One, which is better: water purifier or water filter?
More and more people are recognizing the importance of healthy drinking water and promoting a green and healthy lifestyle. As a result, some people have purchased water dispensers, while others have opted for water filters. Water dispensers and water filters have similar functions and appearances, and water dispensers are often the first household product that people become familiar with. In recent years, the development and upgrades of water dispensers have also been of great interest to consumers. However, compared to concerns about secondary contamination from bottled water, the impact of the natural environment, and the inconvenience of delivery, the advantages of water filters are clear and widely appreciated by consumers.
II. Distinctions between water purifiers and water softeners
1、Functional Differences
(1) Water dispensers are small devices designed to make drinking water more convenient, allowing for the heating or cooling of bottled purified water for easy consumption. Water filters are purification devices that filter tap water, primarily to improve its water quality and make it safe for direct consumption.
(2) The water filtered by the water purifier is fresh water and can be consumed as much as desired. Water dispensers, on the other hand, require boiling the water first, and if the water is not consumed promptly, it can form "rolling boil" water, which is unhealthy for consumption.
Compared to water purifiers, water dispensers are more like transitional products. Currently, the water dispenser market has started to experience a slowdown in growth.
2、Power consumption rate
Water purifiers are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products. Ultrafiltration machines operate without the need for pressure or electricity, and the power consumption of pure water machines is only around 30W. This is significantly lower than that of water dispensers. Water dispensers consume a considerable amount of power, with models consuming 0.5 kilowatts. For every 1 liter of water used while the dispenser is running, it consumes 1.8 kWh, representing a waste of over 90%, which is a very high energy consumption.
3、Purity
Water purifiers are deep-level purification devices, while water dispensers are shallow-level disinfection appliances. Water dispensers only have disinfection functionality, while water purifiers have multiple filtration methods to remove discoloration, odors, bacteria, particulate matter, and iron rust, making them a more comprehensive purification solution.
4、Installation differences
Water purifiers are directly installed on the main water supply line, eliminating the need for adding water or replacing containers. Water dispensers, on the other hand, are quantitative storage devices that require continuous water filling and container replacement, making them inconvenient to use.
5、Functional Properties
Water purifiers are multi-functional household appliances that purify water for drinking, cooking, and other uses. Water dispensers, on the other hand, are single-function appliances that are primarily used for dispensing drinking water.
6、Health Index
The water filtered by the water purifier is fresh water, ready to drink. It is fresh, convenient, and has a sweet taste. It eliminates the hassle of ordering and waiting for water, and also avoids secondary contamination. Rice cooked with water filtered by a household water purifier is plump, shiny, and fragrant, and does not easily spoil. When cooked with pure water, bread and dumplings are also delicious and non-sticky. The taste of tea brewed with water filtered by a household water purifier is more intense and has a pure color, and does not easily form tea stains. The water heated by a water dispenser is easily stored and can produce "boil over water" over time, which is not good for the human body.
7、Cost
The costs are divided into two aspects: the purchase cost and the usage cost. In terms of purchase cost, the price of water purifiers is significantly higher than that of water dispensers. However, in terms of usage cost, water dispensers require the frequent purchase of bottled water, while water purifiers directly filter tap water to meet drinking water standards. Water dispensers require frequent purchases of bottled water, while water purifiers do not. Furthermore, high-quality water purifier filter cartridges can be used for 2-3 years.