Alkaline Water And Reverse Osmosis Purifiers
Most Singaporeans will spare no expense to get clean drinking water at home. The most popular choices are RO and Alkaline. Here is a quick summary of the differences between the two types of water purifiers.
Filters vs. ionizers
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water and Alkaline Water are not mutually exclusive products. You may combine the two systems, but most usually choose to invest in one or the other. Either to get cleaner water with RO option 1, or get alkaline water with option 2.
Alkaline filters do not actually filter out particles. They are water ionizers which only change the pH level of water.
The diagram below shows a clearer picture.
Why not choose both?
People are usually divided about the two options. RO is a filter, and filtration is already scientifically proven. On the other hand, scientific studies concerning alkaline water and its health benefits are not yet conclusive.
That is why most would go for only one option.
Implications for us home owners
Going for option 1 (RO), you will get a second level of purification for cleaner water. The level of filtration on RO is 0.0001 microns compared with the standard filtration of 0.01 microns. Go for this if your concern is clean water.
For option 2 (alkaline), your water will be adjusted to be more basic. RO water is around 7 pH, but alkaline water can range from 7 to 12 pH. Each pH level lays claim to some health benefits.
Regardless of choice, both systems require electricity to run so don’t forget to set a power source aside!
Costs and Maintenance
RO water filters operate on a higher level of technology and usually are priced in the $2,000 to $3,000 range, while the filters paired with an alkaline system are usually priced lower at $1,000 to $2,000.
Alkaline and RO filters usually cost around $300 to $450 a year to maintain. A filter change is usually prompted by an in-built countdown timer that issues an alert every 6 to 12 months.
This is where you can save money with an A. O. Smith RO filter, as each cartridge comes equipped with a microchip that records a user’s actual usage instead of just a count-down timer. Filters which record usage are known to last much longer as you only pay for what you use, bringing down your maintenance costs to about $200 a year.
In conclusion…
‘Should I get an Alkaline or RO filter?’ is one of the most common questions today. The decision is still yours, but our choice of filters lie with RO as it is to date a scientifically proven method.
Do you have a question about water filters? Fire away! We’re glad to help.
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