There are many types of water purifiers, but which ones are truly effective and which ones are just a waste of money?

Turning on the tap, clear tap water flows out continuously—a normal part of daily life. However, this seemingly convenient and clean tap water isn't actually as clean as it seems. During its transmission, it passes through numerous pipes. After years of use, these pipes not only develop rust and moss, but their walls also accumulate dirt and grime, harboring various bacteria and even toxic metals, causing secondary pollution of the water.

Long-term consumption of such water can cause immeasurable harm to the human body. Therefore, many families choose to install water purifiers to ensure the whole family drinks pure water. Commonly used water purifiers on the market mainly include RO reverse osmosis water purifiers, ultrafiltration water purifiers, water filter pitchers, and faucet water purifiers. They all provide some degree of water purification, but not every type of water purifier is suitable for every family; the choice should be based on their individual characteristics.

RO Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier: This is a machine that uses physical methods to filter raw water without adding any compounds, producing pure water that is safe for direct consumption. It uses sufficient pressure to force water from a solution through a reverse osmosis membrane, in the opposite direction to osmosis. Reverse osmosis, with pressure greater than the osmotic pressure, can separate, purify, and concentrate liquids. This technology effectively removes dissolved salts, colloids, bacteria, viruses, bacterial endotoxins, and most organic matter from water, resulting in fresher, healthier water.

Simply put, water filtered by an RO reverse osmosis water purifier is pure water with extremely high purity, containing virtually no impurities. In areas with a risk of heavy metal contamination, reverse osmosis water purifiers are highly effective. Furthermore, because calcium and magnesium ions are removed, limescale will not form in the container after boiling. However, it also has drawbacks. The biggest disadvantage in terms of user experience is the slow water flow rate, which is limited by its physical structure and cannot be optimized. It also requires electricity, generating a certain amount of wastewater, thus increasing water and electricity consumption and slightly raising costs.

Ultrafiltration Water Purifiers
Ultrafiltration water purifiers use ultrafiltration membranes to purify water. Under certain pressure, when water flows over the membrane surface, the densely packed micropores on the membrane surface only allow water and small molecules to pass through, becoming the permeate. Substances larger than the membrane's micropore size are retained at the feed end, becoming the concentrate, thus achieving purification, separation, and concentration. The pore size of the ultrafiltration membrane only allows water molecules, beneficial minerals, and trace elements to pass through; therefore, bacteria and substances much larger than bacteria are retained, achieving purification.

While the filtration precision of ultrafiltration purifiers is not as high as that of RO reverse osmosis water purifiers, it is still very high. Its biggest advantage is its ability to retain minerals, resulting in water similar to mineral water. It does not require electricity and does not produce wastewater. The only drawback is that it cannot filter heavy metals, making it less recommended for use in areas with heavy metal risks.

Water Filter Pitcher
This is a household drinking water filtration device suitable for families who cannot install one or are only staying temporarily. It uses a built-in filter to remove particulate impurities, plankton, and odors, improving taste and water quality. Before use, soak the filter for a few minutes and discard the water from the first two filters.

Water filter pitchers are popular because they are inexpensive and easy to use. However, their filtration precision is low, making them more suitable for temporary use, such as for renters, students, and those preparing baby formula.

Faucet Water Purifiers
Faucet water purifiers have always been popular because they are very inexpensive, compact, and easy to install. Manufacturers often emphasize 3 or 5-stage filters to remove various impurities. However, most faucet water purifiers only use simple filter screens and PP cotton, which can only filter large particles of sediment and rust, and have no effect on bacteria or heavy metals. Therefore, the water should never be drunk directly from the faucet.

However, if you live in a very old neighborhood with iron water pipes and frequently find visible impurities in the water, you can buy this type of water purifier to supplement water purification and boil it before drinking. Of course, be aware that the filter cartridges in this type of water purifier are small and have a short lifespan, so you need to replace them frequently to maintain a certain filtration effect.

Buying Guide
As can be seen from the above, if you live in a heavily polluted area with a risk of heavy metal contamination, you should definitely choose an RO reverse osmosis water purifier, as it can filter out heavy metals. If you live in an area with relatively good water quality, you can choose an ultrafiltration water purifier, which retains minerals.

However, ordinary water filter pitchers and faucet water purifiers are not recommended, not only because their filtration precision is low, but also because their prices vary widely. Some products are even more expensive than professional water purifiers, making them not worthwhile purchases, as their purification effect may not be as good as boiling water. For long-term use, it's better to consider the other two types.