Why Invest in The Great UV Water Treatment Systems?
The US is tremendously fortunate to have one of the world’s cleanest and safest water supply. However, according to the CDC, 7.2 million Americans fall sick from waterborne illnesses each year.
You run a substantially higher chance of having contaminated water if you have a well. Fortunately, UV water purifiers may shield you from dangerous germs. But which ones are worthwhile investing in?
You’ve arrived at the correct spot if you’re having trouble deciding which is the best UV water purifier to buy. Reliability is the key component of a UV water purifier.
Due to their excellent level of performance and positive customer reviews, I can definitely recommend 4 purifiers, making this list brief and to the point.
Springwell Blackcomb UV Water Filter System
The Springwell Blackcomb UV Water Filter System is an excellent option for you if you’re seeking for a system that provides proven protection against bacteria. This UV purifier eliminates 99.9% of bacteria in addition to removing viruses and other common diseases found in drinking water.
The Springwell Blackcomb is a whole-house water filtration system that may be used either alone or in conjunction with another whole-house water filtration system.
The UV purifier performs well at 30mj/cm2, and its 15 GPM flow rate guarantees that water pressure remains constant while the device is in operation.
The UV radiation is kept in a casing that can withstand spills. It has a user interface that displays any problems and the amount of bulb life left in the system in real time. To find online resources and instructional videos to assist you in replacing the light, utilize the QR codes that are readily available.
Although a sediment filter is not included with the Springwell Blackcomb, Springwell advises doing it in order to safeguard the light.
Viqua D4 Premium
The Viqua D4 Premium is a whole-house UV water treatment system that is best suited for residential houses with well water because it primarily removes bacteria from water. This UV filter provides rapid, effective water treatment without affecting the water pressure in your shower or other water-based appliances, with a flow rate of up to 12 GPM.
The Viqua D4 stands out from its rivals because of its diminutive, compact dimensions. It offers the same performance as a longer UV chamber while taking up less room and using less energy. Since it has a continuous current function, this ultraviolet light in the best uv purifier won’t burn out even if your power goes out, guaranteeing that you always have access to clean drinking water.
The Viqua model D4’s 9,000-hour lamp life is intended to last you slightly over a year before it has to be replaced. Most people find installation simple enough to manage themselves; it is done at the point of access to your house. Following Viqua’s installation instructions, you only need to insert the UV lamp into the sleeve and connect the system straight to your water line.
When it comes to lamp life or UV intensity, the Viqua D4 Premium won’t leave you in the dark. Its interactive display panel provides all the details you want about the condition of your UV filter, enabling you to troubleshoot problems as they occur and make plans to purchase a new bulb before your current one runs out of life.
The firm logo and contact details are also shown on the screen in case you need to get in touch with customer support.
For a reasonably reasonable price, you can purchase replacement components for the Viqua online. For example, replacement lights cost just under $100, and you only need to buy them once a year.
The only other semi-regular maintenance you’ll need to perform other changing the light is cleaning the lamp housing. Contrary to other germ elimination filters, such RO systems, there are no filters that need to be changed every six months, and backwashing is not necessary.
Acuva Arrow 5 UV-LED Water Purifier
The Acuva Arrow 5 is a point-of-use UV-LED water purifier or simply a uv purifier that may be used to clean water that is delivered to ice makers, drinking water faucets, kitchen faucets, and bathroom faucets.
This UV-LED system can produce filtered drinking water at a rate of up to 1.3 gallons per minute without affecting water pressure. The device may be purchased with either DC 12V or AC 120/240V power.
The Acuva Arrow’s extraordinarily extended lifetime is its main selling feature. This filter can purify 900,000 liters of water over the course of up to ten years of operation. The Acuva Arrow is a fantastic option to take into consideration if you’re searching for a UV purifier that requires almost little maintenance.
The UV chamber is constructed of stainless steel, while the body shell is built of high-quality aluminum, giving the device a sturdy, long-lasting design. The Acuva Arrow 5 comes with mounting tools, plumbing supplies, and power supplies for installation (DC or AC).
The Acuva Arrow also comes with a superior sediment pre-filter that lowers heavy metals and chlorine, but you may also use this uv purifier with any pre-filter of your own.
US Water Systems Pulsar UV Disinfection System
The US Water Systems Pulsar UV Disinfection System is one of the most recent UV disinfection systems to enter the market. Microorganisms are quickly rendered inactive by this whole-home treatment, making them unable to reproduce or infect people.
The Pulsar is built to deliver a dependable and steady UV output over the course of its 9,000-hour lifespan. On the full-color LED panel that is provided, you may locate the data you want to assess the system’s performance.
Sediment in water can interfere with the UV process because it prevents UV light from reaching the water completely. Before water enters the system, the Pulsar has a 1-micron sediment pre-filter that gets rid of sand, salt, and dirt particles.
The Pulsar is simple to install and requires little care; all that has to be done is change the bulb once a year, like other UV systems do (and you can do this without interrupting water flow).
As soon as the light has to be changed, the system will let you know, and if it doesn’t, an alert will go off.
Numerous characteristics help the Pulsar’s effectiveness and increase the safety of the UV disinfection procedure. The power source is enclosed in a sealed casing to prevent unintentional water damage, and the sturdy stainless steel chamber aids in preventing UV radiation deterioration.
Viqua VH410 Ultraviolet Disinfection System
An effective and best UV water purifier with a flow rate of up to 18 GPM is the Viqua VH410. This UV water filter’s strong UV output and compact design allow you to conserve space while getting comparable performance to a bigger chamber.
Depending on your needs, you may install the Viqua VH410 either by itself or in conjunction with a water filter. Keep in mind that the VH410 won’t remove particles or chemicals from water, like chlorine, which, although not harmful to your health in tiny doses, may nonetheless have an impact on the flavor or odor of your water.
It’s not necessary to employ a plumber to help you install the Viqua VH410. It is made to be easily assembled by the user, either vertically or horizontally (vertical is recommended). The light, the housing for the filter, and the wall-mounting bracket are all included in the box. To connect the Viqua system to your water line, you will need to purchase the fittings that are necessary.
The Viqua VH410 is the best UV water purifier for getting rid of bacteria and cysts like E. Coli, Salmonella, and Giardia. It may be used with both city and well water. It kills these germs and prevents them from reproducing by concentrating on their DNA. The VH410, which guarantees a constant high output, will continue to operate at its best for the duration of the lamp’s life.
You will need to swap out the light in the Viqua VH410 with a new one after around 9,000 hours of operation (or about a year). When it’s time to replace the light, the purifier’s built-in lamp change reminder will play a sound. There is also a digital countdown screen that you can use to monitor the device’s functioning and plan in advance to buy a replacement light.
There is very no more maintenance required than replacing the light. About every three months, you should clear scale and buildup from the lamp sleeve. The user handbook has instructions on how to accomplish this securely.
You don’t need to take any action to increase flow rate since it will remain at up to 18 GPM for the duration of its life, depending on the inflow rate of water into your home. This guarantees that there will never be a decrease in water pressure in your taps or showers.
Pelican Premium Ultra Violet (UV) Disinfection System
The Pelican UV light water purifier or a uv purifier eliminates bacteria, viruses, and cysts that are waterborne pathogens and can lead to sickness and illness.
This eco-friendly system may be used in most residences thanks to its 9 to 16 GPM peak flow rate. The Pelican system won’t change the present flavor, odor, or look of the water in your house because it can only remove living bacteria from water.
The NSF 55 Class B accreditation sets the Pelican premium system different from other UV water filters. This accreditation provides reassurance that the system is made for additional water treatment to eliminate microorganisms and has passed third-party testing to be safe for human consumption.
The Pelican system is the best option if you want a simple UV purifying system. All that is required is that you replace your light once a year and make sure to clean the lamp sleeve every few months. Both of these procedures are quite easy to complete and only take a few minutes.
Thymine dimerization is a particular kind of UV disinfection that is employed by the Pelican UV purification system. The DNA of the live microorganisms in the water is permanently damaged by the UV radiation, making it impossible for them to reproduce or infect a human being.
The manufacturer offers a helpful comparison to see how this can appear: a damaged zipper. Because the mechanism holding the DNA together is broken, it cannot “zip back up.”
The device features a helpful lamp age indicator that counts down until it’s time to order a new lamp, ensuring that you never get behind on light replacements. A light on the system will turn yellow and an alert will go off when you have 30 days left before you need to make a replacement, giving you plenty of time to buy one.
Finding a UV lamp that is safe to leave near little fingers may be crucial for families with young children. Young children cannot access the lamp or any of the other electrical parts of the Pelican premium UV disinfection system because of a safety cap, and the lamp has a specific plug that stops you from turning it on when it isn’t securely within the UV chamber.
UV Water Purifier Buyer’s Guide
We’ve gathered all the most important data regarding UV water purifiers in the guide below to assist you in making your choice. Learn how to choose the right product for your particular needs by using this resource.
What is an Ultraviolet Water Filter?
An efficient technique for eliminating bacteria, viruses, cysts, and other live creatures that are occasionally found in drinking water is an ultraviolet water filter, often known as a UV water purifier or a UV water sterilizer or UV purification system.
Installed at the main water pipe at the point of entry into your home, this device has the appearance of a long, thin bulb.
Advantages of Using a UV Filter
There are several benefits to using a UV water filter, whether your house gets its drinking water from the public water system or a private well. You may gain from utilizing a UV purification system to cleanse your water by:
Non-chemical disinfecting
In contrast to other techniques, UV disinfection using uv purifiers or uv filter doesn’t add chemicals to water or change its chemical makeup. Simply by passing a light across the water, it successfully destroys the hazardous bacteria.
No additional flavors or odors
You won’t taste or smell anything different in your water as a result of utilizing a UV filter because nothing is added to it. Your water will continue to taste exactly the same.
Almost no maintenance needed
A major benefit of a UV filter is that it eliminates the need to often change multiple filters, which is required by a reverse osmosis system or a whole-home cartridge-based system. Simply clean the lamp case every few months, and replace the lamp around once per year.
Assurance of pure water for drinking
Having a UV water sterilizer will ensure that, even if your city’s drinking water is compromised for any reason—you never know what the future may hold—you will still have access to water that is safe to drink.
Limitations of UV water purification systems
Whole house UV water filters or whole house filtration system using uv purifier do, of course, have some limits, just like all other water filters and purifiers, such as:
No contaminant removal
A UV water purifier is not what you need if you want to get rid of suspended particles in your water, especially toxins that alter the taste and odor of the water. Only living microbes may be killed by the system; pollutants in drinking water are unaffected.
Needs power to run
You won’t be able to use your UV lamp in uv purifiers of your whole house filtration system if there is a power outage at your house because it runs on electricity.
Could warm your water
It’s likely that the water under the UV lamp has warmed up if you haven’t switched on the faucet in some time. This may be fixed by turning on the faucet and letting the water go down the drain before cooler water comes.
How Does a UV Water Purifier Work?
A UV purifier operates in a fairly straightforward manner to get rid of germs and stop their growth in water.
It disinfects water by exposing it to germicidal UV radiation, which targets and scrambles the DNA of the microorganisms present in the water.
The bacteria are unable to reproduce or function normally due to their DNA being jumbled. This implies that after having been purified by a UV purifier, you may safely consume water that contains germs and viruses without becoming sick.
UV Water Purifiers vs Water Filters
A water filter is not the same as a UV purifier. A UV light in uv purifier is just a lengthy bulb enclosed in a metal casing, whereas a water filter is made out of a mesh cartridge, which is often composed of activated carbon or a similar substance.
A filter and a water purifier perform quite distinct functions. UV purifiers allow water to run directly through the UV tube without being slowed down by a filter, whereas water filters slow water down by trapping impurities in their medium to decrease or eliminate them.
As water enters your home through the incoming pipe, a UV light cures it. The uv purifier eliminates dangerous bacteria, viruses, cysts, and other microbes in water by destroying their DNA.
On the other hand, water filters cannot suffocate live things. By preventing the suspended particles from passing through the filter medium, they merely remove them from the water.
When you should use a UV purifier
For at-home municipal water
UV filters are put in place where water enters a house. There is no assurance that the water in your home is fully sterile, even though the water in your neighborhood has been treated to get rid of bacteria and other microbes before it gets there.
This can only be guaranteed by a UV water filter or uv purifier used at home.
During travel trips
Bring a UV water purifier with you if you’re traveling or camping and don’t have access to a clean water source to make sure your water is safe to drink. You can use one of the several transportable, handheld uv purification system available for this purpose.
For treating well water
While having a private well for your house has advantages, you need to be sure it is safe for consumption before allowing your family to begin drinking it.
You can make sure that all of your home’s faucets and appliances are providing clean, safe water by installing a whole-house UV purification water system.
Key considerations when buying a UV light water filter
Budget
The cost of each UV water system varies. Some may be purchased for as little as $100, while more sophisticated uv system may need a substantial upfront investment.
While you don’t have to get the priciest model available to perform the task, bear in mind that cost and quality are frequently related when it comes to uv purification system.
Your needs for purifying water
A UV purification filter will undoubtedly be useful if your goal is to eliminate live pollutants from your water. Look elsewhere if you want to enhance the flavor of your water or get rid of pollutants like chlorine. A UV light won’t make things better for you.
Your rate of water flow
GPM, or gallons per minute, is the unit of flow measurement for all UV systems. This gauges the rate of water flow or the volume of water that can pass through the system at once.
For your house, it is preferable to get a system with a larger flow rate, but understanding your home’s flow rate will help you make the best choice.
Quality of your water
The drinking water in your house may have several characteristics that make a UV purification system less effective. A UV system may not be able to effectively treat water if it has a lot of iron, calcium, or magnesium, for example, or if it has a high sediment content. Depending on the problems your water has, installing a water softener or whole-house filter before your UV light may assist.
Space available
There are many various sizes of UV purification systems, and some demand more room than others. Small storage cabinets are unlikely to accommodate long lights, however it is simple to locate a more compact UV lamp with the same GPM.
If the area you have available isn’t suitable for vertical installation, you should also think about whether a UV system can be put both vertically and horizontally or only vertically.
How to choose the right size UV unit
There are many different sizes of UV water purification systems, so you might be unsure of how big of a system you need for your household.
Everything from small, hand-held drinking systems to massive, whole-house systems that can move hundreds of gallons of water per minute is available. Consider the following factors while choosing the appropriate size for you:
Size of your home
The greater GPM you require to effectively distribute filtered water to every item in your house will depend on how big it is. Smaller homes, condominiums, or flats should utilize 10 GPM systems, but larger residences with many bathrooms should use 15 GPM or higher systems.
If your water is colored
Your water’s color can be a sign of excessive iron content or surface debris. It’s always recommended to assess if your water has a yellowish tint because this may prevent the UV rays from passing through the water properly.
Your plumbing system’s size
Even though the majority of UV systems are built to integrate effortlessly with your plumbing, it is still a good idea to research a product’s fittings before making a purchase.
The flow of your water may be slowed down if you purchase a UV system that is incompatible with your plumbing.
Installation and Maintenance of a UV purifying system
Installing a UV purifier is quite difficult, so you could opt to employ a plumber to take care of it for you. However, if you prefer doing things yourself and have up to an hour to spare, you may install a UV system yourself.
The installation instructions for your system will detail how to install your particular model, however if you’d want a general concept of how installation works, follow these steps:
Choose a location for the filter
It’s doubtful that a whole-house UV purifier will be installed alone. If you use well water, the UV lamp might be used in addition to a whole-house water filter, a water softener, and a well pump.
In this instance, you just put your UV filter last so that water may pass through all of the other components you installed before it. Install your UV filter as near to the point where your water enters your property as you can if you don’t already have anything else in place.
Wall-mount the lamp housing
Light housing must be included with your UV lamp. Using the provided mount, you may fasten this housing to the wall directly. If you decide to mount the lamp vertically, make sure to install it so that the power cables come out of the top; this helps to guarantee the system can function properly.
Take the lamp housing apart at one end
Place your UV lamp within the housing, then use the O-rings that came with it to seal the bulb at both ends.
Connect the light to the water supply line
Two threads run through your UV lamp, one for water entering the system and the other for water exiting the system and returning to the water line. As directed by the manufacturer, connect them to your water line.
Turn on the water in your house
The next step is to check for leaks by turning on the water and utilizing the appliances in your house.
Connect the UV device to the wall
The UV lamp must be plugged into a wall in order to be connected to your power during the installation process. Make careful to connect the wire securely in accordance with your installation instructions; avoid letting the wires’ non-waterproof parts become damp.
The best UV water purifiers require maintenance, just like any other water treatment method. After 9,000 hours, or nearly every 12 months, the UV lamp itself has to be replaced.
After 9,000 hours, the mercury in the lamp deteriorates, which lowers its efficacy, which is why you need to change the light. It just takes a few minutes to replace the light; all you need to do is remove the lamp housing from the wall, remove the old lamp, and replace it.
The quartz glass sleeve within your UV water filter has to be cleaned as well. The glass’s screen will get cloudy and the UV rays won’t be able to travel through your water if it has iron or hardness. For this reason, it is advised that you remember to wipe the sleeve roughly every few months.
Pro tips for buying a UV Water Filter
Get a Free UVT Check
The amount of UV rays that may flow through your water is measured by ultraviolet transmission, or UVT. In order for the best UV water purifiers to function properly, your water must have a UVT of between 75 and 85%.
Since UVT meters are extremely expensive (thousands of dollars), homes shouldn’t invest in one.
You should examine a sample for UVT if your water is hazy or has high iron or tannin levels.
Online, look for a nearby business that does UVT testing, or contact the maker of the UV lamp you plan to buy.
Get a water test with results in five days
A UV purifier will have maximum limits for substances like iron, manganese, and tannins, as was previously indicated.
Anyone concerned about their water quality is encouraged to do the MyTapScore well water test.
Measure your flow rate at home
To complete this task at home, you don’t need special tools or a plumber.
You must determine how many gallons “pull down” there are for a well, such as the volume of water your pressure tank can hold before the well pump engages. The length of time needed for the pump cycle to finish, including for the pump to switch off and on again, must then be timed.
Use the following equation to determine the flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM): (gallons drawn / pump cycle time) x 60.
This is significantly easier for a household faucet. Just keep track of how long it takes your faucet to fill a one-gallon container. Then, all you need is the straightforward equation (Flow Rate in GPM = 60 / Seconds to Fill the Container).
Read the manual
Check the handbook before purchasing. This is due to two factors.
First off, a UV water purifier with a detailed instruction manual with images and diagrams is probably of higher quality. How can we believe that the maker put sufficient effort into producing a high-quality manual?
Second, the handbook includes information on necessary water parameters, setup guidelines, and maintenance information. A brief review of the handbook will guarantee that the UV system is appropriate for your residence and that you won’t have any unpleasant surprises.
Consider installing a mini rack
Mini racks are simpler to set up and don’t require wall attachment, making them easier to use.
The difficulties of installation are eliminated by a tiny rack. Less equipment and time are required to get started.
For instance, the UV filter is installed at the top of a rack in an all-in-one Bluonics device. Due to the fact that you will just need to mount the rack, installation is straightforward. Everything else just falls into place after that.
Watch out for superfluous features
Many bells and whistles on certain UV filters aren’t really beneficial to most people.
Ballasts are the second most typical component to fail after a UV lamp. Additionally, if there are many lights, dials, and indicators, there is a higher chance of a malfunction and a higher cost of repair.
UV Water Purifiers vs Water Filters
What distinguishes the best UV water purifiers from conventional water filters?
First off, while not all types of water purifiers may be termed water filters, every form of water filter is also a water purifier. The terms “UV filter” and “UV water filtration” are technically wrong but are often used. UV water treatment is one sort of water purification, just as water filtration is another.
In addition, UV disinfection does not remove anything from water; it only renders live organisms in the water inactive. Even the beauty of the water is not enhanced.
Contrarily, water filters use a range of filter material to minimize or eliminate pollutants. These filter media can target particles, chemicals including industrial solvents and disinfection byproducts, heavy metals, salts, minerals, and more.
They can also contain KDF, activated carbon, and ion exchange resin. The taste and odor of water are frequently improved by removing contaminants.
Both UV water purifiers and some types of water filters get rid of bacteria, viruses, and cysts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my UV lamp last longer if I turn it off while I’m not using it?
This hypothesis makes sense, particularly if you have a vacation house with well water and don’t want to leave your UV lamp on while you’re gone.
Unfortunately, it is not a good idea to switch off your UV light while it is not in use. If you want your lamp to last a long time, it’s better to leave it on because doing otherwise might result in the light failing before its time.
How is UV intensity determined?
Millijoules per centimeter squared, or mj/cm2, is a unit of measurement for the strength or power of a UV lamp. The US Department of Health states that a UV water filter must have a minimum power of 30,000 mj/cm2.
A UV system’s mj/cm2 rating may often be found in the product description. A system has passed tests and has more power than the minimal requirement of 30,000 mj/cm2 if it is NSF Class B approved.
Is a whole-home water filter required before a UV lamp?
No, however it is advised if you are not utilizing well water. By using a filter, contaminants and other particles that can obstruct the ultraviolet process can be removed from water before it is exposed to UV light.
Which direction the water enters and departs doesn’t matter if I set my UV light vertically, right?
Yes, the bottom fitting should allow water to enter the light, and the top fitting should allow water to exit.
What happens if I don’t replace my UV light as soon as I should?
Your lamp won’t function any longer to begin with since the UV strength will have decreased to the point where it is no longer useful. Even though the bulb is still on, little is being done to your water as a result.
How can I make sure my UV system is functioning properly?
To test your water before and after using the UV light, the simplest option is to get a laboratory water kit. Find a test kit that checks for germs such as coliform and E. coli, both of which may be killed by a UV lamp.
If you are utilizing water from a well, it is very crucial that you test it first to be sure it is safe to drink before using it in your house.
What are the disadvantages of UV water purification?
UV water purifiers’ primary drawback is that they need energy to operate. Furthermore, a UV light cannot purge your water of minerals, metals, or other dissolved substances.
Can UV light sterilize water?
Water may be sterilized by UV radiation, which is why the procedure is frequently referred to as UV disinfection. UV rays are a widely used technique for water purification since they successfully get rid of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.