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Revisiting the Aquasana Water Filtration System
Two years ago I published a review of the Aquasana Water Filtration System . At the time, my wife and I lived in New York City and used the countertop model
sold by Aquasana. Aside from the Brita pitcher water filters, the Aquasan product was our first water filter. We had previously used Poland Spring water as our primary source of clean water.
However, as noted in my previous review, the cost of bottled water is prohibitive and water coolers such as one might find in an office setting also seemed to run at a high cost. So, we purchased the Aquasan countertop model in the hopes of providing clean, healthy water at a reasonable cost. The system had won Consumer's Digest Best Buy awards for both 2003 and 2004 and other research we had done indicated that Aquasana was the best filter system on the market.
When we first received the product, it impressed us with the ease of installation as well as the quality of the water it produced. Taste-wise, the filtered water by the Aquasan countertop model produced proved far superior to tap water and even preferable to our beloved Poland Spring bottled water. Our new water filter seemed ideal.
Unfortunately, our experience with Aquasana did not last. In New York City we had some problems with the filter that we will describe below. We moved to Colorado and hoped to use our new filter there, but for various reasons we tried our sources for our clean water the first year and a half we lived in the Rocky Mountain state.
In the end, though, we went back to the Aquasana water filter, because either the cost of the other methods we used was too high or the quality of the water was insufficient.
Whereas in New York we used the countertop model, this time we purchased the under-the-sink model.* . Thankfully, given my utter lack of mechanical aptitude, the under-the-sink model proved easy to install. It took me approximately 40 minutes and almost no headaches to set up after I received the necessary materials. The faucet provided by the premium under-the-sink model is attractive and seems durable; the water itself can almost be called exquisite. To me, it seems superior to any bottled water in taste and may also be superior for our health.
However, the greatest benefit produced by the Aquasana filter lies in its effect on our kids. Our daughter, who had previously drank juice almost exclusively, consumes water primarily now. We had attempted many times in the past to convert her to water, to no avail.
Now, though, she prefers water, with no extra prompting on our part to make it so.
It appears that she just likes the Aquasana water better than her juice. Our infant son also likes the Aquasana filtered water, too, consuming it in great quantities, when it doesn't just spill all over his onesies. We, too, have delighted in the water, making water once again our staple beverage.
One word of caution that I must stress given our experience in New York. The filtration system consists of 2 filter cartridges, an 'A' cartridge and a 'B' cartridge. One of the things that 'A' cartridge filters out is sediment. For those who live in an area where the drinking water is high in sediment, the 'A' cartridge might become clogged more quickly. Aquasana claims that their filter cartridges need only be replaced every 6 months/500 gallons, but if the water is high in sediment the functional lifespan of the 'A' cartridge is less, about 2 months. After that time, the rate of flow through the filter decreases markedly to the point where the 'A' cartridge needs to be replaced to make use of your new filter. The 'B' catridge is unaffected by the sediment content of the water and does not need to be replaced more often than the 6 month/500 gallon claim would indicate.
So far, we have not experienced a decrease in flow rate here in Colorado, but I advise prospective buyers to inquire about the sediment content of the water prior to purchasing. The Aquasana customer service and sales team is honest and helpful, from my experience, and will give you a straight answer, I believe.
Ultimately, then, I do remain concerned about the lifespan of the cartridges. Will the 'A' cartridge clog up again due to sediment? I honestly don't know, but as an individual who loves to drink a refreshing glass of water, as a parent who has longed for his children to develop a thirst for water, and as a household repairman who finds great relief in an installation that is easy to perform, I am delighted with the Aquasana water filter unit.
John Okulski
Editor-in-Chief
Crossroad Health and Fitness
Useful links:Aquasana Performance Comparison Chart
Aquasana Performance Data Sheet
*Note: the filter unit is the same for the under-the-sink model as for the countertop, only the location of the unit and the method of getting the water changes*