Reverse-osmosis Unit
Reverse-osmosis Unit | Water Purification | Plumbing | Cleveland
Tired of tap that tastes like the lake? HEP’s licensed plumbers design and install reverse-osmosis units that strip away dissolved solids, chlorine, lead, and lingering odors—serving up crisp, bottle-quality drinking water right from your Cleveland kitchen faucet. Our technicians size each system to your family’s needs, hook it seamlessly into existing plumbing, and finish with post-install testing so you can taste the difference immediately.
From the first call to routine filter swaps, we handle every detail of your water purification journey. You get smarter hydration, fewer plastic bottles, and the confidence that comes from having local experts on speed dial whenever the Great Lake decides to send extra minerals your way. Taste the HEP upgrade today and see why Cleveland homes are turning to reverse-osmosis for uncompromising water quality.
FAQs
How does a reverse-osmosis (RO) system work, and why is it effective for Cleveland water?
An RO unit forces tap water through a semipermeable membrane that has microscopic pores (≈0.0001 µm). Dissolved ions, heavy metals, and most organic molecules are rejected, while purified water (permeate) passes through. Cleveland’s municipal water is drawn from Lake Erie and treated with chlorine/chloramine, but trace contaminants, hardness minerals, and possible lead from older service lines can remain. A standard 4- or 5-stage RO system adds sediment and carbon pre-filters (to catch rust, silt, and chlorine) and a post-carbon “polishing” filter for taste. The result is excellent-tasting, low-TDS water that is ideal for drinking, cooking, and coffee/tea equipment protection.
What contaminants will an RO unit remove from Northeast Ohio municipal water?
Independent lab tests show that properly maintained RO systems reduce: • Heavy metals: lead, copper, chromium, mercury. • Dissolved solids: calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfate, nitrate/nitrite. • Treatment by-products: chlorine, chloramine, trihalomethanes (THMs). • Emerging contaminants: PFAS ("forever chemicals"), some pharmaceuticals, micro-plastics. • Taste/odor agents: hydrogen sulfide, earthy/musty lake compounds. • Optional fluoride removal (50–90 % depending on pH and membrane age). This broad removal spectrum makes RO one of the most comprehensive point-of-use technologies for Greater Cleveland homes.
Where is the RO system installed and will it affect my home’s water pressure?
Most residential units mount under the kitchen sink or in the basement directly below it. We connect a feed line to the cold-water shut-off, route the concentrate (waste) line to the sink’s drain, and install a dedicated RO faucet on the countertop—often through an existing sprayer/soap-dispenser hole. The system includes a 2–4 gal pressurized storage tank that delivers 30–40 psi at the faucet, so normal plumbing pressure (typically 60 psi in Cleveland) to the rest of the house is unaffected. If household pressure is below 40 psi, we can add a quiet booster pump to keep production rates high.
How often do RO filters and membranes need to be replaced in the Cleveland climate?
Frequency depends on usage and feed-water quality, but typical schedules are: • Sediment pre-filter: every 6–12 months (Cleveland water carries seasonal Lake Erie sediment spikes). • Carbon block(s): every 6–12 months to maintain chlorine/chloramine removal and protect the membrane. • RO membrane: every 2–3 years (longer if TDS is low and pre-filters are changed on time). • Post-carbon polishing filter: every 12 months for best taste. We offer annual service plans that include TDS testing to confirm membrane integrity and swap only what’s needed, keeping ownership costs predictable.
Is professional installation required, and what plumbing modifications are involved?
Handy homeowners can DIY, but professional installation ensures leak-free connections, correct flow restrictors, and code-compliant drain saddles. We: 1. Add a tee or adapter valve to the cold-water supply. 2. Drill or reopen a 7⁄16–½-inch countertop/sink hole for the RO faucet (or re-use a sprayer hole). 3. Mount the manifold and screw in filters. 4. Attach the drain saddle about 6 in. above the P-trap to prevent backflow. 5. T-off permeate line to feed your refrigerator/ice maker if desired. 6. Pressure-test all joints and sanitize the system. The work typically takes 1.5–2 hours and does not require shutting off water to the entire house.
How much water does an RO system waste, and can it be minimized?
Traditional RO units send 3–4 gal of concentrate to the drain for every gallon of purified water produced. Modern high-efficiency models we install are rated at 1:1 or 2:1 ratios, cutting waste by up to 70 %. Additional options include: • Permeate pump: uses the drain water’s energy to increase membrane efficiency without electricity. • Routing drain water to a utility sink or rain barrel for plant watering or cleaning tasks. • Selecting a system sized to your household’s actual drinking/cooking demand, so less water is pushed through when not needed. Given Cleveland’s relatively low water rates (≈$0.004 per gallon), even a standard system adds only a few dollars per month to the utility bill, and efficiency upgrades recoup their cost over time.