Reverse osmosis drinking water filtration
A reverse osmosis system is a filter under your kitchen sink with its own small faucet. It pushes water through a very fine membrane that holds back most dissolved minerals. People buy one for the taste, for cooking and coffee, and to stop buying bottled water.
What it does
- Makes clean-tasting water at one tap, usually the kitchen sink. It can also feed the refrigerator.
- Lowers total dissolved solids, which includes the sodium a softener adds.
- Stores a few gallons in a small tank under the sink so it is ready when you want it.
What it reduces depends on the exact model
Two systems that look alike can be certified for very different things. One may be certified only to lower dissolved solids. Another may be certified to reduce lead, arsenic and fluoride as well.
We only install reverse osmosis systems with a current listing under NSF/ANSI 58, the national standard for these systems. Before you buy, we show you the listing for your exact model. It names every contaminant that model is certified to reduce. If it is not on the listing, we will not claim it.
What it does not do
- It treats one tap, not the whole house.
- It does not soften water for your water heater, showers or laundry.
- It sends some water to the drain while it works.
- It is not a substitute for boiling during a boil water advisory.
Upkeep
The filters need changing, usually every 6 to 12 months, and the membrane every few years. The schedule for your model is in its manual, and we go through it with you at install.
Common questions
Does reverse osmosis remove fluoride or lead?
Some models are certified to reduce them and some are not. The listing for the exact model is the only reliable answer, and we show it to you before you buy.
Do I need a softener too?
Not always. A softener protects the house from scale. Reverse osmosis is for the water you drink. Many homes with hard water have both, and a softener ahead of it helps the membrane last.
Does it waste water?
It sends some water to the drain as it filters. How much depends on the model.
Is reverse osmosis a water purifier?
People often call it one, and water treated this way is commonly sold as purified water. In the trade, though, a purifier is a device proven to remove bacteria and viruses. We do not make that claim for any system we install, and none of them replaces boiling during a boil water advisory.
Find out how hard your water is.
The test is free, it takes place at your kitchen sink, and you see the numbers yourself.