Looking for the Best Reverse Osmosis System? Read our Reverse Osmosis System Reviews First...
With a reverse osmosis filter, the quality of the water in your home improves , while water softeners remove hard metals, reverse osmosis removes other chemicals, minerals, bacteria and viruses; your water will instantly be healthier, and food will taste better (food that's prepared with filtered water, that is).
Many people have started to get into the products because they know that the process works and really benefits the human body. The popularity of the system is mostly because of the undeniable cleanliness and purity that it provides to your home supply.
We've compiled the 5 best reverse osmosis systems on the market based on customer reviews, features and value in the information below. Skim through the table for a quick overview, or read our reverse osmosis system reviews below for more info...
The 5 Best Water Filtration Systems: Reverse Osmosis Reviews
MODEL | SIZE (inches) | FILTER LIFE | WARRANTY | RATING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Home Master | 20 x 16 x 13 | 12 months + | 5 years | |
APEC | 16 x 5.2 x 17.5 | 12 months + | 1 year | |
APEC | 15 x 7 x 18 | 12 months + | 1 year | |
APEC Countertop | 14 x 6 x 6.5 | 1 year | 1 year | |
ISpring | 15 x 8 x 18 | 6-12 months | 1 year | |
|
ISpring | 15 x 8 x 18 | 6-12 months | 1 year |
The Home Master Artesian Full Contact Reverse Osmosis System
- Stages of Filtration: 7
- Dimensions: 20 x 16 x 13 inches.
- Filter life: 12+ months (or 2500 gallons)
- Warranty: 5 years
5 out of 5 stars!
The Home Master Artesian Full Contact is a top-of-the-line, seven-stage, under-counter water filtration system.
In addition to removing 98 percent of all contaminants, it has two stages for adding good minerals back into the purified water.
An additional feature of Home Master RO systems is larger tubing and fittings than traditional RO systems and accommodates up to double the flow rate.
Best of all: the unit comes with a five-year year limited warranty on all parts.
As purchased, the RO system comes with a fully assembled purification unit, RO membrane, 1 year of filters, storage tank, 3/8-Inch feed water adapter with shut off, chrome faucet, faucet adapter, drain saddle and instructions.
PROS
- Two steps for adding back valuable minerals
- Produces great tasting water
- Water flow rate is 2 times faster than standard ROs
CONS
- Higher price than most RO units
- Installation instructions and a little vague & YouTube videos are lacking
Best suited for - Medium/large households who want the absolute top of the line RO system. This system is considered the rolls royce of reverse osmosis filters, without the price tag.
The APEX Premium 5 Stage Reverse Osmosis Water Filter Review
- Stages of Filtration - 5
- Dimensions - 16 x 5.2 x 17.5 inches
- Filter life - 12 months +
- Warranty - 1 year (+ 30 day money back guarantee)
4.5 out of 5
This is a long time customer favourite five-stage system that is easy to install and use. It weighs only 26 pounds with dimensions of 16 x 5.2 x 17.5 inches.
APEC has more than 17 years of experience designing and building RO systems - and it's easy to see this with all of the raving customer reviews on amazon.com (this is the best selling R.O system as of August 2015)
Apec has in-house certified water specialists who provide free technical support for the entire life of the system. The company offers a 30-day money back return guarantee along with a one-year limited warranty.
The system comes with five processing stages, pure water storage tank, chrome faucet, plus NSF & FDA food grade tubing and quick connect fittings.
PROS
- Removes up to 99 percent of contaminants
- Long-lasting filters
- Treats both tap and well water
CONS
- Inadequate installation documentation (you may need help installing)
Best suited for - smaller households (3 or less) looking for a great RO system at a very reasonable price.
The APEC High-Flow 90 GDP Reverse Osmosis System
- Stages of Filtration: 5
- Dimensions: 15 x 7 x 18 inches
- Filter life: 12 months +
- Warranty: 1 year (+ 30 day money back guarantee)
4.5 out of 5
This is the top-of-the-line five-stage RO unit offered by APEC, and is the go-to unit for large families or high RO usage.
All of the benefits of other Apec models are offered, including water specialists, technical support and USA built. Apec provides a 30-day money back guarantee and a limited one-year warranty.
In addition, customers get extra-long usage from the premium filters and faster flow-through capacity. With an output of purified water of 90 gallons per day, the tank fills twice.
In the box, the unit comes with five processing/filtering stages, water storage tank, crane neck faucet, food grade tubing and quick connect fittings.
PROS
- Increased pure water production
- Consumers report that contaminants reduced to close to zero
- Longer-lasting filters
CONS
- Enhanced filters and processing coming with a higher price tag
- Some DIY'ers may have difficulty installing the system (it's a little more complicated)
Best suited for - larger households with 5 or more family members. This system is built for high usage, so you will get more from the filters (and spend less in the long run)
The APEC Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter (Portable & Installation Free)
- Stages of Filtration: 4
- Dimensions: 14 x 6 x 6.5 inches
- Filter life: 12 months +
- Warranty: 1 year (+ 30 day money back guarantee)
4 out of 5
Let’s go from the Apec largest capacity to the smallest unit. The four-stage Apec countertop portable RO system requires no installation and hooks up to most faucets in minutes.
This is the preferred water purification system for apartment residents, travelers, students, and RV enthusiasts.
This unit is compact, but it offers a 90 gallon per day pure water production. It is supported by all the benefits offered by the Apec company, including a one-year warranty and US-made filters.
PROS
- Small size and light weight, but large output
- All the company-provided benefits of larger Apec models
- No installation required!
CONS
- Four-stages vs. five-stages offered by larger models
- Slow water production
- No water storage tank
Best suited for - smaller households (3 or less people), apartment residents, travellers, or anyone who rents and wants an RO system but wants to take it with them when they move! (with ease)
The iSpring (75GDP) Legendary 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System Reviews
- Stages of Filtration: 5
- Dimensions: 15 x 8 x 18 inches
- Filter life: 6-12 months
- Warranty: 1 year (+ 30 day money back guarantee)
4 out of 5
The Ispring Legendary is a five-stage purification method that is ideal for consumers seeking both great value and style.
Recent free upgrades include an EU-style brushed nickel faucet with stainless steel lock and ceramic valve.
The system also comes with the company’s 30-day money back policy and one-year satisfaction guarantee. Easy installation is supported with a YouTube video and headquarters staff in Atlanta.
The unit is delivered with five stages, storage tank, faucet, tubing, installation hardware of tank valve, drain saddle, feed water adapter, two wrenches, Teflon tape, 2 spare elbow fittings, 3 spare O-rings, two wrenches, and a user manual - you won't need ANYTHING else to get this system working.
PROS
- Great value - with lots of extras
- Recent upgrades that addressed known issues - signs that they are committed to customer satisfaction
CONS
- There is a chance the system will leak if you install it yourself but don't do it exactly as the manufacturer recommends
- Filter lasts up to 12 months only
Best suited for - smaller households (3 or less people), apartment residents, travellers, or anyone who rents and wants an RO system but wants to take it with them when they move! (with ease)
The ISpring 75 GPD legendary 6 Stage Reverse Osmosis System
- Stages of Filtration: 6
- Dimensions: 15 x 8 x 18 inches
- Filter life: 6-12 months
- Warranty: 1 year (+ 30 day money back guarantee)
3.5 out of 5
Ispring also produces a six-stage RO system, which has an alkaline PH filter that produces PH-balanced water and also replaces healthy minerals.
This is the unit for those customers concerned about good mineral loss from RO purification.
At 75 gallons per day, its capacity is the same as the Ispring five-stage RO system. It comes with the same warranties and upgrades as the Ispring five-stage unit.
With an additional processing step, the unit is a little costlier but lighter weight than the Ispring five-stage model.
Boxed unit arrives at your home with six processing stages, machine head and faucet, tank, faucet, tubing, installation hardware, tank valve, feed water adapter, drain saddle, Teflon tape, two wrenches, 3 spare O-rings, 2 spare elbow fittings and user manuals.
PROS
- Additional alkaline filter
- Recent upgrades
- Saves beneficial minerals and nutrients from filtered water
CONS
- Filter lasts up to 12 months only
- Water may not be alkaline enough
Best suited for - consumers who are health fanatics - if you're want the highest possible mineral content in your water, this system is for you as it retains beneficial minerals (unlike most other RO machines)
So now that you know about the best rated reverse osmosis water filters in the market, lets get to know exactly what these systems are, and how they work...
What Is a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter?
Reverse osmosis is a method for purifying water. Involving a number of filtration stages, each one removing various classes of chemicals.
Most systems come in either four, five or six stages, with one stage being the RO step and additional filters making up the other steps.
How Does Reverse Osmosis Work?
Water is forced through a membrane in the direction opposite that of normal osmosis.
The normal osmosis direction is from lower concentration to higher, so, under pressure, reverse osmosis is from higher concentration to lower.
The membrane only allows the water particles through it, and the bad stuff is left behind.
There are generally other filters before and after the osmosis process that remove even more particles.
What Chemicals or Minerals Does a Reverse Osmosis system Remove?
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, a reverse osmosis system WILL remove:
- Sodium - High levels have been associated with hypertension in some individuals.
- Chloride - Gives water a bad taste described as brackish or salty.
- Copper - Short-term, can cause digestive problems and long-term, can cause liver and kidney damage.
- Chromium – A recognized human carcinogen, chromium 6 was the chemical found in the drinking water in Hinckley, California that was revealed to the world by the consumer protection advocate Erin Brockovich.
- Lead – In children, can result in physical and mental development delays, and in adults, can result in increased blood pressure and kidney problem.
A reverse osmosis water filter MAY (depending on the quality of your system) reduce:
- Arsenic - This odorless and tasteless element may be in your drinking water without you knowing it. It has been associated with bladder, lung, kidney, liver, prostrate and other cancers.
- Fluoride – Many water districts fluorinate the drinking water. Both naturally occurring and added fluoride have been shown to cause teeth and brain damage according to studies by the American Dental Association and others.
- Radium – Long-term exposure to radium increases risks of lymphoma, bone cancer, leukaemia and aplastic anemia.
- Sulfate – According to the World Health Organization, studies on humans showed that increased sulfates in drinking water not only gave the water a bad taste, it also caused diarrhea.
- Nitrate – Nitrates enter the drinking water supply primarily through fertilizer runoff and are most harmful to infants who could develop blue baby syndrome and shortness of breath.
- Phosphorous – This is a naturally occurring element and in its white form is used as rat poisoning. When a human ingests it, they could experience nausea, drowsiness and even death.
What Are The Pros & Cons Of Using A Reverse Osmosis system?
PROS
- Removal of minerals and chemicals that can cause the water to have a bad taste
- Removal of minerals and chemicals that can have a negative impact on your health
- Removal of bacteria and viruses
- Better tasting coffee, tea and ice
- Healthier baby formula
- Elimination of bottled water expense
- Elimination of water bottle environmental impact
CONS
- The cost of the unit
- The cost of replacement filters
- More water usage than if water is used straight from the tap
- Removal of some beneficial minerals
Some RO units have stages that improve the Ph level of the water and enhance the good minerals that were removed in the processing. These minerals can also be introduced in a person's diet or with supplements
More and more consumers are recognizing the benefits of having pure, filtered water in their homes. If you don't want to start with a system so big, why not try a great faucet water filter beforehand?
It must be stated however; a water filter is NOT a water softener, so if you're looking for relief from hard water problems, you will need a water softener as well. Visit this page for information on the top rated softener systems available.
Many reverse osmosis water filter reviews are available online, so consumers can shop for a unit that fits both the space they have available and their wallet.
With so many contaminants in both city water and well water, everyone can benefit from having a system that supplies clean, pure, sanitized water right in their home.
A reverse osmosis water filtering system is one of the best things you can do for your family and the environment, and by now, you should know exactly how to buy the best reverse osmosis system for your home.
To take a look at other water filter options, including whole house systems, visit this page.
Once you have purchased your system, be sure to read our water softener installation guide to ensure that installation goes smoothly.
Additionally, more information can be found about water softeners and filters on our homepage