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Free Water AnalysisGet a Quick QuoteRO systems remove minerals and other impurities from drinking water. It’s important to know these eight things before purchasing a system.
Considering that the human body is made up of over 60 % water, it comes as no surprise that we demand quality drinking water! Additionally, Harvard Medical School recommends we drink “about four to six cups of water each day”, or 32 to 48 ounces of water, as it benefits us by:
For good quality water for drinking, ice and cooking, reverse osmosis (RO) systems are a great addition to your kitchen.
When used in arid countries to desalinate sea water for use as fresh, potable water, reverse osmosis requires an extraordinary amount of energy to work. Exciting news for these desert areas is a recent breakthrough called “batch reverse osmosis” that promises improved energy efficiency, extended equipment life, and the capacity to process high salinity water.
Lucky for us, domestic reverse osmosis water filtration systems already offer energy efficiency, as well as a whole host of other benefits. In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions.
Remember when you got your driver’s license? Just as you learned to drive forward before learning how to reverse, let
us start with regular osmosis. Going back to your high school days again, osmosis is a process where a liquid, in this case water, spontaneously passes through a semipermeable membrane. While some molecules,
such as water, can through the membrane, other particles cannot. This naturally occurring flow of liquid aims to even out the concentrations of the solutions, in other words, from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one, generatingosmotic pressure.
Reverse osmosis (RO) overcomes the osmotic pressure by applying pressure to drive water from a high concentration of molecules to a low concentration of molecules. This pressure-driven water passes through a plastic membrane sheet to remove contaminants such as heavy metals, microorganisms, chemicals, bacteria, and other impurities. Only the purest water molecules pass through as safe drinking water.
Following on from above, your home reverse osmosis system transforms questionable water into clean clear drinking water that tastes delicious!
At the outset, the RO membrane needs to be protected by pre-filters:
Pivotal in the reverse osmosis process is the semi-permeable membrane that removes up to 90 – 99 % of total dissolved solids (TDS) from your water. This thin film composite is made of three layers:
Together with feed channel spacers (that add turbulence and make space for the feed water) and permeate channel spacers (that allow the recycled water, or permeate, to flow evenly across the surface even under pressure), the membrane is wound around a core tube.
Unfiltered feedwater then spirals through the channel, and RO works its magic! The rinse water, or brine, goes for recycling via the drain line; and the treated water, or permeate is almost ready.
The purified water is stored in RO tanks. En route your faucets, fridge, or ice-maker, a final carbon post-filter polishes off your water by filtering out volatile organic compounds that give water a bad taste or odor.
The short answer is, “Yes!” But the full answer depends…
If you have been stranded on the side of the road because you forgot to have your car serviced, you may find the maintenance required is not for you. Not that frequent effort is required, but failure to change your filters and clean your RO membrane and storage tanks will lead to an inefficient to non-operational system.
Installing a domestic reverse osmosis filtration system is not ideal for renters. For most models, you must drill a hole in the drain pipe (for the waste line) and another in your countertop (for the exclusively allocated faucet). Even if you own your home and are happy to accommodate the holes, you will need to budget for a professional installation.
The prime real estate under your sink will be used to house the system. This can be a drawback for small kitchens.
Low water pressure in your area makes the system too slow for convenience. Although an RO system operates adequately with a household water pressure of 40 to 80 psi, the optimum is 60 psi.
The lifespan of a reverse osmosis system should be ten to fifteen years. The determining factor, of course, is how strictly you adhere to its maintenance schedule.
For tips on how to look after your RO filtration system to prolong its lifespan, keep reading.
Yes, reverse osmosis filtration systems do require regular maintenance. But no, it is not a lot of hard work!
To ensure that your reverse osmosis system performs optimally, you will need to service the different components of the filtration system periodically:
Frequency: Every year
Action: Having trapped all the large particles, your sediment filter needs to be changed once a year. For good-tasting water, change your carbon filter at the same interval.
Frequency: Once a year
Action: Use a simple air pressure gauge to check the pressure of your storage tank via the Schrader valve. Ideally, the empty tank air pressure should be 7 – 8 psi. Repressurize your reverse osmosis tank with a bicycle pump – but do so gently so as not to rupture the bladder.
Frequency: Once a year
Action: To ensure pure water, the post reverse osmosis water filters need to be replaced, but less frequently – depending on how much you use the system and local water conditions.
Frequency: Two to three years
Action: As the central part of your RO system, the fine membrane is key to clean, purified water. Your RO membranes will need to be replaced occasionally.
Let’s tackle the perceived negative environmental impact of RO filters head on!
While the stat that reverse osmosis uses four gallons of water to purify one is correct, there is a lot more to consider before writing it off as wasteful.
First, despite “tap water provided by the water utilities (of Palm Beach County and Broward County being) in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards”, these legal guidelines are outdated. Most of us innocently drink water that still contains unhealthy contaminants. Water purification for the sake of your health is hardly a waste!
Secondly, the ratio of 4:1 equates to a system that is 25 % efficient – way more efficient than that of your washing machine or dishwasher
Next, fitting a flow restrictor creates backpressure on the membrane, reducing the flow of waste water per minute.
Recent studies have shown that even seawater reverse osmosis desalination “can be designed and operated without causing significant environmental impacts”.
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The answer to this question lies in how you are going to utilize the system and what you are aiming to remove.
What it removes: Algae ,Arsenic ,Bacteria ,Bad taste/odor ,Benzene ,Chloride ,Chlorine ,Copper ,Crypto ,Fluoride ,Lead ,Mercury ,Nitrates ,Pesticides ,Rust, Salt ,Sulfates ,Viruses
Pros: One of the purest forms of potable water.
Cons: Not energy efficient. Expensive.
What it removes: Bad taste/odor ,Benzene ,Chlorine ,Pesticides ,Rust ,Partial reduction of: Crypto
Pros: Inexpensive, yet efficient operation. Compact and easy to install.
Cons: Not as effective. Takes up cabinet space.
What it removes: Bad taste/odor ,Benzene ,Pesticides ,Rust ,Partial reduction of: Algae ,Arsenic ,Bacteria ,Chloride ,Chlorine ,Copper ,Crypto ,Fluoride ,Lead ,Mercury ,Nitrates ,Salt ,Sulfates ,Viruses
Pros: Makes drinking water a pleasure. Fully automated system.
Cons: Healthy minerals lost. Maintenance required.
Crikey! If all the above has not already convinced you, here are some benefits of installing an RO system in your home:
The potable water in Broward and Palm Beach County is nasty! Data from the Environmental Working Group is shocking:
According to studies on the provision of water for healthcare purposes, RO “is the most efficient and economical method for removal of contaminants from tap water”.
As powerful as they are at filtering impurities, reverse osmosis systems are very energy-efficient as they do not use electricity.
Prepping and cooking with uncontaminated water lets the flavors of your ingredients shine! Best of all, reverse osmosis has only a negligible effect on the nutritional value of the water.
Save Mother Earth and your money by refilling bottles with RO water rather than paying for bottled water.
Serving West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Broward County, Aqua Soft Water Systems Inc. is an authorized independent Kinetico Water Systems dealer based in Royal Palm Beach. Our keen sales team can assist you to find the right water treatment options for your water problems and within your budget.
What are you waiting for? Get in touch with us today to enjoy the benefits of an RO system today!
Aqua Soft water systems provides residential and commercial Kinetico water systems, including water softeners, reverse osmosis filtration systems, and other water filtration devices for residential and commercial use.
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West Palm Beach 561-753- - Boca / Delray 561-265- - Broward County 954-727-
It may be somewhat surprising to some that whole house reverse osmosis systems are even a “thing” but the reality is many consumers are now aware of the magnitude of water problems and realize that reverse osmosis removes the largest spectrum of contaminants of any water treatment technology. We have been at the forefront of this technology for many years and likely sell more whole house reverse osmosis systems than anyone.
In our years of experience, we have learned many things the hard way. To borrow a saying: “We know a thing or two, because we have seen a thing or two.” We have built and installed thousands of whole house reverse osmosis systems, and over the years, we made a lot of mistakes… which we learned the hard way. We still see consumers making the same mistakes we did ten or twenty years ago, so we thought we would share our experience to save you from making mistakes that you may not know about. In the long run, doing it the right way will save
Look, for those of you who don't know me, you need to understand that I have no problem calling out people or companies who are doing things or saying things that have little basis in fact. I believe in calling things the way I see them and explaining why. A whole house reverse osmosis should include a true commercial-grade booster pump, and frankly, most of the “alleged” commercial RO systems you see on the Web or anywhere DO NOT have a commercial-grade pump. “But this is a residential whole house reverse osmosis system - why do I need a commercial-grade pump?”
That's a valid question, but the short answer is that in many respects, a whole house reverse osmosis system works just like a commercial system. After all, it supplies all of the water you use in your home. When it quits working, you have no water! We learned a long time ago that you had better use a true commercial-grade pump, or you may replace it a couple of times a year.
There are three (3) basic types of pumps used for reverse osmosis systems. Only one is a true heavy-duty commercial-grade pump, and that is a Multi-Stage Centrifugal pump. However, we frequently see companies use diaphragm pumps and rotary vane pumps on systems that they “say” are commercial grade. Rotary vane pumps are certainly preferable to a diaphragm pump, but it really is not commercial grade. Comparing a rotary vane pump to a multi-stage centrifugal pump is like comparing a Smart Car to a 1-ton pickup truck. There is simply nothing to compare. If your whole house reverse osmosis system does not include a multi-stage centrifugal pump, you are likely doomed to replace the pump quite frequently. My advice is to do it right the first time.
A whole house reverse osmosis system does a fantastic job of removing just about anything in the water, but a reverse osmosis system is not engineered to remove the following contaminants from the water:
The worst whole house reverse osmosis system will operate much longer with proper pretreatment, and a great whole house RO system will operate for 20+ years with proper pretreatment. If anything, oversize the system to increase contact time as “prolonged contact” is paramount to proper pretreatment. This is an area where many consumers mistakenly try and cut corners.
OK, now I am getting really fired up! Reverse osmosis systems are rated at peak capacity and are tested at 60 psi and a 77 degrees F water temperature. The problem is that in most areas, the water temperature is in the 50s. Look, I did not invent the way they test RO systems, I am just reporting to you how they do it. All RO systems are rated with those standards.
The fact of the matter is that if you have a 500 gallon per day (gpd) RO system and your water temperature is 52 degrees, you really have a 250 gpd RO system. Here's why: for every degree below 77 degrees, you lose approximately 2% efficiency. Do the math: 77 - 52 = 25 x 2% = 50%. In the real world, you will get about 250 gallons out of the machine you thought would deliver 500 gallons… and that is if it runs 24 hours a day!
Energy-wise and longevity wise, running a reverse osmosis system 24 hours a day is a recipe for disaster. I like to see a RO system run 6-8 hours a day - AT THE MOST! If it runs less, it simply increases the life of the system and cuts down on energy. That is why our whole house RO systems start at 2,000 gallons per day. Remember, in the real world, that 2,000 gpd system may be 1,000 gpd and if you need, let's say 300 gallons a day, it will have to run about 8 hours to produce that.
If I were sizing a whole house RO system for a family that needed 300 gallons per day, I would use a 4,000 gpd system because it would only have to run about 4 hours a day and it would last just about forever. Centrifugal pumps last a long, long time when size properly and a properly sized system will work effortlessly and continuously for a long, long time. Our systems have double the warranty of most other systems and know you know part of the reason why.
It sounds simple, but anyone can see that a 35” tank will not fit through a 32” door opening. No way, no how! Measure twice and be certain the tank will fit into your home. While we are talking about tanks, let me give you my opinion. Some companies undersize the RO and oversize the tank. I would rather oversize the RO and downside the tank. Why take up more space than you need to?
We typically use a 140-gallon atmospheric tank for a whole house RO system. It fits through any door and if you need additional storage, you can manifold 2 or 3 together. However, I prefer to just upsize the RO so that it makes water faster, and then a bigger tank is not needed. Here's how many gpm each RO makes at peak flow:
So, you start out with 140 gallons in the morning and if you have a 4,000 gpd RO, you can produce about 206 gallons of water the first hour. However, if you had a 8,000 gpd RO you could produce 473 gallons the first hour. So, it depends upon what your demand might be.
It used to be that reverse osmosis systems wasted up to 6 gallons for every gallon they make. Over the years, as membrane technology and efficiency has improved, we are now at a point where we can produce 4 gallons of water for every gallon wasted. Most of our whole-house RO systems are 75 to 80% efficient. Some competitors say they are 50% efficient, and even if they were, that means that they will be dramatically less efficient than ours.
This is a big deal! If you are no city water, you must pay for that water, so the cheaper system that is 50% efficient ay actually cost you more in your water bill. Consider the cost, instead of price. That brings me to #6.
Of course, you don't want to overpay for anything, but price is relative. Frequently, you get what you pay for. For instance, we use stainless steel needle valves, stainless steel fittings and stainless-steel reinforced Schedule 80 PVC fittings. We also use stainless steel membrane housings and American made electronics, pumps and solenoids. These all cost a lot more… but the quality is vastly superior. Many of the systems on the market are Made in China or Taiwan… not made in the USA. Most of the material in our whole house commercial RO systems are sourced in the USA, but it's impossible for every little item to be USA Made. We strive every day to rely less on foreign suppliers and are very close to being 100% American Made.
I can confidently say that you can find lower-priced Whole House RO systems than ours, but I don't think you can find any that come close to our cost! A lower priced system will likely COST a lot more over the life of the system.
There you have it my friends. Choose wisely!
Contact us to discuss your requirements of commercial reverse osmosis systems. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.