Reverse Osmosis Systems
Home water filtration is very important – it removes unwanted contaminants from your water and makes it safe for everyone to drink. However, sometimes simple filtration isn’t enough. If your water needs to be distilled or softened due to high levels of nitrates, arsenic or heavy metals, reverse osmosis is probably a necessary step to take to ensure the water is safe to drink out of the tap.
Wickstrom Plumbing, Heating & Cooling provides a full lineup of water filtration and reverse osmosis systems along with expert installation and maintenance services. Our goal is to see our Boise area customers to get the best drinking water possible out of their home plumbing system. If you’re interested in learning more about reverse osmosis and how it will improve the quality of your drinking water, call us today.
How Reverse Osmosis Works
Osmosis is the process by which water passes through a porous membrane between two environments with variable pressure. Reverse osmosis is not revolutionary, as it happens in our bodies every day. In fact, reverse osmosis is one of the most important ways that our cells bring in nutrients and remove waste. However, with advances in technology, reverse osmosis filters can now be used to remove impurities and contaminants from the water in your home as well.
If you place two chambers of water with different pressure levels next to each other, separated by a porous membrane in between, the water with a higher pressure level will pass through the membrane into the second chamber until the pressures are even. Usually, the easiest way to create a higher pressure level is by adding a new compound to the mixture, such as salt.
Reverse osmosis works by pressurizing the water supplies and forcing water with salt in it to pass through a porous filter into the opposite chamber where there will be no contaminants or salts. While most filtration systems remove unwanted sediment or debris, only a reverse osmosis system removes excess salinity from water that has been softened.
Why do you need to remove that excess salt? Because drinking salt water is dangerous for your body. In fact, when you drink salt water, osmosis pulls water from the cells all over your body to equalize the pressure of the water in your stomach. By drinking salt water, you literally dehydrate your organs. While the softening agents in a water treatment system are not fatal, they are not safe to drink and they definitely don’t provide the same health benefits as fresh water.
Reverse Osmosis Installation
When you decide it’s time to install a new reverse osmosis system in your home, check to find out which contaminants must be removed. Full water testing determines if you need to filter for nitrates, water hardness, sediment or debris that can get into your water supply.
If you have an existing water filtration system installed, reverse osmosis needs to be integrated into that system. A trained technician will identify the best solution for your home, while keeping the cost to a minimum.
If you’re ready to learn more about reverse osmosis and the many benefits it offers, contact Wickstrom Services today. Our plumbers and technicians install reverse osmosis systems in homes across the Boise and Nampa metropolitan area and can help you choose the right system for your home. Whether you simply have a few questions or are ready to get started with the full installation process, call us today to learn more about our installation, maintenance, and service plans.
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