Many friends wish to install whole-house water purification systems, but become overwhelmed upon encountering terms like ‘pre-filters, central purification, water softeners, RO units, and pipeline machines’... They fear either failing to purchase adequately and facing future hassle, or falling into traps by making incorrect purchases and wasting money. Don't fret! This practical guide will help you understand what whole-house water purification entails and how to select it, saving you both money and peace of mind!
What is whole-house water purification?
A whole-house water purification system refers to the scientific and rational combination of water purification equipment with different functions to achieve the capability of supplying water of varying qualities throughout the entire home. A complete whole-house water purification system should provide users with at least three distinct water sources: purified water, direct drinking water, and softened water. It typically includes the following equipment:
1. Pre-filter: The first line of defence for household water, typically installed at the main pipe inlet. It removes visible large particles like rust, silt, and insect eggs, protecting downstream water-using appliances.
2. Central water purifier: Further filters invisible contaminants such as residual chlorine, odours, bacteria, and certain heavy metals, enhancing overall water quality for safer washing and bathing.
3. Central water softener: Utilises resin exchange to remove calcium and magnesium ions, softening water to prevent limescale damage to appliances. Using softened water for washing and bathing results in smoother skin and prevents towels from yellowing or hardening – particularly suited to hard water regions in northern areas!
4. Point-of-Use Reverse Osmosis System (Direct Drinking Unit): Typically employs RO reverse osmosis technology with filtration precision down to 0.0001 microns, removing heavy metals, bacteria, antibiotic residues and other contaminants to produce direct-drinking purified water. Some water is discharged as waste.
5. Instant-Heat Pipeline Machine: Connects to the pure water system to provide hot/warm/cold water on demand. Features multiple temperature and volume settings for rapid fulfilment of needs like brewing tea or preparing infant formula, avoiding repeatedly boiled water. Child-lock design enhances safety, improving both convenience and security in water consumption.
How to avoid overspending?
Different water purification devices serve distinct purposes, and optimal drinking and household water experiences are achieved through their coordinated use. However, considering factors such as actual water quality, budget, and available space, households may refer to the following guidelines when selecting equipment.
1. Newly renovated homes/quality-conscious households: Opt for the ‘five-piece suite’: pre-filter + central water purifier + water softener + RO unit + instant hot water dispenser. This comprehensive setup maximises your water experience!
2. Areas with decent water quality/limited kitchen space: Choose the ‘basic trio’: pre-filter + RO unit + instant hot water dispenser. This covers daily drinking water and basic protection.
3. Households with infants: Mandatory addition of ‘Point-of-use RO unit + instant-heating tap’. The RO unit removes heavy metals and antibiotics, ensuring safe infant drinking water; the tap provides 45°C constant-temperature milk preparation, eliminating the need to wait for boiling water to cool, making night-time bottle-feeding more convenient.
4. Older estates/high turbidity water: Mandatory stainless steel mesh pre-filter. Durable with consistent filtration performance, no cartridge replacement required, low long-term maintenance costs.
5. Limited space/cost-conscious users: Opt for the ‘large bottle’ pre-filter or M10 central microfilter as a central water purifier alternative. High value for money, flexible installation, ideal for space-constrained or budget-conscious households.
6. Northern hard water regions/skin care focus: In hard water areas, households with sensitive skin prone to dryness and itching after bathing, or those prioritising skincare, must install a water softener. This not only improves skin condition but also extends the lifespan and performance of water-using appliances – truly killing multiple birds with one stone.
Selecting whole-house water purification hinges on ‘tailored solutions’. First, assess your household water quality (consult your local Nobana store for complimentary water sample testing), then define your living scenario (newly renovated/existing property, presence of infants, water consumption patterns). Only by matching these factors to appropriate equipment can you truly achieve both cost savings and peace of mind!
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