Water purifiers are absolutely essential. Not only do they provide us safe drinking water but also give us access to a bunch of useful benefits depending on the features.
Unfortunately, they can be quite expensive starting at ₹15,000 to the north of ₹40,000 for the device. To make matters worse, water purifiers actually come with additional costs that you might not know about. And over time, these costs can really hurt your wallet.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy a water purifier, it’s just that you should understand the associated costs.
Here are some of the charges you can rack up throughout your water purifier’s lifespan:
1. Maintenance charges
The maintenance cost of a water purifier can be additional to the cost of the device itself. This cost will be quite consistent as long as you use the purifier.
These charges do depend on the type and technology of the water purifier. You’d be looking at anywhere from ₹4000 to ₹5000 a year for an RO water purifier. Of course, this would generally include the filter replacement charges and labour costs as well.
However, some brands tend to separate the two. So, you might have to still pay heavily for regular maintenance of core components.
2. Filter charges
Filter replacements will be a consistent requirement for a water purifier. So, the cost of the new filter is something you need to incorporate into your budget when considering the total long-term cost of a water purifier.
Usually, filter replacement can cost around ₹500 to ₹3000 or more. Depending on the usage, input water quality, filter candle, membranes, or technology, you could be looking at multiple filter replacements a year.
Additionally, the pre-filters and post-filters also need to be changed, stacking up a few extra thousands.
3. Installation charges
RO and UV-based water purifiers are quite bulky and can be heavy depending on the features. So, installation might come with its own set of charges.
Now, the majority of the water purifier companies add the installation charges to the overall cost. But it’s always best to make sure that you aren’t handed a labour bill for a few hundred rupees.
Additionally, there’s also the possibility of the company not being part of the installation. This is especially common if you buy a water purifier from another country. In this case, you’ll have to hire a third party technician who can charge anywhere from ₹500- ₹1000 depending on the complexity of the task.
4. Extra Charges
In addition to its cost, filter and maintenance charges, there are circumstances where you actually might end up spending even more on your water purifier.
For example, if the water purifier company defaults on their maintenance, you’ll have to hire a third party technician and would have to pay ₹2000 and upwards depending on the type of device.
Of course, as they are third party technician’s they will charge more than the standard rate.
Similarly, not all brands offer relocation support. So, if you’re planning on renting a house, it’s best to buy a water purifier that comes with some relocation support. However, if you are planning on switching cities, it might become quite expensive.
Is subscribing to a water purifier a better option?
Although the additional costs may seem low at a glance, they can stack up and become a sizable expense that can take a huge chunk from your wallet. Moreover, these charges are quite unpredictable as it’s dependent on a bunch of factors.
So, you may end up paying these unexpected charges when you are tight on cash. But you can’t avoid it because you need safe drinking water.
While buying a water purifier does give you certain privileges, subscribing to a water purifier might be more advantageous.
For example, if you subscribe to DrinkPrime, you get free delivery and installation, maintenance checks for a lifetime, filter changes and relocation. You just need to choose the most suitable subscription plan for you. The plan prices start as low as ₹339 per month too!
With it, you won’t have to worry about your drinking water because they monitor the water quality in real time and proactively schedule maintenance checks. Are you looking for the best, affordable water purifier? Visit the DrinkPrime website and access the 7-day risk-free trial today.