What Is a Reverse Osmosis Faucet and How Does It Work?
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated: Mar 5, 2023
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Reverse osmosis is widely known for being a reliable method for purifying water and removing a large number of contaminants from it. This has made it a popular solution on the consumer market, with companies offering different configurations suitable for the needs of various users.
Having a dedicated faucet connected to a reverse osmosis system is one of the most common approaches seen these days, with many households having at least one RO faucet, typically in the kitchen.
But what is a reverse osmosis faucet exactly and how does it work?
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Key Takeaways
- A reverse osmosis faucet connects to a reverse osmosis system via tubing and provides you with a constant supply of fresh, filtered water available directly from your kitchen sink.
- It comes in two main types – with and without an air gap – and in various finishes that can allow you to easily match the aesthetics of your kitchen.
What Is a Reverse Osmosis Faucet and How Does It Work?
A reverse osmosis faucet is a faucet with a dedicated connection to a reverse osmosis system. It’s a convenient way of getting the benefits of RO water purification without having to commit to the purchase and installation of a whole house water filter.
Filtration takes place immediately before water is dispensed from the RO faucet, with the filtering unit usually housed under the kitchen sink.
As clean water leaves the reverse osmosis system, it runs up a water line, into the faucet stem, and out the spout.
What’s the Benefit of Using an RO Faucet?
The main benefit of using an RO faucet is that it provides you with fresh, purified water without requiring a complex setup like a whole house filter does. The reverse osmosis system itself can conveniently fit under your sink, taking up almost no space, other than for the storage tank.
Some people also use RO faucets as a “stepping stone” to more advanced whole house purification. It’s a good way to test how RO purification works without investing a lot of money in a more comprehensive solution.
Types of RO Faucets
Reverse osmosis faucets come in several main variants. You should take the time to at least understand the difference between air gap and non-air gap RO faucets, as those are the two main categories you’ll have to choose from.
Air Gap vs Non-Air Gap RO Faucets
The main difference between an air gap and non-air gap reverse osmosis faucet is the presence of additional measures to prevent contaminated water from flowing back into the RO system in case of a sink drain clog.
This is accomplished by adding several extra parts to the system, including an air gap and additional brine lines.
Pros & Cons of Air Gap RO Faucets
- Pro: Improves overall health safety of your drinking water and extends the lifespan of the RO system by preventing dirty water from flowing back into it
- Pro: Guarantees compliance with plumbing codes
- Con: Takes up more space under the sink due to the additional connections
- Con: Requires more effort during the installation process
Pros & Cons of Non-Air Gap RO Faucets
- Pro: Takes up less space
- Pro: Easier to install and maintain
- Con: RO system may clog unless it uses a check valve
- Con: May not be compliant with local plumbing codes and regulations
Triple-Line Faucets
Triple-line faucets are a more advanced version of reverse osmosis faucets which allow you to control when you want to dispense filtered water. One of the lines is dedicated to the RO filter, while the other two provide unfiltered cold and hot water – just like your regular kitchen faucet which gets replaced.
What to Consider When Buying a Reverse Osmosis Faucet
Buying a reverse osmosis faucet is not too different from buying a regular one. The actual filtration takes part elsewhere, so you mostly have to narrow down your choice according to aesthetic preferences and a few minor practical considerations.
Since this will be a main component of your kitchen, it’s important to find something that not only works well, but also looks nice.
Material and Design
This means that you should pay attention to the visual design of the faucet as much as its functionality. As with regular water faucets, there are multiple options to pick from, including some more exotic ones (matte black, satin nickel, antique brass, polished brass, venetian bronze – you name it).
Also, as far as materials are concerned, there is plastic with a metal finish, full metal, ceramic, and more.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a classic choice for water fixtures, and reverse osmosis faucets are no exception. This is one of the most common designs on the market, and you’ll find no shortage of options if you want to go with a stainless steel reverse osmosis faucet.
Chrome
Chrome is in a similar basket, although it’s slightly less dominant on the market right now. Still, there are plenty of models to pick from and you shouldn’t find it too hard to find something that matches the aesthetics of your kitchen.
Brushed Nickel
Brushed nickel is another commonly used material for water fixtures, although it’s more popular in bathrooms than in kitchens. It’s relatively cheap and lasts a long time, while also having relatively low cleaning and maintenance requirements.
Oil-Rubbed Bronze
If you’re looking for something a little less demanding on the cleaning front, oil-rubbed bronze is one of your best bets. It’s known for being more resistant to smudges and fingerprints, which means that you won’t have to spend as much time scrubbing it down. If you live in a large household with multiple people using the kitchen sink, this can be a good way to minimize wear over the long term.
Flow Rate
It’s important to verify that your reverse osmosis faucet supports the right high flow rate to match your RO system’s requirements. Check the manual for more info.
Extra Features
A basic reverse osmosis faucet should be enough for most households. There are some additional options you can pick from if you want to get even more out of your unit though. Those can be especially useful in shared households and when living with small children.
As with many home devices and appliances, smart features are available for reverse osmosis faucets as well. These can provide you with some additional control over your water consumption and measure how much water you’re using.
You can also buy a model with a child lock to prevent your kids from using the faucet when they’re not being supervised. While a reverse osmosis faucet doesn’t have a higher harm potential than a regular faucet, leaving it open accidentally (as a child is prone to do) can significantly inflate your water bill due to all the water that gets wasted when the RO filter is running.
Price
And of course, pay attention to the cost of the unit. If you’ve got a more flexible budget, we encourage you to take more time to compare different models on the market. This is a long-term investment into your household, and spending a bit more can be very beneficial down the road.
As is often the case with household appliances, spending a bit more upfront can also lead to a reduction in your maintenance costs.
Further Reading:
Where to Buy an RO Faucet
You have four main options to pick from when you want to buy a reverse osmosis faucet: you can go directly to a manufacturer’s online store, shop from a general online store like Amazon, visit your local hardware store, or consult a water treatment expert. All of those options have some advantages and disadvantages.
Directly from the Manufacturer
Shopping directly from the manufacturer is a great idea if you already know which model you want to buy. This usually gives you the best prices on the market, and you might be able to get some additional bonuses like extended warranty plans or extra services too.
However, if you’re not very familiar with the market yet, this option is not recommended as it’s not very convenient to compare products from different manufacturers this way.
Online Store
Amazon and other online stores have many offers for reverse osmosis faucets, and it’s a good idea to check what’s available there as well. This is the best option in terms of striking a good balance between price and functionality, although it also has some downsides. The main one is that you can’t always trust the reviews from other users, and you need to take extra time to verify those claims yourself.
Hardware Store
Your local hardware store likely carries a good selection of reverse osmosis faucets too. Their prices might not be as good as those of a large online retailer, but you can take advantage of some extra benefits to make up for that. For example, you can ask a store expert for a consultation. You might also be able to get a tap at a discount as many hardware stores run frequent promotions for various products.
Water Treatment Expert
If you have a water treatment expert in your area, it’s worth paying them a visit too. Their inventory will likely be very limited, but on the other hand, you’ll know that each product they carry has been carefully vetted.
You can also talk to the people at the store and describe your situation in detail to them. They will know what you need to buy better than anyone else on the market. Expect prices to be a bit inflated though. Since these stores operate on a limited inventory, they usually have to increase their prices to make up for the low volume of sales.
How to Install a Regular RO Faucet
Installing a reverse osmosis faucet is something you can typically do yourself without having to hire help. While there are individual points to consider in each unit on the market, the general process is more or less the same every time.
- Drill a hole through your sink/countertop – you may already have one from a previous fixture.
- Insert the faucet through the hole and secure it from underneath the sink.
- Connect the tubing.
If you have any thoughts about the question, what is an RO faucet, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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