Are you interesting in installing a reverse osmosis water treatment system on your home? Reverse osmosis water systems have been used for commercial operations for quite a while, but has only become available for residential use somewhat recently. The technology used in reverse osmosis is simplistic, yet among the most efficient ways to purify the water you use of the microbes, toxins, bacteria, and harmful minerals that it naturally possesses.
Reverse osmosis works by forcing the untreated water molecules through a membrane that filters out everything other than the H2O itself. The membrane almost looks like a piece of packaging tape; the holes that the water molecules get through are so small that they cannot be seen by the naked eye. The contaminants that don’t make it through the membrane just wash away with the waste water, unlike a traditional filter setup, where the filter absorbs it and becomes less efficient over time.
These types of systems tend to cost more than other water filtration setups; before you invest in a system like this, there are several factors you should consider. Read our list of questions you should answer before installing a reverse osmosis water system, below:
Four Questions to Ask Yourself Before Installing a Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment System
- What needs to be filtered out of your unfiltered water?
Understanding what needs to be removed from your water is an important step while determining the best water filtration setup for you. If your home is plugged into a municipal water system, your utility provider will most likely be willing to come provider a water analysis for you at no charge. It might be a good idea to take it a step further and order your own extensive water testing kit from a certified laboratory, as your water provider’s analysis might not include tests for coliform bacteria or Total Dissolved Solids. These tests are important for knowing what kind of water filtration setup you need to best clean your water.
The company you use for your water filtration setup might offer this testing in their product demo, but we still suggest getting your raw water tested by an unbiased third party, who has no reason to upsell you on products you don’t need. - How clean will my water be after it goes through a reverse osmosis system?
Now that you know what your untreated water has in it, pay close attention to how much of the contaminants can be removed by going through a reverse osmosis water filtration system. A common phrase that is used to distinguish the effectiveness of the water filtration system is the “contaminant passage and rejection rate.” If you ask the water system representative what the contaminant passage and rejection rate is for system, they should be able to tell you what percentage of junk you don’t want to be drinking will be removed before it reaches your glass.
On this note, you should only use a reverse osmosis provider who is certified by the National Science Foundation (NSF). If the NSF’s stamp of approval is on the water filter manufacturer, you know that the contaminant passage and rejection rate they advertise has be tested and validated. - How much water does my household need filtered per day?
Reverse osmosis water filtration is a very slow process. It doesn’t work on demand, like other water filters do. The system slowly filters pure water for you and stores it in a tank until you need it. As such, you need to make sure that your system has the capacity to purify and store enough water for your household to use. Determining how many people are showering and drinking water in your household is an important factor in deciding the right water system setup for you. - How much do I want to spend on a water system?
Reverse osmosis come in all shapes and sizes, and an equal range of price tags. If you are on a tight budget, you might be able to get one installed for a few hundred dollars, but if you have the money and care about good quality water, your system can run into the thousands. You should also factor in the cost of maintenance and operations of your water system.
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