RO Equipment question

[curtis_rachel]

Is there any difference between the RO equipment made by Culligan/Kenmore/Whirlpool and the RO equipment sold at a LFS? Is there a benefit or difference? Could I purchase one from Sears and then add on a DI filter?

Thanks
Curtis

[BubbaWPB]

I don't know if there is any difference (other than price), but I got my Whirlpool RO/DI unit at Lowe's (Home Depot only had smaller units) for about half the price of what the aquarium brands sell for... I've had no problems with water quality...

[tmorr37]

search ebay
I have one and works great
(search ro/di water filter )100$

[curtis_rachel]

Great! Thanks for the information.

[Steven Pro]

There is a very big difference in the component cartridges such as RO membranes, prefilter cartridges, and even prefilter canisters.

[golfish]

Is there any difference between the RO equipment made by Culligan/Kenmore/Whirlpool and the RO equipment sold at a LFS? Is there a benefit or difference? Could I purchase one from Sears and then add on a DI filter?

Thanks
Curtis

Those units are for drinking water that use lower grade RO membranes. The rejection rate is probably around 90% or less. The good systems made by Kent, Spectrapure and airwaterice use better membranes with rejection rates of 98%+...

[curtis_rachel]

that's exactly what we needed to hear. Thanks!

[BubbaWPB]

I checked my documentation on my Whirlpool... it's 95%... now the real rhetorical question - is there a SIGNIFICANT difference between 95 and 98%... and is it worth the price?

[golfish]

I checked my documentation on my Whirlpool... it's 95%... now the real rhetorical question - is there a SIGNIFICANT difference between 95 and 98%... and is it worth the price?

The higher the rejection rate the longer your DI resin will last..I'd say it depends on your tap water.

If the unit is 100 gph or more then their probably streching the 95%

[BubbaWPB]

The higher the rejection rate the longer your DI resin will last..I'd say it depends on your tap water.

If the unit is 100 gph or more then their probably streching the 95%

It's a 50 gallons per day... not high-powered. They suggest replacing the DI resin every 6 months and the RO membrane yearly. It even has a blinking light to remind you when to do the changes.

I was a bit worried after the hurricane this year, since they had so many water line breaks - I'm sure they super-chlorinated the water for a few days, but I've had no problems and have since replaced the DI resins.

[golfish]

Its all about TDS and PO4's for me. I change my RO membrane around every two years depending on my TDS readings off it. It depends on the water going in, that tells you how long it will last. Using a flush kit and good pre filters will make it last longer.

I run two DI's off my RO unit, I replace the resin about once a month, maybe a little longer.

FWIW, I average about 3-5 gals per day.

[curtis_rachel]

Are there any independent DI filters worth getting and adding to an exsisting RO filter?

[golfish]

Are there any independent DI filters worth getting and adding to an exsisting RO filter?

http://www.airwaterice.com/product/ADDVERTDI

[tmorr37]

and this is from the ebay filter about 100 dollars

4th stage: HTFC-100 Hight rejection TFC membrane we use genuine Filmtec material, 100 gal/day, it removes 95% to 98% of all chemical, dissolved solids in tap water. (replace every 1-2 years). Made in USA.

[golfish]

Filmtec material, 100 gal/day, it removes 95% to 98% of all chemical, dissolved solids in tap water.

If you look at Dow's web site you'll see this isn't the case..The 100 gpd membranes have a 90% or less rejection rate..Its always a dead give away at ebay..The unit is new and the price is cheap.

The old saying about you get what you pay for really applies here.