The Pros And Cons Of Reverse Osmosis

If you have hard water in your home, you may be considering installing some type of a water softener. One type of water softener is a reverse osmosis water filtration system. This type filters out many of the impurities found in water, leaving you with softer, cleaner water. However, as with most things, there are pros and cons to using reverse osmosis to treat your water. Learning these pros and cons can help you decide if this is the best water softening system for your home. Here are a few of the advantages and disadvantages.

Cons of Reverse Osmosis

• May Not Remove Chemical Components in the Water

One of the downsides to using reverse osmosis is that it can only filter out impurities in water that are larger than a water molecule. Fortunately, the minerals that cause hard water are larger than a water molecule, ensuring they are removed. However, many cities and counties are treating their city water with chemicals, such as chlorine. These chemicals are often smaller than a water molecule, and thus will not be removed. If you are looking for chemical-free drinking water, in addition to softer water, this may not be the right option for you.

• Can Remove Good Minerals

The other disadvantage to reverse osmosis is that you can strip good minerals out of the water as well. These minerals, such as calcium, not only improve the taste of the water, but are good for your body and health as well. Unfortunately, there is no way to pick which minerals to remove and which to keep with a reverse osmosis softening system.

Pros of Reverse Osmosis

• Effective Way to Soften Hard Water

One of the biggest benefits to reverse osmosis is that it is an extremely effective way to soften hard water. If you don't drink the tap water at your home anyways, and are tired of scrubbing rust or calcium stains out of your sink or bathtub, this softening system is effective at removing those impurities that cause hard water.

• Easy to Maintain

The other advantage to a reverse osmosis system is that it is extremely easy to care for. You simply need to replace or clean the filter as recommended by the manufacturer of the system you purchase. There are no salts to buy or use and there is no huge system to maintain or clean every few months. If you want to get rid of hard water in your home, but you don't want something else you have to constantly care for or maintain, a reverse osmosis system may be perfect for you.

If you are tired of hard water in your home, installing a water softener can solve the process. Learning the pros and cons of a reverse osmosis system will help you decide if it is the best way for you to improve your home's water.