Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated: Jan 31, 2023
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Whole house reverse osmosis systems are complex and costly – which is why proper maintenance is essential to keep them operating correctly.
Because the up-front cost of these systems is so high, performing scheduled maintenance should be taken seriously. No one wants to shell out several thousand dollars on a whole house RO system, only for it to fail ahead of time because they neglected to take care of it.
Let’s look at the different aspects of whole house reverse osmosis system maintenance, and how to know when your system needs upkeep.
Key Takeaways
Unlike under sink RO systems, which are relatively simple, whole house RO systems vary significantly in terms of the filters used. Whole house systems also have far more water flowing through them than under sink units, so filter replacement intervals and other maintenance tasks differ a lot.
Your maintenance schedule will also vary based on your water chemistry and your water usage. Poor water quality and especially hard water will be tougher on the filters and membrane, which translates into more frequent filter changes.
Because whole house reverse osmosis maintenance requirements are fairly high, you may want to hire a professional to take care of the upkeep for you. If you consider the capital required to purchase one of these systems, it makes sense to have a pro handle the upkeep and avoid the possibility of accidentally damaging the system yourself.
That said, if you like to do things on your own and like the idea of saving some money, you can absolutely maintain a whole house RO system yourself – it’s not rocket science.
Whole house RO system maintenance is necessary to make sure the system continually removes contaminants and that the water quality remains as high as possible. Also, a properly maintained system will last much longer than one that is not being taken care of.
If you’re unsure about your water quality, it’s a good idea to get a professional water report done. This will help you select the right system for your needs as well as determine which pre and post-treatment you’ll need.
Just like you wouldn’t buy a Ferrari and skip the oil changes, investing in a whole house RO system means you should be prepared to complete the necessary maintenance on time.
While it might seem complex, if you have a checklist and schedule to follow, then performing regular maintenance only requires you to stick to the timetable.
As mentioned previously, the exact maintenance tasks and schedule will vary depending on the quality and composition of your feed water, the system specs, and your water usage.
Sediment pre-filters are used to remove large particles like sand, silt, and sediment that can clog and damage the RO membrane. These filters generally need to be changed every 6 to 9 months but make sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Carbon pre-filters are used on nearly every RO system to remove chlorine/chloramine from feed water before it reaches the membrane. Cartridge-based carbon filters typically need to be changed every 6 to 12 months.
Iron filters are sometimes used to remove iron, sulfur, and manganese from feed water. Elevated levels of these can be hard on the RO membrane. Iron filters come in several different types, with some requiring filter changes among other things.
In regions with hard water, a water softener is often needed as a pre-filtration stage. Hard water contains a large quantity of dissolved minerals, which are hard on the RO membrane and other filters.
Water softeners are fairly low maintenance, but they require salt to be added every month or two, plus yearly cleaning of the brine tank and resin bed.
The RO membrane is the heart of any RO system and is responsible for ultra-fine filtration and particle removal. These membranes will last up to a few years in most cases, but again be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for membrane replacement.
In addition to pre-filters, whole house RO systems will typically include one or more post-filters.
The most common of these is a calcite filter for neutralizing low-pH water which, otherwise, would corrode your plumbing and even leach metals.
Calcite is a form of naturally occurring calcium carbonate rock. It corrects water pH by adding just enough calcium carbonate to the water to raise its pH back into the normal range. These filters typically need to be replaced every 12 months.
A UV light post-filter is also sometimes included to eradicate any microbial contamination that made it past the RO membrane. UV filters require bulb replacement every 1-2 years, yearly cleaning of the quartz sleeve, and quartz replacement every 2 years or so.
While whole house reverse osmosis systems are superb filters, they can and will accumulate bacteria and biofilm if you neglect to clean and sanitize them regularly. The storage tank is particularly susceptible to this, so extra care must be taken here.
Cleaning and sanitizing a system will typically require removing the pre-filters, post-filters, and membrane, and then flushing the entire system and tank with a bleach solution. Then the process is repeated without any bleach until the water is free of any sanitizer scent.
This process will need to be completed every 12 to 24 months; consult your manufacturer for an exact schedule.
In addition to performing scheduled maintenance, you might notice something is off with your system when it starts to perform unusually.
An odd taste or scent in the water is a pretty big sign that something is off. RO water should be clean and completely neutral tasting, so a strong odor or off-taste is a good indication that something needs replacing.
A higher-than-normal amount of wastewater generated by the reverse osmosis membrane is another clear sign that something is off. This could be a problem with the flow regulator, too.
Low pressure coming from your faucets could also indicate a problem with a clogged RO membrane or clogged filters. These all require a little troubleshooting to determine the cause of the problem.
If you have any questions about whole house reverse osmosis system maintenance please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
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