Facts On Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

Reverse osmosis, also known as hyperfiltration or ultra-filtration, is the finest filtration methods known. This process will allow the removal of particles as small as ions from a solution. Reverse Osmosis (RO) was developed in the late 1950's under U.S. Government funding, as a method of desalinating sea water. Today, reverse osmosis has earn its name as the most convenient and thorough method to filter water. It is used by most water bottling plants, and by many industries that require ultra-refined water in manufacturing. Now this advanced technology is available to homes and offices for drinking water filtration. Reverse osmosis is mainly used to purify water and remove salts and other impurities in order to improve the color, taste or properties of the fluid. It can be used to purify fluids such as ethanol and glycol, which will pass through the reverse osmosis membrane, while rejecting other ions and contaminants from passing. The most common use for reverse osmosis is in purifying water. It is used to produce water that meets the most demanding specifications that are currently in place.

How It Works

In short, it is the process by which water molecules are forced through a 0.0001 micron semi-permeable membrane by water pressure. Long sheets of the membrane are ingeniously sandwiched together and rolled up around a hollow central tube in a spiral fashion. This rolled-up configuration is commonly referred to as a spiral wound membrane or module. They are available in different sizes for processing different quantities of water. Typically, a module for home water treatment is as small as 2" diameter and 10" long, while one for industrial use may be 4" diameter and 40" long.

For the membrane to be usable it must be in some type of container (membrane housing) so pressure can be maintained on its surface. It is this pressure that supplies the energy to force the water through the membrane, separating it from unwanted substances. The most amazing aspect of RO is that the substances left behind are automatically diverted to a waste drain so they don't build up in the system as with conventional filtering devices. This is accomplished by using a part of the unprocessed water (feed water) to carry away the rejected substances to the drain, thus keeping the membrane clean. This is the reason to why RO membranes can last so long and perform like new with minimum maintenance even after years of operation.

  

Frequently Asked Questions

1) Water quality:  How is RO water compared to bottled water?

2) RO filtration:   How effective is Reverse Osmosis filtration compared to other methods?

3) APEC RO:   How are APEC RO systems compared to other ROs in the market?

4) Choosing & sizing system:   What system should I choose? There are so many kinds!

5) Not-needed features:   Are membrane-flushing and built-in TDS meters necessary?  Why don't APEC ROs have them?

6) Gallons per day:   APEC's smallest system makes 36/45 gal/day, but we don't need that much pure water!

7) Installation:   Can I install this myself? What if I am unable to?

8) Maintenance:   What is the maintenance schedule?

9) Filter change:   Is it easy to change filters?

10) Buying filters:   Do I have to buy replacement filters only from APEC?

11) Moving system:  If I move, can I remove the system to bring with me?

12) Ultra Violet light :  When do we need to add a UV light to our system?

1) Water quality:   How is RO water compared to bottled water?

Just as good or even better. We use the same technology, reverse osmosis (RO), as other major bottling plants use to filter water. Our drinking water has a sweet taste with a touch of minerals —not like the flat taste of distilled or bottled water. The five-stage system is the most stable and complete RO process. The best part is that you maintain your system and ensure your family's health yourself.  |TOP |

2) RO filtration:   How effective is Reverse Osmosis filtration compared to other methods ?

RO is the most convenient and effective method of water filtration. It filters water by squeezing water through a semi-permeable membrane, which is rated at 0.0001 micron (equals to 0.00000004 inch!). This is the technology used to make bottled water, it is also the only technology capable of desalinating sea water, making it into drinking water.

Non-RO water filters are much less effective, and the pore size on these filter media are much bigger, generally 0.5 - 10 micron. They can filter out coarse particles, sediments and elements only up to their micron rating. Anything finer and most dissolved substances cannot be filtered out. As a result, water is far less clean and safe compare to reverse osmosis filtration. Click for more detailed infomation on reverse osmosis technology | TOP |

3) APEC RO :   How are APEC RO systems compared to other ROs in the market?

1) Every component of our Ultra RO system is U.S. made and FDA/ NSF approved. Many other systems in the water industry now use lower quality parts (foreign cloned) that break easily, clog up the system in a few months, and have a much shorter life-span.

2) Our pre-filters are patented KX extruded solid carbon blocks. "Extruded block" means uniformly solid construction which prevents channeling or bypassing. Their superior material and construction offer greater absorptive and dirt holding capacity than other non-extruded carbon blocks or G.A.C. (granular activated carbon) filters. Most importantly, our carbon blocks do not release any carbon fines to clog up systems.

The Ultra RO System is equipped with two extruded carbon blocks to last longer before change-outs. Our pre-filters can treat up to 4000-5000 gallons of "filtered water", While other RO systems in the market typically can only last about 2000 gallons of filtered water. This means their filters have to be changed twice as often as ours. When other vendors claim that they can treat up to 10,000 gallons of "water," it means they can deliver only 2000 gallons of "filtered water."  Remember, all RO systems need to generate brine water in order to produce clean, filtered water! You have to divide their claimed total numbers by 5. Once you understand this, you will not be misled by any number games.

3) Our FILMTEC membrane's average rejection ratio is proved to be about 98% to 99% and it lasts 5-7 years easily. While most other system's membrane rejection is between 89% and 95% and you would need to replace their membranes in only 1-2 years.

4) Our Ultra 5-stage RO is specially designed to treat all types of water while other ROs can treat only certain types of water. Our system has high allowances for variations in pH (2-11), in maximum dissolved solids (up to 2000 ppm), in water pressure (0 to 100 psi), in output (45-250 gpd), etc.... Meanwhile, a standard RO in the market is limited and can only treat water in the pH range 4-8, with maximum solids up to only 1000 ppm, with water pressure from 60-80 psi, and with output of only 15 to 25 gallons per day. This means if your input water happens to be harder, more acidic, or heavier than the usual standard water sources, those lesser RO systems will break down gradually, and not knowingly, you would be drinking bad water —your investment is wasted. |TOP|

4) * Choosing & sizing system:  What system should I choose, there are so many kinds!

This is why we are the most comprehensive web site for Reverse Osmosis Systems. Many sellers of RO systems do not even know how ROs are affected by water pressures and temperatures. When retailers just sell inappropriate systems for the customer's situation, consumers will be surprised by problems like:

As you can see, it is important to choose the right RO system to match your water situation. This will keep your system running at top shape and your water tasting great for years.

A simple way to choose your RO system:           

If you have to size your system precisely, then you need to understand that the actual flow rate GPD(Gallons Per Day) of any reverse osmosis system depends on your home water pressure and temperature. This is why all of our systems are named as they are, for example: 36/45 GPD means it is rated at 36 GPD at 50 psi of water pressure, 45 GPD at 60 psi. While the industry standard is set at 60 psi, we know that not everyone's cold water is at 60 psi and 77 degrees F. Instead of misleading customers into thinking that a 45 GPD system will guarantee a flow rate of 45 GPD, we remind you that you might get less than 45 GPD —perhaps 36 GPD or even less if your pressure and temperature are very low! So when flow rate is critical for you, you need to consider all these factors.

5) Unneeded features:   Are membrane-flushing and built-in TDS meters necessary?  Why don't APEC ROs have them?

Frankly, these are useless features added just to help sell products. Membrane flushing is an old technology that is only used for commercial RO membranes these days. Most of the residential RO membranes now are using new technologies that require no flushing. The most dangerous is the "auto flush" type, because it actually "reduces" the life of your small home membrane by flushing it constantly, even when there is no need for it. We know others claim that with their flushing, their membrane can last 2-4 years. Yet our advanced membrane, without hassles of flushing, lasts 5-8 years if you just change your pre-filters regularly.

The built-in TDS meter is also just another marketing gimmick. We think adding it actually misleads customers rather than helping them, because the TDS meter does not indicate it is time to change your filters. It lights up only when your TDS is high —after your membrane is damaged!  If the meter is on the system, you will tend to wait for the red light before you change the pre-filters. But then it is too late. The membrane is dead already when you see the light. So this function actually helps kill the membrane rather than preserve it. We tell customers to just change filters every year and their membranes will be protected. And we can send you a free hand-held TDS meter so you can check on the water once every few months or so if you are worried. This way there is no dependence on the monitor to tell you when to change the filters. | TOP |

6) Gallons per day:   APEC's smallest system makes 36/45 gal/day, but we don't need that much drinking water!

Yes, we know nobody uses 36 or 90 gallons of drinking water a day. But you have to see this as the "speed" with which the RO system makes the drinking water. For example, a typical RO makes 15 GPD. This means it only produces about 0.6 gallons of water per hour at the standard pressure 60 psi and at the at standard temperature 77 °F. So you need to wait at least 5-7 hours for a 3 gallon tank to fill! Not to mention, if your pressure is on the low side, and if it is winter time (average winter U.S. water temperature is only 35°F), then easily you can wait around for up to half a day (12 hours) just for the tank to be filled again! Now you see why a higher quality system needs to take speed into account. Let's take a look at our 36/45 GPD Ultra RO System: it is going to only take about 1.7–3 hours for it to fill your tank*. What a difference! Now you think 36/45 GPD is a good speed for a system, right! 
* actual result depends on your input water pressure and temperature.

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7) Installation:   Can I install this myself?  What if I am unable to?

Our systems come with instructions and are easy to install. But if you really can not or are just afraid to do the job, not a problem; just call on any plumber in your yellow pages and they can install it for you for a small fee. | TOP |

8) Maintenance:   What is the maintenance schedule?

Our systems come with filters that can process about 4,000-5,000 gallons of filtered water. We calculate that if you use 10 gallons of pure water per day, this would last you more than one year. Even if you do not use that much water per day, we still encourage you to change the three pre-filters about once a year. This is for your own good health, because after all, the replacement filters do not cost too much and you should not wait for the filters to totally deplete before you replace them. | TOP |

9) Filter change:   Is it easy to change filters?

Very easy. Just order the needed filters from us and use the filter housing wrench that came with your system to swap out filters. This way you maintain the system yourself without depending on others and you will feel confident about your drinking water. | TOP |

10) Buying filters:   Do I have to buy replacement filters only from APEC?

We do recommend that you buy replacement filters from us, because we offer the original, top quality filters that were designed to help our systems to be trouble-free and lasting. We sell them at lower prices than most other places.

We use industry-standard size 10" filters, and you can find "similar ones" at most home improvement stores. Even though these similar filters do not perform up to our original specifications, they are still usable by an APEC system. So if you are worried that for some reason you could not find us in the future, your system will be just fine. | TOP |

11) Moving system:  If I move, can I remove the system to bring with me?

This system is very easy to uninstall. There is no need to completely uninstall; just take off the water inlet tubing, close our water inlet needle shut off, and take off the whole system in 5 minutes. You can order a moving-kit from us and you will have a new shut off tap to install in your new residence. | TOP |

12) Ultra Violet light:  When do we need to add a UV light to our system?

If you are on a municipal water system (chlorinated tap water) in the U.S., chances are you will not need a UV light on top of our Ultra RO System. If you are on well water, or if you suspect your water source is unsafe and want to have extra protection, then you can add a UV light to ensure safe drinking water. |TOP|