This post will highlight 5 things to consider when purchasing a reverse osmosis unit. As leaders in the industry, we want our partners to be prepared when deciding what equipment to purchase. We feel that knowledge is the best tool for making informed decisions, and we want to help by proving that knowledge to our partners. Keep reading to learn more about the 5 things you should consider when purchasing an RO system.
Efficiency
The first thing to consider when purchasing a spot free rinse system is the efficiency of the unit. This can be determined by looking at the unit's reject rate. The reject rate is the ratio or percentage of reject water to spot free water that is produced and rejected by the system. This is an important consideration because it will tell you how efficient the equipment is. The higher the ratio (4:1 vs 1:1 for example) the more efficient the unit is. This means less water will be rejected or wasted that will discharge to sewer. The larger the spot free unit the more water it will discharge. For instance a 9000 GPD system at 1:1 ratio will make 6.25 GPM of spot free water and reject 6.2 GPM and if you have an RO with a 4:1 ratio you will still make 6.25 GPM of spot free water but you will reject 2.1 GPM. If the water cost $5.54 per 1K gallons and you make 9000 GPD of water. At 1:1 ratio the cost of the rejected water will be $49.86 per day. If you have a RO with a 4:1 reject ratio the cost of the rejected water will be $12.46 per day. Over one-year reject water with a 1:1 ratio will cost $18198.90 and $4437.54 if you have a RO with a 4:1 ratio. So, choose your RO system carefully.
Cost
Most consumers consider cost when making any purchasing decision. When purchasing an RO unit, the cost to buy the unit is important, but it's also important to consider the cost of ownership. How much does it cost to maintain the unit? How often does maintenance need to be performed or parts need to be replaced? How much labor and time is required to perform maintenance tasks? All of these factors weigh into the cost of the unit and should be considered when making an informed purchasing decision. Initial purchase price is also important to consider to ensure you are buying a quality piece of equipment that will be cost effective to maintain and economical to own.
support
Support can sometimes be an overlooked item when deciding what equipment to purchase, but it can be an important factor that can save time and money when purchasing an RO unit. Working with a supplier that can provide things such as technical support and documentation, water testing, and training on the unit can eliminate confusion and headaches when maintenance tasks need to be performed or if technical issues arise. Training can be especially important when purchasing an RO unit because training can provide you and your team with the knowledge required to keep your RO unit running at peak performance. Training and support also ensures that your unit will be installed correctly and maintained effectively thus increasing the life of the unit and the return on your investment.
Is a Softener Required?
If you're considering an RO unit that requires a water softener, you should also consider the additional cost and maintenance of running a water softener. Having a water softener means having an additional cost to purchase maintenance supplies, pay for labor and overall having an additional unit to run and maintain. An RO unit that does not require a water softener can save you time and money by eliminating that additional piece of equipment. Additionally, purchasing an RO unit that does not require a softener is more environmentally friendly. This is because water softeners release chloride salts into the environment and adversely affect local rivers, streams and aqueducts. This is especially important in areas that use road salt as there are most likely already high concentrations of salt in the nearby water supplies.
Longevity
Longevity of equipment is how long the equipment is going to last before needing to be replaced. This is an important factor to consider because of the investment needed to purchase a spot free rinse unit. Purchasing a unit that is going to last several years without needing to be replaced will ensure a return on your investment instead of a weight on your wallet.