Switching from RO to UF membranes made my life way easier

I’ve wondered about this too - palate fatigue is real, especially with water. After a few weeks, I barely notice subtle changes unless there’s a strong chlorine hit or something metallic. That said, I do think UF membranes can let through more of those trace minerals and flavors compared to RO, which strips almost everything out. Sometimes that’s actually a plus, since RO water always tasted a bit flat to me.

One thing I’d add: even if you’re not getting sick and the water looks clear, it’s worth checking for any biofilm buildup inside the filter housing every few months. I had an issue last year after some nearby construction stirred up sediment, and it took me a while to realize the taste shift was from gunk accumulating in the pre-filter - not the membrane itself. A quick clean made a big difference.

I’m still not sure if I prefer the “clean” taste of RO or the more natural flavor from UF. Guess it depends on what you’re used to...

- 100% agree on palate fatigue. I’ve done water tastings for tenants before (don’t ask...) and after a while, everything just tastes like, well, water unless there’s a strong off-note.
- UF vs RO - yeah, RO is “clean” but honestly, most people say it’s too bland. UF keeps a bit of that mineral taste, which some folks actually prefer. Depends on what you grew up with, I guess.
- Biofilm in filter housings is a real thing. We had a unit where the water started smelling musty - turned out to be buildup in the pre-filter, not the main membrane. Quick scrub and it was gone. I check every couple months now, just in case.
- One thing I’ve noticed: RO systems need more maintenance overall (membrane swaps, tank issues). UF is simpler, less hassle for me and the residents.
- Only downside with UF is if your source water isn’t great to begin with. Then you might still get some weird flavors coming through.
- At the end of the day, most people just want water that doesn’t taste weird or leave stains. If UF gets you there with less work, hard to argue against it...

Switching from RO to UF definitely made things easier for me too, but I’ll admit, I kind of miss that “blank slate” taste you get with RO sometimes. It’s like drinking distilled water - almost too clean, but then you notice every tiny off-flavor if something’s wrong. UF feels a bit more forgiving there.

Maintenance is where UF really shines, though. With RO, I was constantly chasing down leaks or wondering if the tank was going to act up (and those membrane swaps aren’t cheap). UF just sits there and does its job with way less fuss. I do agree that if your source water is sketchy, you’re rolling the dice - had a summer where our well got a weird sulfur smell and UF didn’t quite cut it. Ended up running a small carbon filter in line and that helped.

Funny thing about palate fatigue - I’ve tried to convince my family there’s a difference between filtered and unfiltered, but after the third glass, everyone just shrugs and says “it’s water.” Guess most folks just want it cold and not funky... can’t blame them.

That “blank slate” taste from RO is something I kind of miss too, but honestly, I’ve always found it a little unnatural after a while. It’s almost like the water’s too stripped, if that makes sense. I’m with you on the maintenance headaches - RO systems just have too many moving parts for my liking. I do wonder, though: have you noticed any real difference in how UF vs RO affects things like scale buildup in kettles or appliances? That’s one thing I still can’t decide is worth the trade-off.

I do wonder, though: have you noticed any real difference in how UF vs RO affects things like scale buildup in kettles or appliances? That’s one thing I still can’t decide is worth the trade-off.

I get what you mean about RO feeling “too stripped.” I’ve actually seen less scale with RO, but UF still lets a lot of minerals through. That’s kind of the point, right? But then you’re back to cleaning kettles more often. Have you tried just softening the water before UF? Curious if that’d help with the scale without all the RO hassle.