Best Residential Reverse Osmosis Systems

Here We Review the Best Residential Reverse Osmosis Systems. Having your own RO System provides you with the most Highly Purified Drinking Water right in your own Home.

Installing an under counter reverse osmosis system is the most effective way your family can enjoy highly-purified, delicious drinking water and for the best price. Today’s systems are better than ever, so it’s no surprise that RO has become a very popular form of home water filtration.

Reverse Osmosis Systems have an advantage over Countertop type Filters, in that the RO systems combine several cutting-edge filtration technologies, all wrapped up into one super-capable system under your kitchen sink.

Modern Reverse Osmosis Systems are truly amazing. RO is for people who want the cleanest water possible, filtering out the widest range of contaminants. If this is you, Reverse osmosis is your best option.

The PRE and POST carbon filters can last for months before a filter change and that means convenience for you. Additionally, the RO Membrane filter itself is usually rated for two years and even longer before it needs changing. Once installed, the RO filter system needs much less frequent maintenance than other filter types.

Things to Consider when Choosing a Reverse Osmosis System

1). Water Quality – Find out what’s in your water, or determine what you want to filter out. Select the best residential reverse osmosis system capable of filtering those contaminants from the water.

2). Water Pressure –Most RO systems need a minimum of 40 psi to operate properly. Virtually all municipal water sources have excellent water pressure. If you’re on a private well, you’ll need to make sure that your pump kicks on before pressure drops below 40 psi. On a well water pressure-tank, the pressure switch is adjustable. You may be able to adjust this so the pressure is always above 40 psi.

3). Water Demand – Estimate how much drinking water your family will use daily. Because the RO membrane is very restrictive, the filtering process is slow. Usually, new Reverse Osmosis systems include a 3 to 4-gallon storage tank that stores the filtered until it’s needed. For most families of four, this is large enough. However, if you think you’ll need larger capacity, larger tanks are available.

Below you’ll find our reviews for several highly-rated systems. We’re only presenting systems that have been independently tested to NSF Certifications. Contaminant reduction claims have been verified and all components are made from safe materials.

Want an affordable system that’ll give you RO quality water? Below are the industries best residential Reverse Osmosis systems…

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1).  iSpring RCC7AK, 6-Stage, High Capacity Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System with Remineralization

Model #: RCC7AK, Amazon’s Choice for best value, 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 1,600 reviews.

iSpring Water Systems LLC is a family-owned business located in Alpharetta, Georgia. They specialize in residential water filtration systems. The materials of all components of this system have been independently tested thoroughly and found to meet NSF/ANSI standards.

6 Stages of Filtration:

1st Stage: High-Capacity Polypropylene Sediment Filter: Removes silt and other particles down to 5 microns. Replace every 3-6 months. More frequently if necessary.

2nd Stage: Granular Activated Carbon will remove unpleasant chemical tastes, odors and cloudiness. Also filters particles down to 5 microns in size. Replace every 3-6 months.

3rd Stage: Dense Solid Block Carbon filter removes residual difficult chloramines tastes and odors. Used to protect and extend the life of the RO filter. Filters particles down to 5 microns in size. Replace every 3-6 months.

4th Stage: TFC (Thin-Film Composite) Reverse Osmosis Membrane. This is the heart of this RO system. It has a high rejection rate that filters out contaminants down to .0001 micron (one-ten-thousandths of a micron). It’s capable of producing up to 75 gallons of pure drinking water every day. Replace every 2-3 years.

5th Stage: Post Carbon Filter: This finely granulated activated carbon filter will remove any lingering tastes and odors from the water coming from the storage tank. Replace every 12 months.

6th Stage: Mineralization Filter: This filter uses mineral stones and calcite to re-add healthy minerals to the water that were removed during the RO process. This rebalances the pH of the water by reintroducing the lost electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Replace every 3-6 months

Additional Included Components:

• 3.2 gallon Pressure Tank that can be placed either vertically or horizontally.
• European Styled, Brushed Nickel, long reach Faucet.
• Food Grade, ¼” Tubing
• Automatic Shut-off Valve – This valve saves water by shutting off the filter system when the storage tank is full.
• Installation Hardware: Includes System Manifold, Filter Housing, Housing Wrenches, Feed Water Valve, Tank Ball Valve, Drain Saddle, additional fittings, and the manual.

My Thoughts on the iSpring RCC7AK:

The iSpring RCC7AK is a very capable system that provides excellent tasting water. The filters are long lasting and use the latest filtration technology. The Auto Shut-off valve is a brilliant addition that saves considerable amounts of water over older and competitive systems. A high-capacity, multi-filter system means better filtration, longer filter life and fewer filter changes for you.

Conclusion:

In my research, I’ve found this RO system to be one of the best available and at a very good price. I have an older 3-Stage Microline RO system that’s over eighteen years old. I’ve been considering on replacing it with a newer model with the latest technology. When I do replace it, the iSpring RCC7AK is one that I’m seriously considering.

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2).  APEC RO-90 – Ultimate Series, 5-Stage, 90 GPD, High Output, Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System

Model #: RO-90, 4.6 out of 5 stars with over 1,065 Amazon reviews.

APEC, Advanced Purification Engineering Corp. is the leading manufacturer of residential Reverse-Osmosis drinking water filter systems in the United States. They are based in the City of Industry, California and have manufacturing facilities there. APEC has been developing customized water treatment systems for over 20 years and is one of the last manufacturers whose membranes and primary filters are all manufactured in the United States.

The materials of all components of this system have been independently tested thoroughly and found to meet WQA Certification, that it’s made from safe materials and has the highest contamination rejection.

5 Stages of Filtration:

1^st Stage: Super Capacity Sediment Filter: Removes silt and other particles down to 5 microns. US Made. Recommended replacement every 6-12 months, but you may find more frequently is necessary.

2^nd Stage: Super Capacity Extruded Block Carbon filter removes chlorine and other chemicals, foul tastes and odors, cloudiness and VOC’s. Helps to protect and extend the life of the RO filter. Filters particles down to 5 microns in size. US Made. Replace every 12 months.

3^rd Stage: Super Capacity Extruded Block Carbon filter further removes chemicals, tastes and odors, cloudiness and VOC’s. Helps to protect and extend the life of the RO filter. US Made. Replace every 12 months.

4^th Stage: FILMTEC, High Rejection TFC reverse osmosis membrane. Removes up to 99% of contaminants such as arsenic, lead, fluoride, chromium, radium, bacteria, viruses and much more. US Made. Replace every 3-5 years.

5^th Stage: Advanced Coconut Shell Carbon Post Filter: This finely granulated activated carbon filter will remove any lingering tastes and odors from the water coming from the storage tank. Replace every 3-5 years.

Additional Included Components:

• 4-gallon Storage/Pressure Tank
• Tubing, 1/4″, 5 feet long, Food Grade
• Installation Hardware: Includes System Manifold, Filter Housing, Housing Wrench, Feed Water Valve, Tank Ball Valve, Drain Saddle, additional fittings, and the manual.
• High quality lead-free faucet

My Thoughts on the APEC RO-90:

The APEC RO-90 is a very capable system that provides great tasting, highly purified water. The filters are long lasting and use the latest filtration technology. APEC designs their RO systems and writes their instructions to make it very easy for the Do-it-Yourselfer.

The cost to replace the filters is very reasonable and affordable. The first set of three filters that should be changed out once a year, is only about $39. About every 3 to 5 years, the whole set of 5 filters should be changed out. This FILTER-MAX90, 5-Filter set is priced around $119. Not a bad price for an unlimited supply of pure drinking water for your family.

APEC’s Ice Maker Kit makes it easy to run your highly-filtered RO water over to your Fridge and ice maker.

Conclusion:

In my research, I’ve found the APEC RO-90 system to be highly-rated by customers. It produces high-purity drinking water and is an exceptional value for the price.

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3).  iSpring RCC7P High Capacity, Performance-Boosted Under Sink 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System

Model #: RCC7P, 4.8 out of 5 stars with over 305 Amazon reviews.

iSpring designed this RO system for those who have low water pressure coming into their house, such as for wells or other low pressure situations. The minimum water pressure required for this system is 30 psi (207 kPa). The included, electric booster pump increases water pressure up to 80 psi (552 kPa), which is ideal for reverse osmosis systems.

This RCC7P system has the same high-performance filters as iSpring’s other systems, but also includes an electric booster pump, which is already installed onto the system. This boosts incoming water pressure to allow the filter system to work optimally.

RO water makes tea, coffee and foods taste better and baby formula healthier. You’ll always enjoy crystal clear ice cubes and water from your fridge. The materials of all components of this system have been independently tested thoroughly and found to meet NSF/ANSI standards, and is WQA Gold Seal Certified.

5 Stages of Filtration:

1^st Stage: High-Capacity Polypropylene Sediment Filter: Removes silt and other particles down to 5 microns. Replace every 3-6 months.

2^nd Stage: Granular Activated Carbon will remove unpleasant chemical tastes, odors and cloudiness. Also filters particles down to 5 microns in size. Replace every 3-6 months.

3^rd Stage: Dense Solid Block Carbon filter removes residual difficult chloramines tastes and odors. Used to protect and extend the life of the RO filter. Filters particles down to 5 microns in size. Replace every 3-6 months.

4^th Stage: TFC (Thin-Film Composite) Reverse Osmosis Membrane. This is the heart of this RO system. It has a high rejection rate that filters out contaminants down to .0001 of a micron. It’s capable of producing up to 75 gallons of pure drinking water every day. Replace every 2-3 years.

5^th Stage: Post Carbon Filter: This finely granulated activated carbon filter will remove any lingering tastes and odors from the water coming from the storage tank. Replace every 12 months.

Additional Included Components:

• 3.2 gallon Pressure Tank that can be placed either vertically or horizontally.
• Booster Pump, Pre-installed; 110V
• European Style, Brushed Nickel, lead-free, long reach Faucet.
• Food Grade, ¼” Tubing
• Installation Hardware: Includes System Manifold, Filter Housing, Housing Wrenches, Feed Water Valve, Tank Ball Valve, Drain Saddle, additional fittings, and the manual.

My Thoughts on the iSpring RCC7P:

As with iSpring’s other systems, the RCC7P uses the same high-tech, high-performance filters. After my research, I feel confident that they’re long-lasting and designed using the latest and best filtration technology. The ‘P’ in the part number designates the booster pump. If your water pressure never drops below 50 psi (345 kPa), you won’t need the booster pump and could order model RCC7 instead.

As users have mentioned, the booster pump is very quiet and hardly noticeable within the cabinet under the kitchen sink. It has a dramatic effect lowering the waste drain ratio down to 1.5-gallons per 1.0-gallon of filtered water and it speeds up water production. The pump shuts off when the storage tank is full and fully pressurized.

The storage tank is a stainless steel shell with BPA-free internal rubber coating. If the tank is full and then you draw a small amount of water from the tap, the pump won’t come on, however, as you draw more water, the pump will come on temporarily until pressure in the tank is maximized again.

Conclusion:

Despite the electric pump’s intermittent operation, it’s very quiet. The system is low maintenance and the filters are sized to industry standard. Replacement filters are available at factory direct pricing, so once installed, the system is low cost. It’s cheap to insure the family is drinking pure healthy water.

While you’re at it, why not have crystal clear water delivered to your fridge and ice maker?
This is really easy with the iSpring ICEK Fridge Installation Kit.

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4).  APEC ROES-50, Essence Series, 5-Stage, 50 GPD Reverse Osmosis System

Model #: ROES-50, 4.8 out of 5 stars with over 145 Amazon reviews.

All of APEC’s primary water filters and membranes are manufactured in the United States. All materials that make up this system have been thoroughly tested by an independent source and were found to meet WQA’s Certification. No component contain phthalates or BPA’s. They’re made from safe materials and have the highest contamination rejection rates in the industry.

5 Stages of Filtration:

1^st Stage: Sediment Filter: Removes silt and other particles down to 5 microns. US Made. Recommended replacement every 6-12 months, but you may find more frequently is necessary.

2^nd Stage: Extruded Block Carbon filter removes chlorine and other chemicals, foul tastes and odors, cloudiness and VOC’s. Helps to protect and extend the life of the RO filter. Filters particles down to 5 microns in size. US Made. Replace every 6-12 months.

3^rd Stage: Extruded Block Carbon filter further removes chemicals, tastes and odors, cloudiness and VOC’s. Helps to protect and extend the life of the RO filter. US Made. Replace every 6-12 months.

4^th Stage: FILMTEC, 50-gallon daily capacity. High Rejection TFC reverse osmosis membrane. Removes up to 99% of contaminants such as arsenic, lead, fluoride, chromium, radium, bacteria, viruses and much more. US Made. Replace every 2-4 years.

5^th Stage: Coconut Shell Carbon Post Filter: This finely granulated activated carbon filter will remove any lingering tastes and odors from the water coming from the storage tank. Replace every 2-4 years.

Additional Included Components:

• 4-gallon Pressure Tank. Optional 14-gallon tank.
• ¼” Tubing, 5 feet, Food Grade
• Installation Hardware: Includes System Manifold, Filter Housing, Housing Wrench, Feed Water Valve, Tank Ball Valve, Drain Saddle, additional fittings, and the manual.
• High quality lead-free faucet

My Thoughts on the APEC ROES-50:

The only difference that I have been able to find between the ROES-50 and APEC’s other RO systems is that this system has only a 50-gallon per day capacity, as opposed to the higher ratings of other systems.

The difference is that all 5 filters have somewhat less filter life, which must mean that there is less filter media built into each cartridge. Less filter material, means less expense to produce, which means a system they can sell for less.

System Capacity: 50 gallons per day @ 60 psi, 30 gallons/day @50 psi, at 77 deg F temperature. (189 liters per day @ 414 kPa, 114 liters per day @345 kPa, at 25 deg C temperature). If you know that your demand for drinking water won’t be that high, then you can save a few bucks with this system. It’s just as capable a filter system as the others, it just has a lower output rating. APEC’s systems are made for the independent Do-it-Yourselfer.

Conclusion:

Since APEC’s ROES-50 has a bit less filtration capacity, and the filters need to be changed out a bit more frequently, a question came to me as I was researching this. Would the model ROES-50 accommodate the higher capacity filters from another system? Stop back, because I will find the answer to this question. I have a feeling that swapping filters may be possible. I believe most, if not all manufacturers physically size their filters to an industry standard.

As with APEC’s other models, the ROES-50 is very highly-rated by verified-customers and it’s priced very reasonably.

UPDATE: I got word back directly from APEC about this ‘Essence ROES-50’ system. You may use the higher capacity filters from the Ultimate series with this system, as they are the same size. However, the main difference with the Ultimate series models is that they use premium components in both their filters and parts. So, the Ultimate Series filters are designed as super capacity, and the parts that comprise the Ultimate series models are more durable than this ‘Essence ROES-50’.

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5).  iSpring RCC7P-AK, 6-Stage, High Capacity, Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System with Booster Pump & Remineralization

Model #: RCC7P-AK, 4.5 out of 5 stars with over 180 reviews. iSpring Water Systems LLC is a family-owned business located in Alpharetta, Georgia, that specializes in residential water filtration systems. The materials of all components of this system have been independently tested thoroughly and found to meet NSF/ANSI standards.

6 Stages of Filtration:

1^st Stage: High-Capacity Polypropylene Sediment Filter: Removes silt and other particles down to 5 microns. Replace every 3-6 months.

2^nd Stage: Granular Activated Carbon will remove unpleasant chemical tastes, odors and cloudiness. Screens particles down to 5 microns in size. Replace every 3-6 months.

3^rd Stage: Dense Solid Block Carbon filter removes residual difficult chloramines tastes and odors. Used to protect and extend the life of the RO filter. Filters particles down to 5 microns in size. Replace every 3-6 months.

4^th Stage: TFC (Thin-Film Composite) Reverse Osmosis Membrane. This is the heart of this RO system. It has a high rejection rate that filters out contaminants down to .0001 of a micron. It’s capable of producing up to 75 gallons of pure drinking water every day. Replace every 2-3 years.

5^th Stage: Post Carbon Filter: This finely granulated activated carbon filter acts to polish the water coming from the storage tank before it’s dispensed from the tap. It removes any residual adverse smells or tastes. Replace every 12 months.

6^th Stage: Mineralization Filter: This filter uses mineral stones and calcite to re-add healthy minerals to the water that were removed during the RO process. This rebalances the pH of the water by reintroducing the lost electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Replace every 3-6 months.

Additional Included Components:

• 3.2 gallon Pressure Tank that can be placed either vertically or horizontally.
• European Styled, Brushed Nickel, long reach Faucet.
• Pre-installed Booster Pump, boosts low water pressure to optimum level for RO
• Food Grade, ¼” Tubing
• Automatic Shut-off Valve – This valve saves water by shutting off the filter system when the storage tank is full.
• Installation Hardware: Includes System Manifold, Filter Housing, Housing Wrenches, Feed Water Valve, Tank Ball Valve, Drain Saddle, additional fittings, and the manual.
• High quality lead-free faucet

My Thoughts on the iSpring RCC7AK:

The iSpring RCC7AK water filter system combines the best features that iSpring has to offer, the High-Capacity filters, their upgraded Booster Pump that optimizes filtration and minimizes waste water, and includes a Mineralization Cartridge, that leaches healthy electrolytes into the water. The filters engineered for this system are high-capacity, long lasting and use the latest filtration technology.

The Auto Shut-off valve is a brilliant addition that saves considerable amounts of water over older and competitive systems. A high-capacity, multi-filter system means better filtration, longer filter life and fewer filter changes for you.

Conclusion:

I’ve found this RO system to be one of the best available. The selling price of this system is very reasonable for the multiple benefits you get.

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