Comparison Aquaphor Crystal Eco H vs Aquaphor Crystal Quad H

The smallest size of foreign particles (in microns) that the filter can hold in total. Accordingly, the smaller this size, the higher the filtration efficiency, the less undissolved impurities remain in the filtered water. On the other hand, finer cleaning usually takes more time, which affects the speed (throughput) of the filter. It should be noted that in the case of using reverse osmosis filters, the filtration is very fine, up to 0.01 microns.

The amount of water that the filter is able to pass through itself per unit of time (of course, effectively purified in the process); usually stated in liters per minute. This parameter is largely related to the type (see above): for example, in jugs, the filtration rate usually does not exceed 0.5 L per minute, while for main devices that supply entire apartments, a throughput of tens or even hundreds of liters is required.

Note that it does not always make sense to pursue a high filtration rate. After all, other things being equal, finer cleaning takes more time; accordingly, the faster the filter works, the higher the chance that the quality of such cleaning will be relatively low. And devices that purify water efficiently and quickly usually have an appropriate price. Therefore, it is worth considering the purpose of the filter and, on the basis of this, determine the balance between the filtration speed and its quality when choosing. It is also worth keeping in mind the conditions of use: for example, if you need to filter low-quality tap water for drinking, it is better to sacrifice speed in favor of efficiency.

The resource can be described as the total amount of water (in thousands of liters) that the filter is able to clean before the cartridge needs to be changed. Usually, it is indicated for a standard filter element (see "Removable cartridges").

Different types of filters (see above) can significantly differ in resource, depending on the features of their application. However, for all models, the rule applies: do not use a cartridge that has exhausted its resource. This is due not only to a drop in filtration efficiency — an “overfilled” filter can begin to release the accumulated contents into the water, further degrading its quality. Since it can be quite difficult to monitor of a specific amount of treated water, many manufacturers indicate the approximate time in which it will be exhausted with an average intensity of use in addition to the resource. Usually it is a few months, but there are exceptions. In addition, for the convenience of the user, various indicators can be provided in the filter design (see "Cartridge replacement indicator").

In models with a multi-stage design (see "Stages of purification"), where there are several cartridges, their resource usually differs, and the total filter resource is usually indicated by the least durable cartridge, that is, until the first replacement of any of the filter elements.

The presence of a capillary membrane in the filter design.

The capillary membrane is a filter element consisting of numerous thin (up to a millimetre in diameter) synthetic tubes — capillaries — with villi on the inner surface. Water passes through such tubes freely, and foreign contaminants are retained. According to the principle of operation, the capillary membrane is a mechanical filter, but unlike conventional elements of this type (see "Pollutants clipping"), it is capable of retaining much smaller particles — up to hundredths of a micron inclusive. This is enough to remove from the water not only insoluble impurities that were missed in the previous stages, but also most bacteria. Therefore, capillary membranes are classified as fine filters and are often used at the last stage of the process.

The cartridge size indicates both the overall dimensions of the device and compatibility with non-native accessories from other manufacturers. Cartridges differ in width and height, measured in inches. Among the most common options are 5SL (5"x2.5"), 10SL (10"x2.5"), 20SL (20"x2.5"), 10BB (10"x4.5"), 20BB (20"x4.5").

Standard sizes also include inline cartridges in the form of modules made from white or transparent plastic. They are a sealed cylinder with pre-installed inlet and outlet fittings. Inline cartridges are connected via threaded connections or fittings, simplifying the replacement process. They do not require a separate housing for installation, as their design allows for direct connection to the pipeline or filtration system. They are also slimmer than traditional filters, making a filter with inline cartridges quite presentable in appearance.

Some water purification systems have cartridges in proprietary sizes that are only compatible with specific filters. These cartridges are ideal for these systems, providing high purification efficiency. They often combine several filtration stages in one element (e.g., mechanical cleaning, chlorine removal, mineralization). This simplifies system maintenance and improve...s water quality. Proprietary products undergo strict quality control and are tested for compatibility with specific filtering systems, ensuring stable performance. However, there are drawbacks—proprietary cartridges are more expensive and their range is much smaller than universal ones.

Models of replaceable cartridges for which the filter is designed. Knowing the names of models, it will be much easier for you to find a replacement for an exhausted cartridge. In addition, the options directly named by the manufacturer are fully compatible with the filter and correspond to official specifications, while there is no such guarantee for "non-native" cartridges.

Several names in this paragraph are usually indicated for filters with multi-stage filtration (see "Stages of purification") — a cartridge for each stage.