Whole House Reverse Osmosis

What is a Whole House RO System?

A Whole House Reverse Osmosis (WHRO) system represents the pinnacle of home water purification technology, ensuring every tap in your home delivers superior water quality. For those unfamiliar with this technology, a WHRO system works on the principle of reverse osmosis, a process that meticulously filters out contaminants to provide clean water throughout your entire household. This system differentiates itself from other water treatment solutions by offering a non-selective process that, when applied correctly, can handle the toughest water challenges.

What Does Reverse Osmosis Do? Reverse osmosis is a filtration process that removes contaminants from water by using pressure to force water molecules through a semipermeable membrane. The membrane allows water molecules to pass while blocking larger molecules and a wide range of impurities, including salts, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and organic compounds. The good water is stored for use, and the contaminants are washed down drain. The result is up to 99.5% cleaner and safer water for consumption and use.

Reasons for Choosing Whole House RO Non-Selective Purification: WHRO systems offer the ultimate peace of mind by removing a broad spectrum of current and future unknown chemicals and contaminants. This comprehensive filtration process ensures that water is purified to the highest standard, addressing concerns about emerging pollutants that other treatment methods may miss.

Unique Water Challenges: In areas where water quality issues are particularly complex, such as saltwater intrusion, high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), or the presence of multiple contaminants, WHRO systems shine. They can effectively treat water that other technologies can't handle efficiently or sometimes at all, providing a solution where a standard filtration system falls short.

Health and Sensitivity: WHRO systems are particularly beneficial for individuals with specific health concerns or those more sensitive to water quality variations. By delivering exceptionally high quality water, these systems meet the needs of those who require or prefer the highest water quality standard for their health and well-being.

Uncompromised Quality at Every Tap: For those who demand the best possible water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and daily use, a WHRO system ensures that the highest quality water is available at every tap in the home. It's about not settling for less than the best, ensuring that water quality is never a concern, regardless of its use throughout the household. WHRO is the ultimate peace of mind for water quality.

Is a WHRO right for you?

When considering a Whole House Reverse Osmosis (WHRO) system for your home, it's crucial to understand that the exceptional water quality benefits come with a financial investment in your home and health.

WHRO systems provide unparalleled purification, addressing complex water conditions and health concerns with superior efficiency. However, the significant upfront cost and ongoing maintenance expenses mean this solution may not suit every customer.

We recommend thoroughly evaluating your needs and financial capacity. One of our Penguin Water specialists can help you understand the cost and maintenance required.

FIND A DEALER NOW

The Facts About Recovery Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems are a cornerstone of modern water purification technology, ensuring that households enjoy clean and safe water all over the world. A common misconception about RO systems is that they are unusably wasteful, particularly when comparing whole-house systems with typical under-sink units. Read on to understand how Penguin Water WHRO systems reduce the amount of water wasted(recovery).

Understanding Recovery Rates

The recovery rate in an RO system is defined as the percentage of the input water that is converted into purified water, or “permeate.” A higher recovery rate implies that less water is discarded as waste. Traditional under-sink RO systems have gained notoriety for low recovery rates, often wasting up to five gallons of water for every gallon purified.

Enhanced Recycle and Permeate Flush Features Every Penguin Whole House RO package has standard recycle and permeate flush technologies. The recycle feature cleverly reprocesses water within the system, significantly reducing waste. This innovative approach allows recovery rates exceeding 80% (only 20% is wasted) and higher quality water than competing systems, a remarkable improvement over the under-sink reverse osmosis systems that have much lower recovery rates.

The permeate flush feature that comes standard on all Penguin Water WHRO systems automatically cleans the membrane by using purified water to wash away accumulated contaminants, every time the system cycles - this enhances efficiency, quality, and extends membrane life dramatically.

Membrane Longevity and Efficiency

Membrane longevity is critical in a whole-house RO system. Our systems are typically applied to utilize multiple membrane elements, distributing the filtration workload more evenly. This distribution means that no single membrane bears the full brunt of the purification process, contributing to extended membrane life.

Additionally, by spreading the purification process across more elements, the impact of any one membrane's performance degradation on the overall system is minimized. This redundancy ensures consistent water quality and reduces membrane replacement frequency, offering economic and environmental benefits.

Penguin Water WHRO Systems redefine efficiency in residential water treatment. Incorporating advanced features like recycling technology and permeate flush minimizes waste and maximizes membrane life. Homeowners can take comfort in knowing that choosing Penguin WHRO Systems is a step above competing systems in all areas of sustainable and responsible water purification process.

FIND A DEALER NOW

Common Consumables in RO Systems and Maintenance Frequency Maintenance and Service Plans: Our service professionals offer service contracts for maintenance and consumables for a hassle-free experience. Depending on the situation, they can make the consumable components available for self-service as well.

Anti-Scalant: Anti-Scalant is a food-grade compound that prevents scale deposits in the RO system when applied to hard water. This eliminates the need to pre-soften the water and is much more cost-effective and “lighter” than salt. It is dosed continuously, and the supply checked occasionally, with replacement intervals varying based on the water quality and volume of water treated.

Sediment Pre-Filter: The pre-filter captures larger particles before they reach the RO membrane. It should be replaced every 6-12 months or more frequently if water quality is poor or if the sediment level is high.

UV Lamp and Sleeve: The UV lamp is crucial for disinfecting the water as the last step before it's delivered to the home. The bulb should be replaced annually, while the sleeve that protects it should be cleaned regularly and replaced if damaged. It’s important to ensure the UV lamp is always functioning correctly, as it is key to the microbial safety of the treated water. Our UV controller features an LCD screen that monitors lamp health and alerts when it's time for maintenance.

Membranes: RO membranes are the core components that remove contaminants. They typically last 2-5 years, determined by water quality and usage. Monitoring is easily accomplished with the built-in quality monitor on the RO module. This makes it a snap to determine when performance drops and replacement is needed.

Carbon Re-bed: If you are applying WHRO to a municipal water supply, you will require carbon filtration. Carbon filters remove chlorine and organic compounds detrimental to RO membranes. Depending on usage and water quality, a carbon re-bed should generally be performed every 4-6 years.

Tank Cleaning: Storage tanks hold the clean, filtered water, ready for use. However, depending on the climate and environment, they can accumulate debris and biofilm over time. Although the UV in place will provide safe water from the tank, annual cleaning is recommended to maintain water quality and system hygiene.

pH Adjustment Post-Treatment: RO systems can produce low pH water, making it slightly acidic, and therefore incompatible with soft metal plumbing like copper or brass. To address this, post-treatment pH adjustments are made using a food grade pH adjustment solution, similar to baking soda. You can also use calcite cartridges, which slowly dissolve to buffer acidity and add beneficial minerals back into the water. These cartridges typically need replacement every 6-12 months, depending on water usage and the initial acidity. For systems using Soda Ash injection, the frequency of replenishing the solution will depend on the volume of water treated and the degree of pH correction required.

Note: The exact frequency of replacement or maintenance can vary significantly based on the specific RO system, local water conditions, and usage patterns. Monitoring system performance and water quality regularly is critical to adjust the maintenance schedule accordingly. Your Penguin Water technicians are here to help you maintain your system and ensure it operates for years to come.

A WHRO system offers unparalleled water purity, ensuring that every drop of water in your home is free from contaminants, providing you and your family with the highest quality water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. The benefits of a WHRO system include improved taste, odor, and clarity of water, protection of your appliances and plumbing from scale buildup, and peace of mind knowing that your water is free from harmful pollutants that exist today and ones that will be created in the future.

To determine if a whole-house reverse osmosis system is the right fit for your home, we encourage you to find a dealer near you. Our knowledgeable dealers can assess your specific water needs and provide expert advice on the best solutions for your home. Don't wait to experience the difference that a WHRO system can make in your life. Contact a dealer today and take the first step towards cleaner, healthier water for your entire home.