I'm experienced in using 2 to 3 stages and reverse osmosis systems going as far back as the 1990s. The key is to make sure to check your water district and the local municipal water supply consumer confidence report(s) yearly before determining to purchase the proper system. If you're using for your own well water supply, or tainted water supply from the water supplier, it's best to read up on the capacity of the models before purchasing. I'll dive right into things. The last model I had was the Aquasana 5300+ 3-stage. I purchased the unit 5 years ago, with spare new filters at $70 to replace. The filter cases leak due to warping. Not one, not two, but all three at the same time. What are the likely chances after the case replacement 2 years ago?
Pros:
1. 10% larger than the compact 3-stage Aquasana 5300+ unit. However, if you compare components side-by-side, you can see the robustness of this unit. The tell-tale signs are the metal mounting base and the thickness of the filter cases. You can see the differences immediately.
2. Filters are larger and denser. Robustness is the word.
3. Easy installation. The parts are practically married to the existing parts under the sink. I took it slow, used all the provided parts, and ensured total sealing during installation. Not even a drop of water dripped from any part. Knock on wood of course. It's been close to a month, and still not a drop of water anywhere. I learned my lessons from the Aquasana, and I placed a thin plastic bucket and water leakage alarm as I did for my water heater. Better to be safe than sorry with a tiny investment.
4. The flow of the filtered water is phenomenal. Twice to thrice the volume of the Aquasana 5300+ in a given minute. I have to crank the cold water supply way down just to prevent the filtered water from jetting out like a hydrobeam.
5. Long filters' lifespan. Aquasana's filters literally forced you to replace every 6 months, but I tend to delay things a bit longer after evaluating the filters for the prior years. The first stage filter turned completely yellow. Since the unit's filter is confident in lasting up to 12 months, we'll definitely need to see the claim. I'll be sending in the filters for testing to verify the bold claims.
Cons:
Yes, there are downsides to this but do read things through before making your decision.
1. The faucet unit is not completely water-tight. What do I mean? The looseness of the faucet body is the downfall in allowing the water to bottom. When you plan on spraying down the sink to clean it, don't spray on the faucet body where the tube turns. A small amount of water will make it through the bottom. The base of the faucet body is not a problem at all. Perfectly sealed. I added silicone sealer to the base just in case during installation. No water can make its way through the bottom of the faucet unit's base.
2. The higher the flow, the cloudier the water for the first few minutes. If you want that clear water without the cloudiness, turn the pressure down and allow the water to flow out slowly. We don't care. We just want fast water coming out. After sending the filtered water in for testing, we already know the filtered level.
3. Taste can be a tad off for the new filters. Don't expect your water to taste plain and unflavored. It does have an odd light plastic and carbon (coal-like) taste at the start. However, that goes away in a few days of continual usage. We flushed the line for 15 minutes at max pressure the unit will allow (well below the 80 psi warning) before the first use as well.
I'm happy with the unit so far. I'll update along the way if something goes wrong.
| Brand | APEC Water Systems |
|---|---|
| Special Feature | Tankless |
| Product Dimensions | 15"L x 6"W x 12"H |
| Package Information | Bottle |
| Installation Type | Under Sink |
| Item Weight | 14 Pounds |
| Model Name | WFS-1000 |
| Lower Temperature Rating | 40 Degrees Fahrenheit |
| Upper Temperature Rating | 100 Degrees Fahrenheit |
| Manufacturer | APEC Water Systems |
| Part Number | WFS-1000 |
| Item Weight | 14 pounds |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Item model number | WFS-1000 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color | White |
| Style | WFS-1000 |
| Pattern | Filter |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Special Features | Tankless |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
