Water is by far the most important resource for our daily lives. We use it for drinking, cleaning other items, bathing, etc. Therefore, it is essential that our houses are always inundated with water that is clean and safe. Now, although most people get reverse osmosis systems for water used for cooking and drinking, they forget how important it is to make sure that water in other areas of your house is also clean. For doing so, you need a good quality whole house reverse osmosis system.
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A whole house reverse osmosis system is a filtration device that is installed on your main water line. Its purpose is to use the phenomenon of reverse osmosis to clean (through filtration) all the water that is supplied to your house. It is similar to the reverse osmosis systems installed in kitchens for drinking water, however, since it has a larger application, it also tends to have a larger architecture. If you are someone who likes to make sure that you get a clean water supply in all the taps of your house, this is exactly the kind of device for you. In this article, we will discuss the best whole house reverse osmosis systems you can buy right now!
Editor’s Picks: Top 3 Best Whole House RO Systems
5 Best Whole House Reverse Osmosis Systems In 2022
1. APEC Top Tier Alkaline PH+ Reverse Osmosis System
Over the past decade, many international brands have set up their branches all over the USA and unsurprisingly are also doing quite well. However, if you are looking for a whole house reverse osmosis system, it is much preferable to go for a brand that is American or at least has industries set up in the USA. That is because a locally created RO system is more likely to be compatible and reliable for American households. The APEC Top Tier Alkaline PH+ Reverse Osmosis System is a prime example of such an RO system.
It comes with a 75 GPD 6-stage system that removes up to 99% of bacteria, viruses, cysts, organics, chemicals, and much more. In the first stage, we have the high-capacity PP sediment filter which shields and extends the life of the RO system. For doing so, it filters out all large particles from the supplied water. Stage two and three use premium extruded carbon blocks to remove chlorine, taste, odors, etc.
Did you know?
Reverse osmosis, also known as hyperfiltration, is the finest filtration known. This process will allow the removal of particles as small as dissolved individual ions from a solution.
Now that we are halfway in, most of the visible contaminants have been cleared out. Therefore, in the fourth stage, a high rejection TFC is used to remove microscopic solids from the water. At this point, almost all of the dirt has been excreted out. It then uses a coconut shell refining carbon filter in the fifth stage. This enhances the taste of the water while the sixth stage ensures that all the minerals are retained in the water and the resultant liquid is also slightly alkaline (better for health).
In terms of architecture, the RO system comes with a 100% lead-free designer faucet, FDA Certified JG Food grade tubing while its leak-free quick connect fittings require no extra lock clips to seal leak. Other than that, it also does not rely on water leak detector to protect your home like other brands. Overall, a great product that deeply cleans the water supplied to households while also keeping it nutritionally rich.
- Supreme quality – Designed, engineered and assembled in USA to guarantee water safety & your health.
- This 75 GPD 6-stage system ROES-PH75 is guaranteed to remove up to 99% of impurities such as Chlorine, Taste, Odor, VOCs, as well as harmful Fluoride, Arsenic, Lead, Heavy Metals and 1000+ impurities. Max Total Dissolved Solids - 2000 ppm. Feed Water Pressure 40-85 psi
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2. iSpring RCB3P Commercial Grade Reverse Osmosis System
It is a given that not everyone requires a large amount of water in their house every day as long as daily tasks are fulfilled. However, if you are someone who’s living in a relatively larger house that requires (even occasionally) more water than the average American household, you should be investing in a product that comes with a higher GPD (gallons per day) than 100. One such product is the Spring RCB3P Commercial Grade Reverse Osmosis System.
It comes with three high-efficiency 100 GPD RO membranes giving us a total of 300 gallons on a daily basis. The cleaning process of this RO system is divided into five stages. First of all, all the visible sediments, sand, and similar particles are removed. For stage two and three, we get carbon blocks (GAC and CTO) that filter out chlorine, odors, taste, etc. In stage four, the system makes sure to gather 300 gallons of water before finally extracting the gathered water in the fifth stage wherein all the extra taste and odor is rechecked.
iSpring’s RCB3P has a freestanding stainless steel frame and a metal hanging bracket which makes it quite sturdy and durable. It also comes with a built-in booster pump that produces optimal water flow while the 3/8″ fitting connections make sure that the flow of water is fast. In short, a great reverse osmosis systems for light commercial use (restaurants, salons, labs, etc) and larger households.
- High capacity Reverse Osmosis systems removes up to 99% of over 1, 000 contaminants and hardness, including PFAS (includes PFOA and PFOS), lead (removes up to 98% of lead), chlorine, fluoride, arsenic, asbestos, calcium, sodium and more.
- Freestanding Stainless Steel Frame and Metal hanging bracket. Makes your installation and filter changes easier while adding a protective buffer for your system
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3. WECO HydroSense Reverse Osmosis System
The higher the GPD of your reverse osmosis system, the more the skepticism of the user in terms of water quality. That is because most of these products look identical in terms of size and are hence more susceptible to leftover dirt post filtration. With WECO’s HydroSense Reverse Osmosis System, that is never the problem.
The HydroSense RO system comes with three high-quality membranes that removes up to 98.5% of water contaminants like nitrate, TDS, fluoride, lead, sodium and mercury. All that despite having an impressive GPD figure of 500. It also has automated water pressure sensors and booster pumps which make sure that the filtration is always performed at maximum capacity.
In terms of filtration, this product has a four stage mechanism. In stage one, a 5-micron polypropylene (PP) layer removes anything over 5 microns of size including sediment, rust, and microscopic debris from the water. Next, we get activated carbon block cartridges that remove 99% of chlorine, taste, odors, etc. This is done twice (Stage 3) to make sure no carcinogens or contaminated substances remain in the water. Finally, the water passes through the standard 1812 thin-film composite (TFC) RO membranes to remove 98.5% of water contaminants as stated above.
- Reverse osmosis drinking water purification system for residential and light commercial applications
- Sediment and compressed carbon block pre-filtration removes tiny particles like rust, silt, taste and odor-causing chemicals like chlorine, chloramine and rotten-egg odors.
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4. iSpring RCS5T High Flow Reverse Osmosis System
When it comes to whole house reverse osmosis systems, most consumers only look at the product from a filtration standpoint. While the notion is correct as that is its primary task, people tend to forget that efficiency is also an important factor here. If a product is filtering water very well but also wastes a lot of it in the process, you as a consumer are also having to pay extra on your water bill. To avoid this, you need to get a product that comes with a 1:1 drain ratio such as the iSpring RCS5T High Flow Reverse Osmosis System.
iSpring’s RC5ST comes with a patented dual-flow membrane that gracefully produces up to 500 gallons of water per day while also being quite efficient. Speaking of efficient, we get a high efficiency booster pump with this product that increases the production of purified water by raising the water pressure and maximizes RO production rate to the optimal level for the reverse osmosis process. Therefore, it works just fine even at low pressure levels.
The filtration process in this RO system is divided into five ultra high capacity stages. First of all, the PP Sediment Filter removes larger particles like rust, sand and dirt. Secondly, the GAC Filter adsorb free chlorine, humus, disinfection byproducts, smells, discoloration, etc. The third stage then has a Carbon Block Filter that removes any residual chlorine, tastes & odors. Once that’s done, we move to the fourth stage wherein our Dual-Flow RO Membrane removes heavy metals and harmful substances. In the final stage, chlorine, tastes, and odors are removed making the water healthy for all purposes.
- 5-STAGE FILTERS: 1-3rd stages remove PFAS (includes PFOA and PFOS), rust, sand, chlorine, disinfection byproducts and odor. 4th stage RO Membrane removes heavy metals, pesticide residues, etc. 5th Stage removes chlorine, tastes to improve the quality of drinking water.
- GREAT CAPACITY: Advanced 500GPD membrane saves 60% of water, with LOW WASTE 1.5:1 pure to drain water ratio. Great for light commercial in Restaurants, Salons, Labs, and Offices all benefit in their ways from high-quality RO water.
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5. Hydro-Logic Evolution Reverse Osmosis System
Most American homes and commercial areas are satisfied with a 500 gallon per day RO system. However, in some cases, even that amount of filtered water isn’t enough. In that case, we use a product such as the Hydro-Logic Evolution Reverse Osmosis System.
Hydro-Logic’s Evolution is a heavy-duty RO system. Thanks to its high flow rates, it is able to produce as much as 1000 gallons per day without having a dedicated tank and is also regarded as one of the most efficient RO systems in the industry. The filtration statistics on this product are also quite impressive as it remove 95% of the total dissolved solids in your supplied water.
In terms of design, this RO system has a highly durable polypropylene construction which ensures its longevity. Other than that, it has two high-flow reverse osmosis membranes that works on removing dissolved substances, odor, etc. It also has a carbon material/KDF filter that extracts contaminants such as lead, arsenic, sulfur, chlorine and fluoride out of the supplied water. Overall, a great product for larger families, corporate chains, hotels, gardens, etc.
- Capable of producing up to 1,000 GPD or 42 gallons per hour of purified water at standard line pressure
- Reduces parts per million of total dissolved solids by 95%+
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What Is A Whole House Reverse Osmosis System?
As its name suggests, a whole house reverse osmosis system is a filtration device that is used to clean all the water that is supplied to your house. For doing so, we connect it into the main water supply source of your house unlike generic RO units which would go into your kitchen for drinking water.
The reverse osmosis in whole house RO systems is done using reverse osmosis membranes. Usually, these systems come with two membranes and their job is to eradicate all kinds of dissolved organic or inorganic contaminants. A good set of membranes will remove as much as 98% contaminants. It is probably the best investment for those looking to make sure that the water supplied to their house is free from any kind of dirt. That is because reverse osmosis as a technology is far superior when compared to other alternatives such as deionization or distillation.
Whole house reverse osmosis systems remove a variety of contaminants such as chromium, uranium, copper, mercury, arsenic, boron, silver, lead, sodium, and nitrates from water. Moreover, they also enhance the odor and taste of the water you get by using activated carbon filters. Therefore, you are likely to get a sweeter and more alkaline water after filtration. Although not common for all products, the filtration done by whole house reverse osmosis systems also manages to retain most of the nutritional benefits of water despite the rough cleaning measures it takes.
How Does A Whole House Reverse Osmosis System Work?
Whole house reverse osmosis systems work under the same principle as the smaller under-sink RO units. What differentiates the two however is two things. First of all, whole house systems have the ability to produce a significantly larger amount of water (hundreds of gallons per day). Secondly, they can handle water that has much higher total dissolved solids (TDS) thanks to their high pressure capabilities. But how exactly does it work? Let us find out.
1. Pre-filtration
Pre-filtration is the first time supplied water comes in contact with the whole house reverse osmosis system. Here, all the larger contaminants are extracted out of the water. Some of these contaminants include iron, chlorine, manganese, sulfur, sand, etc. It is a good place to start the filtration process as you completely prevent the breakdown of larger particles in the latter stages of the filtration.
2. Membrane chamber
Now that all the larger particles have been removed, we let water pass into the membrane chamber. The membrane chamber has a very tight mechanism. In fact it is so tight that it basically prevents anything that isn’t water from passing through. Some examples of extracted particles (using the membrane) include nitrate, TDS, fluoride, chlorine, lead, sodium and mercury.
What doesn’t pass through the membrane chamber is removed from the drainage system and is called brine. On the other hand, the resulting pure liquid is known as permeate. Now, it is worth noting that the brine doesn’t always get flushed out once rejected. Some whole house reverse osmosis systems store the brine and let it pass the membrane chamber a second time (recycling). These types of RO systems tend to have a better drain ratio as less amount of water is flushed out overall.
3. Storage tank
Although most light-duty whole house reverse osmosis systems don’t come with a dedicated tank, it also plays a crucial role in its architecture. As its name suggests, its job is to store water.
After water comes out of the membrane chamber in the form of permeate, it gets stored inside the storage tank. The filling of the storage tank is controlled by a float valve. Once filled, the tank sends a signal to the RO system using a switch and filtration is halted until water inside the tank is used.
RO systems that do not have a storage tank also work well. However, since water needs to be filtered each time it is demanded by the user, it tends to produce a small delay to reach the user. This delay generally tends to be as much as 10-15 seconds.
Note: Tankless RO systems also have storage units but smaller ones so the delay might not be faced on low amount of water demands.
4. Repressurization pump
Now that we know how water is purified and stored in a whole house reverse osmosis system, it is time for the final step which is to supply the purified water to the user.
After water has reached the storage tank, a repressurization pump collects it and sends it into a smaller pressurized bladder tank. Once the smaller tank if full, the pump stops collecting water from the storage tank. This is the final intermediate area between the RO system and the user. Whenever the user demands water, the smaller tank delivers it to them. When water level goes down in the smaller tank, the pump goes active again and starts refilling it.
Benefits Of Having A Whole House Reverse Osmosis System
As mentioned above, whole house reverse osmosis systems run on a much better concept than any other type of filtration systems. Other than that, since they are generally sturdy, they are also going to be more economical in the long run. But what exactly are the factors that make RO systems superior than say deionization and distillation? Let us find out.
1. Deep extraction of contaminants
Reverse osmosis systems are built using filtration equipment that detects pretty much all kinds of dirt particles that can be present in supplied water. The pre-filtration takes away all the large particles such as iron, chlorine, manganese, sulfur, sand, etc. On the other hand, the membrane chamber tightly extracts the smaller particles such as nitrate, TDS, fluoride, chlorine, lead, sodium and mercury. Going by numbers, most reverse osmosis systems remove 97-98% of contaminants in supplied water.
2. Low maintenance
Regular water filtration systems generally tend to come with an architecture that requires the user to clean the filters on a regular basis. However, with a whole house reverse osmosis system, that is not the case. Here, most devices comes with a technology that automatically cleans the filter on a regular basis. Those that don’t require change in filter after some time. But even that is quite easy and cheap to do.
3. Enhances odor and taste
RO systems come with activated carbon filters. These filters are of great use to enhance the odor and taste of the supplied water by removing contaminants such as iodine and chlorine. With other filtration systems, this may or may not be possible.
4. Keeps water nutritionally rich
Most water filtration techniques also tend to remove particles that are in fact helpful for the human body upon consumption. Whole house reverse osmosis systems on the other hand is quite smart. It not only flushes out contaminants, it makes sure to retain most of the minerals that are beneficial for humans. Some RO systems even come with extra equipment that adds nutrition to water post filtration. Although the mineral retention level differs from system to system, the general consensus still puts RO systems way above any other kind of system.
Do I Really Need A Whole House Reverse Osmosis System?
Most people are hesitant while making their purchase of a whole house reverse osmosis system. That is because it is very hard to make the case for it being an essential entity for your house. Now, it is a given that this kind of product is not for everybody. But that’s not to say that it won’t be beneficial for everybody. Whole house RO systems ensure that any daunt about impure water supply goes out of the user’s head. They make sure water that reaches you is safe for drinking or any other purpose.
But what if you live in a house that receives municipal water supply, do you still need to make such an investment? Well, you don’t necessarily need to but it adds another great filtration intermediate for surety. Besides, municipal water supply is infamous for chlorinated water in many areas. Although not directly harmful in shorter periods of consumption, such kind of water comes with bad odor and taste which not only worsens your drinking experience but also makes your food taste bad when used for cooking. Furthermore, poor quality water is bad for your skin and hair which gives more the reason to make an RO system your next investment.
Things To Consider Before Buying A Whole House Reverse Osmosis System – Buyer’s Guide
Now that we have looked over whole house reverse osmosis systems in depth, here are some of the things you should consider before buying one.
1. Gallons Per Day (GPD)
As we know, not every user has the same amount of water requirements on a daily basis. For smaller households with one or two members, even a 50-100 gallons per day reverse osmosis system shall suffice. On the other hand, if such a system is equipped into a larger space such as a restaurant, it just won’t do. Therefore, you need to give first priority to GPD.
2. Number Of Stages
While not always the case, reverse osmosis systems are judged by the number of stages they come with for filtering water. The higher the number of stages, the deeply the system cleans water for you. A good RO system will have at least five number of stages and is likely to bring down contaminant figures very close to 0 parts per million (PPM). Some RO systems outdo even the four-five stage mechanism as a coconut carbon equipment is added to them for retaining or even adding nutrition to water post filtration.
3. Tanked Or Tankless
Despite having a bigger architecture, tanked reverse osmosis systems are much better than tankless ones. That is because you get to store a decent amount purified water that can called for action directly from the faucet at any time. Now, although tankless systems also have a smaller place where purified water is kept reserved, it just not enough if the user demands for a large amount of water. If the smaller tank in tankless system is emptied, a delay of 10-15 seconds has to be faced by the user. With tanked systems however, this kind of delay never occurs.
4. Drain Ratio
Drain ratio is a major factor for those looking for a product that is economical over a long period. Now, what the drain ratio does it that it tells us how much of water is removed on every filtration cycle. So, for example, a 3:1 ratio means for every 1 gallon of product water you will have up to 3 gallons going to drain. We recommend our users to look for RO systems that come with 1:1 drain ratio to avoid wastage of water which also subconsciously increases your water bill.
5. Water pressure
For the membrane to filter contaminants out of the supplied water, an adequate amount of water pressure needs to be met. Therefore, you must make sure to check if your targeted product will be compatible with the water pressure supplied to your house.
6. Installation and maintenance
Whole house reverse osmosis systems aren’t as easy as bottle caps when it comes to installation. You must make sure that your product’s company provides installation service in your area. If not, it should at least come with a detailed guide for doing so yourself and that you are physically capable of doing it.
In terms of maintenance, most RO systems automatically clean themselves. However, some of them require a change in filter after a certain period of time. Therefore, you must research about that before investing on a product.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much does a whole house reverse osmosis system cost?
Whole house reverse osmosis systems come in a wide range of price. The most basic one will probably cost about $350 pre-installation going all the way up to $4000.
2. Which is better, filtration or reverse osmosis?
Reverse osmosis is far superior to normal filtration as it goes way deeper into the purification process comparatively. Moreover, it also helps in retaining nutrition and enhancing taste and odor – something not possible will normal filtration.
3. Is reverse osmosis worth the cost?
Yes, it is. Since, water purified using reverse osmosis is guaranteed to be safe, it is worth the investment purely due to how much we humans use water in our daily lives.
4. Does reverse osmosis remove bacteria?
Yes, it does. Since bacteria is larger than the pores in the membrane chamber of RO systems, it is rejected during filtration.
5. Why does reverse osmosis water taste different?
Water’s flavor depends on where the water comes from. … Calcium makes water taste milky and smooth, magnesium can be bitter, and sodium makes it taste salty. Reverse Osmosis Water filters removes all these minerals from water, thus causing your water to taste different from tap water.
A Final Word
Be it through drinking, cooking, bathing, or feeding the plants, water plays a huge role in our lives. Therefore, it is our duty to make sure that the water that is supplied to our houses is always clean and safe to use. But since it comes with such microscopic contaminants, it is not a task for mere humans to deal with. For that, you need a product such as a whole house reverse osmosis system that deeply cleanses your supplied water and keeps your family healthy forever.
On an ending note, we personally recommend you to buy:
- High capacity Reverse Osmosis systems removes up to 99% of over 1, 000 contaminants and hardness, including PFAS (includes PFOA and PFOS), lead (removes up to 98% of lead), chlorine, fluoride, arsenic, asbestos, calcium, sodium and more.
- Freestanding Stainless Steel Frame and Metal hanging bracket. Makes your installation and filter changes easier while adding a protective buffer for your system
300 GPD, 5-stage mechanism, and a reliable design. This product has everything that one could hope for in a whole house reverse osmosis system. Additionally, it has in-build booster bumps that make it quite efficient as well. Highly recommended.
I like you use water every day in everything I do. I love to find better ways to filter water I drink, soften hard water and find amazing water bottles for when I’m on the go.
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Last update on 2024-03-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. WaterFilterly is user-supported. We might receive a commission on any purchase you make through clicking links on this page.
