contaminants could be quite unsightly and make you very ill. It's just not worth the risk, especially if you're trying to enjoy a backpacking or camping trip of a lifetime. Electrical Filtration Electrical filtration attracts any remaining contaminants and works like a magnet, again preventing them from passing through the filter and being consumed. Carbon Filtration Activated carbon is contained within the filter water bottle cartridge membrane to effectively remove contaminants and give you great tasting water that's free of odour and discolouration. We consider Water to Go filter water bottles to be the best water bottles for backpacking and the best water bottles for camping. Who are Water to Go? Water to Go are a UK based company that supply filter water bottles around the world. Their bottle filters have all been independently tested against internationally recognised standards by water quality specialists at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK), Bangalore Test House (India), IMI (China) and BCS Laboratories (USA). You can look at the full testing results HERE. What do the Water to Go filter water bottles filter out? The reason we think Water to Go filter water bottles are the best is because they remove bacteria (99.9999%), viruses (99.9999%), waterborne disease, protozoa, heavy metals such as lead, as well as harmful chemicals by up to 99.9999%. A good thing if you're backpacking or camping and can't access safe drinking water. Your water will be free of Cholera, Polio, E-coli, Hepatitis A, Cryptosporidium, Tapeworm, Giardia, Lead, Mercury, Chlorine and Fluoride. If you're wanting to use the Water to Go bottle filter to filter your mains water then chlorine (99.9%) and fluoride (99.9%) will also be removed. But the good news is that essential minerals for health such as sodium and magnesium remain in the water. And we're blown away by the fact that when you use a bottle filter such as the one from Water to Go you're only paying 5p a litre for safe, clean drinking water. That's so much cheaper than ANY bottled water you can buy from the supermarket. Who wants to buy single use plastic bottles anyway! Here's a more comprehensive list of the bacteria and viruses, parasites and waterborne pathogens and metals and chemicals that the Water to Go filter water bottles remove. Bacteria & Viruses Legionella (Legionnaires Disease and Pontiac Fever) Leptospirosis - Weil's Disease Vibrio Disease, Campylobacteriosis Dysentery, Botulism, Polio, Virus Botulism Coliform, E-coli, Cholera, Typhus Reoviruses Enteroviruses Adenoviruses Tota Virus Hepatitis A Norwalk Parasites & Waterborne Pathogens Fasciola Hepatica / Liver Fluke Pinworm Onchiocerca Hookworm, Roundworm Threadworm, Guinea Worm Cryptosporidium Tryonosoma (Sleeping Sickness) Coenorosis Schistosomiasis Echinococcosis Ascariasis Fasciolopsiasis Taeniasis - Tapeworm Metals & Chemicals Chlorine, Fluoride Mercury, Nickel, Copper, Iron Lead, Chromium, Gold, Silver Aluminium Volatile Organic Compounds - including Formaldehyde Water to Go filter water bottles are also Halal certified. What Water to Go filter water bottles do Fountain Filters stock? We don't just stock the Water to Go bottle, we also stock the replacement Water to Go filters. Take a look at our full range of Water to Go filter water bottles HERE. You have three different sizes of filter water bottle to choose from and 2 different styles. 50cl, 75cl and the 60cl Active bottle filter. The Active bottle has a hygenic click lid and is perfect for putting in your bicycle bottle cage. The 75cl bottle filters 200 litres of water and the 50cl bottle filters 130 litres of water. Water to go bottle review We're in the process of asking Nick at Survival & Bushcrafts to carry out a Water to Go bottle review for us. After their review we'll be running a free giveaway so keep your eyes on the Survival & Bushcrafts Facebook page.
0 Changing your Water Filter Cartridge in 10 Easy Steps
It's easy to change your water filter cartridge. Follow these 10 easy steps. Turn off the water supply to the filter system and open the filter tap to release the pressure. Place the spanner that came with your kit around the body of the filter bowl and slide up until the lugs enable you to unscrew the bowl from the housing cap. Rotate from right to left looking straight on, or clockwise if you view it from above. If you haven't mounted the housing to the cupboard wall you may need to brace the cap somehow. The housing bowl will be full of water so proceed carefully to minimise spillage. Once unscrewed lower the housing bowl away from the cap, and remove to the sink. Empty the water and remove the old filter cartridge. Rinse and wipe out the housing bowl. If the black O ring is 2 to 3 years old this is the time to replace it. Otherwise ensure the O ring is in good condition, it's worth coating it silicon grease if it's a bit dry. Replace it in the groove, ensuring the O ring is properly seated. Unwrap the new filter cartridge and place inside the housing bowl, making sure it slips onto the small stand pipe in the base of the housing bowl. Screw the housing bowl onto the cap, turning anticlockwise until hand tight - do not over tighten. Turn on the water supply and allow the the filter system to refill - once done close the tap and check the housing bowl to cap for leaks. If there are any leaks then use the spanner to tighten the bowl a fraction. You may need to either turn off the water supply and release the pressure again to do this. Finally, once you're certain there are no leaks, open the tap and allow the water run for 5 minutes to flush out any manufacturing debris. DO NOT use the spanner to tighten the housing bowl - this will make it very difficult to undo at the next filter change.
Where does our water come from? Water in the UK arrives as rain or snow and then it's down to nature and geography - with some input from humans - to determine what sort of water we have in our homes. Water in reservoirs or natural lakes Surface water - from rivers and streams – is stored in natural lakes or artificial reservoirs and makes up the majority (68%) of our water supply. This water has a low concentration of calcium and magnesium but perhaps some sodium, chloride and sulphate, depending on location, from the action of the wind over sea. Water stored underground The rest of our water comes from underground, where it has filtered down through rocks to the water table and on its way down has absorbed natural minerals such as calcium and magnesium. The exception to this is water that has come across impervious rocks, that are calcium-poor anyway, such as granite; it's too hard to percolate through, so water tends to run off and not absorb minerals. Snowdonia in Wales and the Western Highlands of Scotland are examples of this geological factor. What is hard water? Water high in those natural minerals already mentioned - calcium and magnesium - is called 'hard'. Water low in these minerals is called 'soft'. There are grades in between such as semi hard or semi-soft or even not too hard or very hard. How can I tell whether I have hard water or not? Water hardness is measured by the number of mineral deposits in your water (parts per million - ppm). A soft water area would have around 60-100ppm while a very hard water area would register more than 180ppm. You can go on your water supplier's website and check the hardness of your water by inputting your postcode. Or you can check here. Broadly, where is water hard in the UK? It's easier to note which places are soft or semi-hard: Cornwall, most of Devon and West Wales are blessed with soft water as is the north of England and most of Scotland. Middle England is mostly middling, with semi-hard. The rest of the country has hard water, around 60% of the country. What difference does hard water make? Hard water is rich in calcium, which produces limescale when it dries. Limescale typically forms an unsightly crust around the base of taps in domestic wash basins and baths, covers shower screens with a fine white residue and forms a coating around plugholes. Although there are limescale removers on the market, it is not particularly easy to control and is an ongoing task. Laundry washed in hard water needs more cleaning product and does not produce the pleasing soapy suds of soft water. Shampoo will not lather well, nor will soap. More conditioner is needed to get your hair feeling soft after washing. It is similar to using salt water, if any readers are sailors or have been on a cruise. Central heating systems don't like hard water When hard water is heated, it forms deposits when it cools – called scale - that is notorious for clogging up central heating systems - radiators, pipes and heat exchangers. Untreated, they have to be periodically flushed to remove the scaling. Domestic machines that use water such as dishwashers and washing machines will have similar problems over time. If you don't recognise the characteristics of hard and soft water, you may live in a middling area, with semi-hard water. How to remove limescale from my water supply Unless you move to a soft water area, you are stuck with hard water. But a way to alleviate the issues and to minimise limescale from your water supply is to have a mains water limescale filter, or hard water filter, fitted. This should realign the calcium molecules, so they no longer form limescale and you will have water that resembles soft water. Baths will be slippery, hair washing will be a pleasure, you'll use less laundry liquid, and you won't be trying to remove limescale from your sinks. And behind the scenes, your central heating pipes won't be clogging up. Do I need to fit a mains water limescale filter in my home? Mains water is so-called as it comes straight off the mains and is not stored in a tank first. In an independent home, it's the one you use for washing and for your central heating if you have radiators. If you live in a block of flats, you will need to have an independent mains supply for water to be treated. If you have hard water, it’s possible to have a filter fitted to your mains supply to remove the limescale. What sort of mains water filter can I have fitted? There are two main types of domestic water treatment systems. A salt-based solution (water softener) softens the water by removing the hard minerals (ions) and replacing them with salt. Our preferred system (filter) uses a cartridge system where the hard ions are physically bound together to prevent them forming scale. Both systems work well, but filters are cheaper and very low maintenance. The cartridge needs replacing every 1 to 3 years, depending on the equipment chosen. There is no electricity needed and no salt to be refilled. Are mains water filters expensive? No. Our Doby OneFlow hard water filter will remove scale for around a year before the cartridge needs replacing (depending on water usage). You will save considerably on laundry products and your water-dependent machines will last longer, including your central heating system if it runs water-filled radiators. It should pay for itself in two years or less, but there are many other benefits mentioned before that you will enjoy straight away. Is hard water safe for drinking? All water in the UK is very safe to drink, whether it’s hard or soft. Whether it tastes nice or not is another matter and one we will deal with later. Water in the UK is independently monitored by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, set up in 1990. Water companies test their water supplies daily and supply their findings to the DWI. The public body also carries out extensive research. Drinking water in the UK is among the best in the world, with drinking quality of 99.96%, acknowledged by Statistica that also has other interesting facts about UK water. Is hard water bad for my skin? There is much anecdotal evidence from our customers to suggest soft water minimises conditions such as psoriasis and eczema and hard water exacerbates these conditions. However, various health studies, including one by the World Health Organisation in 2008 and the Softened Water Eczema Trial published in 2011 found no symptom relief in soft water for skin conditions. Critics would argue that the sample size in the latter was small (336) but not everyone needs scientific proof that soft water helps their skin condition. It could be chlorine that causes skin irritation, perceived or otherwise, which we touch on later. I don't like the taste of my tap water. Is it because it's hard? The UK has among the best tap water in the world as already mentioned. To make our water safe, the final process in the long purification process is the addition of chlorine. This acts as a disinfectant. If you don't like your tap water, it's probably the chlorine, rather than the natural mineral salts you don't like. Some people feel that chlorine could be responsible for exacerbating their skin condition, especially psoriasis but only this anecdotal evidence supports the claim. Chlorine encourages skin to dry, which causes the skin to flake more. Psoriasis sufferers typically avoid public swimming pools for this reason. Don't buy bottled water The worst thing you can do, environmentally and financially is to buy water in plastic bottles. Even the very large ones work out much more expensive than a water filter. They also take many, many years to degrade and have become a serious blot on our landscape, both here and abroad. 'Smart water'; is just a fancy name, dressed up to be something that is good for us, but it still involves single use plastic. Read our in-depth blog about it. Tap water costs around 0.3p per two litres, a supermarket own brand 45p and a brand 90p. You are pouring money down the drain and damaging the environment at the same time. Fitting a water filter to get better tasting water Not liking the taste is a common problem and ironically maybe, more likely to happen with soft water as hard water containing minerals may help to mask the taste of the chlorine. While some ions (minerals) are removed by boiling, the chlorine taste tends to remain. Many people don't mind it and if that is you, then you don't need to do anything. But if you would like nicer tasting water - the mountain stream taste you may have enjoyed on a hike in Scotland or Wales maybe - then, a water filter may be for you. It's normally fitted under your kitchen sink, takes up very little space and needs minimum attention. If I have a mains water filter, what about drinking water? If you have a salt-based water softener, you usually leave a tap for drinking water where the water is untreated. Normally this is in the kitchen. Another option is to have a three-way tap fitted, with water all from the same tap. It means your kitchen sink will look less cluttered. It’s a question of personal preference really. You can read more about our tri-tap choices. Remember, all drinking water in the UK is safe. Your kettle will still ‘fur’ up but water everywhere else will have the calcium filtered out. If you take a glass of water to bed with you, use the mains water tap in the kitchen. What if I want a mains limescale filter AND a water filter for my drinking water? We can do that too! You might find our Doby Taste and OneFlow hard water filter is perfect. It will mean no limescale and better tasting water (assuming you don't like the taste of your water) as it removes chlorine and sediment as well as hard minerals. It should fit under your sink, but you can fit it anywhere where the mains water enters the house - a garage or utility room for example. Space could be a bit tight, and you may need to find another home for your cleaning materials if you choose the kitchen, but we think it's a small price to pay. And the best thing is the cartridge should last for up to two years before being replaced. You also don't need a separate cold water tap. Does a water filter take up much space? No. A water filter is usually smaller than a salt-based water softener as there is no need for bulky salt bricks. The dimensions of all our machines are clearly listed. What if I just want nice tasting water: should I have a water filter fitted? As mentioned earlier, it's soft water that usually has what some people regard as an unpleasant taste and smell, probably from the chlorine. Check that boiling the water doesn't take away the unpleasant taste - it often does. Boiling water and letting it cool, then refrigerating it in a jug could be an answer, so it's worth trying. Are water filters easy to fit? Yes. A water filter is inexpensive, takes up very little room and you'll have great tasting water year round. You just need to replace a cartridge once or twice a year (depending on water use). See one of ours here. We can supply a basic filter that filters out the chorine, or more advanced options that can filter out heavy metals, fluoride and bacteria. We can help you to decide which you need, which depends on your water supply and to a certain extent your taste preference If you normally buy bottled water, the product should have paid for itself in a year to a year and a half, depending on your water consumption and your usual water brand. Imagine delicious water on tap - you might even start to drink more. It's much healthier for all of us, especially for children instead of sugary drinks. From our customers: case studies for limescale filter and water filter Mains limescale filter ''We sold our house and went into rented for a year. During that time, our home had no mains water limescale filter and I'd forgotten how horrible it is. I missed our shiny sinks and soapy baths. As soon as we moved, my priority was a limescale water filter. At the same time, I had a water filter fitted, feeling I was doing my bit for the environment. No more expensive bottled water for our family.'' Mrs J, Richmond. Water filter ''We had a Pearl Drinking water filter fitted after I'd been shocked with the results of my annual water spending using Fountain Filters calculator. Our plumber fitted it in a couple of hours. I'm sure salad leaves and boiled vegetables taste better. I drink my tea black, and I've noticed the taste is nicer. Thumbs up all round.'' Ms T, Salisbury What if I'm happy with my water? If you are happy with your water - don't suffer from hard water and limescale and like the taste - we don't suggest you do anything. Obviously, we sell water filters and mains water limescale filters but wouldn't try to sell to anyone who is satisfied with their water. If you have friends or relatives who have hard water though, or don't like the taste of their tap water, we'd be grateful if you'd mention us or send them a link to this article. FAQs What is a hard water filter? A hard water filter isn't actually a filter at all. Because the minerals that make water hard are dissolved they would just flow straight through an ordinary filter. Instead, the filter cartridge treats the water by altering some of the properties of the minerals so they don't form limescale. Can I install a hard water filter for a shower? Yes you can. You can install a hard water filter to the cold water supply to an electric shower, or the water that feeds the boiler that heats the shower water. Alternatively, fit a filter to your mains water supply and treat the whole house. No, and they work in completely different ways. A water softener uses sodium chloride - salt - to replace the hard water minerals. Unfortunately, that leaves a small amount of sodium in the water so it may not be good to drink due to the effects on blood pressure and heart health. Good modern softeners only amount to about 5 percent of your recommended daily allowance, however, it's probably best to minimise all salt intake. No, and they work in completely different ways. A water softener uses sodium chloride - salt - to replace the hard water minerals. Unfortunately, that leaves a small amount of sodium in the water so it may not be good to drink due to the effects on blood pressure and heart health. Good modern softeners only amount to about 5 percent of your recommended daily allowance, however, it's probably best to minimise all salt intake.
Fountain Filters, Strowger House,
Sandy Lane Ind. Est.
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 5HE, UK.
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