Louisa |
2017-05-09

I've had this system for several years and love the taste of the water! It takes out all of the things my doctor recommended I should remove. My daughter has the same system and also loves it. After a visit to my cousin, carrying my water with me in bottles, she also purchased the system. When I meet someone for coffee, I make my coffee at home with the good water and take it with me and only purchase a snack at the coffee shop. I never order a beverage in a restaurant because I have my water bottle with me. It is a sad day when I fly and have to purchase bottled water at the airport. It's just not the same. I tell everyone about this system regularly. I like the water so much that I packed a dozen large bottles for a road trip last Fall. The system is affordable and fits under the kitchen sink. We made a hole in the wall with a 15 ft. tube out to a large plastic tub to save the overflow water for the garden. Even my plants thrive on the overflow water!

S. Jaleel |
2017-08-11

Drinking water in our household was primarily obtained from the dispenser on our Samsung refrigerator, equipped on the inside with a filter (no longer available on Amazon and I wish I could say I was surprised!). We found ourselves gradually drinking less water and out of curiosity I purchased a TDS meter on Amazon (this one: Water Quality Tester, MagicPro 2016 Newest Released Premium TDS-2 Handheld TDS Quality Water Tester Meter 0 - 9990 ppm TDS Measurement . My tap water measured 440ppm and my refrigerator filtered water measured 480ppm!I don't consider myself an expert handyman but do consider myself above average. I study the steps, read the manual, review several youtube how-to videos, etc. and try to do all of this BEFORE ordering a product. I did the same with this project and am glad I did because it felt very easy to accomplish the install.Item arrived neatly packaged in the box. And these folks have thought of everything, very impressed.I was most nervous about splitting the water line between my kitchen faucet and the filtration system, and about drilling a hole for the RO faucet on my sink. Both efforts felt super easy, and I was quite proud of myself at the end of it. Tasty water at the end of it made it all worth it.Some random observations:- After nearly 6 weeks of ownership, my readings are steadily at ~35ppm.- My water kettle has not needed descaling since switching to this water, nor has my stainless steel water pitcher.- The drinking water intake in our household has nearly tripled!- We haven't needed to wait on the tank to fill which was something I feared.- I remain concerned about the "2/3 wastage for every 1/3 filtered water" factor, and haven't had my next water bill yet to see how much this affects our quarterly bill payment. Will update this review once I do.- I used to use store-bought mineral water exclusively to prevent scaling in my espresso machine but don't do that anymore since switching to this water.- The stage 1 filter turned from white to brown within the first week but it hasn't affected the readings from the TDS meter.Contacted support with a couple of questions and received prompt responses. I am now contemplating purchasing the refrigerator accessory pack to pull a line to the rear of the refrigerator.

David Gillespie |
2018-07-12

Still struggling after a month of use with milky colored water for the first 10 to 15 seconds. During installation I performed all the flushing that was recommended and everything ran clear. I am nut sure if the water is saturated with tiny bubbles causing the white looking water, or is this from one of the filter stages. There does not seem to be any taste difference, but my family won't drink it. Seems a waste to have to run the filter 10-15 seconds each time just to get a clear glass of water.

Svenster |
2015-01-30

I just installed the "upgraded version" of this 6-stage RO unit. So far, I am mostly satisfied with my purchase. My municipal water supply is hard, and contains chlorine, fluoride, haloacetic acid (54 ppb) and trihalomethanes (74 ppb). I already have a Pelican whole house GAC water filtration system, which contains coconut carbon and a large 5 micron pre-filter. This does wonders for chlorine-induced dry skin and also has the added benefit of removing the previous mentioned contaminants (with the exception of flouride). Hopefully, it will also reduce the frequency of having to replace some of the other stages of filtration for this RO unit.The package arrived promptly, and was packed well. The first thing I did was make sure I received all the "upgraded" items. I probably wouldn't have been concerned otherwise, but the manual stated "version 2014 - 3" -- so I wanted to verify I received all the goods. Installation was fairly straight forward, and the manual was sufficient on its own. There are plenty of pictures and warning paragraphs to keep you from going astray. The only questionable item was the lack of instructions for the new style faucet. The arrangement of washers took me by surprise, but I think I figured it out correctly. Now, I will list a series of pros and cons from my observations.PROs1. Cost:RO systems have been considered mainstream in residential deployments since the 1980s. There is no reason to pay an exorbitant amount for what equates to a plastic housing, filters, and fittings. As long as the system maintains correct pressure and doesn't leak, your $500 unit will perform exactly the same as my $220 one. The cost of filters is negligible and amounts to about $5/mo (3/yr filter supply + 3x alkaline). iSpring has it right here, and I think they will be around for a while.2. Support:From what I have read, the customer service can't be beat. This means a lot to me, and probably you! If a company refuses to stand by their product, then why even consider giving your hard-earned cash to some entity whom can't be bothered to acknowledge their customers' difficulties? I haven't had to contact them yet, but I'm sure I'll be glad they're listening if that day should come.3. Components:The build quality is what you would expect for this price range. There are no high-end stainless braided lines or a shiny stainless tank cover. The parts are mostly durable, and should last for years to come -- assuming you don't torque the crap out of them and break anything (we aren't building engines here). The parts warranty is only one year, so I'm not sure how that equates to longevity. iSpring's goal should be to sell you filters for a lifetime. So, if a part fails here or there, I could foresee trouble-free replacement. My system is in a dark kitchen cabinet so UV degradation and heat/cold stress is minimal. I fully expect 10+ years of reliable service from this system...knock on wood. The dispenser/faucet is also very nice and appears to retail for about $45.CONs1. Cost:Let me preface this point by stating that this is non a con for this particular unit. Unfortunately, the necessity to buy something like this is a requirement in the modern world. RO systems come with their own unique set of costs. For starters, there is the initial investment in the base unit. This includes minimal maintenance items such as the base filter housing, connectors, tubing, and dispensers. There is also the tank, which comes pre-pressurized and contains a butyl bladder. If I expect any part to fail first, it would be the tank. Thankfully, these are ubiquitous and non cost prohibitive to replace. Next, there is wasted water to account for. It may not be much, but it is there. Finally, you have to consider the cost of filters. Since I have already done my due diligence and decided to forgo buying bottled water, it's a no brainer for me. The risk of chronic exposure to carcinogenic compounds found it my tap water is too great to consider anything else. I'd rather make a small investment in the health of my family and myself, than possibly worry about cancer 20 years from now -- and know that I didn't do everything I could to prevent it. It is your responsibility to educate yourself on matters involving YOUR health. With regards to this particular purchase, I feel as if the price is fair to excellent for the return I hope to gain from it.2. Waste:In my preliminary tests, I see this unit as wasting about 4 to 1 gallons of purified water. Now, this could be due to my water being exceptionally cold. My plumbing runs in a concrete slab, and it is late winter (almost February). It could also be my water pressure, however, I need to procure a gauge to verify this. RO units vary on the amount of waste they produce, and there are some mitigation products that may help. Most of the waste is seen when taking small amounts of water from the tank (think, drinking a single glass). This is due to the high back pressure from a nearly FULL TANK being topped off. Currently, I am thinking about using a permeate pump or booster pump to reduce the waste water. I need solid evidence about which product is more effective. Waste is never a good thing, and I hate throwing money down the drain.3. Components:The o-ring that comes with the water supply valve is thin and flimsy. Most of my water leaks came from this area. I finally wrestled it into submission, but not before destroying one o-ring in the process. The tank valve leaked during testing, but a few hard turns with a wrench fixed that as well. I was a little worried about having to tighten it as hard as I did, but so far so good. The ferrule nut and insert are made of cheap plastic. My ferrule insert was actually shattered from the factory, but I opted to pick up a 1/4" brass compression nut w/insert to replace it. I recommend you do the same. Search "Internet # 100638289" and pick up an extra 1/4" quick connect shutoff valve, a few couplers, and some 1/4" poly tubing as well. If you need to place your RO unit any reasonable distance from your sink, you'll be glad to have those. Also, you can use these parts to connect to your refrigerator (get a tee) without spending an extra $20. As far as the alkaline filter is concerned, I have yet to see its benefit. I tested the water with some PH test strips and am getting around 5. Hopefully there is a break-in period or else I may need to discuss this with customer support. My incoming water is 7, so there is room for improvement on the receiving end.All in all, I'm impressed! I ran into a few snags, but those were specific to my install. I'm happy with the system, but now I need to verify I am getting what I paid for. I need a few testing tools like a PPM meter, proper PH meter, etc.One final note: Make sure you check your spacing for the faucet washer under the sink. I had to chisel a cutout on one of the support beams. That was a time consuming, awkward positioning pain in the butt -- and wood dust in the eyes is not fun. =)

A1 |
2016-11-09

My helper and I installed this product three weeks ago as a DYI project. We did not find it difficult to install. I am very satisfied over all. Instead of installing the waste water into the sink drain, I put a rain barrel in my garage and ran the waste line (about 20 feet) to the barrel. I use that water to water our bushes and flowers in the front of the house with a garden hose. Being retired, it is no problem to keep track of the level of water in the barrel as I installed a sight gauge on the barrel. I have to drain the barrel every two days. I think I may have a little more waste water than I expected because our supply water pressure is at the top end at eighty PSI. I also ran a line to our refrigerator. I am happy with the water flow at the faucet and refrigerator. We have two people in our household. The delivery service was quick and efficient, including my exchanging the original polished nickel auxiliary faucet for a chrome one.

SilliconValleyGuy |
2016-02-27

This water filter system was purchased to replace a GE Smart Water RO system purchased at Home Depot several years ago. We paid a plumber to replace the filters on that unit a couple of times over the years and were about to do it again when I saw reviews at Home Depot for the iSpring system (they are the manufacturer's for this system). I hate doing plumbing work, however encouraged by previous reviews that said how easy it was to install it yourself, I decided to give it a try rather than pay the plumber again. For not much more than the previous cost of what we paid to have the filters replaced on our old GE system, I got the new iSpring system and got the additional benefit of the Alkaline Mineral cartridge. The iSpring system was not available at my local Home Depot, however I was able to get it online with free shipping to my home. The installation instructions were very complete and explained how to fix the leaks that I had initially. This was a simple matter of pushing the hose into the fitting a bit further than before. My installation did not require drilling a hole for mounting the faucet since my sink already had 4 holes in the enamel for the faucet and dishwasher air gap. Since we had a newer faucet installed previously that only needs one hole instead of 3, there is actually one hole left over that is covered with a small plastic cover. Although I did not have to drill a hole for the RO system faucet, the hole that was already available in the sink was much larger than needed. The mounting hardware that came with the iSpring RO faucet covered up the gap completely, however I was not able to tighten the mounting nut by hand enough to keep the faucet from sliding around in the hole when we would turn it on/off or rotate the faucet. A few days after the installation, I got an unexpected call from the iSpring company asking me about how it went. I was in a meeting at work and was not able to take the call, however the woman who called left a message with an email address that I could respond to. Later I took the opportunity to send an email reporting that it all went well except for the loose faucet mounting. To my surprise I got a reply to my email indicating that they had a different faucet available that would solve my problem since the mounting nut could be tightened with a wrench instead of by hand. They sent me the new faucet free of charge and also a set of replacement filters to thank me for my trouble of having to install the faucet twice. I am happy to report that the new faucet works perfectly and the mounting is very sturdy and secure. I am all set for the filter replacement when the time comes and having installed the original filters, I know how easy it is and no longer have to pay a plumber to do it. My family is very pleased with the water quality, although when I measured the pH with a test strip it did not register in the alkaline range as others have reported. From the attached photo, the pH appears to be around 6.0. To be fair, the test strip says it is for saliva and urine only, so maybe it is not accurate for water. I suspect that the alkaline cartridge does contribute to the great taste, however. Many brands of bottled water also add minerals to the water for taste.

My2cents |
2019-06-18

Let’s start with the obvious, the water quality is outstanding. Refreshing water without the chlorine after taste. You could hold a water tasting party and have all of your friends bring their tap and filtered water and you will be able to pick out this filters water every time. It is well worth the investment. The manufacturer has some great resources and solutions for just about every need. Their website will help you choose a filter that is right for you. Unpacking the boxes was a bit overwhelming but my concerns quickly disappeared as I reviewed the instructions. The manufacturer suggested a specific YouTube video as a primer and it really demystified the components and the installation. There is plenty of video instruction out there to guide anyone mildly handy towards a successful installation. I’m simply impressed with this setup. It is a highly engineered system that is designed with the installation and maintenance from a residential homeowner in mind. It looks more complicated than it is. Once you learn that everything is compartmentalized and most connections are easy push on fittings, you will look like a plumbing genius. Minimal tools are required. The hardest part of the installation is drilling the required holes. Some may wonder why you need to drill a 1/4" hole in the drain pipe. The answer is that is how a Reverse Osmosis (RO) filter works. After the first three stages, the water is filtered very good. The RO filter uses water pressure in the line to push ultra-clean water through the membrane to the storage tank. RO filter can remove salts and viruses from the drinking water. If the RO filter had to process all of the water filtered in the first three stages, the membrane would quickly become clogged and need replacement. Engineers determined that there is an economical range that can be treated by the RO filter and the rest should be discharged. The saying in school was “the solution to pollution is dilution”. As the purest water is filtered out of the flow, the concentration of particles in the remaining flow increases. As the concentration increases, the water becomes cost prohibitive to treat. Hence the need for a waste line. The waste line also helps flush the surface of the membrane keeping it functioning for up to a year (per manufacturer.) It’s ironic that the first five stages get the water so pure that the sixth stage has to reintroduce minerals so that it is more palatable to those that are used to drinking tap water. Side note, after reverse osmosis, the water is so clean that you could wash a window without having water spots after it dries. Once you use the faucet, you will hear water flowing through the drain as the tank refills. It takes about 8 minutes for the tank to completely empty and about an hour to refill once completely empty. I’m really impressed and a fan.

Rick |
2018-04-08

I have had this product for a year now and been very happy with it. I had a couple leaks immediately after installation because I had not properly assembled some fittings. Once I reassembled the fittings, it has worked fine with no leaks.

MJ |
2018-04-05

The installation of product was super easy and no brainers. It took me 1.5 hours to completely install it as DIY. Instruction was easy and actually the diagram was so clear that didn't even need to read it. Water quality is just great. The look of faucet is impressive. We just love it. see pictures.

Mr. Miyagi |
2019-09-04

I just purchased the RO unit for drinking water and aquarium use. The item, parts, packaging, directions, etc. are all excellent. Installation was easy and only took me about 1.5 hours. However, I have a concern with the quality of the water and I see other reviews very recent to mine (and posted below) complain about the same issue.I have pH 8.6 water with a TDS ppm of about 220. Post-RO water was down to 13ppm which is great, but the pH was 9.1 when it should be lower due to the RO process. After the alkaline filter, my pH is 10.3 and TDS are 30 ppm. So, it seems like the RO membrane is working due to the total ppm being reduced 90-95%, but I can't explain why the pH is so basic, even moreso than my tap water.I emailed customer support and will update this post to see what they say. However, I find it interesting that two other reviewers are having the same problem from the prior two months. Maybe a quality control issue on their RO membranes?Higher than healthy PH of 10.46By CuriouslySerious on June 18, 2019The PH is 10.46 YIKES! This is after running 10 mins of water through and then flushing the tank 3 times. Healthy PH should be 7.5 to 9. This is very basic and am unsure how the body would respond if drinking large quantities. I imagine it would stress out your kidneys over a period of time. The alkaline filter needs to be reengineered because this is unsafe. see lessRaised the tap water ph to 11.5By Mloveland… on August 1, 2019I bought this and was very excited to try it. I got it installed watched all the installation videos about draining it. Did everything and the ph was around 11.5 I thought this was because of something I did so I bought replacement filters and tossed the original ones thinking that would fix it. I test it and sure enough it’s still raising the ph by about 2-3 points when it’s supposed to lower it. Now I have to talk to the manufacturer about getting a refund because I’m not going to drink 11.5ph water see less