Where to get RO/DI unit installed in Socal?

[pinkninja]

I just moved into a new place and we don't have a ro/di unit installed in the kitchen. Most places are quoting about 400 for it to be installed with a cool little small faucet on top of the sink and a hook up to the fridge. Anyone know of a good place in the Los Angeles/San Gabriel Valley area? This is for my top offs and for drinking water at home.

 

[JenDub]

try filterdirect-you can do it yourself and spend the extra $300 on corals =)

 

[pinkninja]

I was thinking of that but I'm not sure how to drill the hole to the kitchen top and hook it up to the fridge which is why I didn't mind paying it installed. Last thing I want to do is flood my new place.

 

[ScotchMaster]

They are sooooo easy to install its not even funny....Id slap myself if I payed $400 for installation

 

[energy_crisis]

why don't one of you install it for pinkninja?

it is easy and you can make a little extra cash helping out a fellow reefer.

 

[.Bulldog]

Sorry I don't live close to help out, but I thought I'd mention that Costco has quite good prices on them. I think they sell a zero-waste version online (or at least used to).

 

[NicoleC]

The zero waste units provide an inline pump, which pumps the waste water back into the water line, where it gets processed by your RO unit again. They are not very efficient, and they add to the installation difficulty, which is an issue in this case.

Personally, if I were to buy a new system right now for fish tank use only, I would go Kati-Ani or DI only, and avoid the issues trying to find a way to use my waste water on the plants... for laundry... and then continue to use KDF water filtration on the faucets and icemaker line, which makes very clean for drinking water.

 

[.Bulldog]

To slightly defend the zero-waste's efficiency...

The ones I've seen have pumped the waste water into the hot line, while drawing water from the cold line. I don't think it's likely that the waste water would make it all the way back through your house lines to the point (before the water heater) where the hot & cold initially tee off. If installed this way, waste water from a zero-waste is not re-processed by your RO.

I do agree, though, that they'd add a step to installation difficulty which seems a likely issue though...

 

[NicoleC]

True -- but I am not convinced that forcing cold water back into your hot water heater is very efficient either!

 

[pinkninja]

I didn't know old RO system in my previous residence was bought by us. So we just took it out and brought it over to our new place. Piad 75 to hook up a drinking faucet and water and ice for the fridge.

I'm not sure how good it is. Anyone heard of Filmtec? It's a 5 stage system.

 

[NicoleC]

Virtually all RO units provide exactly the same performance. The membrane should be of good quality and you want good quality prefilters, but these are routine replacement items.

The proof is in the TDS reading, and how much water it "wastes" (uses to clean iteself). Better units waste less water; lower flow units also waste less water. Otherwise, as long as the membrane is still good (and is an appropriate gph rate for your unit), and you get a low TDS, you are fine.

 

[NicoleC]

Clarification: Better units are also assembled better and have better quality parts -- but even a unit with really cheap plastic parts will function the same as a good unit, you just might break it easier or it will start leaking.