If you’re like me, you’re probably pretty tired of salespeople. They would lie and cheat just to get you to buy their products. People who sell home water purifiers are the same. The example that really comes to mind here is companies that sell reverse osmosis systems. Sure, having a reverse osmosis water treatment system is better than having no water treatment system at all, but there are much better options out there. Here are 5 ugly lies to be aware of so you understand why reverse osmosis systems are mediocre at best.

1. Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are inexpensive. Using a reverse osmosis system may be cheaper than drinking bottled water, but it is by no means cheap. Reverse osmosis costs 18 to 24 cents per gallon. By contrast, carbon filtration systems cost less than 10 cents per gallon. What would you choose?

2. A reverse osmosis water treatment system removes all contaminants. Reverse osmosis systems are not capable of removing synthetic chemicals. It is helpful to understand how they work to see why this is so. During reverse osmosis, water is exposed to a porous membrane under pressure. Contaminants such as minerals and organic chemicals, which are molecularly larger than water, are trapped by the membrane. Synthetic chemicals are molecularly smaller than the membrane, so they pass through it. For that reason, reverse osmosis systems must be used in conjunction with a carbon filter. Why not use a carbon filter in the first place? Carbon filters remove organic and synthetic chemicals.

3. Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are convenient and easy to use. Compared to other water treatment systems like carbon filtration, reverse osmosis systems are high maintenance and complicated. Reverse osmosis systems require adequate water pressure and a diaphragm storage tank and as such require very high maintenance. They are also difficult to install. Carbon filters, on the other hand, can be installed in a matter of minutes without the help of a plumber.

4. A reverse osmosis water treatment system produces pure, healthy water. Having a reverse osmosis system is better than having no water treatment system at all, but the water it produces is actually not that healthy. The problem with reverse osmosis systems is that they produce demineralized water. Studies show that to maintain good health, we must drink water that contains natural trace elements such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Drinking demineralized water can lead to multiple mineral deficiencies and an increased risk of cancer. Comparatively, carbon filtration systems remove all the bad stuff and leave the good stuff behind.

5. Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are efficient. The truth is that reverse osmosis systems are wasteful. They waste 2-3 gallons for every gallon of clean water they produce. They are also known for being slow because they produce less than a gallon of water per hour. Carbon filtration systems can produce up to 30 gallons of water per hour without wasting a single drop.

Now that you are armed with this information, make your decision wisely and carefully. There are many water filters to choose from, but when you consider cost, effectiveness, efficiency, and convenience, a reverse osmosis water treatment system is simply not a good choice. Carbon filtration systems are the best option available when it comes to home water filters. So go out and find a carbon filtration system for your home if you want the best water filter money can buy.