| There
are several details you need to consider before you purchase a water filter.
Best
Type of Water Filter:
Of the different types of water filters,
most experts agree that a Reverse
Osmosis water filter is your best choice. Reverse Osmosis filters remove the
most spectrum of contaminants than any other types of filters available.
Installation:
Be sure that whatever type of filter you decide to buy, that it's easy to install
and de-install. (Check to see if the vendor offers a moving kit.) Quality:
The most important! Since you will be drinking the water and connecting your new
water filter to your water supply, you don't want to worry about poorly designed
systems that does not work or flooding your home. So ask questions about warranty
and manufacture.
We suggest purchasing systems built in the US using US parts.
Maintenance and Filter
Changes:
Make sure this is easy to do, the maintenance schedule
is not very frequent, and that filters are reasonably priced.
Price,
Quality & Service -- What difference does it make?
Generally, RO systems at the lower price range (below $250) are of lesser quality.
We do not recommend them because of their frequent problems and shorter life-span.
RO systems at lower price use all non-US made (foreign made) components that crack
and leak easily under pressure and over time.
Of course, price should
not be the only judgment as we do see many bad systems having high price tags.
Very much like cars, there is quite a difference in the quality of RO systems
although they may look similar or even identical to each other.
Typical
problems with lower-priced or less quality systems are:
-
shorter pre-filter life: 6 months vs 1 year
- shorter membrane life: dies
in 1-2 yrs vs. 3-5 yrs.
- lower rejection rate and possible brine water seeping
into pure water inside the membrane housings! ----- so water is less pure
(filtration is not as effective or thorough with hight TDS results)
- leakage
at fittings & auto shut-off device
- poor quality tanks that leak pressure
after 1-2 years
- each system is not individually tested (often are mass-imported)
- usually systems and parts are not made in the USA, not tested by FDA or NSF.
- little or no technical support after purchase
- cost more to maintain in
the long run
- Little or no on-going technical guidance and support from the
supplier.
So what should we look for in a RO
system?
- Get a system with good parts. (better ingredients
naturally builds a better system)
Make
sure every filter, membrane, filter housings, faucet, and tanks are all US made,
best if they all are NSF certified. Stay away with sellers
who do not wish to disclose their parts/filters brand and makes info.
- Get at least a 5-stage RO system. Anything less is not worth your time
and investment. Stay away with 3-4 stage systems because you have to change pre-filters
every 4-6 month, while a good 5-stage system's pre-filters can last up to 1 year
or more. It'll save much effort on your side in the future. The
tricky part is that many RO systems only use ONE NSF part, or one US made part,
and they are making the claims like "build with NSF" parts. Watch out!
- In the 5-stage system, make sure the pre-filters consists of -- 2 carbon
blocks and 1 sediment filter. 2 solid carbon blocks is the best combination, together
will last at least 1 year before you have to change the pre-filters. Stay away
with any GAC carbon filters as a cheap substitute for carbon blocks. They release
so much black carbon powders that they can clog up your system very fast! Also
stay away from 2 sediment filtered systems. They make no sense and are just a
cost reduction technique for the manufacturer. Also this makes it so you have
to change your pre-filters very often that they can make the residual money. |
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