First established in California in 1995, APEC water systems are famous for their reverse osmosis (RO) filter units. (Related: How Much Does a Reverse Osmosis System Cost? (2022 Buying Guide))
APEC is short for Advanced Purification Engineering Corporation, a renowned American water systems manufacturer. They also offer whole-house water filters and conditioners. If you're thinking about purchasing APEC water systems, we're here to shed light on all its advantages and disadvantages (and everything you need to know).
table of contents
Why Should You Consider APEC Water Systems?
What to Look For in an APEC Water System
System Type
Filtration Stages
Capacity
Ease of Installation
Maintenance
APEC Water System Positive Testimonials
APEC Water System Complaints
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Should You Consider APEC Water Systems?
Before anything else, here are a few reasons why choosing an APEC water system is a good idea.
RO-90
RO-PH90
Excellent quality: All APEC water filters are renowned for their durability and reliability. One simple online search will prove how the brand mostly has favorable customer reviews. (Related: 6 Best Salt-Free Water Softener Picks For 2022)
Cost-effective: APEC whole-house, under-sink, and RO water filters are considerably cheaper than their counterparts. Its maintenance is also relatively inexpensive, especially with cheap replacement filters.
WQA-certified: The popular APEC RO-90 reverse osmosis filter and the RO-PH90 are both WQA Gold Seal certified, as per the NSF Standard 58 for guaranteed material and parts safety, structural integrity, and contaminant rejection performance.
Easy Installation: Most of APEC's water filters are easy to install, given the right tools on hand. Each purchase also includes all the necessary parts you need for the installation.
Warranty Coverage: APEC water systems typically have 1-year warranty coverage, while others have up to 10 years. This depends on the unit you'll purchase. The warranty covers material and workmanship defects, provided it follows regular everyday use.
Support: Even after your APEC water system warranty expires, you can still count on their consistent support, especially for any water filter-related issues. The company has WQA-certified water specialists who can assist you with anything you need.
Free Drinking Water Charity Program: Each time you buy an APEC filter, the company donates 2 RO water filtration systems (ROES-50 or the RO-CTOP) to low-income individuals with medical conditions who need to consume purified water daily.
Standard-Sized Filters: Lastly, most APEC filters are standard-sized, so it is easy to find cheap replacements if you want to cut some costs.
What to Look For in an APEC Water System
If you're 100% certain about buying an APEX water system, here's a quick buying guide to cover what you need to consider:
System Type
First, ask yourself which water system type you need at home. The most common filter types are as follows:
Under-sink water filter– If you need to filter the chlorine and other chemicals/sediment from the municipal water supply. This point-of-use filter system means you'll only get the filtered water from one faucet. Some of these systems are also designed to work with well water.
(Video) Top 5 Under Sink Water Filters in 2023 👌Under-sink RO system – This effectively clears out chlorine, heavy metals, and even microbes from municipal or well water. If you are growing increasingly concerned about drinking water with bacteria or heavy metals, this is the right system to use.
Whole-house water filters – If you want to filter ALL water that comes into your home's water supply, this is the system type you need. Whole-house filters effectively remove chlorine and other sediments in the municipal water. Homeowners who use well water may want to look for a water filter to remove common underground water contaminants, such as iron.
Whole-house water softener – Those dealing with hard water problems can benefit from a whole-house water softener to reduce your home water supply's hardness. Several systems are salt-free, so they alter the components of hard minerals to reduce scale instead of adding salt to the water.
Filtration Stages
For your reference, the number and filtration stage type of an APEC system determines how well it can filter the water and the foreign contaminants it filters out. In particular, expect a 7-stage system to be much more effective in filtering out foreign contaminants than a 5-stage system.
The filter type will determine the system's efficiency as well. Case in point: a catalytic carbon filter system will do a better job than a standard system with activated carbon in removing chloramines and chlorine.
If you're using well water at home, it's best to look for systems with specialized filters to eliminate iron, hydrogen sulfide, and other common well water contaminants. Those who want to ensure no germs are lurking in the water can benefit from a system with a RO membrane or UV sanitizer– maybe even one with both.
Capacity
Before placing an APEC water system order, first, check its Gallons Per Day (GPD) figure. This refers to the total amount of filtered water produced by the system daily.
You'll need a higher GPD number if you have a big family. Calculate the amount of filtered water you need to determine the ideal capacity you need every day. Whole-house systems may have thousands to tens of thousands, while an under-sink system can get by with a capacity of 50 to 100 GPD.
Ease of Installation
Your chosen system type defines how easy (or difficult) it will be to install your APEC water system at home. Fortunately, most under-sink systems have an easy installation process, although time-consuming. Meanwhile, you may want to call a local professional with the right experience and expertise to install a whole-house system correctly.
Maintenance
It's also recommended to check out the needed maintenance for each water system.
Water filters – Count the number of filters that need replacement and the average time before each one needs replacing. Consider the price of replacement filters in your area too. This will help you estimate the system's total maintenance cost.
Water softeners – Determine the frequency you'll need to add salt to the system.
Other than that, determine if the system uses any consumables that require regular replacing.
APEC Water System Positive Testimonials
“Excellent phone and in person customer service and EXCELLENT countertop portable water purifying system! - We needed a water purifying system that was budget-friendly, easy to install, that really worked (since I *hate* heavy tasting water) and was portable. It seemed almost impossible, and I was not about to start buying those huge 5 gallon bottles that'll injure your back any time you carry it to do a refill... (click link below for full review)”– Yelp
“I recently purchased one of these APEC RO systems for my home, after finally coming to the realization that my old Brita just wasn't really doing much. The system makes 30+ gallons of water a day – which is helpful so that you don't have to sit around waiting for the water in your tank to refill. I ordered and installed this APEC unit myself…and was very thankful to have such a supportive service staff at APEC to turn to. (If I had to do it all over again though, I probably would call in my plumber. It did require a little time and patience!)”– Health Guide for Women
“I have been wanting to get a good quality reverse osmosis system at home. After doing some research, I found a good system at APEC. I looked at the systems at Home Depot, Lowes, and Costco. Most of them have their own unique filter cartridges so you have to buy the replacements from them. They ranged from about $150-$200. Most of them were only 4 stages. The APEC has standard filter holders. Comes with an extra set of the first 3 pre-filters Made with top of the line NSF parts It doesn't flush the RO membrane like some system but uses 4:1 ratio for waste water The hardest part of the installation was drilling a hole in my porcelain sink for the facet. I got it installed and am very happy with the quality of the system.”– Ih8mud Forum
APEC Water System Complaints
To provide a fair verdict, we’ve also compiled some of the most pressing complaints from long-time APEC customers.
The under-sink system has a low flow rate, especially Reverse Osmosis systems. Homeowners need to include a separate electric or permeate pump to fix the problem.
The standard 1-year warranty (for some products) seems to be behind other brands in the market. For instance, Home Master has a standard 2 to a 5-year warranty for their water systems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do APEC water filters last long?
Most APEC systems can last at least ten years with proper care and maintenance.
When should I change my APEC water filter?
The time to change your water filter depends on its type and size. The pre-filters for the under-sink RO systems last for one year while 3 to 5 years for the RO membrane. Filter lifespan is provided in gallons of water for a whole house system. You can determine when to replace each filter type by checking the user manual for instructions.
FAQs
How long do APEC water filters last? ›
APEC ULTIMATE Inline Carbon Post-filter 10"
For RO-45, RO-90, RO-PH90, RO-PERM and RO-PUMP models. Recommend Changing every 3 to 5 years.
The answer is yes if you are dealing with hard water or extremely contaminated water. The following pointers will help you understand it better. A whole house RO system is an ideal choice if the water consists of high levels of naturally occurring compounds like nitrates, arsenic, and so on.
How much does it cost to install a whole house water filtration system? ›According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, a home water filtration system costs between $1,000 to $4,000, with a national average of $2,078.
What is the most popular water filtration system? ›The most popular systems include activated carbon, reverse osmosis, mixed media, and UV filters. However, most systems use a combination of these methods for optimal filtration.
Are water treatment systems worth it? ›It not only aids in preventing rust stains in sinks, tubs, dishwashers, and toilets, but offers softer, brighter and longer lasting clothing. A carbon filter effectively removes chlorine, chloramines, and odor. The outcome is chemical free, clean, fresh drinking water for the whole household.
How often do you need to replace APEC water systems? ›Typically, 3-5 years depending on water quality and usage. Contact APEX for replacement media. Resin: Typically, 3-5 years depending on water quality and usage.
Is APEC Water filter Made in USA? ›Designed, Engineered and Assembled in the USA. Quality certified, with 20 years of experience to guarantee trouble-free satisfaction for many years to come.
How do I sanitize my APEC RO system? ›Put ½ cup of bleach (chlorine) into the Stage-1 housing. Screw this empty housing back onto the RO head, with bleach inside. (When you turn on the feed water later, the bleach in this housing will flow through the entire RO system and tank, and sanitize the system that way.)
How long should a reverse osmosis system last? ›How long will an RO unit last? Virtually forever if you service it regularly and replace parts that wear out, like the storage tank and the faucet. Typical membrane life is about 2 to 5 years, depending on the nature of the water that it's processing.
What is better than reverse osmosis? ›A high-quality carbon filter is often more effective than a low-end reverse osmosis system. An example of this would be our Always Fresh filter. It removes 99.99% of chlorine. It will remove volatile organic compounds and heavy metals.
How much is the average water filtration system for a house? ›
Average Cost in 2022: $200 - $10,000
A larger and more complex system is going to cost more than something small and simple, and point-of-use is a huge factor. Under-sink RO filters are an affordable options, while systems that filter the entire flow of water in the home will cost considerably more.
- Understand POE & POU. POE stands for Point of Entry and POU for Point of Use. ...
- Analyze your supply. ...
- Find out flow rate of your faucets and dispensers. ...
- Purpose of filtration. ...
- Only NSF Certified products. ...
- Always look for options. ...
- Seller and manufacturer credibility.
Generally speaking, a whole house water filter is meant to last no longer than 12 months. As long as you understand when to change your filter and signs that it's time to do so, you never have to concern yourself with waiting too long.
What filtration system is most effective? ›Q: Which filter removes the most contaminants? A reverse osmosis system is the most effective type of filter for drinking water.
What are the two most common water filtration systems? ›The two most common types of filtration systems for residential use are systems using reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters. Both of these systems are effective at removing contaminants, but the exact type of contaminants they remove are different.
What is the best water treatment technology? ›Reverse osmosis (RO), ultrafiltration (UF), microfiltration (MF) and nanofiltration (NF) are the most commonly used membranes for water treatment processes.
What is the best water treatment method? ›Reverse Osmosis
An RO Purifier proves to be one of the best methods of purifying water. Reverse Osmosis forces water through a semipermeable membrane and removes contaminants.
A Little Extra Money Goes a Long Way
The decision to get a filter is about much more than just saving money --- a high-quality filter ensures that you and your family are drinking clean, safe water every day. And for as little as $25 per month for a family of four, it's a no-brainer.
Quality of your water treatment system.
Some water systems are designed with quality in mind. These systems will last from 15 to 25 years. Others, which are designed with low upfront cost in mind, will last from 5 to 15 years.
Most of the filters on your system need to be replaced at least every 3-12 months. Depending on the system, you can have anywhere from 3-5 filters. Additionally, you should sanitize your RO system at least once a year. Therefore, we recommend that you do reverse osmosis system service at least annually.
Are APEC water filters NSF certified? ›
Is the APEC RO-90 WQA certified? Yes. The RO-90 was tested and certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA), and it meets NSF/ANSI 58 standards. So you can trust that it really is making your water safe to drink.
Who owns APEC water? ›APEC Water Systems (A Member of Culligan Family)
Does APEC water filter remove fluoride? ›This FI-FLUORIDE utilizes granular activated alumina media that can easily reduce fluoride levels from 0.5 ppm to less than 0.1 ppm.
Does APEC Water system filter fluoride? ›...
| Model ST | |
|---|---|
| Flow Rate | 0.25 GPM (0.38 LPM) |
| Capacity | 5000 ppm (mg/L) or 260 GPG |
| Weight | 2.0 lbs |
It is common, that heterotrophic bacteria (non-pathogenic) can build up in an RO tank.
Does RO remove all bacteria? ›Reverse Osmosis Systems have a very high effectiveness in removing bacteria (for example, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli); Reverse Osmosis Systems have a very high effectiveness in removing viruses (for example, Enteric, Hepatitis A, Norovirus, Rotavirus);
Can you reuse the waste water from an RO system? ›Once the wastewater is in the vessel, it can now be used to water plants in a garden, wash a car, used for cleaning, wash dishes, refill a decorative fountain, laundry, flush toilets, and make cement. The wastewater may look clean, but keep in mind that it is filled with impurities that the RO membrane rejected.
What is the main problem associated with reverse osmosis? ›A major problem in operating RO systems is concentration polarization or fouling which is the gradual build up of rejected solute on the feed side, immediately adjacent to the membrane.
Does reverse osmosis water damage pipes? ›A reverse osmosis system can be very hard on copper pipes since the materials that are taken out of the water are corrosive to the metal. You can minimize some of this damage by using an under-sink system that connects to the sink with a different material.
Does RO water cause kidney stones? ›RO filtration removes the unhealthy, inorganic minerals that the body cannot process. The build-up of these kinds of minerals, especially calcium salts, leads to problems such as gallstones and kidney stones.
Are there any disadvantages to drinking reverse osmosis water? ›
Recent studies suggest that RO water may be a risk factor for hypertension and coronary heart disease, gastric and duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis, goitre, pregnancy complications and several complications in new-borns and infants, including jaundice, anaemia, fractures and growth disorders.
How much water do you lose with reverse osmosis? ›While RO systems can improve water quality, these systems can also generate a significant amount of water waste to operate. For example, a typical point-of-use RO system will generate five gallons or more of reject water for every gallon of permeate produced.
Is boiling water better than reverse osmosis? ›Although boiling is cheaper and easier, reverse Osmosis is more effective in purifying water. Bacteria and other contaminants can be removed from water by Reverse Osmosis. Boiling can only remove some impurities, such as iron and manganese.
Is reverse osmosis water worth the cost? ›Although they are more costly than other filtration systems, reverse osmosis systems offer better quality water. They are well worth the extra expense.
Which is better water ionizer or reverse osmosis? ›While both filtration systems offer approximately the same ability to remove contaminants from water, only reverse osmosis can remove protozoa, viruses and bacteria from the water. What deionization does have over reverse osmosis is that it can act as a water softener as well as a purifier.
Are full house water filters worth it? ›If you need chlorine-free water 24/7 for your bathing and washing, a whole house water filter will be worth the investment. But if you just need your shower water to get filtered, a shower filter will also be good enough.
Does a whole house water filtration system increase home value? ›Add a water filtration system
Increase your home's value and impress buyers with filtered water directly from any faucet in the house — it's pure luxury, and this amenity will pay off now and in the future when it's time to sell.
A whole house water filters will make your water safer to drink, but only a reverse osmosis (RO) water system can provide truly safe drinking water. Still your whole house filter will provide you with some level of protection, which is an improvement over untreated tap water.
Is a whole house sediment filter worth it? ›Just like hard water, sediment is extremely damaging to appliances -- including water softeners -- if they don't have a special filter for sediment. So, is it worth it to buy a whole house sediment water filter? Almost certainly, even if there are only trace amounts of sediment in the water supply.
How many gallons is a whole house filter good for? ›Many carbon-based whole house filters are less than $800 and will last at least 300,000 gallons before the main tank needs to be replaced. As a point of reference, an average family of four uses about 100,000 gallons of water each year.
How often should you change your whole house water? ›
To maintain the best quality and reliability of your whole house water filter, it is recommended that you change it every three to six months. This helps to keep the water free from impurities and contaminants that can be harmful to your health, your home's plumbing system, and your appliances.
How often do you change the filters in the water filtration system? ›To maintain the highest quality of water, it is recommended to replace your filter every 12 months, or when you notice a decrease in flow rate.
How long does it take to install a water filtration system? ›Installing a whole house filter system could take an experienced plumber two to four hours. If you're installing it yourself, then it may take a little longer depending on your level of experience.
How do I choose the right water treatment system? ›While choosing a filtration system, it's imperative for you to check the efficiency of the carbon. Some only filter out chlorine, bad smell, and bad taste, while others can remove VOC organic compounds and radon. Also, carbon will not work for inorganic compounds like chromium, heavy metals, arsenic, and fluoride.
How do I choose a water treatment system? ›- Point of Use / Point of Entry. Point of Use or undersink filtration systems filter your water where you use it. ...
- Contaminants Reduced. ...
- Dedicated Filtered Water Faucet. ...
- Types of Filters and Filter-less Systems. ...
- Filter Change Indicator Light. ...
- Working with Water Softener Systems.
1. Switzerland: With strict treatment standards and superior natural resources, Switzerland ranks number one for best EPI. In fact, Swiss tap water is as pure as its bottled water – but 500 times cheaper.
Which is the best and cheapest method to clean the water? ›Filtration is one of the effective ways of purifying water and when using the right multimedia filters it's effective in ridding water of the compounds. This method uses chemical and physical processes to purify water and make it safe for human consumption.
What is the cheapest way of treating water? ›- 1: Boiling water. Boiling water is the simplest, most time-consuming, and least expensive approach to filtering water. ...
- 2: Activated Carbon Filtration. ...
- 3: UV treatment. ...
- 4: Reverse Osmosis. ...
- 5: Chlorination of Water. ...
- 6: Distillation. ...
- 7: Solar Decontamination.
Automatic Variable Filtration (AVF) technology
Automated Variable Filtration (AVF) technology involves a simple process where upward flow of influent is cleaned by downward flow of filter media. It eliminates the need for any additional process or freshwater for filter media cleaning.
DC Water's Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant is the largest plant of its kind in the world. On an average day, the facility treats close to 300 million gallons of wastewater and has the ability to treat over 1 billion gallons a day at peak flow.
What is the most effective and expensive water treatment method *? ›
Conclusion. Despite its disadvantages, reverse osmosis water purification is considered the best way to remove contaminants from water. It is very effective at removing particles as small as 0.001 microns and is the preferred method of water purification for homes that use well water.
Which water filter removes the most contaminants? ›Reverse osmosis systems are some of the best options for your water. The Reverse osmosis system in the 4 stage design is a design that will help you remove the maximum number of contaminants from your water.
Is filtered water better for you than tap water? ›Filtered water tastes fresher and cleaner, the filters remove the chlorine and bacteria that can make tap water taste flat or chemical. The filter removes harmful substances from the water such as lead, which can only be a good thing for your health.
What are the disadvantages of filtered water? ›- Speaking of cost, initial installation is more expensive than other filtration methods. ...
- You can't pick and choose what gets filtered. ...
- Fluoride and your teeth: If you choose a whole house water filtration system that removes ALL chemicals, you will also be removing fluoride.
A whole house water filtration system can do exactly what you need it to do, meaning it can remove whichever contaminants you do not want in your home's water supply. Depending on your home's water source, you may want to reduce water hardness, to remove sediment, or to eliminate the smell of chlorine.