Quench Your Curiosity: Decoding Water Filtration
We all know the importance of staying hydrated, but how can we make sure our water is the best it can be? You might be familiar with the idea of water filters, but did you know there's a whole world of technology dedicated to purifying your home's water? Today, we're going to break down the differences between standard water filtration and Reverse Osmosis (RO).
The Everyday Hero: Regular Water Filtration
A standard water filter system will typically employ a variety of methods, often involving physical barriers like carbon blocks, activated carbon, and/or sediment filters. These filters are excellent at trapping larger particles like sediment, rust, and chlorine. Activated carbon, in particular, is great at adsorbing volatile compounds that can give your water unpleasant tastes and odors. Many larger systems will usually have a combination of these filters. While others, like a fridge filter, are typically a single carbon filter.
What they're best suited for:
Improving the taste and smell of tap water.
Removing sediment and some chemical contaminants.
Providing a basic level of filtration for general household use.
The benefits:
More affordable upfront cost.
Relatively simple installation and maintenance.
Noticeable improvement in water quality for many common issues.
Can be set up to filter all incoming water to the home.
The Superhero: Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Now, let's talk about Reverse Osmosis. If regular filtration is like using a fine-mesh sieve, RO is like using a molecular-level security guard. This process forces water under pressure through a semi-permeable membrane with incredibly tiny pores – we're talking about the size of individual molecules! This technology effectively filters out a much broader range of contaminants, including:
Dissolved solids like salts and minerals.
Heavy metals like lead and arsenic.
Larger array of chemical contaminants.
Microscopic impurities and some bacteria and viruses.
Think of it this way: regular filtration catches the bigger crumbs, while RO goes after the ultra-fine dust you didn't even know was there! In fact, RO systems will have regular filters (Sediment and Carbon) filtering the water prior to the membrane.
What they're best suited for:
Providing the highest level of water quality for drinking and cooking.
Applications where water quality is critical, such as for certain medical needs or sensitive appliances and machinery.
The benefits:
Significantly superior removal of a wide spectrum of contaminants.
Production of exceptionally clean and pure water.
Peace of mind knowing you're providing your family with the highest quality water.
Customization with industry standard systems to allow for PH control and remineralization.
One thing to note is, due to the high rate of filtration, RO systems do not produce water quickly. So the water they produce goes to a storage tank, which you then pull from to get your water once it is full. Most tanks that come with an RO have 3.2 gallons of usable space, and take 3-4 hours for the RO to fill it. As such, RO systems are not recommended for whole home filtration. Instead, they are recommended for drinking and cooking water primarily in residential use.
Finding Your Perfect Water Match
So, which type of filtration is right for you? It really depends on your specific needs and the quality of your existing water supply.
If your primary concern is taste and odor, and/or providing cleaner water throughout your whole house? If so, a regular water filter system might be the perfect, cost-effective solution.
However, if your needs focus more on drinking water, or a need for higher quality water. Then a Reverse Osmosis is your best bet.
Keep in mind, it is not necessarily an either or situation. Many homeowners have both types of systems in their homes.
At Joe Filter, we understand that every home and every water situation is unique. Which is why we are happy to offer filter service on all types of water filters in your home! Our expert team is always here to help, and we even do more than just water filtration! Visit us HERE to see a full list of our services.
Interested in a Reverse Osmosis? Ask us for a quote today! Give us a call at (480) 813-9494.
