RO Water Filters: Know the Facts

Reverse osmosis or RO water filters were initially designed for large scale industrial use, but eventually they were scaled down to fit the home. In this day and age, there are only a few homeowners who actually need reverse osmosis filtration and even for those, there may be better, less wasteful and less expensive alternatives. Although technology has advanced well beyond reverse osmosis filtration, some people can't seem to let it go.

RO water filters even take away the good taste of water, leaving it flat and unappealing. This is normally caused by high acid and low pH levels in water. Each gallon that is purified wastes three to four gallons of water. When the alkaline water turns to highly acidic water, it causes minerals to be pulled from teeth and bones. Not only that, but RO has also been known to increase the risk of developing cancer, since free radicals are produced during the process.

Sometimes home reverse osmosis water filtration systems are accompanied by an added carbon filtration device. Carbon effectively removes most of the chemicals that reverse osmosis cannot. But again, still other filters are necessary to remove all of the unwanted particles. For example, chlorine byproducts can only be removed through adsorption since the chemicals are gaseous. They actually just pass right through a reverse osmosis water dispenser.

Another downside is that reverse osmosis filtration systems take up a large amount of space, as the larger units seem to be the most effective. They use electricity and require extensive maintenance. The membranes can become contaminated with algae and bacteria. In order to kill the bacteria and algae, chlorine is used, but it can damage the membrane, and replacement membranes are expensive. Hiring someone to install the system is expensive, as well as the power and water it uses. There is just no advantage to installing a reverse osmosis water system with today's technological betterments.

Now that you have more information on RO water filters, you can avoid spending valuable time and money on a filtration system that will not enhance your quality of life, and in some cases, actually harm you. It is best to use a multi-stage filtering system that removes sediments you don't need and leaves those minerals that you do need. The best filtering system for homeowners is one that contains multiple filters and steps to remove the largest amount of contaminants. These types of all-inclusive systems are relatively inexpensive and can be installed on top of or under a kitchen counter, in the bathroom or as a whole house system.

There are many water filters to choose from today, from the Culligan FM-15A Faucet Filter to the Trojan UV Max Water Purifier Systems. Reading water filter reviews will help you choose the best model for your needs.