Customer Reviews

Aqua-Pure AP200 Under-Sink Water Filter System

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I wanted to give the Aqua-Pure a try before spending a fortune on a reverse osmosis system that would also take up all the space under the sink. To my relief, and a bit of a surprise, it actually works. I can compare the unfiltered to the filtered and there is a huge difference. And, it takes up little space.

Water companies have different issues to deal with in various areas of the country. Not far from here, my mother had a terrible iron problem, and I have none to deal with. I would imagine that a simple system like the AP200 might work in some areas and not others. If the water is really terrible, then perhaps only a more complex system would work and maybe not even then.

So, it works perfectly for me, but I do have issues. First, it is really expensive for what it is! This is a simple plastic device, two pieces and a gasket. $92 is a lot for that.

The filter screws into the housing. Since it is plastic, I have always been careful, but once I did find that the filter had broken off at the threads. This required taking everything out and doing something clever to remove the broken-off part from the housing.

Did I screw it in too tightly? Hmmm, I'm pretty careful about such things. I would hate to think it broke from normal water pressure or some sort of surge. I have no water hammer problem. In any case, it isn't very durable and takes too much care to install the filter cartridge.

The better news is that the filters come two in a box. Amazon's description makes it seem like you are only getting one for almost $50. Since they last me at least a year, that is only $25/year, which isn't too bad.

As with any filter, you do have to tap into the plumbing under the sink. That gets you into the world of plumbing and those who have been there know that there is little standardization and lots of options.

Again, as with any filter, you really have to use a separate faucet. Running all your cold water through this filter would shorten its life considerably and at only 2 GPM, the flow would be really slow.

I put my system in when I changed the sink and I bought one that had a hole in it for a separate faucet. Some homes have the faucets coming through the counter, but drilling would still be necessary.

In my area, and my circumstances, the Aqua-Pure turns out to be a fine option. We don't buy bottled water, the coffee and ice cubes are better and we use it to cook in. The regular water goes to the dishwasher and for sink duty.

So, I think it works just fine in most situations, takes up little room and is easier to install that some other systems. It is too expensive and fragile to get the coveted five stars, so it gets three.

I recently moved, from a house where I had well water, to the city. The water here has a lot of chlorine which is why I purchased this filter system. It simply didn't work. It did not take out enough chlorine so that I could tell the difference. I have returned this item to Amazon

I agree that the statement of 2 gal per minute is slow, which is why I use the AP in bathroom sinks and allow all the cold water to go thru the filter. They still last about a year. According to CUNO, technical service, it is time to replace the filter when you see a drop in the flow. That shows the filter is blocked. In my kitchen I have mounted a Whole House Filter. This gives me a flow rate of 5 gal per minute, which is higher than the faucet allows you. Standard Faucets are set to 2 1/2 gal per minute. I inserted a charcoal filter in my housing, available both thru CUNO or Home Depot Lowe's etc. Again the filters last at least a year. I used to live in New York City in a building that was made with galvanized pipes and was 100 years old. The pipes had lots of rust in them and dirt, The Whole House Filters took out everything and lasted more than a year. I would change them every January just out of guilt so to speak. They filters are so cheap why not change them? I now have them in my home under both my sinks in my kitchen. One I have plumbed to filter all the water going to my Instant HOT and also to the cold water side of my faucet at the same time. This way when I want a drink of water it is filtered when I cook pasta it is filtered when I make coffee or tea it is filtered. etc. I also put a whole house filter with a dirt and sediment filter (not charcoal) in the line feeding my hot water tank. This keeps the tank clean and that will make the tank last a lot longer than if I did not filter out the water going into the tank. That is why manufactures suggest you drain the tank once a year to get rid of the sludge found in the bottom of the tank, I used to drain it but now there is nothing in the bottom of the tank due to the filter. I do not work for CUNO, I just like their products. And I was a contractor for 27 years. I installed them in the 600 kitchens and baths I did all over NYC.