Don’t get distracted by the shiny price tag. RO systems have a secret second life as expensive pets. You need to replace the filters every 6 to 12 months. That’s $50 to $200 a year for filter packs. Forget it, and your water tastes like a wet sock.
There’s also the wastewater problem. For every gallon of clean water, an RO system dumps 3 to 4 gallons down the drain. That’s a lot of water just to make a glass of fancy H2O. City dwellers, your water bill might cry.
And here’s a funny thing: RO water is so pure it can actually leach minerals from your pipes. Some systems add a “remineralization” filter. Fancy, but that’s another $100 to $200 out of your pocket. Your water is now on a spa retreat.
DIY vs. Pro: The Battle of the Wrenches
Feeling handy? You can install a under-sink kit yourself for the price of a pizza and a six-pack of patience. Most kits come with color-coded tubes, like a sad adult Lego set. YouTube tutorials are your best friend – and your worst enemy when you cross-thread a valve.
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But if you mess up, you’ll find water in your neighbor’s basement. Pros charge $300 to $500 for a two-hour job. That’s cheaper than a flood. And they have insurance. You don’t.
For a whole-house system, never DIY it. It’s like brain surgery for your plumbing. Call a pro. They have tools that look like alien probes, and they know where your shut-off valve lives.
