Best Reverse Osmosis Booster Pumps (Buying Guide + FAQs)
Make sure you make the most out of your reverse osmosis system using these booster pumps.
This guide is maintained by PumpingChops and may include affiliate links. We update recommendations when products, availability, or specs change.
Having a reverse osmosis system in your home helps ensure that the water in your home is free from chemicals and other unwanted contaminants. But in order to make the most out of it, you need strong water pressure going into those filters. This is where RO booster pumps come to play.
In this article, I’ll share with you the best reverse osmosis booster pumps available today. Chosen for their performance, quality, convenience, and bang for the buck, these pumps are made to give you what you need.
| Aquatec 6800 | Aquatec 5800 | AquaticLife SmartBuddie |
|---|---|---|
|
Best for up to 100 GPD |
Best for Icemakers |
Best for Aquariums |
|
0.45 LPM at 80 psi |
1.7 LPM at 50 psi |
50 to 100 GPD |
|
Editor Rating: 4.7★ |
Editor Rating: 4.6★ |
Editor Rating: 4.5★ |
The Best Reverse Osmosis Booster Pumps
1. Aquatec 6800 Booster Pump
Best for 100 GPD RO Systems
- Key Features
- 0.45 liters per minute at 80 psi
- Supplies RO systems up to 100 GPD
- Very quiet operation
For reverse osmosis systems that only produce up to 100 GPD of filtered water, this is the best upgrade you can get. The Aquatec 6800 booster pump is a solid piece of equipment that’s built with high-quality construction and world-class technology from one of the leading brands in precision diaphragm pumps.
It’s super quiet and priced reasonably well for the improvement it gives. It comes with an AC to DC transformer and a pressure switch to automatically control pump operation along with an easy-to-follow manual for seamless use and installation.
2. Aquatec 8800 Booster Pump
Best for 200 GPD RO Systems
- Key Features
- 1.40 liters per minute @ 80 psi
- Supplies RO systems up to 200 GPD
- Not as quiet as the 6800 but much higher output
If you have a more demanding system that produces up to 200 GPD of permeate water, then you need a pump that can keep up. The Aquatec 8800 booster pump packs all the important features and accessories of the 6800 but with extra power so you can fill your tank faster.
It’s not exactly as quiet as the 6800 but it’s manageable if you use proper installation techniques. With its output though, for such a small pump, it’s really hard to complain.
3. Aquatec 5800 Demand Pump
Best for refrigerators and ice makers
- Key Features
- 1.70 liters per minute @ 50 psi
- From RO system to where water is needed
- Shuts off at 60 psi
Water that passes through a reverse osmosis system will lose a lot of its pressure after going through multiple filters. This is where demand pumps come in, unlike the pumps above, a demand/delivery pump is installed after the reverse osmosis unit. It’s meant to move water and increase its pressure from the storage tank to the delivery point such as a faucet, a refrigerator, or an ice maker.
This Aquatec pump delivers 60 psi of water at a rate of 1.70 liters per minute. That’s the perfect amount of pressure and flow you’d want coming out of your tap. With a pump like this, you won’t have to wait as long to fill up containers. It’s really easy to install, can last for quite some time, and cheap to boot. A fine addition to any home with RO systems installed.
4. Aquatic Life Smart Buddie
Best for Aquariums
- Key Features
- Best for 50 to 100 GPD RO systems
- Increases water pressure to 80 – 90 psi
- Protects itself from low inlet pressure
- Self flushes for 18 seconds every 24 hours
Like every living being, fish and corals thrive in healthy natural environments. This means no chlorine or other chemicals and just the right type and amount of nutrients. Using reverse osmosis systems allows you to have high purity water that you can control depending on your aquarium’s needs.
The Aquatic Life Smart Buddie booster pump was made exactly for that. It boosts the pressure of the incoming water significantly to improve system efficiency producing less waste and more clean water for your home.
5. Watts Premier Water Filtration Booster Kit
Best alternative for up to 100 GPD
- Key Features
- Up to 100 GPD systems
- Faster storage tank fill-up
- Great value for the money
From one of the leaders in water filtration system with 145 years of industry experience comes the Watts Premier Booster Kit. It’s a powerful little pump capable of performing reliably on up to 100 GPD systems to give you a higher clean to waste water ratio. Which means that even though it’s a bit highly priced, you’ll get to recoup that initial investment from your water savings in the long run. A smart choice not only for your budget but also for the environment.
And if you’re not satisfied with that, Watts also has the ZeroWaste retrofit kit. This kit allows you to redirect your waste water into the hot water side of your system so there’s no need to discard even an ounce. Since most people are unlikely to drink or cook with the water from the hot water side, this is a perfect addition.
6. SEAFLO Booster Pump for RO Systems
Best budget RO booster pump
- Key Features
- Up to 100 GPD systems
- Very affordable
- 4 year warranty
SEAFLO is a top contender when it comes to small budget pumps. They have a variety of products across different applications such as marine and agriculture with impressive track records. Their RO booster pump is also quickly becoming one of the favorites for its great overall quality and very affordable price. Although the pump is not as quiet as the others above, SEAFLO makes up for it with good quality materials, great customer support, and half the price of its competitors.
What is an RO Booster pump?
A reverse osmosis booster pump increases the pressure of the water being supplied to the whole system to increase both output and efficiency. It’s installed right before the filters to allow water to pass through the RO system effectively with enough pressure left to charge the air chamber of a storage tank.
How does it work?
A booster pump has a motor that causes a reciprocating motion of a diaphragm. This movement sucks a fixed amount of water in one stroke and sends it to the outlet in another. The discharged water is pressurized by that action and can now easily pass through the filters where the impurities are removed.
Buyer’s Guide for Reverse Osmosis Booster Pumps
1. Features
A fully-featured pump that has reliable automatic control is one that you can count on every time. The switch, the motor, and the pump itself must have features that let everything run smoothly and without issues.
2. Build Quality
Good quality RO booster pumps are made of high-quality materials and construction. It must not have any obvious design flaws that would break the pump after a few months of use. Since the water will be used for drinking, it also has to be made of corrosion-resistant material that’s durable enough to last for years to come.
3. Price
The whole pump assembly should be reasonably priced for its usage. It doesn’t make sense to have a very expensive pump if it’s not for industrial or medical purposes.
Why do I need an RO Booster pump?
Typical water pressure in homes is around 40 psi. When someone opens a tap, that might decrease significantly. It might be okay for most uses but it’s not exactly ideal for a reverse osmosis filter system.
The system relies on pressure to push the water through the membrane. Without enough of this push, the output of the system will suffer. The amount of waste water will increase while the permeate will decrease.
What is the difference between a booster and a permeate pump?
A booster pump is typically installed at the inlet of the system to improve the amount of permeate produced compared to the amount rejected. The permeate pump, on another hand, is installed at the outlet of the filters. Its purpose is to push the permeate water to the tap or a storage tank using the pressure energy left in the reject water that would otherwise have been wasted.
Conclusion
Getting a pump for your RO system is a great way to make the most out of it. Saving you a bit more water and producing you even more.
They’re not all the same though, you have to find one that fits your system the best.
Do you have any experience using the pumps above? Do you recommend other pumps that aren’t on this list? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
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Who this is for (and who it is not for)
This guide is for homeowners comparing booster pumps for reverse osmosis systems where incoming water pressure is too low. It is not a whole-house water pressure booster pump guide.
How we chose these reverse osmosis booster pumps
We compared compatibility, pressure support, installation requirements, build quality, and manufacturer documentation with a focus on home RO system use cases.
Sources and references
- RO booster pump manufacturer specs and manuals
- Reverse osmosis system pressure requirement guidance
- Installation and replacement documentation