What You Need To Know About Reverse Osmosis System

Reverse osmosis system is a method of purifying water and making it safe for drinking. It is a systematic way of filtering water by trapping contaminants on the membrane and allowing pure water to flow out of the membrane. Although a lot of people make use of this system in their homes, not all understand their basic features and functionalities. The process of water filtration using the reverse osmosis system is quite easy to grasp. There are no technical details involved in its operation. Below, we shall help you understand the different mechanisms that help the reverse osmosis function properly.

Things Involved in Reverse Osmosis Filtration System

Pre-filter: The pre-filter is the first stage of most RO systems. It is where water undergoes through the first stage of filtration by reducing the size of finer particles to a reasonable level that can be handled by the membranes. Pre-filtration as the name implies, is not the main stage of filtration. But it plays a vital role by removing sand and tough particles that would have been a problem to the membrane when they are allowed to clog the membrane. The RO membrane is very expensive and proper maintenance should be observed to prolong its lifespan. One of the ways of maintaining the membrane is to always prevent frequent clogging of the membrane. To do this, there is a pre-filtration stage that helps to remove some particles that would have clogged and damage the membrane. This is why pre-filtration is very important.

Pre-carbon stage: this is another important RO stage used in removing chlorine before it comes to the membrane. The pre-carbon stage is only applied on the TFC system. If it is applied on the CTA system, the membrane is likely to fail. This is because a CTA system requires chlorine in the water to function effectively. The removal of this chlorine by a carbon filter may affect the performance of the membrane in the CTA system.

Membrane: we all know this is the main feature of the entire RO system. If the membrane fails, the system has failed too. The membrane is the key figure required by all types of reverse osmosis systems. It is the place where the main filtration process is carried out. RO membranes have fine pores that allow only water molecules to pass through while other contaminants with bigger pores than water are trapped and discarded. There are two main types of residential RO membranes: the thin composite membrane (TFC) and the tri-acetate (CTA) membrane. The TFC does not work well in chlorinated water while the CTA membrane cannot function properly without chlorinated water. Many 3-stage reverse osmosis systems are basically CTA systems while a 4-stage system is usually a TFC system. So, when buying a best reverse osmosis water filter system, ensure you take a look at the label and find out whether it is marked CTA or TFC. TFC membranes last longer than CTA membranes. Usually, TFC membranes are replaced every two years while you need to replace a CTA membrane every year.

Check valve: This is a vital addition to the reverse osmosis water filtration system. It prevents water from moving back into the membrane after the inlet water is shut off. It is important to keep this feature working properly because a non-working one can destroy your membrane within one month of usage. The valve is not expensive and it is a worthwhile insurance for your expensive membrane.

Overall, the above features of a reverse osmosis system are very important and play vital roles to ensure the continuous operation of the system. This is why it is important to keep a good maintenance routine to protect your RO system and preserve it for a very long time.

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