What Is UV Water Purifier? Everything You Need To Know.
UV is one of the common terms that you see in water purifiers nowadays.
And, if you’ve ever wondered what it is and what UV has to do in a water purifier, then this is the right place to be.
In this article, I’ll explain what is UV water purifier and what are the parameters you need to look for before purchasing a UV water purifier.
So, let’s get started.
What is UV Water Purifier?
UV water purifiers are the type of water purification systems that uses Uv or Ultraviolet light radiations to purify the water.
UV light is known for its ability to kill bacterias and viruses on a large scale. And that is the reason why UV technology is widely used in the water purification industry.
But before purchasing a UV water purifier you need to check the TDS level of your water source.
UV purifiers can work well if the TDS is less than 200, otherwise you need to purchase RO water purifiers.
Generally municipal tap waters have a TDS value less than 200, so if you are living in a place where you get continuous supply of treated municipal water then a UV water purifier is perfect for you.
How Does a UV Water Purifier Work?
Using UV technology to treat impure water is a very old practice, but still it is considered as one of the best ways to kill microorganisms.
The radiations used in water purifiers are called germicidal ultraviolet light and they have the special ability to penetrate microorganisms’ bodies and attack their DNA to stop reproduction.
Ultraviolet radiation renders bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi unable to replicate by damaging the nucleic acids of their DNA.
Even though the bacteria and organisms are killed, their bodies are not removed from the water in UV treatment.
But most of the UV purifiers have UF filtration as the last stage and it removes very dead bodies and provides safe water.
How To Choose a UV Water Purifier?
There are few things you should check before purchasing a UV water purifier.
The perfect model for your home will depend on your usage patterns, but there are some of the general points you should know before choosing a UV water purifier.
1. TDS Level of Input Water
Check the TDS level of your input source water before purchasing one. And, this is by far the most important step before purchasing any water purifier.
Even if you have a municipal tap connection there is a high chance that your water source’s TDS level may be more than 200.
This is very important because in India during water shortage times, even the municipal water is mixed with hard water to meet the requirements.
So there is no guarantee that the water you are getting has TDS less than 200 always.
If your water source is always less than 200, then you can go for a UV water purifier without any second thought.
Nowadays. checking the TDS value is not a difficult or expensive task. There are a lot of cheap TDS meters available in the market.
Alternatively, you can contact brands who provide free home visits like HUL, Kent, Havells, etc so that they can do that for you free of cost, provided you buy a water purifier from them.
2. Water Quality
UV treatment works properly only when the water is clean and clear.
If the water is full of mud or sand, then it is advised to purchase a UV purifier with sediment filters and UF or RO treatments.
It is because, in case of mud or similar particles, the microorganisms like bacterias and viruses can hide behind the particles and may escape the UV rays very easily, making UV treatment not effective.
To tackle this issue, the latest UV purifiers come with multiple sediment filters that remove dust and similar suspended particles.
It makes the water clear so that UV treatment can be done effectively.
Also, this is the same reason why even RO purifiers have the UV stage after RO treatment and other filters.
3. UV Lifespan
One important point about water purifiers is their annual maintenance charge.
Every water purifier has to undergo maintenance once per year to replace the filters and other parts if needed.
Incase of UV purifiers the UV bulb will be replaced at this point.
The average life of UV bulbs in water purifiers is 5000 to 1000 hours.
The higher the number, longer the maintenance free operation, so choose the model that provides longer life.
4. Flow Rate and Storage
Flow rate is the quantity of purified water a purifier can provide in an hour of time.
Generally UV only purifiers have high flow rates in the range of 60 to 100 litres per hour whereas UV+UF models can provide 30-40 litres depending on the TDS level of water.
It’s not a huge parameter to think about before buying a model, but if you are having a large family then having a purifier with a high flow rate definitely helps.
Like flow rate, storage is also not an important parameter while choosing a water purifier.
UV only water purifiers do not come with a storage tank because the purification is instant and no need to store water.
But, if you are living in a region where water supply is not continuous, then you have to purchase a water purifier with at least 5 litres water storage tank.
If you are thinking of getting a UV+UF model, then you don’t need to worry about storage because every UV+UF purifier comes with an internal storage tank.
5. Alert Systems
Majority of newer generation UV water purifiers come with smart alert systems.
UV light is invisible and it is almost impossible to figure out whether it is in working condition or not with naked eye.
So with the help of alert systems the purifier will notify you when the UV fails, so that you can change the lamp.
Also, the alert system notifies you in advance before the UF filter kit expires if you have UF in your purifier.
Many purifiers even turn off the device automatically and won’t dispense water until UV lamps and filter kits are replaced.
6. Warranty & Service
According to us warranty and service is one of the crucial points you need to consider before purchasing a water purifier.
It is mainly because you need to undergo annual maintenance and the brand must have service centers near your home otherwise it’s a big hassle to get proper service.
But after analyzing thousands of reviews on multiple forums and e-commerce platforms we have come to a conclusion that there is no brand that assures 100 percent customer satisfaction. Every brand has customers facing issues regarding services and infact service is the main reason for the majority of 1-star reviews on e-commerce platforms.
So never ditch a brand after reading a few service related negative reviews, because service depends on the location.
If you are interested in a brand, check for their service center near your home and read their reviews on google reviews and check whether it suits you or not.
Advantages Of UV Water Purifier
Without any reason the whole world won’t use UV technology as one of the most efficient ways to treat water. Have a look at all the advantages UV technology provides in treating impure water.
- It can kill viruses, bacterias, fungi and all microorganisms.
- Tastes or odor of water is not affected in UV treatment.
- The annual maintenance of UV water purifiers is easy and less expensive.
- No wastage of water during the purification process.
- Faster purification and flow rate compared to RO systems.
Disadvantages Of UV Water Purifier
Even though UV treatment seems to be perfect for many situations, there are few scenarios where UV fails. Here are some of the few disadvantages,
- It can kill microorganisms, but it’s dead bodies are not removed.
- UV treatment is not suitable for removing harmful chemicals and salts.
- It cannot reduce the hardness of water.
- Most of the UV purifiers do not have storage tanks, so during a power failure it cannot dispense water.
Conclusion
So, in this article we’ve been discussing UV water purifiers and the parameters you need to consider before choosing one for your home.
If that’s done, then the next step is to choose the right model from the hundreds available in the market.
In order to help you narrow down the search, we’ve curated a list of 5 best UV water purifiers in India based on our intensive research, testing and customer outreach.
Spend an extra minute reading those reviews and find the one that suits your needs well.
If you have any queries, feel free to leave a comment below and someone from our team of experts will answer as fast as possible.
For now, thanks for reading.
Have a great day and happy shopping experience.