Differences Between Water Conditioners and Reverse Osmosis Systems

Not all water tastes the same, so what can you do to have clean and ultra-crisp water available to drink in your home? Aside from drinking water, you may also want to find a way to deal with hard water effects, like scale buildup. There are different ways of filtering water to achieve the taste and benefits you prefer, but what are the differences between water conditioners and reverse osmosis systems?

We’ve constantly been helping homeowners answer these questions in their quest for filtered water since 2007. At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air, we have a passion for helping people across Los Angeles and the surrounding area get the best quality water possible with the help of a water filtration system. We’re happy to share our years of experience with you to help get you up to speed on all things water filtration.

This article will look at two types of water filtration systems: water conditioners and reverse osmosis systems. These two systems are designed to filter water by default, but we’ll analyze how they differ in the following categories.

• Effectiveness
• Technology
• Environmental Impact
• Drinkability
• Warranty and Costs
• Maintenance

The end goal of both systems is to provide you with filtered water, but by the end of this article, you should have a better idea of which is right for you. Now let’s dive in!

What’s the Difference Between a Water Conditioner and a Reverse Osmosis System?

The water in Los Angeles County is deemed safe to drink, according to the County of Los Angeles Public Health. But that hasn’t stopped homeowners from seeking other sources of drinking water based on taste, from bottled to refilling a five-gallon jug.

Although the water is safe to drink, it is considered hard water, which has adverse effects such as scale buildup and drier skin. Besides cleaner drinking water, many people also try to find ways to deal with hard water.

Some homeowners have stopped buying cases of bottled water or carrying five-gallon jugs filled with water and sought out filtration systems. One popular way to get better drinking water is an at-home water filtration system.

The number one question homeowners should ask themselves is, do you want cleaner drinking water or filtered water that is anti-scaling too? Asking yourself this question can help determine whether a reverse osmosis (RO) system or a water conditioner is right for you.

Effectiveness

The goals of water conditioners and RO systems are to filter water, but both do so differently. Water conditioners are designed to reduce scale buildup throughout the home caused by calcium and magnesium found in hard water. An RO system is a system of filters that targets tap water sourced from a single fixture, like a faucet, instead of an entire home.

Let’s look a little closer at the effectiveness of water conditioners to start. These water filtration options can reduce scale up to 99%, depending on the specific system used.

Water conditioning systems are available as point-of-entry so that the entire home will be affected by its anti-scaling technology. A couple of weeks after an installation, water conditioners will have significantly reduced scale and prevent further scale buildup.

Although whole-house reverse osmosis is available, single-fixture systems, like faucets, are the most commonly sold. For example, you can find single-faucet systems under the drink at your favorite coffee shop or even in multiple bathrooms throughout a home. A United States Department of Energy study illustrates that RO systems could achieve up to 90 to 99% of purified water.

So you’ve read how effective these water filtration systems are, but how can they achieve it? The following section will explain the technology behind the differences between water conditioners and reverse osmosis systems.

Technology

Both systems filter water with a specific end goal, so their technologies differ.

In general, RO systems typically have five stages of filtration, although some may come with four or more than five. Here’s a quick breakdown of how RO systems work.

• Sediment Filter: The initial stage of the reverse osmosis process starts with the sediment filter. This stage removes dirt, rust, sand, and other physical particles.
• Carbon Filter: The first of the two carbon filters are chloramines, odors, foul tastes, chemicals, and chlorine.
• Second Carbon Filter: Like the first carbon filter, this stage acts as a second filter to remove any impurities that slipped through the first carbon filter.
• Reverse Osmosis Membrane: The membrane is made of a flexible material, where reverse osmosis filtration occurs. The reverse osmosis membrane filters impurities such as large particles and contaminants.
• Post-Carbon Filter: The final stage in the filtration process is a post-carbon filter that ensures water remains crisp.

The multiple reverse osmosis filtration stages ensure the water is purified and suitable for drinking and cooking.

Here’s a look at the two water conditioning systems we install.

• Template-assisted crystallization (TAC) Media: Water conditioners are an ideal alternative to water softeners in certain areas because they do not require salt to combat scale from hard water. These single-tank systems rely on special resin beads that neutralize calcium and magnesium and force them to stick to each other instead of hard surfaces where they accumulate as limescale.
• Electromagnetic Frequencies: These water conditioners use low-frequency electromagnetic signals to dissolve minerals responsible for hard water. One of the popular brands for this type of water conditioner is Flow-Tech.

These systems are engineered to filter water with their impressive technology and effectively provide filtered water. But how efficient are these systems? We’ll take a look at that in the next section.

Environmental Impact

Both of these systems can be considered environmentally friendly. One of the most significant selling points for reverse osmosis systems is that they eliminate the need for bottled water. Bottled water is made of recyclable plastic, but unfortunately, not everything is recycled.

Water conditioners are also eco-friendly because they do not produce any wastewater with heavy salt concentrations. Forgoing salt, unlike water softeners, makes them popular in areas where residential softeners are banned, like Santa Clarita.

Regardless of which system you install, you’ll end up with reliable drinking water. How good is that water, though? Let’s take a look.

Drinkability

A water conditioner and RO system provide clean drinking water, but water from a reverse osmosis system is much purer. The main goal of a reverse osmosis system is to provide near-perfect water for you to drink and use for cooking.

A water conditioning system also produces drinking water but doesn’t have as many filtration stages as RO systems, so the taste may be different for some people.

So how much will it cost to have one of these systems, and how long is the coverage?

Warranty and Costs

These systems have different warranties and associated costs. If you base your purchase decision on price, an RO system costs slightly less. If you decide it based on warranty, water conditioners have a more extended warranty period.

The average warranty coverage for water conditioners is 10 years. A warranty for an RO system is around five years, and parts are covered for one year by most manufacturers.

Prices for RO systems and water conditioners differ slightly but may overlap depending on where you purchase them. Water conditioners can cost around $1,500 to approximately $4,000 with installation.

RO systems without installation can cost between $400 to $1,200. If you include installation costs, RO systems can cost $1,600 to $3,200.

Even after you purchase and install one of these systems, maintenance is essential for upkeep.

Maintenance

Maintenance is essential for both of these systems to function properly. Without care, both systems will not be as effective in treating water. A breakdown is more likely if you do not maintain these systems.

For RO systems, replacing the filters every six to 12 months is important. The RO membrane needs to be replaced every two years. This system can last you 10 to 15 years with proper maintenance.

Water conditioners require less maintenance than most RO systems. Depending on the manufacturer, the TAC media in water conditioners need to be replaced every couple of months to every few years. Flow-Tech water conditioners require even less maintenance since yearly checkups are more than enough.

Which System of Water Filtration Is Right for Me?

Whether you choose a water conditioner or a RO system, you’ll end up with filtered water. But these two systems aren’t the same. Now that you know the differences between water conditioners and reverse osmosis systems, you can make the right purchase decision and potentially save money with filtered water available in your home.

We at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air have installed both water treatment systems for over 15 years and continue to do so all over the Los Angeles area. Regardless of which option homeowners choose, better water is just around the corner.

If you need assistance with any water treatment systems but need help figuring out where to start, contact us with one of the buttons below or through our water filtration page.

You can also check out this article to learn more about other water filtration systems available and their costs.