What is whole home osomosis system – Why it should be in every home.

My personal thoughts on whole home osmosis systems as a builder.

Most people do not realize just how bad their water is until they fix it. You become accustomed to the odor, the flavor, the film on the glass, the dryness of your skin, the white buildup on the shower door, and the white buildup on your faucets. You assume this is normal. It is not. It is simply what occurs when your house is functioning with untreated or inadequately treated water.

A whole home osmosis system corrects this entirely. Not merely for drinking water, but for each drop of water entering the house, including: showers, laundry, cooking, ice maker, coffee machine, dishwasher, outdoor hose, etc., etc. After living with it, you will never desire to go back to the old method again.

I am going to break down the above information in simple terms so that you can understand why this is important and why more upscale houses are now installing whole house osmosis systems rather than the typical kitchen sink reverse osmosis system.

DEFINITION OF WHOLE HOME OSOMOSIS SYSTEMS

Most homes which have a reverse osmosis system, only have it installed at the kitchen sink. Although this provides improved drinking water, the rest of the house is still utilizing the same hard, chemically filled water supplied by the city or private well.

A whole house osmosis system cleans the water prior to its distribution throughout the house. The water enters the house via the main supply line, flows through the filtration system and then supplies the entire house with clean water.

Therefore, you will have:

• Clean water at every faucet
• Clean water in every shower
• Clean water in the washing machine
• Clean water in the dishwasher
• Clean water in the ice maker
• Clean water everywhere

Not most of the house. All of it.

That is the difference.

PROBLEMS WITH SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S WATER

As you are aware, the water in Southwest Florida has many problems. Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Lehigh Acres, etc. all have water with an abundance of minerals, chlorine, sulfur, and other contaminants.

You experience this in various forms, such as:

• Hard water stains
• Rotten egg smell
• White scale buildup
• Dry skin after showers
• Foggy glassware
• Poor-tasting coffee
• Short appliance lifespan

These issues are more than mere annoyances. They cost money.

Hard water damages fixtures, clogs pipes, shortens the life of hot water heaters, and reduces the life expectancy of washing machines. A whole house osmosis system addresses the problem at the source rather than addressing it one faucet at a time.

WATER SOFTENERS VS. REVERSE OSMOSIS FILTERS

Many people mistakenly believe that a water softener performs the same function as a reverse osmosis filter. However, it does not.

A water softener removes the mineral salts that create “hard” water (calcium and magnesium), however, it does not remove chlorine, heavy metals, nor other contaminants that may exist in the water. While the water may feel softer, it is not necessarily cleaner.

On the other hand, reverse osmosis systems filter the water to a much greater degree. Reverse osmosis systems force the water through a semi-permeable membrane that removes tiny particles from the water, including substances that are invisible, tasteless and odorless.

Whole house osmosis systems provide:

• Softer water
• Cleaner water
• Tastier water
• Less chemical exposure
• Longer life expectancy for plumbing and appliances
• It is a different level of filtration.

WHY HIGH-END HOMES ARE INSTALLING WHOLE HOUSE SYSTEMS

In high-end homes and particularly in custom homes, whole house osmosis systems are becoming standard. living in a million dollar home, you do not want low quality water flowing through your expensive fixtures.

Protecting your investment with good water is a primary reason builders and homeowners are installing whole house reverse osmosis systems today rather than later.

SHOWERS FEEL DIFFERENT WITH WHOLE HOUSE OSOMOSIS SYSTEMS

One of the things you immediately notice after installing a whole house osmosis system is how different the showers feel.

Untreated water leaves your skin feeling dry after a shower. Soap does not wash off cleanly. Your hair feels coarse. Glass doors are covered in spots.

• Whole house osmosis water:
• Rinses soap from your body cleanly
• Leaves your skin feeling smooth
• Makes your hair feel softer
• Reduces spotting on glass
• Reduces buildup on tile

You will not find anything better than this.

People that install whole house osmosis systems consistently say the same thing — they wished they had done this earlier.

YOUR APPLIANCES LAST LONGER

Hot water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, coffee machines, etc. all have a shorter lifespan when exposed to hard water.

Scale accumulates within the equipment. Heating coils accumulate deposits. Lines become restricted. Efficiency declines. Parts fail more quickly.

Good water means:

• Less scale
• Less corrosion
• Less maintenance
• Longer life expectancy on equipment
• This will save you money over the long term, particularly in larger homes.

BETTER FOR COOKING AND DRINKING

Even if you have a filter at your sink, whole house osmosis will improve the overall quality of the water in your home.

With clean water:

• Coffee will taste better
• Ice will taste better
• Pasta will cook better
• There will be no chlorine odor
• There will be no sulfur taste

You will not realize how much water impacts your food until you address the issue.

Restaurants know this. That’s why many restaurants utilize filtration systems to ensure their customers receive the best possible product.

Your house should be protected in the same manner.

HOW DO YOU INSTALL A WHOLE HOUSE OSOMOSIS SYSTEM

Typically, a whole house osmosis system is located in the garage or outdoors near where the main water line enters the house. The components include:

• Pre-filters
• Filter membrane
• Storage tank
• Pump
• Post-filter

It is not a small unit; however, in custom homes, there is plenty of room to plan for installation.

The key to a successful installation is to install it properly and size it appropriately for the home. A small unit on a large home will not function properly. This is not something you take a chance on.

It needs to be sized based upon the total flow rate of the home.

IS IT WORTH THE COST?

Short Answer — Yes, if you value your home.

Whole house osmosis systems are more costly than basic softeners; however, you are fixing the entire problem and not just a portion of it.

You protect:

• Your plumbing
• Your fixtures
• Your appliances
• Your glass
• Your tile
• Your cabinets near sinks
• Your outdoor kitchens
• Your ice machines
• Your coffee machines

You will also enjoy cleaner water every day.

Most individuals that have installed whole house osmosis systems state the same thing:

This should be required in Florida.

Unless your water is very bad, you probably do not give much thought to your water. You do not think about it until you fix it. Then, once you fix it, you start to appreciate how much the water impacts every aspect of your home.

Whole house osmosis provides you with clean water throughout your entire home, not just at the kitchen sink. Your showers will feel cleaner, your appliances will last longer, your fixtures will remain cleaner, and your entire home will operate the way it was intended to.

If you are building a new home, remodeling, or simply tired of the negative effects caused by bad water, a whole house osmosis system is an upgrade that makes perfect sense.

Not flash. Not style. Just better.

Jason.