Overview
The Advanced Under Sink Water Filtration system of Filtrete is probably one of the cheapest solutions you will find on the market. It costs about 50$. But it is amongst the best under sink water filtration systems because it works very efficiently. It will provide you with healthy and tasty drinking water.
The product is manufactured by 3M and is certified under the NSF standard 53. It is fairly easy to install and maintain. It is attached to your main cold water faucet, so you don’t need to drill a separate hole for it. Also, all three – Maximum, Advanced and Simple filters are interchangeable with the system if you decide to upgrade.
Performance
If you are familiar with what sediment pollution means, then you will know that the 0.5-micron rating of the filter is pretty good. This is sufficient to remove most bacteria and all protozoa. It removes up to 99% of sediments, soils, sand, and cysts. Odor and bad tastes are removed up to 96%. Chlorine will go down with а 96.6% success rate. This is pretty fair considering its price.
The Filtrete system lifespan is 2000 gallons or 6 months. That depends a lot on your water and usage rate. You should consider that the product is designed for city water above all. If you have untreated well water which is badly contaminated it might still get the job done, but the filter life will be shortened significantly. It is just not the purpose of this unit.
Regarding the water flow – you might notice it is a bit lower but not too much to be annoying. 1.5 gallons per minute flow rate is what the manufacturer gives you. The operating pressure is 25-125 PSI.
Features
The dimensions of the system are 7.1” x 14.5” x 4.3”. It weighs about 3 pounds. The package comes with 3us-pf01 filter cartridge, 2 Phillips mounting screws, 3/8 inch compression Hex Nut, 3/8-inch tube insert, 5′ x 3/8-inch tubing, 3/8-inch x ½-inch Faucet adaptor, 3/8-inch ferrule. Note that if you have а 1/4″ tubing, you will need adapters. You will be also provided with a filter replacement reminder sticker and a filter performance datasheet. The 1-year limited warranty is included in the purchase.
Installation and maintenance
Installation should not be a riddle for anyone. Undersink, systems are good because they are very easy to install. You should not expect а mess. Just be sure to empty the space under the sink and mark where you will put the system. Check the instructions twice if you feel doubts about your plumbing talents. Most people will manage in 30 minutes.
For the installation, you will need an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver. And the whole process can be boiled down to 3 easy steps. Attach the faucet water supply line to the quick connect output on the filter head. Then, do the same with the filter head. Attach the filter the inside wall of the cupboard using the drill, drill bits, and the screws.
Filter change is also easy. It is achieved again by a 1/4 turn installation too. The filter life often can be shorter than 6 months. But on the other hand that really depends much on your water and usage. In any case, prepare to change it more often.
The system can be installed both horizontally and vertically.
Pros:
- Efficient filtration and decent performance
- Affordable price
- NSF certified
- Easy to install and maintain
Cons:
- You might need additional adapters
- The filter can last less than 6 months