5 Things to Consider When Choosing Reverse Osmosis Filtration
Reverse osmosis filtration is an excellent method to provide clean, great tasting drinking water for your home or business. In reverse osmosis, pressure is applied to the water so that it passes from a more concentrated solution to a more dilute solution through a membrane or filter. The relatively simple process of reverse osmosis removes harmful contaminants in the municipal or well water in your home. Deciding to add reverse osmosis treatment to your home is an easy choice yet choosing a system can be more complicated.
To help with the decision process, evaluate these 5 factors:
- Certification
- Contaminant removal
- Service
- Warranty
- Price
Certification
A quality reverse osmosis filtration system will carry a Water Quality Association (WQA) gold seal of approval and the NSF mark. The Water Quality Association website maintains a list of approved appliances and lists the contaminants removed by each respective appliance. According to the WQA, the Gold Seal Product Certification means the product is constructed from safe materials, the claims listed on the packaging are backed by test data, and the product will hold up under normal usage conditions. For example, Hague H3500 treatment system is WQA certified and removes contaminants such as Arsenic, Radium, Copper, and Hexavalent Chromium.
Additionally, the NSF/ANSI 58 or the NSF mark is the American National Standard for point of use reverse osmosis. Reporting the reduction of total dissolved solids is a requirement for a product to achieve this certification. There are more aspects, like efficiency and contaminant reduction, as well that are reported with the certification but these are not requirements.
Contaminant Removal
After testing your water for known contaminants, you will have the information needed to narrow your reverse osmosis options. RO systems scale to both the volume of water filtered and the types of contaminants removed. Most systems remove a wide variety of contaminants, such as Lead, Calcium, Iron, and Radium. RO filtration also removes sediment and is very effective at removing viruses found in water. A water quality specialist like the experts at Hague Quality Water of Maryland can help you find the best option to filter your water based on your water test results.
Hague Quality Water offers two reverse osmosis filtration systems. Each system filters different contaminants and the volume of water filtered varies as well.
Hague Quality Water H3500 Reverse Osmosis
Contaminants Removed: Arsenic (V) (less than 300 ppb reduction), Barium, Cadmium, Copper, Fluoride, Hexavalent Chromium, Lead, Nitrate, Nitrite, Radium 226/228, Selenium, TDS, Trivalent Chromium, Turbidity
Capacity: 50 gallons per day
Service
When it comes to service for your home’s appliances, do you perform the work yourself or do you prefer to call in the pros? A reverse osmosis system will likely need filter changes every 6-12 months, or more frequently depending on use. If you are changing the filters yourself, invest in a system that allows for easy maintenance and readily available replacement filters. Professional water treatment companies also provide routine service to change filters and check the system operations.
Beyond filter changes, check the reliability of the product through reviews, and the installation service reviews if you are hiring a third party. The H3500 reverse osmosis filter from Hague Water, for example, is highly rated for durability and quality. Product and company reviews on Google and the Better Business Bureau are available to assure you are selecting the best product for your budget.
Warranty
Even if you do extensive research before purchasing and installing a reverse osmosis system, there’s a chance something could go wrong. A quality product should also have a strong warranty to cover defects in workmanship, materials or both. Your reverse osmosis system should last as long as you plan to use it in the installed location. Hague Quality Water products, including reverse osmosis systems, carry a 25-year warranty from the date of installation.
Price
It’s important to shop for a reverse osmosis system that fits your budget. There is a wide range of prices for reverse osmosis and one size does not fit all. While a low price may seem attractive, it may be costly in other ways. If you plan to stay in your home for a long time, then a more robust system with a long warranty period may be the best investment despite a higher price. Even more, considering lower cost systems may leave you without the correct contaminant removal for your water.
Another factor is the overall cost of ownership, including installation and maintenance. Unless you are a plumber, you will likely save yourself time and money in the long run with professional installation. Beyond that, consider the ongoing costs of service (see above) and filter changes. If clean, healthy water is a priority—and it should be—consider financing options to purchase the ideal system for your water filtration needs.
What’s Next?
We are happy to offer all our new customers a free onsite water test. In addition, we now offer our clients a high-quality, reliable, and contact-less water quality test kit for $200. After you receive the test kit by mail, a water sample is mailed to the lab, and results are sent directly back to you.
Our Maryland-based experts will be happy to answer your call at (410) 757-2992 and provide a free consultation on all water filtration options for your household.
Links
- https://www.wqa.org/product-cert
- https://www.nsf.org/
