Frequently Asked Questions about Reverse Osmosis (RO) 

Q. How does Reverse Osmosis (also referred to as “RO”) work?

A. RO works by passing water through a semi-permeable membrane that separates the pure water into one stream and the salt water into another stream. The process is called “Reverse Osmosis” because it requires pressure to force pure water across a membrane, leaving the impurities behind.  

Q. Will RO's remove hardness minerals or help cut down on scale build-up in coffee pots, etc.?

A. Yes! Most water contains “total dissolved solids” (TDS) , which is roughly the total inorganic mineral content of the water, and these are removed. The reverse osmosis membrane separates these dissolved solids, or salts and flushes them down the drain.

Q. Will these systems remove lead?

A. Yes. Both the RO membrane and the carbon block filter will reduce the lead. Carbon block filters use a lead-specific filter media combined with the carbon to reduce lead.

Q. Will these systems remove parasites or cysts?

A. Yes. The RO systems are certified for cyst removal.

Q. Are RO systems difficult to install?

A. No. The RO systems come complete with all the tubing, fittings and items you need to install it. In some cases you may need to drill a new hole in your sink, or you can use an existing hole to install the RO faucet. Typically a plumber will take 20 minutes to read the installation instructions and 1 to 1-1/2 hours to do a professional installation, but many homeowners have installed these themselves. 

Q. How often should I change the filters in an RO system?

A. The filters should be changed once a year. The membrane should be changed every 3 to 5 years depending on the TDS levels in the purified water.

Read more FAQ's about Reverse Osmosis.