Essential Guide: How to Check if Your Home Water Purifier is Actually Working
Water is a fundamental substance that we consume throughout the day, use for cooking, washing fruits and vegetables, and rely on for basic hygiene. However, how often do we question its source and quality? In many homes today, especially in apartment buildings and housing societies, water comes from multiple sources such as municipal supply, borewells, and tankers, which often rotate. This makes water filters and purifiers an essential part of daily living rather than an occasional appliance.
Once a filter is installed, it's easy to assume that the job is done. But water filters don't stop working overnight. Their performance changes gradually, influenced by the source of water, usage, and maintenance. Hence, it is crucial for you to be aware of your water filter's performance and keep a check on it. Dr. Anil Kumar, Chief Water Scientist at Eureka Forbes, shares some expert tips to check if the water purifier installed at home is actually working effectively.
1. Consistency in Taste, Smell, and Clarity
One of the earliest indicators of filtration performance is sensory change. Clean and well-filtered water should taste neutral, appear clear, and have no noticeable odour. Issues such as cloudiness, metallic taste, or chlorine smell indicate that the filter is either saturated or no longer functioning properly. Water from mixed sources adds stress to household filters, so a system should be in place to manage this without compromising water quality.
2. Stable TDS Levels Despite Changing Input Water
The levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), which include the total concentration of organic matter and inorganic salts like sodium, calcium, and magnesium, can vary in urban and semi-urban areas. A reliable purifier helps maintain consistency despite slight changes in water quality. Monitoring TDS readings in the purifier, often ignored by laypeople, can actually help identify a drop in filter performance. If the readings are too irregular, it's time to change the filter.
3. Timely Filter Replacement Alerts and Indicators
New-age water filters notify users when they need replacement through indicator lights, digital displays, or app notifications. However, in many households, such indications are often ignored. This directly impacts purification efficiency and can lead to the consumption of contaminated water. A system that accurately tracks filter life helps ensure consistent water safety.
4. Adequate Water Flow Without Compromise on Purity
A drop in the speed of water coming out of the filter is another indication that the filter is clogged with contaminants and needs replacement, even if it appears to be filtering water just fine. At the same time, if the speed is too high, that's also an alert that the filtration is degraded and may not be effective.
5. Effective Protection Against Microbial Risks
While one might succeed in removing visible impurities from water and assume it is safe to drink, one of the most critical roles of a water filter is to protect against bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms. UV or UF-based filters ensure microbial safety. If the purifier's UV indicator is inactive or if there are frequent power interruptions without backup protection, it may lead to a rise in silent microbial risks.
6. Use of Genuine, Certified Filter Components
The performance of a water purifier depends completely on its internal components. Filters that don't have proper verification or are fake often fail to meet purification standards. Uncertified filters may lose their effectiveness sooner compared to certified ones and provide water full of dissolved contaminants and microbes. Therefore, before replacing any water filter, make sure that whatever you are installing is tested, certified, and designed for the system to ensure proper safety in the long run.
7. Regular Service Checks and Professional Inspection
Regular professional inspection is crucial even for the best filtration systems. This ensures whether internal components are working properly, seals are intact, and filtration stages are operating in the correct sequence. Skipping regular servicing can compromise the system without one's knowledge. Stop assuming that filtration is effective just because the water flow is normal.
A water purifier is considered safe only if it offers consistency and reliability. Regular monitoring of performance indicators and the use of verified filtration components are essential to ensure safety. As water quality continues to become more unpredictable, it's extremely important to take water filtration seriously and treat it as an active responsibility rather than a one-time job. This is the only way to consume safe drinking water and maintain health and wellbeing.
