Carbon filter, reverse osmosis or UV: which do you need?
Chlorine taste, dissolved salts and disinfection call for different treatment. Start with the water and the job you need a system to do.
Start with a specific problem
Reducing chlorine taste, lowering dissolved salts and disinfecting water are different jobs. CDC guidance recommends identifying the problem in your water before choosing treatment.
An apartment in Yerevan and a house supplied by a private well may need different solutions. The source, test results, pressure and daily demand all matter.
What activated carbon does
Activated carbon can reduce chlorine taste and odour. Check the cartridge’s specifications to see which other substances it is designed to reduce. A carbon stage alone does not remove all dissolved salts or provide complete disinfection.
If taste is your main concern, tell the specialist. A larger number of treatment stages does not by itself make a system a better match.
Membranes and ultraviolet light have different roles
Reverse osmosis, or RO, uses pressure to move water through a membrane. It reduces many dissolved salts and specific contaminants, depending on the model and operating conditions. Some water goes to the drain, so ask about that consumption too.
Ultraviolet treatment, or UV, targets microorganisms rather than dissolved salts. Pretreatment and maintenance affect its performance. When choosing a Filac model, ask which treatment stages it includes and whether UV is among them.
What to discuss with Filac
During a home visit, Filac checks the water, measures pressure and examines the installation space. That helps establish whether a pump is needed and where the tank will fit. The visit does not replace laboratory testing.
Ask for the selected model’s specifications, cartridge costs and replacement schedule. NSF explains that certification covers specific requirements; it is not a promise to remove every possible contaminant.