Do I need a water filter for my washing machine?

Tap water should be clean not only because we use it every day for cooking, but also because we need it for personal hygiene and washing dirty clothes. But what if the water is so poor quality that it's unsuitable for use in household appliances? Let's explore whether installing a water filter in front of your washing machine can help in this case.

Is it necessary to install a filter?

It's generally accepted that if tap water meets state standards, no additional filter is needed for its purification. However, it's important to keep in mind that before entering a house or apartment, the water will have time to:

• to pass tens of kilometers of pipes;
• become enriched with rust during this time;
• become filled with additional biological and mechanical impurities.

It's also important to remember that various mineral salts pose no danger to the human body, but they form scale, which can damage the heating elements of household appliances. Various mechanical impurities will remain on your clothes after washing, and they can also transfer from your clothes to your skin.

The only way to remedy this situation is to purify the water using various filters. The advantages of this solution include the following:

• significant improvement in the quality of tap water;
• reducing costs for repairing old household appliances and purchasing new devices;
• improving the quality of health and life.

Despite these important advantages, using a filter also has its drawbacks. These primarily depend directly on the type of equipment used to purify the water.

• Extra costs for purchasing and installing the device.
• Additional risks of leaks that may arise due to poor-quality plastic flasks or installation errors.
• The need for regular replacement of the filter filler, as well as rubber gaskets.

As you can see, the pros far outweigh the cons, so a filter is definitely necessary for any home where residents suffer from poor-quality tap water. The most important thing is to decide which filter is needed, which depends on the quality of the water supply and the amount the user is willing to spend on improving their living conditions. Russian apartments often receive relatively clean, but very hard water containing various minerals, so a standard water softening filter is sufficient to eliminate the negative consequences.

Filter element type

We've already noted that even clean water often reaches consumers in poor condition. Therefore, don't rely on public utilities and the information they provide. It's best to visit an independent laboratory to get accurate information about your tap water. Alternatively, you can simply purchase test strips and assess the water quality yourself.

Test strips are not very expensive, but they provide accurate information about the liquid, which can be used to select the ideal filter.

Once you have the water data in hand, you can choose a filter element. Of course, the easiest way is to buy a universal model that removes several types of dirt at once, but these devices are much more expensive, so it is better to choose a specialized device that is suitable specifically for your situation.

Installation of the filter element

Installing a water filter is a simple process that you can handle yourself without calling a service technician. All you need is a regular wrench. The washing machine filter should be installed directly in front of the inlet hose. If your "home assistant" is already connected to all utilities, the instructions are as follows:

• turn off the water supply;
• remove the inlet hose from the pipe to which it is screwed;
• install a liquid purification filter on the branch pipe;

Typically, the filter uses a standard three-quarter-inch thread, which will fit into common Russian washing machine pipes and hoses.

• Connect the filling hose to the filter.

So, in just four steps, you've significantly improved the performance of the water that will wash your clothes. Don't skimp on your health and the health of your family, or on the safety of your appliances, which can fail due to poor tap water.

   

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