If you own a reverse osmosis system (and really any type of water filtration system), it’s easy to take a set-it-and-forget-it type of approach. But like any machine, filtration systems require upkeep, so they continue to be effective and safe. Indeed, proper maintenance not only ensures the safety of the water but also extends the lifespan of your reserve osmosis system. If maintained correctly, a high-quality reverse osmosis system can last up to 10 to 15 years. Considering the contaminants found in Long Island’s water like PFAs, Nitrates, Dioxane, and many others.

 Here’s how to maintain your reverse osmosis filtration system:

1. Change Filters Regularly:

Reverse osmosis systems typically have several filters that need to be replaced every 6-12 months, including:

  • Sediment Filter: Captures dirt, sand, and debris and protects the reverse osmosis membrane.
  • Carbon Filter: Reduces chlorine and chemical contaminants and maintains water taste and safety.
  • Polishing Filter: Polishes water before dispensing and keeps water tasting fresh.
Why It’s Important on Long Island:

Long Island’s water is known for high sediment and chlorine levels. Regular filter changes are essential to prevent clogs and contamination, ensuring the system runs efficiently.

2. Replace the reverse osmosis membrane:

The reverse osmosis membrane removes impurities like lead, arsenic, and nitrates. Depending on water usage and quality, it needs to be replaced every 2-3 years. If you notice a change in the water taste or a decline in the pressure, it might be time to replace the membrane.

3. Sanitize the RO System Annually

Scheduling an annual sanitation is essential to maintain water hygiene and quality. Make sure to flush the system thoroughly after cleaning to remove any residue.

Here are the steps to that you can take or that a typical water filtration company would take to sanitize your RO system:

  1. Shut Off the Water Supply and Drain the System: Turn off the water supply and storage tank valve. Open the faucet to release pressure and drain the system.
  2. Remove Filters and Membrane: Carefully remove all filters and the RO membrane. These should be replaced if worn or expired.
  3. Sanitize the System: Use a food-grade sanitizer and follow manufacturer guidelines. Clean all housings, tubing, and the storage tank.
  4. Rinse and Reassemble: Thoroughly rinse all components before reassembling. Install new filters and the RO membrane.
  5. Flush the System: Turn on the water supply and let the system flush for several hours to remove any cleaning residue.

4. Check Storage Tank Pressure

Correct storage tank pressure ensures a steady water flow. The pressure should be around 6-8 psi when the tank is empty. If the pressure is off, you may notice reduced flow or water volume.

5. Inspect for Leaks and Wear

Regularly check tubing and fittings for leaks, cracks, or signs of wear. Long Island’s seasonal temperature changes can cause parts to expand and contract, leading to potential leaks.

6. Schedule Professional Maintenance

While routine maintenance can be done at home, professional check-ups ensure all system components are functioning optimally.

At Simply PURE Water Filtration, Inc., we’re here to help, offering expert maintenance and replacement services for RO systems across Long Island.

By taking these simple steps, you’ll not only improve your drinking water, but you’ll also make it more convenient. Follow us for more news on Long Island Water Quality, and don’t forget to contact us if you need help with maintenance or installing a new system. 

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Maintaining Your Reverse Osmosis System

About Simply PURE Water Filtration Services

Living in and serving the Long Island community, we strive to make sure everyone has access to clean, healthy water. We have the experience, knowledge, and industry-leading technology to provide clean water solutions for water impurities, contaminants, hard water, bad tasting/odors, well water, acidity & pH regulations.

Proud members of the WQA (Water Quality Association), and the EWQA (Eastern Water Quality Association), we adhere to strict guidelines and the WQA code of ethics. As a Pentair True Blue Partner and Authorized Distributor of Pentair Products, there’s nothing comparable to the performance, and efficiency of our whole house purification systems, water softeners, neutralizers, whole-house filters, and alkaline reverse osmosis systems for drinking in the convenience of your home.

NSF Water Filtration System
Pentair Water Filtration System

Our products are all NSF / ANSI certified, meeting the highest safety standards and quality performance. Providing our community with only the best experience of high quality water that’s Simply PURE from our family to yours!

Simply PURE utilizes accurate testing methods before and after system installation, as well as annual maintenance of all your water treatment equipment. Our Revolutionary Custom Built Water Treatment systems upon the completion of a Free In-Home Water Analysis, or an in-depth Comprehensive Water Analysis of your choice sent to our Certified Laboratory.

Customers Frequently Ask..

The answer to this question depends on which kind of drinking water you’re talking about. There are multiple agencies responsible for regulating water quality in the U.S., and there are some who are more critical about the way it’s handled.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in charge of overseeing the water that comes out of your tap. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees and regulates the quality of bottled water.

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Individual states are responsible for regulating water that is bottled and sold within their borders. Finally, your municipality must make sure it is following federal and state standards regarding water quality.

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The EPA does not regulate private wells, and rules for testing differ from state to state. In many cases, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to make sure their well water is safe.

Certain things can affect the flavor, odor, and appearance of your tap water, not all of them are necessarily harmful.

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Many people with public water can taste the chlorine, although the most noticeable problems tend to come from private wells. Contaminants like sulfur can impact the smell, while iron will cause discoloration and staining.

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The overall amount of total dissolved solids (TDS) in your tap water will definitely affect the taste, smell, and appearance. While many of these issues are not serious concerns, they can certainly be a nuisance. Water filtration systems, including a high-efficiency water softener to reduce hardness, can provide solutions.

This process is called “reverse” osmosis because the pressure forces the water to flow in the reverse direction (from the concentrated solution to the dilute solution) to the flow direction (from the dilute to the concentrated) in the process of natural osmosis. RO removes ionized salts, colloids, and organic molecules down to a molecular weight of 100.

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You can get a whole-house RO, but more commonly, a point-of-use RO system would be on your countertop or installed under the sink. They’re great for treating water for cooking and drinking, but they don’t usually produce large amounts of treated water — more like 3 to 10 gallons a day. For that reason, typically people choose to install RO-treated faucets in the most popular areas of the home such as kitchens and bathrooms, as opposed to installing it for every drinking tap. Just like any other kind of filter technology, reverse osmosis systems require regular maintenance. That includes periodically replacing the unit’s prefilters, postfilters, and membrane modules.

Due to the media attention Flint, Michigan, received over its water crisis, a lot of people have questions about lead in public water systems around the U.S.

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Lead (as well as copper) typically enters the public supply by leaching into water from corroded fixtures and outdated plumbing. Homes built before 1986 will likely have plumbing with copper pipes using solder that may contain lead.

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Lead can cause serious negative health effects, especially in children. The challenge is that it is undetectable by human senses. You can check with your local water authority for information about lead levels, but it’s important to note that the CDC and EPA say there’s no level of lead recognized as safe for consumption.

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If you have concerns about the presence of lead in your water, you can have it tested in a state-certified laboratory. You can also read more in our article on lead in drinking water.

Softening hard water can mitigate many of its objectionable effects. Water softening can be done either at point of entry or point of use. One of the unique advantages offered by point-of-use water softening is the opportunity for homemakers to have either hard or soft water for drinking. This choice is not available if the water supply is softened municipally. Hardness minerals can be reduced in water to make it “softer” by using one of three basic means:

  • Chemical softening—lime softening, hot and cold; lime-soda softening
  • Membrane separation softening—Nano filtration
  • Cation exchange softening—inorganic, carbonaceous, or organic base exchangers
  • Softening water for home needs is done almost exclusively through the use of cation exchange.

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Customer Testimonials

"Absolutely amazing service from beginning to end. Trustworthy and reliable to work with. And the water taste!! It’s incredible the difference after we installed our water filtration system throughout our house. Also knowing my kids are drinking the purest of water is the biggest game changer. I would absolutely recommend Vinny and staff."

Randi Demetriou 

"We had a recent installation done by Vinny at Simply PURE and we couldn’t be happier. Vinny is reputable, reliable, efficient and the service is great. The water is so clean and tastes great, we don’t have to think twice about what is coming out of our faucet! Thank you Vinny!

Mike D.