We’ve been using the Kent Grand Plus RO System for a while now. It uses both RO and UV as part of its water treatment.
Looks like the average cost per year for its maintenance is ~Rs.5000.
Our current consumption is ~4liters/day. That comes to 120 liters per month and 43,800 liters per year.
Ignoring the electricity consumption, this comes to Rs.0.114 per liter. I have also ignored the initial investment of ~Rs.15,000 or so. If that’s included assuming a life of 10-yrs per unit replacement, the cost per liter will work out to ~Rs.0.17.
As an alternative, If I were to buy those 20-liter Bilsleri cans, I’d be shelling out a total of about Rs.1.42lacs over the year (at current price of ~Rs.65 per 20-liter can). That works out Rs.3.25 per liter.
That’s not a bad deal at all, considering the Biselri guys are totally unreliable and one never knows what’s in those water cans anyway.
However, I still do have a gripe – the Kent service was very unprofessional and unreliable. If they visit you to address any issue, without much thought they’ll want to replace 3-4 filter in the RO unit and possibly even the power-adapter unit as well. These are kind of nuisances that could easily be avoided to bring the over all annual cost a little less further without compromising on water quality.
My other gripe, which I think holds for Indian service in general is their lack of cleanliness and proper work ethics. The Kent guy comes. Makes a mess around their work – cut and stripped wires, pieces of tubings, junk strewn about. Totally detest it.
Those who want to buy the Kent RO and still not get hurt when the time for ~Rs.5000 (or thereabouts) come, can plan to do monthly investment towards – the Kent Maintenance Fund – say, with a recurring deposit of Rs.500 per month. Or better yet, with a short-term debt fund with a SIP of Rs.500 per month in that mutual fund.
UPDATE/EDIT-1:
If one feels so inclined, one could take up the annual maintenance by oneself. It’s actually pretty simple. All you’ll need is some common sense and good amount of time on hand. Here are some of the things to consider:
Factors to motivate you –
- The Kent service personnel will charge you about Rs.400 as service charge for every visit.
- The guy will over-charge for all those filters and cartridges.
- He’ll turn up ill-equipped and will make a mess of place before leaving.
- In all probability he will not do a good job – there would be leak somewhere; the screws would be cross-threaded; etc.
- If you have made the mistake of taking their AMC, they’ll find ways not to honor it! That is, if you get lucky enough to reach them, they’ll use all the delay tactics to try and fool you and minimize the work load on their part. In India, you should part with your money ONLY on satisfactory work completion. Else, you can be sure you’ll be cheated.
I wish Kent would just straighten up and sell the parts to customers directly. Their stupid and inefficient business model is still running along due only to lack of proper competition in the field. Nonetheless, few things needed to get the work done –
- Pre-filter bowel and the spun filter – http://www.snapdeal.com/product/ro-service-water-purifiers/59144646 and http://www.snapdeal.com/product/ro-service-10-ltr-na/678308465860
This is good to have if your water-supply is really bad and is not pre-treated at all or well enough. It helps prolong the life of other filters mounted inside the main filter unit.
2. If there’s any issue with the power supply unit (the AC/DC adapter), you’ll need the 24V, 2.5A DC adapter. Something like this in the link – http://www.snapdeal.com/product/ro-service-na-ro-service/1591123264
Kent supplies it for about Rs.950! Get an idea of how much they fleece you.
3. The RO Membrane – http://www.snapdeal.com/product/kent-ro-1625-ltr-831013/630570031904
I don’t recollect how much Kent charges for this, but it’s certainly on higher side.
4. In-Line Activated Carbon Filter (8″) and the Sediment Filter (10″): http://www.snapdeal.com/product/ro-service-water-purifiers/1859855714 or a larger set like http://www.ebay.in/itm/141793176337
Kent charges Rs.400 + 600 for these.
5. In-Line Post Carbon Filter and UF Filter –
Kent charges about Rs.400 + 400 for these.
6) Kent Diaphragm Pump – http://www.snapdeal.com/product/kent-ro-1625-ltr-831013/652907949648