Water Filters

Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration: The Premier Choice

Reverse osmosis water filtration is a process where water is forced through a membrane that removes the larger molecules. This process is efficient for removing a long list of toxic particulates found in our municipal water supply. Some of the items removed from the water using reverse osmosis (RO) are fluoride, hydrogen sulfide, nitrate, chlorine and heavy metals, all known as toxins. The process is 100 percent chemical free and uses no electricity. RO is considered the most effective technology available to improve drinking water.

When purchasing a RO water filtration system you will want to consider more than cost. You will want to compare warranties, flow rates, and system requirements. Do you want a countertop unit or an under sink water filter? Will you install it yourself or will you hire a plumber? By researching and mapping out a plan your experience will be a more positive one.

There are three basic types of reverse osmosis water filtration which are countertop, under sink and whole house.

Countertop Reverse Osmosis
The Water Exchange offers a countertop water filter that uses reverse osmosis to remove the fluoride. The model PRO-150 uses a GE Osmonics 150 gallon per day (GPD) RO membrane that will produce a glass of water in about 10 seconds. The installation is so simple that you just attach it to your faucet and use the diverter valve to get water from the filter. At $199 you probably will not find a better RO filter value. However, it is not very pretty and if your kitchen counter space is limited you may find it cumbersome.

TGI Pure makes very attractive four stage countertop unit, model CT-445, that starts at $375. It is very simple to install and can produce about 25 gallons per day ("GPD"). The CT-445P is the same system with a pump for low pressure applications.

Under Sink Reverse Osmosis
An entry level RO system is the Whirlpool model WHER25. It will run you about $200 and can be purchased at Lowes Home Improvement store.

There is a company called H2O Distributors that sells the Rioflow Model #: USRO5-60-QC that sells for about $170. It can produce 60 GPD. This is a great value as it comes with all the fittings you need, instructions, and you can upgrade to a more stylish faucet that will fit your kitchen décor.

Culligan offers the Aqua-Cleer model, an under sink filter that will remove fluoride from your drinking water. This filtration system will only take about 1.25 sq. feet of your under cabinet space. This doesn’t come as a do-it-yourself water filter and therefore costs more due to installation costs. Call a Culligan dealer to get a price quote.

If you are looking for the best reverse osmosis water filtration system available, then you will want to check out the Merlin GE-RO-M750 made by TGI Pure. This system uses the latest high flow RO technology developed by GE. This system does not require a tank and therefore has nearly half the under cabinet storage requirements of most RO systems (17.05" wide x 20.34" tall x 9.68" deep). It can produce an amazing 720 GPD! This system has been designed for light commercial applications but would work well in the home if you are willing to spend the money on it. It lists for around $800 but I found some as low as $400 with free shipping.

Whole House Reverse Osmosis
Crystal Quest, Everpure, Culligan, and a few other companies make whole house reverse osmosis systems that vary in price and ability. For most families this level of filtration is over kill and not necessary. However if you are one who likes to have the best of everything I would encourage you to read our Well Water Filter page.

Reverse osmosis filtration has its down side. They all waste water because they require a back flow system that cleans the membrane and then is discarded. The lower end units waste up to 5 gallons of water for every 1 gallon they produce. It doesn’t take a mathematician to realize that isn’t very efficient.

When choosing an RO system for your house research thoroughly all your options, plan your method of installation, compare warranties and consumer reviews, and you should be able to choose a quality system that fits your budget and diy abilities.