With all of the fancy water softeners and systems out there, how do you know which to choose? You may or may not know about reverse osmosis and its effect on your health. Unlike a traditional system, reverse osmosis offers a wide variety of benefits that can actually save you money on your monthly bill. Before you pick up a generic water filter at your local store, this information will help you decide if you and your family need a reverse osmosis system.
What Is Reverse Osmosis, Anyway?
In short, RO is a process of separation by forcing water through a membrane that retains a type of solute on one side, allowing only the pure water to pass through to the other side, removing all pollutants but leaving the healthful minerals. Your RO system will attach under your sink, much like a traditional system would. The tap water will go through a sediment pre-filter which is responsible for removing dirt and any small articles in the water. Then, the water will pass through a carbon filter, sifting out the chlorine and other organic contaminants. Lastly, it passes through the reverse osmosis membrane, which allows the water to pass while rejecting dissolved liquids such as arsenic, sodium, and lead. The remaining purified water is then stored in a tank from which you draw fresh, clean water.
How Is It Different From My Water Pitcher Filter?
It’s easy to become overwhelmed when choosing the right products for your home and family. The generic pitchers are less expansive and readily available at practically any store but do not offer the same filtration benefits that a RO system will. An over-the-counter pitcher will only sift out the most common contaminants, whereas the RO system pulls the water through a process, thus taking a bit longer to fill the tank.
Will it Require Running on Electricity?
A fantastic aspect about a reverse osmosis system is that they are powered solely on water pressure, thus saving you the hassle of an extra monthly expense.
How Long Do Reverse Osmosis Systems Last?
You never have to worry about replacing a cartridge because your system is made to last a lifetime as long as you give it a regular check-up. Unlike normal filters, these tanks and their vital parts need annual servicing, at the very least. That’s when you would call your plumbing company that specializes in serving water filtration systems. This is something that should be done by a professional and not a store employee.
What Else Should I Know About RO Systems?
The bottom line when it comes to owning a reverse osmosis system is that the choice is ultimately up to you. The cost of a store bought pitcher filter can range from $20 – $40, and that’s just the cost of the pitcher, not the 2-3 monthly replacement filters. It may be more cost effective to invest in a reverse osmosis system because studies have shown that bottled water and water filters are not only an environmental hazard, but show very little difference in quality when compared to tap water.
When you’re considering the change to a water system, The Plumbing Company has a wide variety for you to choose from. We will evaluate your home to give you the best options in water filtration systems for you and your family at a cost that is perfect for your budget.
