When it comes to water treatment and filtration, there is one system that is often championed over the others and for good reason. Reverse osmosis systems are the most effective when it comes to removing contaminants from water supplies, be it lead, iron or other excess minerals you don’t want to be exposed to. If you haven’t heard of reverse osmosis systems or aren’t sure how they work, don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know.
What Is A Reverse Osmosis System?
A reverse osmosis water system is a system that filtrates water from particles that may cause damage to your family, such as high concentrations of lead. Unlike other filtration systems, reverse osmosis removes all particulates from the water, leaving nothing but two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. Before you install a reverse osmosis system, it will be worth getting the quality of your water checked, as not everyone will require such an extensive system.
There aren’t pre-requisites for having a reverse osmosis system, however if the checking of your water supply returns results that show that the water has high concentrations of lead or iron, then it may will be worth the investment. It is worth remembering that as human beings, we do need minerals such as sodium, iron and magnesium in order to survive. So, installing a reverse osmosis system into a home is often a last resort that is usually saved for when the contamination is so severe, there isn’t an alternative aside from purchasing bottled water. Waterfilterspot’s reviews of effective ro systems provides guidance on the best reverse osmosis system to buy.
Reverse Osmosis Systems Installation
Like other water filtration systems there are an array of installation options if you are looking at a reverse osmosis system. Reverse osmosis systems can be as small or as large as you like. Some can easily be fitted under the kitchen sink if you want to make sure that your drinking water is at a particular standard. You can also opt for whole house systems. These are a lot more expensive and a lot larger than under the counter systems, however they make sure that your entire home is fed with water that has gone through this system. The benefit of whole house systems is that you won’t need any additional filtration devices in any rooms, as all the water into your home will be free from contaminants. In cases where lead is extremely prevalent in your water system, this is very important, as sustained exposure to lead can hamper brain development in children, along with a whole host of other issues. As we aforementioned, before committing to a system, it is worth having your water tested.
How Does The Reverse Osmosis System Work?
Reverse osmosis may sound like a complicated system, but in reality, it is actually quite simple. The filters are made up of thin membranes, it is these membranes that capture the particles from containments such as lead. The membranes are semi permeable, which allows water to pass through, but won’t allow other larger molecules to move through it. Water is forced through these membranes at a high pressure. This action of forcing the water through the membrane results in the contaminants staying on one side of the membrane and pure water being on the other side, ready to be pumped through to the tap or the rest of the house.
Maintenance
When it comes to maintaining reverse osmosis systems, this is usually undertaken by the company that you purchased the system from or someone knowledgeable about them. The membrane filters that look like scrolls all need to be replaced at the same time and the system needs to be serviced at regular intervals to make sure that your water stays clean and fresh. When you purchase your system, have a look at the terms of purchase and see if there are a few years maintenance included in the purchase, this can save you money and time in the coming years when you use your system. When it comes to changing filters, it can’t be done with one filter at a time. As the membranes rely on one another to trap the contaminants, all of them need to be changed at the same time. In smaller systems, this can easily be done on your own (this is if you have a small under the sink system). However, bigger systems will not only require more time for the filter change to take place, it will also require your house to not have access to purified water for an extended period of time. So if you are going to have a service and filter change then it will be worth making sure that your family are out of the home for the day, or are prepared for the fact that they won’t have access to their normal water.
Wrap Up
Reverse osmosis systems are ones that should be used as a last resort when it comes to cleaning your water. There are many reasons for this, one being the cost, they are expensive and the second being that you are left with pure water without minerals. The human body requires minerals in order to fulfil basic biological needs, so by removing iron, magnesium and other minerals, you will need to make sure that you are getting them from other sources, such as supplements or bottled mineral water. Prior to installation it will always be worth having the quality of your water checked. Not only will it show what contaminants are in you water course, it will also show you the density and prevalence. Reverse osmosis doesn’t sound as complicated as it seems. It is simply water being forced through a semi permeable membrane. It is this forcing the molecules that leaves the contaminants on one side and purified water on the other. The process is simple, but you will need to make sure that you maintain the system to a high standard to ensure the best possible results.