The RODI project (Reverse Osmosis/Deionization) is nearing its completion. As I mentioned in parts ONE and TWO, my wife has expressed some health concerns due to the local water quality, so the time was right to refurbish my Merlin RO filter and put it into service. Today, we’re one step closer to completion of the project, though a few extra steps were added along the way….
Considering the amount of plumbing work this requires, it makes sense for us to replace the current kitchen sink and faucet. The prior faucet suffered from the effects of several years of use with hard water (over 200 ppm at the tap). The old sink was a 6 inch double bowl and the cabinet could easily accommodate an 8 inch. At my wife’s request, we went with a single bowl. Again, it didn’t make sense to do the filtration project and not the sink since both projects were on the list.
That added install time, though with Manny’s skill, it was only a couple hours’ work. However, when I was picking up the last of the fittings and PVC lines I thought we’d need, I made the decision to also put in a whole house pre-filter. This isn’t a water softener – it is just a sediment filter installed where the main line comes into your home.
It makes a big difference, however, in the sediment level of your home’s water system. The RODI filter will purify the water we cook with, drink, and use for our ice maker, it doesn’t help the laundry, hot water heater, shower heads, or toilets. Hard water significantly reduces the life span of all of these and most of the these items have had 5 or 6 years use already. The typical particle sizes of the cartridges are either 20 or 40 micron, but I selected 5 micron. It means I’ll have to replace the cartridge more often, but it will extend the lifespan of all of the water appliances in my home.
After the installation of the whole house filter was complete, the TDS measurement dropped from 206 ppm to 162 ppm – roughly 20% improvement. That’s a significant change in the quality of our water, without using any chemical treatment.
Though the sink has the faucets for filtered water installed, the actual filters won’t go in until tomorrow or the next day. For now, though, the new faucet is hooked up, garbage disposal works like a champ, and the whole house has cleaner water from the sediment filter. More to come!
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