AFFORDABLE REVERSE OSMOSIS INSTALLATION IN Port Saint Lucie, FL

How Much Does Reverse Osmosis Installation Usually Cost in Port Saint Lucie?

Reverse osmosis generally refers to the process of removing foreign contaminants, large molecules, solid substances, and minerals from water by using significant pressure to push it through specialized membranes. This system is often known for improving water for drinking, cooking, and other critical uses. However, before residents in Port Saint Lucie decide that this system is for them, they should first consider the cost of this reverse osmosis system and the installation process.

Generally, the installation of this system in Port Saint Lucie averages around $1,700. Yet, prices can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand depending on the following cost factors. 

Cost Factor: The Size of the System

The reverse osmosis system installation will often vary in price depending on the complexity and the size of the system. For instance, you can get yourself a unit that connects to a single faucet in your house for a few hundred dollars. However, if you want your home to filter all the water coming into it, then you can be looking at a job that will cost you several thousands of dollars. 

Cost Factor: The Filtration Process That is Required

Depending on the system you choose, some features may be more sophisticated than others. For example, some systems may require UV lights to kill waterborne pathogens. As a result, the purification needs will often dictate the overall costs you will have to pay for the system.

Cost Factor: The Certifications That Are Included

Generally, NSF certifications will guarantee that a particular product removes or reduces one or more specific contaminants. That is why if you are looking for a reverse osmosis system, you need to find one that has the proper certificates to ensure they cover not only aesthetic factors but contaminants with health effects. 

So, what do these certifications mean for you exactly? In theory, you can buy a lower-priced reverse osmosis system to purify your water just as well as higher-priced systems. However, if you purchase a system with no NSF certifications, you will not know how well the system is cleaning your water. Plus, the cheaper models will end up wearing out a lot faster than the more expensive certified models.

Cost Factor: Your System’s Features

Suppose your system includes a pump to boost pressure, increasing your water production capacity, flow rate, and efficiency while also reducing the amount of wastewater going down the drain. In that case, these extra features will cost you. 

In addition, some other popular add-ons include:

• The demineralization stage to balance water pH and increase alkalinity
• Modular designs for a convenient filter system that can help prevent germs from accumulating inside the system 

What Are the Most Common Water Contaminants in Port Saint Lucie?

In Port Saint Lucie, the city’s water supply comes from two independent sources, including the shallower aquifer and the deeper Floridan aquifer. Generally, raw water from the shallow aquifer, which is around 100 feet deep, treats about 8.0 million gallons of water per day, while the deeper Floridan aquifer, which is approximately 1,350 feet deep, is treated by reverse osmosis facilities. Once the water from both aquifers is treated, it is blended. 

Yet, even with the many precautions the city takes, contaminants can still be present in the source water and often include things such as:

• Microbiological contaminants, including bacteria and viruses, may come from septic systems, livestock operations, wildlife, and sewage treatment plants. 
• Inorganic contaminants, including metals and salts, can naturally occur due to stormwater runoff, oil and gas productions, or farming and mining.
• Herbicides or pesticides coming from a variety of sources, including urban stormwater runoff, residential uses, and agricultural uses.
• Organic chemical contamination resulting from volatile organic chemicals or synthetic organic chemicals. However, this contamination can also result from stormwater runoff, septic systems, and gas stations.
• Radioactive contaminants, which are often naturally occurring.

Can Residents in Port Saint Lucie Benefit From Reverse Osmosis Treatment?

Port St. Lucie is a city on the Atlantic coast, located in southern Florida. It is not only a great place to live and work, but it is often filled with countless visitors that love to visit the area all year long. Plus, since Port St. Lucie is about an hour north of Palm Beach, the city is one of Florida’s best places to visit for golf, especially since it is home to the PGA Village, which boasts three championship golf courses. 

Yet, for all the beauty, entertainment, and safety the city provides to its guests and residents, there are still things homeowners can do in the area to improve their home and their health. For instance, when residents in Port Saint Lucie install a cutting-edge reverse osmosis filtration system, they can transform their water to provide fresher, filtered water inside their homes. Ultimately, not only providing them and their families the water they have always wanted, but water without the harmful chemicals and impurities their bodies have been craving.

In fact, this reverse osmosis system has been known to:

• Provide better-tasting water by reducing contaminants that can make your water taste or smell bad.
• Be environmentally friendly, allowing you to enjoy quality water without all the plastic.
• Provide your family with crystal clear and healthy water.

How Often Should Residents in Port Saint Lucie Replace Reverse Osmosis Prefilters?

Generally, it is recommended that you change the two filters that are vertical in your reverse osmosis system every six to twelve months. This period can ensure optimal effectiveness for your reverse osmosis system while also ensuring that contaminants do not get into your drinking water. 

Why Do These Filters Need Replacement? 

It is essential to understand that filters accumulate debris, which can cause clogging. When this occurs, it can make the filter completely useless or ineffective. In addition, some filters, including carbon-based filters, can eventually lose their adsorptive properties the longer you wait to replace them.

Consequently, these filters need to be replaced regularly. Although this time and frequency may depend on the specific usage and service cycle, to be safe, it is best to replace them at least every 12 months. 

What if the Filter Is Showing Problems Less Than a Year In?

Sometimes it will not be time that dictates how fast you need to change the filter, but rather the filter itself, especially if it was improperly installed or is of low quality. In some instances, filter membranes may wear out early because of the reaction with the water contaminants or because there is a problem with the pipes or the water supply. 

That is why if you start noticing that your water has an unpleasant odor, taste or there is low water pressure coming from the tap where the filter is installed, it may be time to replace the filter or request an analysis of the water. 

In general, if this occurs, the best thing you can do is to hire a professional technician to come and examine the filter system and your water. These technicians can check the membranes and see if they are correctly installed and still working properly. Or they may decide that you need to replace the filter or perform a chemical analysis of the water. 

What About Horizontally Mounted Membranes?

Changing the horizontally mounted membranes is usually only necessary to change them every two to five years in most applications. Typically, if your filters need to be replaced, you can purchase a TDS meter to perform the membrane performance tests, which will show you if everything is working properly. Or, if you rather keep the process more straightforward, you can also find a water treatment dealer who can perform their own tests and let you know what treatments or replacements are needed.

Do You Need a Water Softener With Your Reverse Osmosis System in Port Saint Lucie?

The reverse osmosis system’s main job is to purify your water, while water softeners are there to reduce the hardness in your water. Generally, a reverse osmosis system uses a semi-permeable membrane to filter your water, which can reduce all the contaminants and minerals in your water and leave it clean.

On the other hand, a water softener will use ion exchange to replace minerals that cause your water to be hard with potassium or sodium, making your water soft. Typically, reverse osmosis systems are less efficient than water softeners at softening your water, so they are better used when installed as a single point-of-use like at a sink than the whole house. 

This is a crucial issue in Florida since most of the water in the state is considered to be hard to very hard. This hardness tends to develop from the rain falling onto the ground in Florida, which dissolves the limestone while filtering it down. Subsequently, the dissolved limestone creates the hard water that residents in Port Saint Lucie drink, which can also impact the pipes, grass and even leave people’s skin, clothes, and hair feeling less soft after washing. 

Using Both Systems

One quick way to fix this dilemma is to install both types of systems. In fact, getting and installing a water softener can protect your reverse osmosis membranes and make them last longer. This is because the water softener will work throughout your home, softening the water and providing significant benefits to your appliances, skin, hair, and your pipes. In comparison, the reverse osmosis system can be installed under a sink to provide purified water at a separate tap for cooking and drinking. 

As a result, residents in Port Saint Lucie should really look into the reverse osmosis system and the water softener process to determine which is the best option for them. Or, better yet, they can talk to the experts about getting both installed and see how this can be the game-changer they need inside their home.