When researching home water purification systems, you might encounter discussions of reverse osmosis and carbon filters. Because there are so many filtering systems today, choosing the right one to make your water cleaner and more enjoyable can be challenging. On the other hand, a carbon filter and an RO system are two of the most popular technologies that can safely filter water.
So, which one is the superior choice? With their unique standards for quality water, these technologies couldn’t be more different. When you are aware of and familiar with these differences, you will be better able to choose the water filter that meets your needs.
What is a carbon filter?
A carbon filter is a porous filter constructed from organic, natural materials such as coconut shells, bone char, and charcoal.
Carbon filters are compatible with systems powered by either gravity or water pressure. They can eliminate chlorine and other impurities that make faucet water smell and taste bad.
What are reverse osmosis systems?
A reverse osmosis system usually has four phases of filtration: sediment, carbon, semipermeable membrane, and post-carbon.
RO systems can remove most toxins in municipal water by forcing water through a membrane with very small holes. Some RO systems can restore beneficial minerals to the filtered water. RO can also remove a wide variety of pollutants, such as heavy metals, bacteria, dissolved solids, and viruses.
Differences between Carbon Filter and Reverse Osmosis (RO)
It is important to know that a carbon filter and reverse osmosis differ in several areas.
Use Point
Reverse Osmosis
Due to their size and number of filter stages, RO systems can only work in three specific locations: the whole house, on the countertop, and under the sink. The most common installation is a reverse osmosis filtration system installed under the sink.
Carbon filter
Carbon filters are compatible with nearly all water filter systems, including those found in whole-house water filtration systems, gravity water dispensers and pitchers, countertop filters, and under-sink filters.
Filter Phases and Process
Carbon Filtration
A single carbon water filter cartridge is all you need to achieve the desired results with carbon filtration. But for even better filtration, some carbon-based systems might use multiple filters. Granular activated carbon water filtration systems and carbon block filters are the two most commonly used kinds of activated carbon filters.
“Adsorption” describes the procedure used to filter activated carbon. Carbon filter cartridges trap a high concentration of pollutants in the water that passes through them because of their vast surface areas and high porosity.
Reverse osmosis system
Reverse osmosis (RO) rapidly pushes water through these stages in the specified sequence. After the sediment filter has removed the sediment, the pollutants that smell and taste bad are removed by the carbon filter. Total dissolved solids that amount to 99.9 percent are removed by the semipermeable membrane. The water is polished by the post-carbon filter, which also removes any remaining impurities.
Water Clarity
Reverse Osmosis Filtration
Water can often be purified via reverse osmosis. This process removes toxic chemicals, metals, arsenic, fluoride, and almost all total dissolved solids, leaving behind pure, fresh water.
Carbon Filter
Carbon filters cannot purify water. Although they filter out a few common pollutants, their main goal is to improve the water’s smell and taste. A basic carbon filter will filter the water but not remove contaminants.
Efficiency
Reverse Osmosis Filtration
Operating a reverse osmosis system to purify water for human use results in negligible water loss. During filtration, the rejected pollutants are carried by the wasted water out of the reverse osmosis chamber.
These systems would previously lose as much as four gallons for every gallon of water generated. Today, one gallon of water goes to waste for every one or two gallons of filtered water generated by modern, effective systems. However, these systems could be more efficient than carbon filters, which do not waste water.
Carbon filter
Carbon filters outperform RO systems for one simple reason—they don’t waste water.
Everything is as easy as water entering the filter and out the other end. While water molecules flow through the filter’s pores, odors, unpleasant tastes, and organic chemicals are trapped in the medium.
Installation and maintenance
Reverse osmosis filters
Due to the several filter stages, drain lines, and water storage tanks required by reverse osmosis filters, their installation is more complicated than that of traditional tank-based systems. More space and labor must be put into installing the system at the designated site. Point-of-entry systems are simpler to set up than POU filters.
Since a reverse osmosis system has 3 filters—the reverse osmosis membrane, post-filter, and pre-filter—it is more work to maintain than a carbon filter. Additionally, additional moving components could break down or become clogged over time. On average, RO membranes last 24 months, while RO filters only last 6 -12 months.
Carbon Filter
Depending on its application point, a carbon filter can be straightforward or highly complex to install. While installing under-sink systems is straightforward, countertop carbon and gravity filters need no setup.
This system requires little maintenance beyond replacing it when its surface becomes too clogged to remove chlorine effectively. Chlorine levels and cartridge sizes determine the typical lifespan of carbon systems, which ranges from two to nine months.
Pollutants Removed
Carbon Filtration
The advantages of a carbon filter are better shown below:
- It gets rid of certain heavy metals, parasites, and cysts.
- It decreases the turbidity
- Controls the growth of bacteria
- It gets rid of organic substances, THMs, and chlorine
- It makes the water smell and tastes better.
Reverse osmosis
The carbon filter stage of an RO system removes all the pollutants, including those that a single carbon filter only partially improves or removes, much like a single carbon filter would. Moreover, it can eliminate:
- Fluoride
- Dissolved solids
- Arsenic
- Viruses
Drawbacks
Reverse Osmosis Filtration
A major drawback of reverse osmosis filters is the removal of beneficial minerals from water. Eliminating these minerals can reduce the appeal of tap water, which is popular for its pleasant alkaline flavor. On the other hand, remineralization filters are now an available add-on for many reverse osmosis systems. These filters replenish the water with beneficial inorganic minerals.
Carbon Filtration
Most carbon filters have the major drawback of not purifying water but merely filtering it. A carbon filter gets rid of chlorine and a few other pollutants that change the smell and taste of water. That’s the nature of these filters; they can’t produce more effective water filtration on their own. You have to use them in conjunction with other filtration methods.
Deciding Between Carbon Filtration and Reverse Osmosis: Which Is Better?
Carbon water filters and RO systems each have advantages and disadvantages. Carbon-filtered water is less clean than RO water because the latter removes more impurities.
RO systems are larger, more costly, and more limited than carbon-based alternatives. However, if you want to get rid of chlorine and cheaply improve your water’s flavor, you can use carbon filter cartridges in inexpensive filtration devices like pitcher filters.
Just because RO systems are superior to other technologies doesn’t mean they fit your needs.
Making Your Choice
Many factors should be taken into account while selecting a household water filtration system, such as:
- Cost of operating the system
- Your filtration needs
- System maintenance needs
- The system’s budget
- Needs for installation, system capacity, and size
- Whole house vs. point-of-use filtration
Conclusion
Although reverse osmosis (RO) systems deliver thorough pollutant removal, they have downsides, such as loss of useful minerals and water wastage. While a carbon filter offers a faster flow rate and is effective for chemical removal, it might not be able to remove all pollutants.
Before deciding between a carbon filter and a reverse osmosis system, consider your priorities, budget, each filtration method’s features, and any worries you may have about wastewater. Additionally, consider your unique water quality issues.
Feel free to contact us anytime if you need assistance deciding on a water filter system. We can also conduct water testing for you if you’re interested.