Water filtration is such an important step to take in any household or commercial property. There are a few different options available. One viable option is to install a reverse osmosis system.
However, several questions follow on from this. Is installing a reverse osmosis system right for you?
That is one question that we will aim to help you answer today. Also, how much do they cost, and are they worth the money?
If these sound like questions that you want answers to, keep reading to find out more! We will be covering what a reverse osmosis system is, how much they cost and why you may need one.
How Much Does a Reverse Osmosis System Cost?
The main aim today is to let you know just how much installing a reverse osmosis system will set you back. It’s always a good idea to research the cost of a system like this before committing to a purchase.
Installing a reverse osmosis system can range anywhere from $150 up to $20,000. This is a huge price difference, but there are good reasons for this.
Depending on where you plan to install your reverse osmosis system, will reflect in the price. Whether you’re looking to install for home use or your commercial property, let us break it down a little further for you.
Home Installation
Let’s start by looking at the price of installing a reverse osmosis system at home. On average it costs approximately $1500 to install a whole house water filtration system.
However, this is only the average price. The cost of installation can actually range from $500 and $2800.
Commercial Property Installation
When you compare this to the price of installing a commercial-grade reverse osmosis system, there is a stark difference. This is usually due to the size of the commercial property and how many points of use are needed.
Installing a commercial property reverse osmosis system can range anywhere from $1000 to $20,000. This is significantly higher as a commercial property will usually have a larger space than a regular home.
What Does a Reverse Osmosis System Do?
Okay, so you now know the costs involved with installing a reverse osmosis system. Does it sound like it’s the right step for you? If you’re still unsure whether you need one or not, we are now going to take a deep dive into what a reverse osmosis system does.
Simply explained, a reverse osmosis system removes contaminants and impurities from drinking water. They do this by these four following steps: pre-filtration, reverse osmosis, drainage and storage.
The 4 Steps of a Reverse Osmosis System
If you’re someone who loves knowing the ins and outs of how something works, this next bit is for you!
There are four steps to a reverse osmosis system that are essential to help remove any contaminants from your tap water.
1. Pre-filtration
To start off, there is the pre-filtration stage. This is the initial step of connecting your water line to the reverse osmosis system.
During this stage, water will enter the filtration system. Water will be pushed through several filters that will each catch any sediments in the water. Once it has gone through this stage, it is ready to begin the reverse osmosis step.
2. Reverse Osmosis
When the water enters this stage, it is filtered through to the semipermeable membrane. Looking at this membrane in real life, you would never think that water would be able to permeate through.
The semipermeable membrane looks just like a piece of fabric. However, it has been constructed this way to catch any further small particles that didn’t get filtered out in the first stage.
It is pretty impressive just how reverse osmosis systems work. The gaps that the water filters through are just one micron wide. That is more narrow than the diameter of a single strand of human hair!
3. Drainage
Another important stage of a reverse osmosis system is the drainage. Where do you think all of the contaminants end up? They end up in drainage containers that are cleverly placed after the pre-filtration and reverse osmosis stages.
The debris can then be easily removed when cleaned through without clogging the system. This helps the system to stay active for long periods of time.
4. Storage
Once the water has been properly filtered through the reverse osmosis system, it can then be stored for use. The water will be contaminant-free and safe to drink.
During installation, a small water tank will also be installed to store clean drinking water.
Which Contaminants Might Be Removed During Reverse Osmosis?
Doesn’t a reverse osmosis system sound good? We think it sure does! You will be surprised to know some of the most common contaminants that are removed from water in this process.
If you get a high quality reverse osmosis system installed, you can expect up to 99% of contaminants found in tap water to be removed. This will help to prevent any unwanted diseases and sicknesses from entering your home or commercial property.
The top five contaminants that are removed from your water during filtration through a reverse osmosis system are:
- Small particles
- Pyrogens – protein particles that are produced by bacteria. These can be harmful to humans by causing high fevers
- Salts
- Organic bacteria
- Colloids – oil and fat based particles
Final Thoughts
We hope that we have helped to clear up just how much a reverse osmosis system costs to install. The cost of installing one of these water filtration systems can vary. It all depends on whether you’re installing it for your home or your commercial property.
Installing a reverse osmosis system can be extremely beneficial. Arguably, it is definitely worth the money. It can help to remove up to 99% of contaminants in your feed water. This can prevent many unwanted sicknesses in your home or commercial environment.
Whatever you decide is completely up to you. But we hope to have given you the information you need to make your choice.