All About Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
What You Need To Know Before You Buy

Reverse osmosis water filters are sometimes call ‘ultra purification’ systems because they use a multi-step process to filter and purify drinking water. They are an extremely popular choice for homeowners, whether they are looking for an under sink system or a whole house system.

Before you rush right out to buy one of these filtration systems for your own drinking water purification, you need to become familiar with how reverse osmosis works and what you need to consider before buying one.

How Reverse Osmosis Water Purifiers Work

Reverse osmosis systems use a multi-step filtration and purification process to produce clean, good tasting drinking water. They are available in a variety of sizes that can be used in under sink applications or in whole house filtration applications.

The Basic Process is as Follows:

• Pre-Filtration – This is the first step in the purification process. It removes the largest particulates and other impurities in preparation for the rest of the process. The pre-filter almost always uses a carbon or activated carbon-based filter that needs to be replaced periodically to keep the reverse osmosis drinking water system in good working order.
   
• Reverse Osmosis Membrane – This is the second step in the process to obtain clean drinking water. This membrane removes nearly all of the impurities and contaminants via a very fine membrane through which pre-filtered water is passed. Because the membrane is so fine, it must be passed through it under pressure to ensure that the purified portion makes it through into the other side. Contaminants and other impurities are flushed away from the system as waste water.
   
• Holding Tank – This is where the purified water is held until you use or drink it. It is necessary because the reverse osmosis process is rather slow and generally cannot directly keep up with demand when the faucet is in use. By storing several gallons of drinking water ready for use, the filtration system is better able to accommodate demand.

Compare Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Systems Here

Have Your Water Tested

There are several other things you must consider before deciding on a reverse osmosis system to purify your drinking water. First and foremost, you need to have your supply analyzed or do it yourself using a test kit to determine the quantities and types of contaminants it contains. This will help make sure that your system is capable of handling the types of contaminants in your water and also help determine the ideal size and placement of the filtration system.

Consider the Efficiency of these Systems

You should also consider the amount of water that is wasted in a reverse osmosis filtration system. In most systems, only 5% to 15% of the water that goes into the system actually comes out the other side as purified water suitable for drinking. The rest is flushed away as waste. This can be an important consideration if your supply has limitations or if it is purchased at high cost from your local municipality or treatment plant.

Do-It-Yourself or Professional Installation?

If in the end you choose a reverse osmosis filtration system, consider whether or not you have the necessary skills and expertise to install it yourself. Most reasonably capable homeowners can successfully install an under sink unit to obtain clean drinking water at the faucet, but a whole house purification system will typically require professional installation. If you have any doubts about your installation abilities, opt for installation by a qualified professional to ensure that your filtration system will function properly.

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