Do I need a water filter for a washing machine?

Tap water must be clean not only because we use it every day for cooking, but also because we need it for hygiene procedures and washing dirty clothes. But what if the water is of such poor quality that it is not suitable for use in household appliances? Let's figure out whether a water filter from the water supply in front of the washing machine in the apartment can help in this case.

Is it necessary to install a filter?

It is generally accepted that if tap water meets the state standard, then no filter is needed for its additional purification. However, it is worth considering that before it gets into a house or apartment, the water will have time to:

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

Also, do not forget that various mineral salts do not pose a danger to the human body, but they form scale that damages water heating elements in household appliances. And various mechanical impurities will remain on things after washing, plus they can get from clothes to the skin.

This situation can only be corrected by water purification using various filters. We note the following as advantages of this solution:

• 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 such important advantages, there are also disadvantages to using a filter. Basically, they directly depend on the type of equipment that is used for water purification.

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

As you can see, the pros are much more important than the cons, so a filter is definitely needed in any home whose 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 that the user is willing to spend on improving living conditions. Often, quite clean, but very hard water with various minerals in its composition gets into Russian apartments, so a standard softening filter is suitable to eliminate the negative consequences.

Filter element type

We have already noted that even clean water most often reaches consumers in poor condition. Therefore, you should not rely on utility services and the information that they make publicly available, but it is better to immediately go to an independent laboratory to find out the exact data about tap water. Or you can simply buy test strips and evaluate the water quality yourself.

Test strips are not very expensive, but they provide accurate information about the liquid, based on which you can choose the ideal filter.

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

Filter element installation

Installing a water filter is an elementary process that you can do yourself without calling a service center technician. All you need is an ordinary wrench. The washing machine filter must be installed directly in front of the inlet hose. If your “home assistant” is already connected to all communications, then the instructions will be as follows:

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

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

• Connect the filling hose to the filter.

So in just four steps you have significantly improved the performance of the water that will wash your clothes. Do not skimp on the health of yourself and your family members, as well as on the safety of household appliances that can fail due to poor-quality tap water.

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