Culligan (wal-mart) RO water system???

[flower]

I have very bad well water.
I am looking into what it will cost to have one of those RO systems like what Wal-mart has. I get my water from there, and frankly I am tired of hauling jugs of water.
It is called a "point of use drinking system" by culligan...I am not handy at all. To get one of those RO systems you can purchase online, and then have a plumber come to install it, I think/hope will cost just about the same. I wonder if their unit would be better than what is offered to the consumer online.
Has anyone else ever looked into this? Any thoughts? I checked the culligan site, and no costs are posted, just the unit.
.

 

[bigal0221]

I am not sure about Culligan but we have a local company that installs units similar to what you are speaking about. We have a unit at my office and it actually taps into your water line and has a boiler system that basically makes distilled water. I have tested at work numerous times and always shows 0 on TDS meter. I called them and asked about setting one up at my home and they charge $100 initially to set up and then it is a lease agreement which is $54 per month.

 

[d-man]

thats not cheep the 100$ set up is good but you can buy a really good or sys for 300 and a ok one for 100 at most water stors and what you really want to look for is where your local construiton company gets theres they will know what the cheepest way is

 

[flower]

Thanks, at least I have an idea of the cost. They are saying RO not distilled. The main unit has 4 filters that looks just like what is being offered online for RO water filters for home use.
Wal- Mart water is $.37 a gallon, was $.65
The LFS charges $1.00 a gallon for pure RO, and $1.50 for saltwater
I have Seven 5g jugs, and two 3g jugs, that I fill every other week just for drinking water and top off.
More if I do a water change. The grief is hauling the water filled jugs.
I would rather purchase the unit than rent it. I hope they sell it.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by d-man
http:///forum/post/3016707
thats not cheep the 100$ set up is good but you can buy a really good or sys for 300 and a ok one for 100 at most water stors and what you really want to look for is where your local construiton company gets theres they will know what the cheepest way is
Any idea what a plumber might charge to install a good $300.00 RO/DI unit?

 

[makoshrk2]

I used to do the walmart thing. Just bought a 5 stage RO/DI unit from bulk reef supply. Very nice. TDS meter always read zero

 

[bigal0221]

I had a plumber install one for me and he charged $225. Problem is I was still getting high TDS readings and retraced all of the lines and he had installed it incorrectly. I read the instructions and changed things around but now it takes about 3 hrs. for 1 gallon of water and it is still reading around 50 on my TDS meter. I don't know what to do and have been purchasing approx. 30 gallons of water a week from Wal-Mart. I have not had much luck so I would hope that you have better luck.

Anyways back to the original question, my local plumber charged me $225.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by makoshrk2
http:///forum/post/3016715
I used to do the walmart thing. Just bought a 5 stage RO/DI unit from bulk reef supply. Very nice. TDS meter always read zero
What did you pay for that? 5 stages sounds good. I can afford the unit, I can't install it myself. Me and pipes... very, very bad idea.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3016711
Any idea what a plumber might charge to install a good $300.00 RO/DI unit?
Flower Airwaterice sells home units, and I think you can install them yourself...have you checked them out?

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3016722
Flower Airwaterice sells home units, and I think you can install them yourself...have you checked them out?
Well I did look into how to install the units they sell online, and it way too hard for me. So I have to pay someone to install it. Even people who know how to cut into pipes seem to have trouble with leaks and water pressure.
No way can I do that. I have arthritis real bad, and it is just myself and my Mother. I can barely use a screw driver, and nothing in the line of a power tool.
Right now I have to get to work. I will check back when I get home in the morning for more to see what everyone has to say.

 

[maryg]

That is where I got mine from. It is right here in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Not far from where SWF.com is located. I got the Typhoon5. It was real simple to install. I have it in my laundry room next to my laundry sink. It just attaches to my faucet. You don't have to alter any pipes and I got the digital TDS meter as well.

 

[dondemi]

Depot has those point of use RO units - FYI.
You can buy an adapter to just hook up most units, from swf websites (swf.com!!), to your kitchen faucet

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by bigal0221
http:///forum/post/3016718
I had a plumber install one for me and he charged $225. Problem is I was still getting high TDS readings and retraced all of the lines and he had installed it incorrectly. I read the instructions and changed things around but now it takes about 3 hrs. for 1 gallon of water and it is still reading around 50 on my TDS meter. I don't know what to do and have been purchasing approx. 30 gallons of water a week from Wal-Mart. I have not had much luck so I would hope that you have better luck.

Anyways back to the original question, my local plumber charged me $225.
What kind of water do you have? Mine is really bad but we have three filters already and it is not fit to drink. I am hoping the 5 stage filter will work WITH what is already here.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by dondemi
http:///forum/post/3016735
Depot has those point of use RO units - FYI.
You can buy an adapter to just hook up most units, from swf websites (swf.com!!), to your kitchen faucet
I already have the under the sink faucet type. I also have a water softener and another filter in the pipe line that has a membrane. The water smells better but not good enough to drink. Our water makes the new front loader washing machine yellow along with the shower stalls, The dishwasher has such a bad calcium build up we can no longer use it.
I am hoping that a 5 stage type of filter will end the problem. I am hauling 41 gallons of water every other week and more if I do water change. I use the jug water for cooking, drinking and top off for the tank.

 

[oceansidefish]

I bought a Spectrum RO/DI....If you can't install this thing yourself I don't know what to tell you...It's as easy as turning a wrench. I hook mine up in my extra bathroom. I put a 20g brute trash can in the shower and just screwed it into where the shower head goes. Can't get easier than that. Now I actually have it Y'd off of my washing machine and the wastewater goes into the laundry and then I wash my clothes.

 

[makoshrk2]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3016719
What did you pay for that? 5 stages sounds good. I can afford the unit, I can't install it myself. Me and pipes... very, very bad idea.

$200 . Maybe you know someone that can install it. It really is very simple

 

[jdl]

you can easily install one of these yourself. A few online come with a Y for your laundry connection. If you dont want it there, you can possibly hook it up to your refridgerator water line, very very very simple to do.
spend $150-$200 for a 5 stage, and you are all set.

 

[culp]

i would just buy a good RODI unit. you can buy good ones for under $300.

 

[flower]

I Think I am going to go for the best 5 stage I can find, and hire a plumber to install it.
The culligan man is coming out Wed. They won't give a price on the phone, usually a bad sign, so I figure WAY expensive. I am letting him come just to see what he comes up with, I may be wrong. I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
Well I have a bunch of errands to run...I want to thank everyone for the input. I feel so much more secure knowing I have this forum to bounce thoughts off of. Before I posted my concern, I didn't even know they made a 5 stage...I thought 3 was all there were. Which is great!

You guys have been a load of help!

 

[uneverno]

When you look into 5 stage, be sure to check the gpd (gallon per day) rating. The last two stages are typically the DI part, and that's what takes time. Mine does 25, which translates to ~ 5hrs for 5 gallons of RODI water. I only have a 20gal tank, so no big deal, but could be an issue for you w/ a much larger tank. Higher gpd ratings can up the price pretty quickly.
I also purchased mine with a 3gal reservoir for RO only so that I have drinking water on tap. If I completely drain the reservoir, it'll produce 3 gals of RO only in about 45 mins. (That does involve the installation of a separate tap though. No big deal to install, unless you don't have a place for it in your sink.)
Another handy feature on mine is that the DI cartridges are color changing, so there's an easy visual on when they need replacement. Not all systems offer that. Mine does not have a TDS meter on it though.