Whole House Water Filter vs. Reverse Osmosis — What’s the Difference?

We all rely on water, whether for drinking, washing, cooking, laundry, or a variety of other purposes. And ideally, we need that water to be as pure as possible, so it doesn’t cause us any harm.

The problem is that even water from a municipal supplier contains some contaminants while well water can have all sorts of unpleasant content. The only answer is to purify the water in the most effective manner possible. That often means choosing between a whole house water filter and a reverse osmosis system.

Water Filtration vs Reverse Osmosis: Which is Better

Everybody knows what a filter is because we use them in all sorts of applications: face masks are kind of filters and the paper filters that we use for making coffee let the flavor through but keep the coffee grounds out. Even the colander or sieve you strain pasta or vegetables through is a filter.

Reverse osmosis sounds more technical – and it is, but it does the same job. It uses a semi-permeable membrane to keep impurities back while allowing the water through. Long words vs short ones, same result.

Whichever system you go for, congratulations on deciding to tackle the issue.

How Whole House Filters and Reverse Osmosis Are Different?

Both types of systems will remove contaminants and improve the taste and smell of water. However, the way they do it and the overall effect are different:

A whole house system uses a series of different filters to purify the water while reverse osmosis forces water through a semi-permeable membrane to remove contaminants.

• A whole house system is also known as a point-of-entry system since it filters all the water that enters the house, so it is available as pure water. A reverse osmosis system, on the other hand, is a point-of-use system that is connected to a single output, usually a kitchen faucet, so its main aim is to provide clean water for drinking and cooking. If you need purified water elsewhere, you’ll have to install more than one reverse osmosis system.
• By employing multiple filters, a whole house system can remove a wide variety of contaminants. These include sediment filters to remove large particles, activated carbon for chloride, VOCs, and other problems, and UV purifiers to kill bacteria and viruses.

A reverse osmosis system is more selective, removing specific contaminants such as salts, certain chemicals, and heavy metals, although it is recognized as being the best at producing pure water due to the small size of its membrane’s pores and is often selected for this reason.

• The reverse osmosis process typically produces 2-3 gallons of waste water for each gallon of pure water, although the waste water can be used for garden watering, floor cleaning, and toilet flushing. Whole house filtration produces no waste water.
• Since a whole house system comprises multiple filters, it can be quite large while a reverse osmosis system is much smaller and can be placed on or under a countertop.
• Whole house systems are cheaper to buy but more expensive to maintain due to the need to replace filters periodically.
• Reverse osmosis systems remove all minerals, even beneficial ones, which can be added back by a remineralization stage.

Deciding on the Most Suitable Type

Which type is best for you will come down to a personal choice, which may be influenced by your budget and what you need. If you require purified water everywhere, then a whole house system will be the best option. If the purest water is essential, then reverse osmosis may be necessary. You may not have space for a whole house system or may need to deal with specific contaminants.

We can help you make the right choice and get the best system for your specific needs. We have the knowledge, experience, and range of systems to ensure all your water requirements are met.

Contact Us to Find Out More

Contact Aqua Pro if you want a fuller explanation and to take advantage of our water-purifying expertise. Give us a call or fill in the online form and you’ll be on your way to purer water, one way or another.