iSpring Reverse Osmosis Water System Buying Guide

Every human being on earth requires 20-50 liters of clean, safe water for drinking, bathing and cooking each day. Clean water is crucial to our health. Polluted water can be deadly, with 1.8 million people dying from cholera and other diarrheal diseases each year.

If you’re fortunate to live in the developed world, finding clean water may not be a problem. In many parts of the world, tap water is perfectly fine to drink. But even in areas with clean public water systems, there are still other things you need to worry about – like fluoride, high levels of chlorine and trace amounts of medication that make it into the water supplies.

Home water filtration systems can help improve the health and taste of your tap water, but reverse osmosis, or RO, is touted as being the best way to filter water. iSpring offers some of the best RO systems out there. But why should you choose an RO system, and what makes iSpring so great?

What is a Reverse Osmosis System?

A reverse osmosis filtration system is designed to remove impurities from water while improving taste. It does this by forcing molecules through a semi-permeable membrane to a less concentrated solution. Basically, the membrane acts as a kind of filter with tiny pores that removes microscopic contaminants from water. Think of the membrane as a really fine mesh strainer.

The semi-permeable membrane only allows water molecules through to other side. The membrane collects the contaminants, which are flushed away. Those contaminants affect the smell and taste of your water.

RO systems are a little more complex than conventional water filtration systems. Instead of one simple filter, these systems have three cartridges. One of these cartridges contains the semi-permeable membrane. The other two cartridges contain carbon filters.

Filtering goes through three stages:

• Prefilter: A sediment/carbon filter removes larger sediment, including dissolved solids as well as chlorine. The purpose of this filter is to preserve or protect the membrane, which can easily get clogged by excess sediment or damaged by chlorine.
• Reverse osmosis membrane: Water is forced through the membrane to remove contaminants.
• Post-filtration: The water goes through a second carbon filter to remove any remaining contaminants that may have slipped through the membrane.

The semi-permeable membrane can reduce:

• Lead
• Copper
• Arsenic
• Selenium
• Fluoride
• Barium
• Cadmium
• Radium
• Barium
• Cyst
• Nitrates and nitrites
• Chromium
• Chlorine

When contaminants and impurities are removed through an RO system, the water tastes fresher, crisper and cleaner.

When we talk about RO systems, there are a lot of brands to choose from. But iSpring is a popular choice among homeowners that care about the taste and the health of their drinking water.

Who is iSpring?

iSpring Water Systems LLC is a family-owned and operated business located in Alpharetta, Georgia. Their specialty is reverse osmosis water systems.

The company offers both residential and commercial filtration systems, including ultrafiltration, whole house filtration systems, faucet and shower filters, RO coolers, and more.

Why Choose iSpring?

Why choose iSpring when there are so many other brands on the market? One word: quality.

• All systems go through a stringent testing process to check for pressure, air leaks and cycle resistance to maintain premium quality.
• Components are independently tested and certified against NSF/ANSI standards.
• Customer support is available M-F between 8:30am and 5:30pm to offer assistance.
• Many systems include a UV filter that is capable of killing viruses, bacteria and a variety of other microorganisms.
• Systems include sleek, European-style faucets

iSpring offers a wide range of quality RO systems at affordable prices.

iSpring Reverse Osmosis System Reviews

iSpring offers five different RO systems. Each system uses reverse osmosis for filtration, but some offer additional filtration and other functions.

Each system comes with a faucet, a tank and the filter cartridges.

Essential RO

The core filtration system offered by iSpring. The Essential RO includes two residential and two commercial systems.

The RCC7 and RCC7P are the two residential systems. Both offer five-stage filtering:

• 3 prefilters: PP sediment, carbon block and carbon KDF
• Reverse osmosis filter
• GAC filter – the final filter that removes any remaining impurities

The RCC7 membrane is rated for up to 75 gallons of water per day, which makes this a great option for any family.

The primary difference between RCC7 and RCC7P is that the RCC7P system is pressure-boosted. This is essential for homes where the water pressure is below 40 PSI.

RO + Superb Taste

The RO + Superb Taste line includes two different systems: RCC7AK and RCC7P-AK. Like with the other system, the P model is pressure-boosted.

Both systems offer six-stage filtration, which includes:

• 3 pre-filters: carbon block, carbon KDF and PP sediment
• Reverse osmosis filter
• GAC filter to remove any leftover impurities
• Alkaline remineralization filter to restore minerals and create a natural alkaline balance

As the name of this system suggests, the goal is to not only improve water quality but also improve taste.

Essentially, this system leaves you with mineral water right from your tap.

RO + Fresh Taste

The RO + Fresh Taste system includes two models, again with one being a pressure-boosted model.

This system offers six-stage filtration coupled with a high-capacity, high-efficiency system. The six stages include:

• 3 pre-filters: carbon KDF, carbon block and PP sediment
• Reverse osmosis filter
• GAC filter to remove remaining impurities
• UV filter to kill bacteria and microorganisms

With this system, the UV light is turned on and off automatically with the flow sensor. This saves you money on electricity and extends the life of the 11-watt bulb.

If you get your water from a well or natural water source, bacteria and microorganisms are a serious concern. The UV filter can help eliminate these contaminants before they make it through your faucet.


 

RO + Superb & Fresh Taste

The RO + Superb & Fresh Taste system offers all of the features in the above-listed systems. This is the best budget reverse osmosis system and our overall best water filtration system for home use under $400.

With this system, you get the best of all that iSpring has to offer in a 7-stage filtration process:

• 3 pre-filters: carbon block, carbon KDF, PP sediment
• Reverse osmosis membrane filter
• GAC filter to remove leftover contaminants
• UV sterilization filter with 11-watt bulb to provide additional protection against bacteria and other microorganisms
• Alkaline remineralization filter to restore health minerals and create a natural alkaline balance

The RO + Superb & Fresh Taste system comes in both regular and pressurized versions. This particular line is ideal for anyone who wants the best flavor and protection, and is particularly beneficial for those who source their water from a well or other natural source.


 

RO + 0 TDS

The final system in iSpring’s line-up is the RO + O TDS. There’s only one model with this system, and it’s designed to completely remove all dissolved solids from your water.

The RO + 0 TDS filters more than 1,000 water pollutants, including fluoride and chlorine. This system is ideal for environments that require pure water, such as laboratories, microelectronics, aquariums, dental and/or medical care facilities.

This system features six stages of filtration:

• 3 pre-filters to remove sediment, chlorine and other contaminants
• Reverse osmosis filter
• Total Polishing Inline carbon filter
• DI Deionizer filter

The RO + 0 TDS system offers a capacity of 75 gallons per day at 50/60 psi.

iSpring Reverse Osmosis Installation

All of iSpring’s systems are affordable and high-performing, but what about installation? Are you going to have to hire someone to come in and install the system at an additional cost?

You can hire someone, but the average person can easily install iSpring’s filtration systems themselves. Installation is simple and straightforward.

And because the company includes a sleek, modern faucet with each package, it’s even easier to get your system up and running. Written and video instructions are available, the company also offers tech support assistance.

Installation generally only requires a few tools:

• Variable speed drill with 1/2″ hollow diamond and 1/4″ bits
• Phillips head screwdriver
• 5/8,” 9/16” open-end wrench, or a pair of adjustable pliers
• Scissors or a utility knife

All of the instructions, also available in PDF format, are clearly written and include photos to get a visual representation of the installation process.

The average DIYer won’t have a problem installing any of iSpring’s systems.

The Benefits of iSpring RO Systems

There’s a lot to like with iSpring’s RO systems. The multi-stage filtration removes as many contaminants as possible while improving the taste of the water.

Compact in Size

With so many filters, it would be easy to assume that iSpring’s systems are big and bulky. But even with the tanks included, these systems can fit into even the smallest of spaces. You don’t need a big kitchen or bathroom for this system to work.

Even the 7-stage filtration system is just 14.5” x 8” x 19” and weighs just 35.3 pounds. Other systems weigh as little as 25 pounds.

But even with a compact size, iSpring’s systems offer a high capacity of 75 gallons per day.

Easy to Install

iSpring’s systems are easy to install, and the company offers excellent customer support. Written and video tutorials are available to make installation as easy as possible. If you still can’t figure it out, customer tech support is on hand to provide assistance.

Great Value

Some RO systems can cost several hundred dollars, but iSpring’s systems are more affordable. Virtually every model – with the exception of commercial models – is priced under $300.

It’s hard to put a price on clean, fresh-tasting water, but when a quality system also comes at a great price, it’s a win-win for everyone.

Filters are Easy to Replace

If you’ve ever changed a water filter in a pitcher or refrigerator, then you will know how to change the filters in iSpring’s systems. The filters are so easy to replace, and they’re readily available from iSpring.

Filters have a long shelf-life, but when it comes time to replace, the entire process is quick and painless. Just order from their website or a verified third-party seller, like Amazon.

Better-Tasting Water

What’s the main purpose of buying a water filtration system? To improve the taste of the water. Yes, many of us also want to remove contaminants and other bits from our water that we’d rather not drink, but generally, we’re just looking for fresher-tasting water.

Chlorine and other contaminants affect the taste of the water more than you think. If you’ve never tasted unchlorinated water, you’ll be in for a shock when you try a glass of water from an RO system.

The Potential Drawbacks of iSpring RO Systems

It’s difficult to find anything to dislike about iSpring’s water filtration systems. They do exactly what they say they’re going to do.

We do see a few potential issues. If your home has low water pressure, you won’t be able to use the regular system. You’ll need to purchase a pressure-boosted system if you want to use iSpring’s filters.

If you have a particularly large household with multiple kitchens, you’ll need to purchase more than one system and install one in each kitchen. Essentially, you’ll need to buy a whole new system for each tap you drink out of. A simple solution to this potential problem is to simply drink from one tap – even if you have multiple kitchens.

If your home has truly hard water, iSpring’s filtration systems will not fix the problem. You’ll need a water softener to tackle this issue. You can still use the filtration system with hard water, but you’ll need to be mindful of limescale build-up.

iSpring offers a comprehensive collection of RO systems that cater to just about every need. Whether you just want better-tasting water or want to kill off potential microorganisms that may be in your drinking water, iSpring has you covered. They even offer support throughout the installation process, and their customer service is available to address your questions or concerns.

For better-tasting water through RO, iSpring is highly-recommended. The hardest part is figuring out which system is right for your home.