Don’t you agree with me that often you feel lost when shopping for a good RO water system because they share similar features and physical appearances?

Well, if you have a definite guide to help you understand the features and a comparison table to show the differences between top selling reverse osmosis filter for homes, it would be an easy job to pick the right one.

In this review, I’m going to show you the best reverse osmosis water machine for under sink and counter top.

Reverse Osmosis Filters

You will discover several brands for the price range between $200 and $600. Usually the high end RO water units cost more.

But the major difference between them is the quality of the filters.

Most of the RO systems come with 4-stage filtrations.

1. The first stage is the sediment filter that get rids of large impurities such as calcium carbonate and rust.
2. The second stage uses an activated carbon filter to remove chlorine and organic chemicals that are found in tap water. They can affect the performance of the membrane layer in the reverse osmosis machine.
3. The third stage is the membrane filter that purifies public water. It forces the water to pass through microscopic layers using osmotic pressure. This where reverse osmosis begins. It should remove any particles that are bigger than water molecules including bacteria.
4. The fourth stage is the UV filter that kills harmful microorganisms in the RO water.

The state-of-the-art reverse osmosis units usually have 5 or more filtering stages for purer water. Some may have an additional stage to alkalize the water with added minerals.

You only need one sediment filter for the first stage. Sometimes, some RO machines has two sediment filters as they are cheaper than carbon filters. They can reduce the life span of the membrane, so the quality of RO water suffers. It would better if you have two carbon blocks.

For the second stage, you should choose solid carbon blocks. Granular activated carbon (GAC) tends to leak while in-line carbon filter wears out fast.

The best reverse osmosis water machine should have at least 5-stage filtration. It is more durable and reliable than those with 3 or 4 filtering stages.

Bottom line?

You save more money with a 5-stage RO water unit.

Types of Reverse Osmosis H2O Systems For Home

You have two options when installing a RO water purifier.

Standard Tank System

It is fixed under the sink. The tap water will flow through a series of filters before ending up in a storage tank. The faucet is separated from your sink tap for dispensing RO water.

Tank-less System

It is a new design where it connects directly to your sink faucet, giving you RO water on demand.

If you don’t have enough space under the counter, you can opt for a tank-less reverse osmosis system as it eliminates the need of storage tank.

However, the cost is usually higher compared to those with tanks.

Why?

It uses more filters, increasing the replacement costs. You may need to install a pressure booster pump to increase the flow rate.

Incoming Water Pressure

Make sure the water pressure is strong enough push the water through the membrane filter to remove the impurities. For reverse osmosis to work, ideally the water pressure has to be at least 35 psi.

Low water pressure tends to produce less RO water and cause damage on the membrane filter.

A pressure booster pump can solve the low water pressure.

Ease of Maintenance

You need to change the filters timely to ensure the RO water is clean.

Check the filters often depending on the water source and the frequency of using the reverse osmosis system. Usually the membrane filter can last up to five years but other filters may need to be changed more regularly.

Make sure it does not require complicated steps to replace the filters.

Product Certification

It is a challenge to determine which home reverse osmosis unit can flush contaminants efficiently.

So, check if the machine meets NSF/ANSI Standard 58 and WQA a Gold Seal Certification. Every good RO water unit should have these quality certifications from the National Sanitation Foundation (NFS) and Water Quality Association (WQA).

Warranty

Before you buy a RO water system, make sure it comes with a warranty. The warranty is not always long (not more than 10 years) but it should give you sufficient protection.

Home Reverse Osmosis Systems Comparison Table

I have compiled Amazon’s best selling home reverse osmosis filters so you can compare how each of them stacks against each other.

Best Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System For Whole House

Although iSpring RCC7 is rated as the best seller by Amazon, but based on the comparison, my recommended under counter reverse osmosis water filter is Home Master TMAFC.

What’s the real story?

It has the highest number of filters to produce clean, drinking water. It also reintroduces valuable alkalizing minerals such as calcium and magnesium into the RO water.

Clearly Home Master TMAFC Artesian is not the cheapest, but in the end, you are getting the pure water with the health benefits of the alkaline contents.

Moreover, its warranty is the longest. It tells you how confident the manufacturer has in their reverse osmosis systems.

Check The Best Deal Of Home Master TMAFC At Amazon.

Best Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter

If you are looking for the smallest machine to make RO water, APEC RO-CTOP portable countertop reverse osmosis water filter.

It is a tank-less system. You can attach it to the faucet minutes, offering on-demand clean water.

Although it is compact, it can produce 90 gallons of pure water a day.

So, if you are living in an apartment or RV that provides limited space, Apec RO-CTOP is your best bet.

Check the best price of APEC  (RO-CTOP) at Amazon.

Takeaways

If you want to buy a RO water system, always choose one that does not waste lots of water and produce clean water with highest efficiency.

The number of filtering stages can be a determining factor but you must take the quality of your water source into account.

You can be almost certain that a 7-stage RO filtration unit like Home Master TMAFC can work with any type of water. You can offer the safest drinking water for your family.

Why Alkaline Water Is Better Than RO Water

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that you should not drink low total dissolved solids (TDS) water produced by reverse osmosis on a long-term basis. It also mentions that if you drink it, your health will be at risk.

RO water does not have any beneficial minerals such as calcium and magnesium as they are removed during the filtration.

How is that going to affect your health?

1. Low magnesium in water is linked to sudden death from Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). It can increase the risk of developing CVD, preeclampsia, motor neuronal disease, sudden death in infants, and certain cancers.
2. Low calcium in water may boost the risk of certain neurodegenerative cardiovascular diseases, fracture in children, pre-term birth/low weight at birth and certain cancers.

That’s not all…

Besides health issues, RO water system wastes a great amount of water. For every gallon of RO water, about 2-5 gallons of water will go down the drain.

Another problem is the membrane filter. If you forget to change the sediment and the carbon filters, the impurities will reduce the effectiveness of the membrane. You will not know if it has lost the ability to flush contaminants until you test the total dissolved solids of your RO water.

If you want healthy drinking water, you should choose alkaline water. Check out the detailed review of Tyent water ionizers at HutchGala. Find out which one is perfect for your home.