Below you will find questions that we get asked by our customers frequently and they might help you with any of your problems that may occur or doubts that you may have. In every case, we recommend you to contact us for any question at 2310 789 050, 2310 789 051 or by sending an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Contents:
- What do the water filters remove from water?
- What is the size of a filter pore?
- Do the filters include activated carbon?
- How often do I have to change the replacement cartridge?
- What is the flow rate of the filter?
- Where can they get installed?
- Which is the highest and the lowest function pressure?
- Which is the highest and the lowest temperature during the function?
- Are there any certificates for the filters?
- What is reverse osmosis?
- Why should I install a filter on drinking water? Does not the Municipality or Community taking care so the water is appropriate for drinking?
- How many filter categories exist?
- How much is the cost of a water filter?
- To what should I pay attention during the choice of the filter or the device for cleaning water?
- What is a graded density filter?
- Why the replacements by cellulose are better than thread filters?
- Why the filters do not retain the dirt and rust and allow their escape?
- What "micron" means when we are talking about the pore of a filter replacement, in other words the scale of retention?
- The filter replacements have many grades according to the size of the filter pores (1micrometer, 5micrometers, 25micrometers etc). How do i choose the right replacement?
- How I understand that the life of the filter has come to the end?
- What activated carbon is, in what forms does it exist and how it cleans the water?
- Does the water filter removes the salts?
- Why does the filter replacement gets colored green sometimes?
- Isn't the carbon filter that is used for drinking water (where bacteria and chemicals are gathered) consists a place where micro-organisms are developed, in other words an source of contamination?
- How good is a small filter that is installed on the faucet?
- What is the best to use: a filter with a transparent or opaque cover?
- Why do the filters that contain activated carbon should not be placed on the mains of your house or apartment?
- Is it possible for two or more apartments to share a mains filter?
- What reverse osmosis is? Why is it useful?
- Does the reverse osmosis removes the essential minerals of the water as well?
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Why in reverse osmosis only one part of the water is cleaned and the rest of it is getting drained?
a. How hard is the installation of reverse osmosis in drinking water?
b. How much is the cost of use (operating cost) of reverse osmosis? - What water hardness is?
- What induration is? How does it work?
- How hard is the intallation of an induration? How much does the operation cost?
- What a refrigerator water filter does?
- How are we sure that we will find filter replacments?
- What NSF approval means?
What do the water filters remove from water?
The domestic water filters remove the unpleasant taste and odour, chlorine, chlorine derivatives, solid particles, dirt, rust, sand, mud, germs, bacteria and viruses.
What is the size of a filter pore?
A microfiltration filter has a pore size of approximately 0.1 micron (pore size ranges vary by filter from 0.05 micron to 5 micron). We would recommend the faucet filter Torayviono MK2 which is 0.01 micron and has the best ratio of cost and performance.
Do the filters include activated carbons?
Yes, all the filters have activated carbon, Torayvino MK2 filter have additional hollow fiber membranes 0.01 micron and flows 2 litres per minute, the greater in the market.
How often do I have to change the replacement cartridge?
From 6 months to 1 year.
What is the flow rate of the filter?
Torayvino filters have 2 litres per minute water flow rate. Probably one of the biggest flow rates of the market.
Where can they get installed?
The domestic filters can be installed on the faucet, above and below the kitchen counter.
Which is the highest and the lowest function pressure?
The pressure of filters' function varies from 0.8 to 4 bars.
Which is the highest and the lowest temperature during the function?
The temperature during the function of the filters ranges from 3°C to 29°C.
Are there any certificates for the filters?
The reduction of bacteria is consistent with the Japanese Association of Water Purification (JWPA) voluntary standards for water purification. The water filter has been shown that removes 99.99% of bacteria as specified in the standards. Other filters are certified by NSF Standards 42 & 53.
What is reverse osmosis?
Osmosis is a special case of diffusion in which the molecules are water and the concentration gradient occurs across a semipermeable membrane. The semipermeable membrane allows the passage of water, but not ions (e.g., Na+, Ca2+, Cl-) or larger molecules (e.g., glucose, urea, bacteria). Reverse osmosis occurs when the water is moved across the membrane against the concentration gradient, from lower concentration to higher concentration.
The osmosis system combines the most advanced technologies of reverse osmosis and activated carbon to produce the best water quality available. In many European countries, bottled water is product of reverse osmosis .
1st stage: The tap water enters the first stage of cleaning the prefilter suspensions 5 micron.
2nd stage: After that, water passes through the filter and activated carbon removes chlorine chemicals etc. GAC 20 micron.
Stage 3 : Below there is a charcoal filter in a block form for even better impoundments EP 10, 10 micron.
4th stage : The filtered water passes the semipermeable membrane (0,0001 micron), while contaminants (like chemicals, microbes, bacteria) that are retained on the outer surface of the membrane, are rinsed automatically and then they are getting drained.
5th stage : After the membrane, the filtered water is stored in the collecting container .
By the time we open the faucet, the water goes through the final stage with Activated Carbon for a final polish before arriving in our glass .
Why should I install a filter on drinking water? Does not the Municipality or Community taking care so the water is appropriate for drinking?
The municipalities are making significant efforts to provide clean water that is suitable for drinking, that means that the water will be free from airborne particles and contaminants and chlorinated to destroy bacteria and viruses. After the water is cleaned and tested by the City / Municipality it travels through the networks where it is not possible to be checked for the further burden with dirt, rust, dangerous metals such as lead, from the old networks. Besides, checking for insecticides and pesticides at the sources of water may not be continuous because of the complexity of these analyzes .
Therefore appears the need of water cleaning at the point that it is been used for the following reasons:
- Aesthetics: by removing dust, dirt and other airborne particles, the unpleasant odor and the taste of chlorine as well.
- Hygiene: with the removal of volatile organic substances (insecticides, pesticides), hazardous metals (lead), derivatives of the reaction of chlorine with organic compounds (halogenated hydrocarbons), microbial, viral, possibly even radioactive particles.
How many filter categories exist?
Domestic water filters are categorised according to:
- The point of use (POU) such as faucet water filters, countertop water filters, refrigerator water filters, undersink water filters, reverse osmosis, UV filters and filter jugs.
- The point of entry (POE) such as mains filters.
How much is the cost of a water filter?
In the market there are water filters that appear large differences in quality between them and from different origins. Therefore, there are many " values". A careful market research will prove that "cheap " products without the appropriate support and guarantees are always expensive at last. When it comes to dealing with products that protect our health, what matters is quality. Since we are paying attention to "what we eat " we should also do the same with "what we drink ." Therefore, installing a water filtration system is important.
The efficiency of each filter and more specific of the active carbon filter depends on two factors:
- The water flow rate through the filter, that is to say how quickly the water passes through the filter .
- The filter size, that means the surface area that is available for retention .
The small filters that can be placed on the faucet have small surface for retention as well. Thus, what it is needed for the filter to work effectivelly is that the water flow rate has be also small so there is enough time for water to get cleaned .
To what should I pay attention during the choice of the filter or the device for cleaning water?
You may ask the supplier and read carefully the datasheet of the manufacturer where it is mentioned the operation of the filter or cleaning device and the recommended conditions of use, such as:
- What the filter removes from the water
- The pore size
- If you include an active carbon
- Lifetime Parts
- The water flow rate
- Installation
- Maximum and minimum operating pressure
- Certificates of international or national organizations
What is a graded density filter?
The graded density filter is a filter where the water is filtered across the whole depth of the filter as the filter pores smaller as it goes toward the inside. This technology achieves the use of whole the filtration material and as a result it is increasing the filtration efficiency and the lifetime of the filter.
Why the replacements by cellulose are better than thread filters?
Water filters for removing dirt, rust and other suspended particles are using filtering technics such as:
a ) Metal mesh
b ) Thread
c ) Solid block of material ( e.g., ceramic, polypropylene)
d) Cellulose graded density
More detailed:
a) The metal mesh filters water that exists on the surface of the filter (mesh), and has comparatively large pores ( 80 ) .
b ) The yarn, mostly filters the water on the filter surface (thread) and less in the interior of the yarn.
c ) Solid block of material (such as ceramic or polypropylene) filters the water on the surface and less inside.
d ) The cellulose has very small pores ( 5m ) and filters the water on the surface and within as well .
Why the filters do not retain the dirt and rust and allow their escape?
Sometimes a filter allows to pass dirt or rust. That might be occured because of the following:
- The replacement has a very large pore while dirt and rust are smaller in size.
- The replacement is not installed properly and some of the water passes through the filter without going through the replacement.
- The replacement has low quality and either allows to the water to pass through it without being filtered or changes its shape because of the changes in system pressure. As a result it releases the dirt that has already been detained.
What "micron" means when we are talking about the pore of a filter replacement, in other words the scale of retention?
The micrometre(µm) or micrometer is an SI derived unit of length equaling 1×10−6of a metre(SI standard prefix that is, one-millionth of a metre (or one-thousandth of a millimetre, 0.001mm, or about 0.000039inch).
The micrometre is a common unit of measurement for wavelengths of infrared radiation as well as sizes of cells and bacteria.
With some more detailes, that is:
1 m = 1000 mm (1m = 1000mm)
1 mm = 1000 microns (1mm = 1000)
thus:
1 meter = 1,000,000 small (1m = 1.000.000m)
When the replacement of a filter has a pore size of:
1 micron can hold solids larger than 1 micron
10 microns can hold solids larger than 10 microns
25 microns can hold solids larger than 25 microns
examples:
Human hair size (diameter) = More than 20μ
Flour = Over 1μ
Cigarette smoke = Over 1μ
Bacteria = Above 0.1μ
The filter replacements have many different grades according to the size of the filter pores (1micrometer, 5micrometers, 25micrometers etc). How do i choose the right replacement?
The most important factors that affect the lifetime of a replacement are :
- The water flow rate. That is how much water passes through the filter daily.
- To what extent the water is pure, if the water contains a lot of dirt, rust and other suspended particles.
- The pore size of the filter.
- When the water is very dirty (it contains a lot of dirt, rust and other particulate matter) and the replacement that is used has small pores, then it will get clogged quickly. Even with the same quality/purity of water and using the same replacement, it can be noticed that the more water passes through the filter per day, the sooner your filter will get blocked.
The lifetime of the replacement shortens when :
- The water that passes through the filter per day is a lot.
- The water is dirty .
- The pore of this part is small.
Therefore it is recommended to choose your replacements according to the following characteristics:
- filters for mains (large water supply) and relatively clean water used spare 5μ or 25μ .
- filters for mains and relatively dirty water used spare 25μ .
- filters for drinking water and relatively dirty water used spare 5μ .
- filters for drinking water and relatively pure water to be used parts 1μ .
The ideal solution is the installation of replacement 25μ on the mains and a replacement 1 or 5μ in tap drinking water .
How I understand that the life of the filter has come to the end?
As long as the replacement absorbs the dirt that cleans from the water, the pores are filled and it is getting more difficult for the water to pass through. This difficulty causes a gradual reduction in the pressure and the flow of the water when we open the tap.
What activated carbon is, in what forms does it exist and how it cleans the water?
Carbon is an essential element of organic matter . The carbon that is used in water filters can originate from inorganic (mineral rocks) or organic materials (like coconut, wood, coal, lignite). The carbon, after the appropriate treatment is having an increase of its surface area relative to its volume and so the activated carbon is produced. A worth mentioning characteristic is that 1gr of activated carbon has a surface of 1000 m2. Activated carbon has the property, after a physical process called adsorption, to attract and retain on the surface various chemicals like chlorine derivatives and organic compounds such as insecticides and pesticides. Thus the water which passes through a layer of activated carbon is been discharged from the unwanted ingredients. Activated carbon is used in two forms:
- Granular form, in the form of 'powder'.
- Solid form, in the form of a piece (block) with a fixed shape. This last mentioned form of activated carbon filtration achieves the filtering of particulate matter (such as dirt and rust) .
Does the water filter removes the salts?
The water filters appart from the procedure of reverse osmosis do not remove the water salts. Some specific parts of the filters include substances that they just prevent the salts to incrustate on the pipes and the devices. The reverse osmosis is the only filtering system that removes even the salts from the drinking water.
Why does the filter replacement gets colored green sometimes?
Each filter gathers dirt and rust that carry a variety of microorganasisms. Some of these microorganisms (like algae) when they are growing they produce material of plant production which give the green color. For their growing the microorganisms need food and sunlight. The food comes from the materials that have been held by the filter.
Isn't the carbon filter that is used for drinking water (where bacteria and chemicals are gathered) consists a place where micro-organisms are developed, in other words an outbreak?
It is possible for the carbon filter to become a source of contamination. For this specific reason it is recommended that the water should not be stagnant into the filter for more that a few hours. Otherwise we suggest you to leave the water of faucet on for 1-2 litres before you use the water.
How good is a small filter that is installed on the faucet?
The effectiveness of each filter and special activated carbon filter depends on two factors:
- The water flow rate: how quickly the water passes through the filter.
- The filter size: the surface area available for retention.
The small filters that can be placed on the faucet have small surface for retention as well. Thus, what it is needed for the filter to work effectivelly is that the water flow rate has be also small so there is enough time for water to get cleaned .
What is the best to use: a filter with a transparent or opaque cover?
The filter with transparent cover allows the easy inspection of the filter at a glance. Instead, the filter with opaque cover must be opened to see its status.
On the other hand, the filter with a transparent cover allows the light to pass through it which promotes the growth of certain micro-organisms (e.g. algae). On the contrary, the filter with opaque cover prevents their growth. It is therefore recommended to place filter with opaque cover to locations that are exposed to sunlight or any other light.
Why do the filters that contain activated carbon should not be placed on the mains of your house or apartment?
Tap water is getting chlorinated regularly by the municipality or the community in order to destroy all pathogenic micro -organisms. The presence of chlorine is so important until you use water. Unfortunately chlorine and its derivatives in water impart undesirable odor and taste. The activated carbon removes chlorine and its derivatives, and considerably improves the taste of the water. But the removal of chlorine gives again the possibility of pathogenic micro-organisms to be grown. For this reason it is highly recommended that the active carbon filters are installed near the faucet drinking water and not on the mains, especially if the mains connection is away from the faucet drinking water. In any case, should be allowed to let a quantity of water to leave from the tap before using .
Is it possible for two or more apartments to share a mains filter?
It is possible to use common filters in two or more apartments or building. But as it is obvious you have to chose a large filter and the appropriate replacement depending on the desired effect.
What reverse osmosis is? Why is it useful?
The Osmosis is a natural process which is known for at least 200 years. The outer shell consists of living cells by natural semi- permeable membranes . Semi - permeable membrane means that they are selective, they choose which materials will pass through the membrane and which are not.
During the phenomenon of osmosis the water normally goes to the side of the membrane that has the most concentrated solution so as to dilute and to achieve greater stability. If we reverse the natural process with the help of pressure from a pump or by the network of water, then the membrane may be used as a filter which passes only the water molecules .
So the reverse osmosis is a process whereby water with dissolved salts , and any other undesirable substances are forced under the pressure to pass from a synthetic semi- permeable membrane. This pressure reverses the osmotic pressure and causes the water to pass through the membrane while the undesirable substances in the membrane stop and washed down the drain.
The reverse osmosis technology achieves the removal of water of 95 to 97 % of dissolved salts and other unwanted solutes and delivers high purity water.
Does the reverse osmosis removes the essential minerals of the water as well?
Reverse osmosis removes effectively the dissolved salts and the undesirable substances of the water. Some of the removed salts are beneficial and necessary for the body. But the salts dissolved in water is in inorganic form and hardly digested. The agency prefers to obtain the salts in organic form as found in food (vegetables, fruits, meats, etc.)
Due to the low permeability and small size of the membrane in home reverse osmosis units it is required to provide high pressure water to achieve that all of the water will pass from the membrane. Because of there is no high pressure provided in housing units, only a part of the water passes through the membrane and stored clean, while the dirty part of it that has the gahered salts and undesirable substances goes to the drain.
b. How hard is the installation of reverse osmosis in drinking water
The installation of reverse osmosis under the sink is a relatively simple process and requires the following steps:
- Installing the new drinking water faucet.
- Connect the input of osmosis with the cold water supply to the existing faucet.
- Connect the first output of the module with the new drinking water fountains.
- Connect the second output osmosis sanitation.
Installation is simple but the instructions must be followed faithfully.
What water hardness is?
Hardness is called the concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts into the water. The hardness is not harmful to the human body. However does creates problems in the water network, the devices using water and the efficiency of water as a cleaning agent.
More specifically :
- The calcium and magnesium deposite in water pipes and devices such as water heater, washing machine and dishwasher.
- Salts prevent the flow of water resulting in the gradual decline in pressure.
- Salts prevent heat exchange with the result that it takes more energy to the heater or the laundry to heat the water .
- The hardness salts bind part of detergents when cleaning machine or dishwasher so that it needs more detergent for cleaning.
- The same thing happens with the soap and shampoo used in shampoo so they do not feel totally clean after shampooing .
- Salts remain as haze on the glasses and dishes .
What induration is? How does it work?
Softening is the descaling process by water hardness. The device that removes the hardness salts is called softener. This device contains ion exchange resins , i.e. , a plastic material in the form of granules and salt solution ( brine ) .
The basic operation is described below:
- The hard water is passed from the resins which retain their surface hardness salts .
- When you get enough water and the resins can no longer contain more salts, resins automatically get washed in brine .
- The brine removes the hardness of the resins. The brine with the hardness is drained. The resins that were washed by brine and the cycle goes on.
- The water softener is installed on the mains water in your home or apartment.
How hard is the intallation of an induration? How much does the operation cost?
The installation of the softener is very simple. You only need to interfere in the water supply to your home or apartment. The functions of the softener (washing with brine, rinse, use) are performed automatically.
The cost function for the change of the resin every 8-10 years and periodic addition of salt to the brine tank (1-2 times per month).
What a refrigerator water filter does?
The filter refrigerator retain suspended particles, improves the taste and odor of chlorine water withholding, and the special establishment prevents scaling in pipes. Placed even in icemakers, where it gives us clear, clean ice cubes without turbid residues as well as in coffee devices, improving coffee flavor and preventing the destruction of the device from the salts.
How am I sure that I will find filter replacments?
The company was founded in the USA CUNO in 1912 and is one of the largest manufacturers of water purification equipment for domestic and industrial use.
People who introduce products of CUNO family in the Greek market are dealing with plumbing items from the 1960s. The water treatment is the subject of work in Greece and abroad for one of the executives of our company.
It is natural that the product and the company have the reliability that guarantees a proper supplying of the market with spare parts.
What NSF approval means?
NSF International (National Sanitary Foundation) is a global independent public health and environmental organization that provides standards development, product certification, testing, auditing, education and risk management services for public health and the environment.
Every reputable manufacturer who claims that his equipment can reduce the concentration of unwanted and / or harmful substances into water, contact the organization NSF who after examining the equipment and checking the standards laboratory, certifying that the equipment perform according towhatmanufacturer claims. From this point, the manufacturer is entitled to put the seal to NSF product.