Q. Does Reverse Osmosis unit's waste water?

Some more than others. Our units are very efficient compared to many on the market today. The RO unit will process 1/3 of the good product water for consumption to the holding tank while 2/3's of the waste water flows down the drain. These units are equipped with an automatic shut off valve once the tank is full in order to avoid continuous water flow down the drain.

Q. Does Reverse Osmosis use a lot of water?

Some will use more than others. Most reverse osmosis units are equipped with automatic shut off valves so water is not continually running down the drain once the holding tank is full. The shut off valve and membrane are perfectly matched from the factory so the performance of the membrane filter is at its peak which ensures a high rejection rate of TDS (total dissolved solids in the water). This also saves water, extends the life of the membrane filter and produces the quality of water you expect.

Q. What if the hardness in my water is greater than 10 grains per gallon?

If your water is harder than 10 grains per gallon, then it will tend to exhaust the RO filter prematurely. This is the case with almost all brands of RO systems. If your water is that hard we recommend installing a whole house water softener and conditioning system. The pretreatment of your water will extend the lift of the membrane filters in your reverse osmosis as well as removing chlorine, calcium and magnesium in your water throughout your house.

Q. I've heard you shouldn't use copper pipes with RO systems. Why?

Most brands of RO systems will reduce at least 85-90% of TDS in water, so you can assume the water salt concentration would be about 1/9th of the content in the feed water. The aggressiveness of RO water on materials into which it comes in contact is a function of its purity. The better the purity, the more aggressive the water. Piping after an RO unit should therefore always be non-metallic. RO units will pass on all the C02 that is in the feed water. This means the water will be more corrosive. Don't use copper piping after any (brand of) RO system.

Q. What kind of warranties do reverse osmosis systems you sell usually have?


Hydrotech Reverse Osmosis units offer a two-year warranty. The manufacturer will replace any component defect arising in any of the parts within two-years from the date of purchase. Labor or installation is not covered and there is no liability assumed by any of the companies for damage due to water leakage. This is the "standard" in the industry. Filter replacement is recommended once a year depending on your water quality. If you have no pretreatment to your system we recommended changing filters twice a year.

Q. I've seen cheaper RO units than you sell. Why?

We could sell the cheaper priced RO units but our experience tells us the lower priced units aren't always a bargain in the long run. Field service history has proven a higher rejection rate of TDS (total dissolved solids based on the initial water quality) in the RO units we sell. Our customer satisfaction percentage is very high due to the performance of our units. We feel offering a large inventory of RO units for the sake of advertising a large selection is really not in the best interest of our customers. Customer satisfaction as well as reliable products is our main concern and priority. Our customers rely on us to provide them with the most efficient and overall affordable units. Since we provide field service in our local vicinity we have tested many other manufacture's RO units and found the products we supply carry a higher rejection rate of TDS for a longer period of time.

Q. What is the size of a 2.5 gallon and 3.2 gallon storage tank?

The water storage tanks are approximately 11" tall for a 2.5 gallon and 15" for a 3.2 gallon tank. Through our experience in the field, we have found 3.2 gallon polypropylene tanks are smaller in diameter and will take up less room under a kitchen sink. Over the years we found metal holding tanks have a tendency to rust within a 5 to 7 year span which could cause water damage in some cases. We have not experience any problems with the polypropylene tank.

Q. I have an RO System and there is water coming out from underneath the water dispenser faucet. Is this supposed to happen?

You probably have an air gap style faucet. If there is any type of kink or clog in the RO drain line, water will begin to come out from under the air gap hole in the base of the faucet. If water is leaking from the handle you press to dispense your water, I would suggest replacing the faucet in order to avoid any water damage that may occur.

Q. How often should I replace filters in my RO unit?

It is very important to follow the manufactures recommendations for changing filters in your specific RO unit. Please note, water quality in your area should also be considered when deciding how often to change filters (water hardness and TDS -total dissolved solids) present in your water. As a rule of thumb, we suggest every six months if you don't have a whole house water treatment system in place.

Q. After installing RO filters, the water from my faucet is a bit cloudy, is that normal?

Yes, cloudy or white water will be present after changing filters due to air being trapped within the new filter. Once water runs through the lines and filters your water will clear up unless you have a lot of oxygen normally present in your water. It's always a good practice to flush your filters once you replace them. Some manufactures ship membrane filters with sanitation fluid within the packaging bag. Carbon blocks and activated carbon filters will release some carbon dust in your water when new. Once you replace your filters, always allow your water to run through all filters thus flushing out any sanitation fluid or carbon dust that may be present. It would be a good idea once your filters are changed to drain out your holding tank in order to rinse your filters out.