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Originally Posted by Toongraeme
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The Vertex is worth the money only if you truly need all the features included in this particular package. If your home's water pressure is 65 psi or better, you probably don't need the booster pump. Many homes on municipal water systems have sufficient pressure and they will also probably have a PRV (pressure regulating valve) in the plumbing not far from the main water shut off valve. These can be adjusted. And while the 'frequent automatic back-flush feature' may extend the life of your RO membrane somewhat, it will also use up your carbon & DI stages more quickly.
Most RO/DI systems are built with fairly generic components using the standard 10 inch canisters. It's nice to have the clear canisters for your pre filters to give a visual of their condition. Probably not needed for carbon stage. Most DI stages will have clear housing as well, so you can see the change in the colour changing DI media. However, the bottom line with DI, if you have a TDS meter, that's really your best indicator of when the DI media is exhausted. The white canisters are less costly & actually more robust than the clear ones. If you by a cheaper system, you will also more than likely not get the best carbon block. This is a fairly important stage because it protects your RO membrane from chlorine. Not all carbon blocks are created equal and it's worth it to spend a little extra there, for a good 0.5 micron that will treat 200,000 gallons.
A little research on your source water TDS & house water pressure should help you in your decision as to what you need. Yes, 0 TDS is 0 TDS, but with an overkill unit you may be wasting money. You could also be disappointed with the results of a cheaper unit if you don't have the right components. If you have to change your membrane frequently because of a cheap carbon filter......
Personally I prefer 75 gpd membranes since they have a better rejection rate than a 100 gpd. My source water TDS is close to 200. If I lived in Vancouver where their source TDS is 10, a 100 gpd membrane would be a better buy since I could produce water slightly faster. Then again, I'm a patient person most of the time.