Reverse osmosis filtration purifies municipal tap water far beyond what city systems do. It removes all sorts of contaminants, from plastics to bacteria to toxins. Reverse osmosis systems are durable and need very little maintenance. They are easy to maintain, so you may not even need a plumber to install one for you. Let’s take a look at three of the best reverse osmosis water filters on the market to see which is the best for you.
iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage Residential Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System w/ Alkaline Re-mineralization-WQA Gold Seal Certified, 75 GPD
What makes the iSpring RCC7AK special? Not only does it purify your drinking water, it gives it a tasty flavor. After the 5-step cleaning process is complete, it puts the water through a 6th step, a re-mineralization filter.
This alkaline filter uses the mineral calcite and red mineral stones to add calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium to the purified water. Your water will taste like natural spring water and have a better pH balance for your health. Normally, the reverse osmosis process makes water a little acidic, but this 6th stage filter turns it neutral.
Besides the great flavor, the RCC7AK systemgets rid of up to 99% of over a thousand pollutants. That means you won’t need to worry about drinking or preparing food with poisons like chlorine, fluoride, lead, arsenic, pesticides, viruses, bacteria, sulfur, and plastic derivatives. Unfortunately, these toxins do appear in small amounts in municipal drinking water, so it’s a really good idea to have a trustworthy filter.
iSpring has the RCC7 Water Quality Association (WQA) Gold Seal certification because their filters have passed rigorous and detailed testing. The RCC7AK passes the National Science Foundation (NSF) highest standards for reverse osmosis filters. Each part of the filter that comes in contact with the water isfood-grade certified. They even include an elegant new water faucet in the box in case your current one has a buildup of contaminants inside it.
One thing you will have to do to maintain your RCC7AK is change the individual filters of your system. The 1st stage is transparent so it’s easy to see when it’s time to swap it for a new one. iSpring says you may need to replace the first three stages of filters every three to six months.
The 4th stage is the reverse osmosis membrane, and that may need to be changed every two years. The 5th stage should last about a year, but the alkaline filter, the 6th stage, should be changed about every 3 to 6 months.
Besides linking the RCC7AK to your faucet, you can run output lines to your refrigerator’s ice maker and your coffee maker. This system can output 75 gallons per day so you and your family have plenty of clean water at home.
More features of the iSpring RCC7AK Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System:
- iSpring offers a 1-year money-back guarantee as well as a 1-year warranty plus lifetime tech support
- Holds up to 2.5 gallons of water ready at a time in the 3.2-gallon pressurized tank
- Comes with lead-free European-style Brushed Nickel Faucet, complete filter pack, tubing, wrenches for installation, feed water adapter for both 1/2″ NPT & 3/8″ COMP, drain saddle, spare fittings and O rings, and user manual
iSpring RCC7AK-UV 7-Stage Residential Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System w/ Alkaline Re-mineralization Filter and UV Sterilizer – WQA Gold Seal Certified, 75 GPD
The iSpring RCC7AK-UV adds a 7th stage, an ultraviolet sterilizer, to the 6 stages present on the RCC7AK. The UV sterilizer eliminates whatever small amount of microorganisms that might still be in the water after the regular filtration process. It kills any leftover viruses, bacteria, and parasites like giardia. This is especially helpful if your water comes from a well.
The 11-watt UV light turns on and off with the water flow. This makes the UV bulb last longer and puts less strain on your electric bill. But don’t worry that adding a sterilizer makes this filter hard to install—it doesn’t. The RCC7AK-UV is just as easy to set up as the RCC7AK described above.
It comes with iSpring’s WQA Gold Seal Certified reverse osmosis filters, plus the alkaline stage that balances the pH and adds a pleasant flavor to the water you drink. It can process up to 75 gallons of water per day.
More features of the iSpring RCC7AK-UV Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System:
- iSpring offers a 1-year money-back guarantee as well as a 1-year warranty plus lifetime tech support
- Holds up to 2.5 gallons of water ready at a time
- Comes with lead-free European-style Brushed Nickel Faucet, complete filter pack, tubing, wrenches for installation, feed water adapter for both 1/2″ NPT & 3/8″ COMP, drain saddle, spare fittings and O rings, and user manual
iSpring RCC1UP-AK 7-Stage Residential Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System w/ Booster Pump, Alkaline Re-mineralization Filter, and UV Sterilizer
What sets the RCC1UP-AK apart from the other two iSpring reverse osmosis filters described above? Pressure. The RCC1UP-AK has a booster pump that raises the pressure of incoming household water so that it can be cleaned efficiently by the system. If your home has water pressure below 45psi, this may be the perfect filter for you.
Besides the booster pump and iSpring’s WQA-certified 5-stage water purification system, the RCC1UP-AK includes the 6th stage re-mineralization filter and the 7th stage UV filter. The re-mineralization from calcite and red mineral stones adds flavor and alkalinity to the purified water. The UV filter kills off any remaining parasites, bacteria, and viruses with a ultraviolet light that turns on and off with water flow.
If your home is supplied by well water, this may be the best reverse osmosis system for your household. Not only can you link it to a kitchen faucet, you can run lines to your refrigerator’s icemaker and even your coffee maker.
More features of the iSpring RCC1UP-AK Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System:
- iSpring offers a 1-year money-back guarantee as well as a 1-year warranty plus lifetime tech support
- Holds up to 2.5 gallons of water ready at a time
- Comes with European-style Brushed Nickel Faucet, complete filter pack, tubing, wrenches for installation, feed water adapter for both 1/2″ NPT & 3/8″ COMP, drain saddle, spare fittings and O rings, and user manual
Recommendation
If you have low water pressure (under 45psi) from a well or municipal supply, consider getting the iSpring RCC1UP-AK. Its booster pump raises water pressure so the filter system works at top efficiency. It has a re-mineralization filter to add flavor and reduce acidity, as well as a UV filter to remove any remaining microorganisms.
If you have good water pressure and want the added security of a UV filter to eliminate any bacteria, viruses, or parasites left in the filtered water, take a look at the RCC7AK-UV. It adds minerals back into the purified water so it tastes better than regular filtered water.
If you don’t need the added protection of a UV filter, but still want pH neutral filtered water with a pleasant taste, consider purchasing the iSpring RCC7AK.
Click here to purchase iSpring RCC7AK on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase iSpring RCC7AK-UV on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase iSpring RCC1UP-AK on Amazon.com!