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Introduction
We probably all take the glass of water we drink every day completely for granted. We turn on the tap, pour it into our favourite bottle and assume that the water purifier that sits on our kitchen counter is doing its job. But the stark truth is that a water purifier isn’t a “set it and forget it” appliance at all.
It is actually a hardworking machine that battles many unseen opponents every single day of its life, be it bacteria, virus, heavy metals or dissolved impurities.
And like your car needs its oil changed periodically, or your body needs its annual checkup, your water purifier requires servicing and maintenance if you want it to dispense clean, great-tasting water to your family.
Delaying a maintenance check or ignoring that little yellow blinking light doesn’t seem like a big deal now, right? But six months down the line, you could be drinking water that is barely better than tap water, while your water purifier works overtime, consuming much more electricity, and much more water to still try and deliver safe, purified water. And this is precisely why prevention maintenance is not a cost-it’s a protection for your family’s health.
Why it always costs you much more when you “wait and repair”
Most of us usually wait for something to break completely before we rush to repair it. While this works for a broken toy, or a chipped teacup, it’s a system that never quite works when it comes to water purification. After all, think about how the system inside your water purifier functions. The sediment filter strains out mud and iron, the activated carbon filter absorbs chlorine and unpleasant odors, while the most critical part of your purifier-the RO membrane-uses extreme pressure to push water through tiny pores and reject all the dissolved salts, heavy metals and other impurities.
As with all machinery, the filters themselves wear out over time. The membrane scales up, the UV lamp dims, and a lack of maintenance causes the system to begin to struggle. This can result in lower water pressure, a flat or metallic taste to the water, and in the worst possible scenarios, bacteria can actually multiply in the wet parts of the purifier simply because the disinfecting UV lamps have faded.
By the time you decide to call a technician because the water flow has totally stopped, the damage is often already done. You may have been consuming inferior quality water for weeks and your repair bill is significantly higher than what it would have cost you for regular maintenance. Preventive maintenance is not about repairing something when it has broken; it’s about ensuring it never gets the chance to break down in the first place. This gives you peace of mind that every single glass of water that your child or spouse drinks, or is used to prepare your morning tea is safe to consume.
The buried treasure: Why you should opt for an AMC
Now, let’s consider a topic that many people tend to gloss over: an Annual Maintenance Contract or AMC. Most water purifier companies offer an AMC to you after the first year, following which, many customers tend to politely decline with a thought like, ” I will just call for service when needed.” But this is almost always a decision that they end up regretting later.
An AMC is, in its simplest form, a plan where you pay a pre-determined small yearly fee in exchange for certain services. This plan usually entitles you to a certain number of scheduled service visits to your home, free replacement of the pre-filters at stated intervals, priority on receiving repair services as and when they are needed, and often also offers you discounts on spare parts. The real benefits of an AMC, though, go beyond just saving a few dollars here and there.
It’s about the routine.
If you opt for an AMC, the service team will often call you for a checkup of your appliance three to six months down the line-they won’t wait for you to call them. They’ll replace your pre-filters, inspect the RO membrane’s efficiency, sanitize the storage tank, and ensure that the UV lamp is functioning correctly before it burns out.
A system like this achieves two great things. Firstly, it prolongs the lifespan of your expensive RO membrane by many years and secondly, it ensures that the quality of your purified water is consistently good throughout the year. This consistency becomes paramount when you have elderly parents living in your home or small infants who are more susceptible to waterborne illnesses.
Rent versus buy: which one gives you better peace of mind?
The debate gets even more interesting at this stage. One of the most burning issues that faces most people is whether to purchase an RO water purifier and keep it on an AMC, or go for a rental plan. While both options have their own pros and cons, the point of divergence comes back to maintenance, where we see the real cost difference.
If you decide to outright buy RO water purifier, the entire maintenance burden falls on you. While this will give you the independence to choose local repair mechanics, this is often a false economy. Most local repair mechanics might not be using original spare parts while repairing your machine and often tend to skip the standard maintenance procedures. This then leaves you at the mercy of your own memory to schedule reminders and to find trustworthy people.
When you rent a water purifier, however, a comprehensive maintenance is usually included in the monthly rental fee paid to the company. Most rental plans offer an AMC, which has been built in the total rental amount. At the end of the day, it is actually in the company’s interest to keep their appliance working at its peak condition because a lot of repeated breakages would cost them considerably more money.
They will ensure that their technicians are trained, authentic spare parts are used and if the machine cannot be repaired, an entire replacement unit is provided.
They will actually have to hunt you down for a service, not vice versa.
The sweet spot: Owning an RO Purifier and an AMC
Having said this, owning an RO water purifier can still be a great option for many families, especially if you intend to stay in your current home long term. And if you do decide to buy an RO water purifier, do not compromise on the AMC for the second and third year. Please treat the AMC not as an additional cost, but as a form of insurance against poor health and unexpected expenses. The cost of replacing the RO membrane alone can be as much as a quarter to a third of the total cost of your water purifier. With an AMC, a replacement is often covered by the plan.
This is fairly simple. A basic RO water purifier AMC will cost you as much as one pizza per month and what do you get in return? Genuine Filters, Professional Check-ups, Priority Emergency Service and a longer life for your appliance. And most importantly, you get the satisfaction and peace of mind that when your toddler asks for a glass of water, you can simply give him one without any apprehension.
Wrapping up: Pure water for life is a continuous action.
At the end of the day, your role doesn’t end at the purchase point. Ensuring that your family receives pure and clean drinking water is a continuous commitment towards their health. Whether you opt to buy an RO water purifier and subsequently purchase an AMC, or choose to rent the device on which maintenance is already included, one fundamental practice remains the same: never compromise on the service. Set a calendar reminder for yourself or depend on your water purifier company’s service division to remind you of the schedule.
Maybe Preventive maintenance and an AMC don’t sound as glamorous as buying a new appliance or getting your car washed. But I guarantee you, the moment you ask anyone who has suffered from typhoid, diarrhea or gastroenteritis, they will tell you that the cost of prevention is significantly lower than the cost of cure. So go ahead and schedule that service call today – your skin, kidneys and even your wallet will thank you for it!
