Reverse Osmosis FAQ's

A Guide to Choosing and Maintaining Your Reverse Osmosis (RO) System

Selecting the right water filtration system is essential for ensuring the health and safety of your single drinking water tap. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology, from initial selection to long-term maintenance.

How to Choose the Right RO System

Selecting the ideal system involves more than just picking a brand. Consider these eight critical factors:

1. Water Quality Testing: Start by understanding what's in your water. Use a home test kit or request a report from your local utility to identify specific contaminants.

2. Contaminant Removal: Ensure the system is certified (look for NSF/ANSI Standard 58) to remove the specific impurities found in your test.

3. System Capacity: Match the system to your daily needs. Options range from compact under-sink units to whole-house systems.

4. Efficiency & Recovery Rate: Pay attention to the "wastewater to purified water" ratio. High-efficiency systems waste less water during the filtration process.

5. Installation: Decide between a DIY-friendly model with twist-lock filters or a professional-grade system that may require a plumber.

6. Budget: Factor in the initial purchase price plus the ongoing cost of replacement filters and membranes.

7. Additional Features: Options like remineralization cartridges can improve taste and pH balance.

8. Brand Reputation: Research established brands, such as Hydronix, Atlas Filtri, HydroGuard, Pentair, or Ecosoft.

Myths & Common Questions

"Is RO water uhealthy without a mineral filter" No. This is a common misconception. While RO removes minerals, it also removes dangerous heavy metals, bacteria, and chemicals.

• Safe Hydration: RO water is pure and hydrates perfectly.

• Minerals from Food: Most essential minerals (calcium, magnesium) are absorbed through your diet, not drinking water.

• Remineralisation: If you prefer the taste of mineral water, you can easily add a stage-6 remineralization filter to add beneficial minerals back in.

• Debunking the "Leaching" Myth: Pure water does not strip minerals from your bones. Once it hits your stomach, it mixes with food and acids, making it just like any other hydrating fluid.

  Safety First: It is much healthier to drink mineral-free water than to drink water "rich" in minerals that also contains lead, arsenic, or fluoride.

Common FAQs

• Where are your RO systems made? All ours systems are either Partially made in Europe such as Italy, Ukraine, Germany, USA and Taiwan under strict liscene

• Can your RO systems remove micro plastics? Yes our RO systems membranes have a pore size of approximately 0.0001 microns

• Can your RO systems remove fluoride? Yes absolutely its the best option

• Can your RO systems remove pathogens? Yes with a micron rating of 0.0001 definately. Its the safest drinking water to one tap

• Do your RO sytems need power? Only if they have a booster pump.
• Are your RO systems noisey? If they have a pump then you will hear the pump. If they are pumpless water will drain constantly while it is filiing the storage tank 

  If your home has good water pressure 40-60psi, the system uses no electricity and has no motor. The only sounds you will hear are:

  • A soft trickling or "hissing": This is the sound of water passing through the membrane and the concentrate (wastewater) flowing to the drain.

  • Occasional Gurgling: This happens at the sink’s air gap or drain line while the tank is refilling.

  • Total Noise: Barely audible outside the cabinet, unless the pipework in the house is plumbed unusually.

• How much water does a tank store:  1/3 of the tank size. our typical 50 gpd membrane NSF58 certified can take up to 45 minutes at 25°C. water temperature RO membranes are tested at 25°C. In the winter, when tap water is much colder, the water becomes "thicker" (more viscous), and production can slow down by as much as 20–55%. NZ water is much colder. NZ Summer Average 18°C - 20 °C~20% Slower, Winter (North Island) 12°C~40% Slower, Winter (South Island) 7°C~55% Slower.

• Does the tank affect the water? No! As the RO system produces water, it has to squeeze it into the tank against the pressure of that air food grade bladder. The air needs space to compress so that it can "push" the water back out to your faucet when you turn it on. If the tank were 100% full of water, there would be no air pressure to move the water up to your sink, and it would only trickle out.

• Do I need a pump with my RO? if you are on municipal supplied water in NZ the water pressure is normally sufficient to complete the process 30-40psi incoming pressure is required. Rural or homes on a pump fed supply may need the additonal presssure and therefore a pumped all in one system is best.

• Do your RO systems include a tap? Most of our underbench systems include a lead free drinking water faucet.

• Can I install it myself? So not to void the warranty we recomend a certified installer. drilling is required through your benchtop. 

   

Maintenance & Care

To keep your water pure and your system running efficiently, follow this maintenance schedule:

Filter Replacement Cycle

• Pre-filters: Every 6–12 months (or if pressure drops by 1 bar).

• RO Membrane: Every 2–3 years.

• Sanitization: Every 12 months.

Annual Sanitisation Steps

If your system has been sitting unused for 7–14 days, it should be flushed. For a deep clean every year, follow these steps:

1. Shut off water supply and ice-maker lines.

2. Drain the tank completely via the RO faucet.

3. Remove all filters and the membrane from their housings.

4. Add 2–3 tablespoons of unscented bleach (5.5%) into the first pre-filter housing.

5. Reattach empty housings and turn the water back on to fill the system.

6. Run faucet briefly until water flows, then shut it and let it sit for 30 minutes.

7. Flush the system for 5 minutes until the bleach odor is gone.

8. Reinstall new filters and the membrane.

9. Allow several hours for the system to refill before drinking.