Yes, we install whole-house reverse osmosis. But for most Albuquerque homes we will recommend against it in favor of a softener plus under-sink RO — a combination that solves the actual problems for a fraction of the cost.
What Whole-House RO Requires
- Significant space for the membrane assembly, a large storage tank, and a pressure pump
- A pressure pump, because RO produces water far too slowly to serve household demand directly
- Substantial drain capacity, since the process sends water to waste
- Electrical for the pump and controls
- Pre-treatment — typically softening ahead of it, because hard water fouls membranes quickly
- Ongoing membrane replacement, which is expensive at whole-house scale
The Honest Objections for This Market
Water use. RO sends water to drain during treatment. At whole-house scale in a desert city, that is a meaningful volume to be discarding continuously.
Cost. Installation and operating costs are substantially higher than the alternatives, and hard water shortens membrane life — so the recurring expense is higher here than in a soft-water market.
Mismatch to the problem. The dominant water issue in Albuquerque is hardness, and hardness is better addressed by a softener than by RO. You do not need purified water in your shower and washing machine — you need water that does not scale.
What We Usually Recommend Instead
A whole-house softener for hardness throughout the home, a carbon filter for chlorine and sediment, and under-sink RO at the kitchen tap for drinking and cooking. That covers scale protection, taste at every fixture, and purified drinking water.
When Whole-House RO Does Make Sense
Severe contamination, well water with specific issues that testing identifies, or particular medical requirements. In those cases we install it and size it properly.
Test First
Which system you need depends on what is actually in your water. Contact B. Carlson in Albuquerque.
