UPSTREAM FILTER REPLACEMENT
All water filters employ consumable filter cartridges, regardless of the filtering technique used. These cartridges must be replaced because they have been saturated with pollutants and sediments to the point where they can no longer absorb or filter out any more.
Many contaminants that the reverse osmosis membrane cannot remove are removed by the filters upstream of the membrane, but they also protect the membrane from chemical damage caused by these contaminants.
Chlorine and other chemicals or sediments can get past the pre-filters and cause irreparable damage to the RO membrane, which is the most expensive consumable in a RO system, if they are not replaced in a timely manner. All users of reverse osmosis filters should exercise extreme caution when replacing filters in a RO system, especially because not all pre-filters may be replaced at the same time. Some may require replacement more frequently than others.
Setting filter replacement reminders for each type of filter in your filter system and adhering to those deadlines religiously is the best approach to avoid damage to the RO membrane and potential drinking water contamination issues.
INSTALLATION OF RO FILTERS:
Many filters will claim to be simple to install, and some filters (such as countertop filters) can be placed in a matter of seconds. This is not the case with RO filters, though.
If customer is plumbing abilities are rusty at best, user might consider hiring a water filtration professional to install their RO system. When it comes to installing a RO system, there are two steps that can be difficult:
- Drilling a hole in customer kitchen sink or countertop for a dedicated faucet for filtered water; drilling a hole in the drain pipe line for the wastewater created by the filter system.
- If customer is not sure that he can install a RO filter on his own, it's advisable to hire a professional to avoid damaging a costly countertop or, worse, cracking a drain pipe.
WATER PRESSURE AND FLOW RATE
Reverse osmosis filters require high water pressure to function properly, therefore installing one in a low-pressure setting is not an option.
Although some systems include a booster pump to help with pressure concerns, if the pressure requirements aren't fulfilled, your reverse osmosis water filter will fail. Clogging concerns, low flow rates, and low-quality filtered water can all be caused by a faulty system.
Check the filter's pressure requirements and verify if incoming water supply meets them.
If pressure conditions are not adequate for the installation of a reverse osmosis system, consider installing an inline filter that works even in low-pressure environments, or buy a gravity water filter that requires no plumbing or incoming water pressure.
CONSIDERATION OF RO WASTEWATER
Few people are aware that reverse osmosis water filters contain a backwash mechanism that removes contaminants that are left behind after water is driven through the RO membrane.Water is consumed by reverse osmosis water filters in order to generate filtered water. The amount of water used as backwash varies depending on the filter system's brand and model, but it can range from 3 to 10 gallons for every gallon produced.
Consider RO system as an appliance that functions similarly to a washing machine or a dishwasher. Both the washer and the dryer use water to clean clothing, and the RO system utilises water to make clean water.
STORAGE
As multi-stage systems, which include many water filter cartridges (some as many as seven) and a reverse osmosis tank to store filtered water, may be extremely substantial and take up all of the area under your kitchen counter. This may be a problem for certain people, particularly those who live in smaller houses.
WRAP-UP
All filters have pros and cons, but the benefits of owning any type of filtration system much exceed the disadvantages. Whatever filtration system you choose, the most important thing to know about it is how it works, how long it lasts, and any unique installation or maintenance requirements.
