Choosing the right RO (Reverse Osmosis) water purifier for your home or office in Coimbatore depends on a few parameters.
1. Water Quality in Coimbatore
Test your water quality: The first thing to do is test the water quality you are getting. Water in Coimbatore may be from borewells, municipal supply, or a combination of both. Borewell water may be of greater TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) and municipal water may be treated but may have impurities too.
TDS Level: TDS level is a prime consideration while choosing the type of water purifier. Water in Coimbatore is indicating TDS values between 200 to 1000 mg/L, i.e., above 300-400 mg/L TDS level is always preferred for a good RO purifier.
Tip: You may buy TDS meter or get the TDS of your water checked by the shopkeeper of a water purifier.
2. Types of Water Purifiers
RO Purifier: Best to use where the TDS is high as it can remove salts, minerals, and dissolved solids effectively. It is optimum if the source of water is from borewells or very highly contaminated.
UV Purifier: Effective in eliminating viruses and bacteria but not strong enough if the TDS is high. UV purifiers are optimum for low to medium TDS water.
UF Purifier: UF purifiers are ideal for low TDS water since they filter out only larger particles and bacteria. They would not be ideal in high TDS water.
RO + UV + UF Combination: This is total filtration with support from the simultaneous operation of all three technologies. It is ideal if your water has mixed levels of impurities.
3. RO Purifier Capacity
For Home: Choose based on home water consumption and household size. RO filters come in standard capacities of 7L, 10L, or 15L. You would typically require a 10-15L tank for a 4-6 member household.
For Office: For an office with 10-20 employees, the 15-20L capacity model would suffice. If you have more employees in your office, you might require a greater capacity or an office-grade RO filter.
4. Stages of Filtration
The more filter stages, the cleaner the water will be:
Pre-filter: Removes dirt, sand, and other impurities.
Sediment filter: Removes dust and rust particles.
Activated Carbon Filter: Removes chlorine, odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
RO Membrane: Removes dissolved solids, salts, and heavy metals.
UV/UF Filters: If included, these will be used to remove bacteria and viruses.
5. Cost of maintenance
RO purifiers require regular replacement of the filters and membrane, which is usually every 6-12 months depending on usage and water quality. Consider the replacement filter and maintenance expenses while choosing the model.
Some brands offer an annual maintenance contract (AMCs), which makes it convenient to maintain.
6. Brand and After-Sales Service
Choose a good brand with good after-sales service in Coimbatore. Well-known brands are Kent, Aquaguard, Pureit, LG, and Blue Star.
Check service quality reviews in your area as an easily available service team is required to maintain your purifier in proper condition.
7. Other Features
Mineralizer: Some RO purifiers add necessary minerals to the water after purification to provide a mineral balance.
Water Wastage Ratio: Choose low water wastage ratio (the amount of waste water generated while the filtration process is undertaken). The newer models waste water less efficiently.
Smart Features: Some purifiers offer filter replacement reminders, UV lamp reminder, and automatic turn-off when the tank is full.
8. Budget
The costs are very different based on the brand and functionality. RO purifiers usually start at ₹7,000 to ₹25,000 or higher. Based on smart-function models, the price will be relatively higher.
Best RO Purifier Models (Famous in Coimbatore):
Kent Grand Plus RO+UV+UF (10-15 L) – Provides various stages of filtration, suitable for higher TDS water.
Aquaguard Genius RO+UV+UF – Smart purification system and effective filtering are some of the reasons for its popularity.
Pureit Ultima RO+UV – A mineral booster is included with it, hence it is good for high TDS as well as low TDS water.
Blue Star Aristo RO+UV+UF – Compact size and satisfactory performance.