Customer Reviews

Aquasana undercounter water filter system

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

I have a water well, so I do NOT want to restrict water flow to my kitchen sink faucet...!!!

As soon as I installed their AQ-4000 "sink top" model-
I noticed it took MUCH MUCH longer to fill the sink with unfiltered water (for dishes...)?!
I removed their aerator assembly..., and discovered it had a "non-removable!" VERY SMALL 5/32"..., "permanent" METAL restrictor hole!

I then installed their optional "Under-Sink Install Kit" (AQ-4056 (best), or AQ-4050 (MUCH less$)) .
This complete kit has a faucet that mounts to sink-top (NOT very easy, but worth it!- Drill 7/8" hole, mounting bracket screws are too large..., connect new water-T...)-
I now have good filtered water, and a "normal" water flow at the sink faucet! :o)
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UPDATE!- CONS (after using it for 6mo.- I'd now downgrade it to a 1 (they don't give 0!)!-
1. Changing the filters is a HASSLE! Had to work hard & gouge the down filter out with several tools (sticks BADLY!). Yes, it started leaking too!
Reverse Osmosis/distllled water has a BAD ph, and necessary minerals are removed!

2. I since got a Whirlpool UltraEase "PLUS!" under sink water filter mounting kit (Lowes only). Lines from AQ4000 fit it to the sink top faucet. They also carry sink top faucets, and filter mounting kits (in-store- couldn't find mounting kit online?).
Review the filtration specs on this NSF (govt.) approved Whirlpool "Plus" filter- lead/flouride/cysts/..., VERY impressive specs., for most home users!

This unit leaks. If you install it under your sink it will surely leak and ruin the cabinets. The management of Sun Water Systems will then only tell you that it is your fault, you have bad water, or some other ridiculous comment. In reality the plastic filter housing is cheap, the threads break, the O-ring is insufficient in size to seal the unit, and the actual water quality is questionable, as evidenced by the solid scale that builds up around the faucet and the water test that produced the same results from unfiltered city water as the filtered water from the under sink unit. Bad choice for us. We invested in a RO unit with a local service team, higher specs and a proven track record of reliability. We now have to replace our sink cabinet from the damage...

Two seperate boxes. Easy to install. Low presure lines and fittings seem a bit flimsy but the lines haven't leaked and the system works fine. I live in a beach town and like most beach towns, our tap water is horrible, full of chlorine and who knows what else. The filtered water tastes better that any bottled water I've used. I hope this system lasts a long time. I highly recommend this system for drinking water which is reported to be less than 9 cents per gallon. Purchased from BestFilters for a low price and they seemed like a good company to deal with.

Filters are much more difficult to install than I think they should be, unit consistently breaks or has a problem every few months. The white plastic filter housing has broken twice (see photo) and I've had to replace the faucet/dispenser at least once because it constantly dripped or even poured. I am now on hold to get another part since I am a "Water 4 Life" subscriber for about $100 year - which includes two filter changes and warranty. Eventually I will probably spend the time and money to get a better unit.

UPDATE 2008-11-29: After the water filter housing broke a third time, I requested that they send me another one for free which they did (no shipping charge) (I am a Water4Life customer). They seem to have redesigned this part so hopefully it will not break again.

Don't waste your money on this unit! Filters last for only 3 months (not the specified 6 months) before the water flow slows to a trickle. Aquasana blamed sediment in New York City water, but installing their pre-filter did not improve performance, and I have to change the prefilter every 2 weeks.

After a few months, the plastic housing blew apart. While Aquasana did replace it free, I had to spend time installing the new unit.

The faucet they supply is cheaply made. It's supposed to have a continuous flow when the handle is in the up position, but it no longer stays in that position. We have to use a rubber band to hold the faucet open for continuous flow.

The covers to the filter chambers tighten up between filter changings, so I have to use a socket wrench to loosen them to change the filter.

All-in-all, this filter has been an infuriating disappointment.

I had this product for 8 months (Professionally installed)... Part of a new kitchen.. I got the under sink kit and it leaks to the point it almost ruined my cabinet... I called the support line and they said I needed to buy a new one and the warranty was only good for 100 days which is just about enough time to realize the lack of quality in the craftsmanship...

I owned this product for 4 years. After the third cracked housing (the crack was in the threads of the outlet filter housing; water pressure was not a factor, we decreased the water flow to the filter) and kitchen flooding, I emailed the company. All I received was a sarcastic reply "sorry you had soo many problems." Now I have to replace or try to refinish my custom-made cabinets. Currently I'm looking for a new filter system. I'm also going to install a flood alarm/auto cut-off system to the undercounter water filter.

The Aquasana AQ-4000 is a rip-off. The problem is that the inner housing design was and may still be faulty and Aqusana won't honor their warranty. This is a manufacturer defect and Aquasana has refused to honor the warranty on my unit and obviously many others as you can see in other reviews. The inner housing has 2 caps which are extremely difficult to put on properly due to thin flimsy gaskets which pinch easily despite proper lubrication. The housing itself can't handle either the pressure of the water or the cap being tightened enough to stop it from leaking. Whichever it is the result is the same - the housing breaks and then leaks. When I bought the unit I wondered why it came with an outer housing which looked like a bucket but now I think it's because they knew these would leak. I have check our water pressure and it's completely normal according to our town so it's not caused by high water pressure. The salt in the wound is that Aquasana has changed the design but won't replace the broken one. The new design however is also being reported to break as well so getting a replacement may not be the fix. It would however show they support their warranty and customers if they replaced the faulty product. Too bad because the water is actually filtered well. I had the town test the water and the filtration is very good.

I have owned this system for over 1 year and I am using my third set of filters.

I have found replacing the filters much easier than other water systems I have used (although replacing them does require unscrewing two covers, so it may not be absolutely the easiest system available).

I have had NO problems with the system. I have NOT seen any of the leaking or slow water flow or any other problems that others have mentioned. My latest set of replacement filters came with a tube of FDA approved O-ring sealant, so that addition to the filter replacement process may have been made to address some of the kinds of problems others seem to have experienced.

The water is free of unpleasant smells or taste (unlike the hard, chlorine-rich, algae flavored tap water that it filters). The difference is remarkable. I had to get used to some minerals being left in the water, since the AQ4000 leaves minerals in and my previous drinking water sources (a Premium reverse osmosis system and purchased RO water) took all the minerals out, as reverse osmosis systems are designed to do.

The AQ4000 is not a reverse osmosis system but it does produce pure and tasty water at about nine cents per gallon, based on recommended filter changes.

I do wish that I got the upgraded spigot with the twist valve instead of the flapper type valve, but that is a matter of preference.

After three years, we have had it with Sun Water Systems (the maker of Aquasana). The problems are the same as those of numerous reviewers: The housing has broken and leaked six times in three years. The O rings don't fit properly. The plastic seems mis-molded. The faucet leaks.

For a while Sun Water Systems kept sending us free housings to replace the cracked ones. Then they said they had a new design to fix the problem; but the problem persists. Our water pressure is fine and we installed it carefully. Yet the housing keeps cracking--causing major leaks under the sink--and now Sun wants to charge us for replacing their poor engineering.

We'll switch to something better, even if it costs more.