Why Get a Whole House Reverse Osmosis System? Let Us Tell You a Story About Silica.
At Angel Water, we believe in the power of a whole house reverse osmosis (RO) system. We especially recommend it when it comes to getting rid of harmful contaminants like silica.
Many of our customers ask us why we feel so strongly about whole house RO. They also wonder what’s so bad about silica.
We answer both questions by telling them the story of a husband and wife from South Barrington, IL. Here’s the tale of how whole house RO helped them solve their silica problem:
The Story of a Couple from South Barrington, IL
The couple first contacted us complaining of a faulty water softener. Or, at least, the evidence seemed to indicate the water softener was the issue.
There were scratch marks on the inside of their steam shower. And the same etching was showing up on their glassware, too. All of this, plus the fact that their faucets kept clogging up, indicated that they were probably dealing with hard water.
However, when our experts came to visit, they found no issues with their water softener. When the problem persisted, even though the softener seemed fine, we replaced it with a new one for them.
And yet, even with a new state-of-the-art softener in place, the problem continued! Clearly, something else was going on in their water.
And so, our team did what we always do when presented with a water mystery: we had the water professionally tested. The results of the test were eye-popping.
Not only did the couple have silica in their water, but the total was 17 mg/L. That is a ton of silica! No wonder they were having all those issues.
The silica-rich water was scratching the glass on the couple’s steam shower.
The Problem with Silica
Silica is a compound of silicon and oxygen. It’s a hard, glassy mineral that comes in forms like sand, sandstone, quartz and granite. It can also be found in the skeletal remains of animals and plants.
Silica is the second most abundant element on earth after oxygen, which makes it a common contaminant. When water washes over rocks and minerals, it picks up the traces of silica and carries them with it.
These tiny little mineral deposits had made their way into the couple’s home and were causing all their issues. They were scraping their shower walls and glassware and clogging their plumbing. But those were not the only problems it was causing for the couple. The silica was also putting their health at risk!
The health risks came from the water in the couple’s steam shower. At high enough doses, steam showers atomize silica, making it harmful to the lungs if inhaled. Tile cutters know this risk all too well, which is why they wear protective masks when cutting silica-rich tile.
Unfortunately, the husband had started showing signs of inhaling too much silica as he had developed a nasty cough recently. It had gotten so bad that it looked like he would need surgery very soon.
Clearly, this silica problem needed a quick solution. And we knew that only a whole house reverse osmosis system would do the trick.
The Only Solution is a Reverse Osmosis System
So, why is reverse osmosis the best option to get rid of silica? It’s because RO works by pushing water through a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane traps the silica and other contaminants while allowing the water to continue to the faucet. No other filter can trap silica quite so effectively.
Plus, a quality RO system doesn’t just remove harmful contaminants like silica from the water. It also adds essential minerals, like calcium and magnesium back into the water. As a result, the water is not only contaminant-free but also much healthier after going through the RO process.
And, as the name suggests, a whole house reverse osmosis system can produce these results throughout a home. It’s the best way to protect all of your water fixtures from the harmful effects of silica!
Reverse osmosis systems, like this under sink model, are excellent at removing silica from water.
How Whole House RO Helped the Couple
When we installed a whole house system in the couple’s home, all their water fixtures were producing silica-free water in no time at all. As a result, their glass stopped chipping and their faucets stopped clogging.
And, most importantly, their health immediately started improving!
We installed the system on a Thursday, and the husband had a doctor’s appointment scheduled for the next Monday. At that point, it looked like he’d have to have surgery to investigate his chronic cough. But by the time his appointment rolled around, the cough had gone away!
His doctor couldn’t believe it—how had this happened?
The husband told the doctor about the whole house reverse osmosis system, and it all made sense. The doctor explained that his cough had been brought on by inhaling too much silica. Now, with the silica problem gone, the man would no longer need surgery to cure his cough!
In this way, the whole house RO system saved the couple from having to pay for expensive surgery. The couple is now happier, healthier and thankful they don’t have to deal with that pesky silica anymore.
Are You Worried About Silica in Your Water?
No one should have to deal with the hazardous effects of having silica in their water. So, if you’re experiencing any of the problems the couple in the story did, such as a chronic cough or glass etching, give us a call! Our team would be happy to test your water for you and help you find the right solution for your home.
