One of the best ways to produce clean water for your household is by investing in a reverse osmosis system. Unlike many other water filtering solutions, these systems have proven to be very efficient. They are capable of removing 95-99% of contaminants found in our water systems.
In this piece, we’ll be reviewing five of the best RO systems you can buy today. We’ll give each product a comprehensive review, pointing out each product’s pros and cons. We’ll also give you a buying guide so that you can make an informed purchase when deciding the best reverse osmosis system for your household.
Reverse osmosis filters are easy to install and low maintenance. They only need a few minutes upkeep each month to keep working efficiently. Towards the end of this piece, we’ll also answer some frequently asked questions about RO systems.
Contents
Best Reverse Osmosis Systems
1.
Top Pick
The Home Master Artesian Reverse Osmosis System restores all the natural magnesium and calcium minerals that are depleted during the process of reverse osmosis. This helps to produce pure, clean mineral water for you and your family.
This popular product can remove up to 98% of chemicals, sediment, heavy metals, and contaminants, before replenishing the water with healthy minerals. The filter element and housing are part of an all-in-one modular assembly. This means that they are easy to change both quickly and efficiently, without the need for tools.
Filters only require changing once a year or every 2000 gallons of water. This particular model features a Fast Flow RO kit, which helps to double the water flow from your faucet. This means that your cups will fill up twice as fast as with most standard RO systems.
Pros
Cons
2.
BUDGET PICK
This APEC Top Tier model is the only model on the market with technology powerful enough to remove up to 99% of contaminants from the water in your home. These products are excellent quality and are engineered, designed, and assembled in the USA, guaranteeing FDA-certified water that is safe for consumption.
These RO systems can produce up to fifty gallons of water per day and remove arsenic, lead, fluoride, chlorine, bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals from your water supply.
The system comes with a lead-free designer faucet and is manufactured by America’s No.1 rated water filter brand with over 20 years of commercial success under their belt. The system also comes with all parts and unique installation videos for a comfortable DIY experience.
Pros
Cons
3.
PREMIUM PICK
When it comes to domestic water filtration, The Waterdrop RO system is an excellent product. The unit has a sleek and compact design and will save you space as it functions without a tank.
The RO membrane has an incredible accuracy of 0.0001μm, freeing your water from 99% of all contaminants. The product boasts intelligent design features in the form of two state-of-the-art displays. One will tell you the level of water quality; the other will display the TDS number.
The installation of this product is pretty straightforward, although you will need to attach this to a separate drain. The filters are easy to change, taking only seconds to twist in and out.
After installation, the system must be flushed for thirty minutes. Please note, this product will leak if it is placed on its side. It has been designed to stand up straight.
Pros
Cons
4.
The Brondel RO circle is a fantastic product for those of you that want to save water. It uses patented technology to eliminate backpressure, making it up to ten times more efficient than standard Reverse Osmosis systems. This helps you to save money and water.
This particular model is also compact, and it looks great! The water filters and reservoir are all contained in a sleek case that takes up little room beneath your sink. Additionally, the non-electric design makes changing the filter easy, with no electricity or pumps required.
The Circle utilizes four separate advanced water filters. This helps to reduce harmful and industrial chemicals dramatically. Their patented ‘smart valve’ and flexible water tank offer maximum water efficiency for homeowners.
This product also comes with an elegant designer faucet and an integrated LED filter change indicator. So, you’ll never have to guess when to change the filters.
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Cons
5.
The Express Water RO5DX is an excellent reverse osmosis water filter system that can be purchased for an affordable amount by most families. Even though the price is relatively low on this system, it’s still very efficient, fully deserving of a place on our list.
This unit has a wastewater pure water ratio of 3:1, meaning that it’s very efficient and will help you and your family to save a lot of money over time. Using a filter that is as efficient as this model will help to protect the environment, as less water gets wasted.
One advantage of this unit is its high-quality filers. Even with a standard 5-step filtration process, the filters will remove up to 99.99% of contaminants from your water source.
This model is easy to install, with pre-assembled filters and an easy-to-follow instruction manual. All the instructions are concise and detailed.
Pros
Cons
Buyers Guide
What to Consider Before Buying a Reverse Osmosis System
There are some things you should consider before you purchase a system:
Storage
Many reverse osmosis systems will fit in the cabinet beneath your kitchen sink. Please note, these devices require quite a lot of space, so you may need to modify your cupboard, move your waste bin, etc.
Aside from the reverse osmosis components and the pre-filters, there should be ample space for the tank. If you only have limited space, you’ll have to think before you purchase a reverse osmosis system seriously.
Water Pressure
If your home water pressure is below 40PSI, these devices will not function properly. However, you may be able to increase your waterline pressure by purchasing a booster pump.
Some systems will include a booster pump; others won’t. Please note, if your water pressure does not reach 40PSI, even with a pump, you’ll have to think of an alternative water filtration system that doesn’t use reverse osmosis.
Water Usage
Reverse osmosis water filtration systems use vast amounts of water. The water that takes the contaminants to the drain is higher than the amount of filtered water that is suitable for usage. This is an important factor for people who don’t have the option to wastewater.
Source:
For those of you who live in urban areas, your water is probably coming from a treated city water source. For suburban areas, your water may be coming from a well system.
Check the compatibility of a reverse osmosis system before you purchase one. This is because some models will be more suitable for well water than others.
Remineralization
Often, reverse osmosis systems are so diligent in their water filtration methods; they remove some of the healthy minerals from our water.
For this reason, you should consider purchasing a unit that has an alkaline re-mineralizer which will re-introduce the healthy minerals to your water.
Replacement Filters
For any water filtering unit to continue performing at maximum efficiency and quality, regular maintenance work is required. Because these machines have multiple filters, this can be tiring work.
Some filters need to be replaced more frequently than others, so you’ll have to keep a close eye on them, or purchase a product that has a filter indicator system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a process of water purification that uses a permeable membrane to remove unwanted molecules, ions, and larger particles from drinking water. The process is not dissimilar to other membrane technology applications.
What Are the Benefits of Reverse Osmosis Water?
Reverse osmosis removes lead and other contaminants from our water supplies. This helps to protect people from many diseases such as low fertility, high blood pressure, and nerve damage. Regularly drinking reverse osmosis water can eliminate risks of anemic conditions and brain damage, especially amongst children.
How Does Reverse Osmosis Work?
Reverse osmosis uses a high-pressure pump to increase pressure on the salt side of the RO. It forces water across a semi-permeable RO membrane, leaving 95%-99% of dissolved salts behind in a reject stream.
What is the Difference Between Reverse Osmosis Water and Distilled Water?
Reverse osmosis water is better than, or comparable to distilled water. This is because distillation systems are not designed to eliminate chlorine and other chemicals from our water. Additionally, distilled water systems are often more costly to maintain than reverse osmosis systems.
What about the Minerals RO Systems Remove?
RO water is very pure, like distilled water. However, even without minerals, it’s perfect for your health. This is because you are not consuming any poisonous chemicals when you drink RO water. If the truth is told, we get plenty of the essential minerals that we need from a healthy balanced food diet.
Final Verdict
Reverse osmosis systems are essential for those of you who want to purify your household water without purchasing a water distillation system.
For those on a budget, the APEC model is superior quality, removing over 1000 contaminants, and FDA-approved. For those of you with minimal space beneath your kitchen counter, the Brondell RO Circle is a perfect choice.
For families that love premium quality products and are not afraid to spend a little more, the Waterdrop RO is compact, intelligent, and easy to install. What are you waiting for? Start your healthier life by purchasing a reverse osmosis water system today.