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​Author: Maurice Savaryego, M.Sc.Eng. (Learn More)
​(Please note that our website is supported by commissions earned when products are sold through the provided links.)

Compare Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtering and Purification Systems: iSpring, Home Master or APEC Water?

Under-Sink Water Filtering System
Under-Sink Water Filtering System
The treated water supplied to our homes can still contain some impurities and some bad taste due to chemicals such as chlorine or fluoride used during the treatment. But even more important, for people living in rural areas where no water treatment is available, and where water is obtained from wells or other sources such as lakes or streams, it becomes critical to eliminate impurities such as harmful bacteria, viruses and various unwanted contaminants.

Water filter pitchers provide good filtering for tap water for a small number of people and mainly for drinking. But for those who need to filter also harmful microorganisms that can be found in non-tap water, and who need to filter water not just for drinking, but also for cooking and for larger families, water filter pitchers are not adequate. They need more powerful, larger filtering and purification systems.

These larger and powerful systems come mainly in two forms: they are either under-sink systems driven by water pressure to accomplish the filtration or countertop systems driven by gravity.

Note that in this review, we will be considering only the under-sink water filtering and purification systems. If you prefer countertop systems, please click the following link: Countertop Water Filtering and Purification Systems.
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The three under-sink water filtering and water purification products that will be considered here are iSpring, Home Master and APEC Water which are the best and most popular Reverse Osmosis units on the market. Note that Home Master was previously known as Tap Master.




​Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems achieve very high filtering specifications. The filtering is achieved by household water pressure pushing the water through a special semi-permeable membrane with ultra small pores (from 0.001 to 0.00001 micron). The membrane allows only clean water to pass through, filtering all impurities or contaminates. 

While Reverse Osmosis can be very effective in removing all sorts of impurities, it is not recommended that it should be the only type of purification for untreated water coming from wells, lakes or rivers that may contain microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. In such situations, it is recommended to consider a combined Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Ultraviolet treatment (UV) system for maximum effectiveness. 

You will find below a description of systems from both types: those that only use Reverse Osmosis filtering and that should mostly be used with treated tap water, and those that use both Reverse Osmosis and Ultraviolet treatment for maximum protection with untreated water that comes from wells, lakes and rivers.

iSpring Reverse Osmosis Water Filtering and Purification Systems

Under-Sink Water Filtering System
iSpring Filtering System (Photo Credits: iSpring)

iSpring produces some of the best under-sink water filtering and purification systems available today. They use multi-stage filtering coupled with the Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology. The filters used within these systems have 5-micron pores and the RO membrane has 0.0001 micron ultra fine pores. All products come with 5-stage basic filtering that eliminates all impurities except for all microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. A 6th stage is provided in specific iSpring systems to produce pH-balanced alkaline water. 
Filter change requirements depend on the amount of usage and the hardness of water. On average, the filters need to be changed every 6 months except for the RO membrane which needs to be changed every 2 years.  

The systems consist of a filtering/purification unit and a reserve tank of 3.2 gallons connected with tubing. They can easily fit under most sinks, and all required parts as well as detailed documentation is provided for installation. If you are not handy, a plumber can do the job in minutes. Note that all iSpring systems come with a 1-year limited warranty.

​The iSpring systems presented below produce good tasting and healthier water that can be used for cooking, drinking and hydroponics.
These units are equipped with a multi-stage filtering system that removes heavy metals, toxins, rust, dust, particles, cloudiness, unpleasant chlorine taste, colors, and odors. Some systems (see below) also produce pH-balanced alkaline water. But these systems do not include a UV sterilizer and therefore may not filter completely certain microorganisms.They are best to be used with tap water or potable water only. 
Note that the Home Master and APEC water purification systems also presented in this article come also with UV sterilization stages.
​

The following products are offered by iSpring:

iSpring 5-stage 75 GPD RO System with Clear Housing (model RCC7): 75 GPD system with 5-stage filtering for water filtration that includes all impurities except for microorganisms that may need UV sterilization.

iSpring 5-stage 75 GPD RO System with Booster Pump (model RCC7P): 75 GPD system with 5-stage filtering and a booster pump for water filtration that includes all impurities except for microorganisms that may need UV sterilization.

iSpring 6-stage 75 GPD RO System (model RCC7AK): This system has an additional stage that produces pH-balanced alkaline water.

iSpring 6-stage 75 GPD RO System (model RCC7P-AK): In addition to the 6 stages that come with iSpring RCC7AK, this system also comes with a booster pump that addresses the problem of low water pressure at the source, bringing the pressure going into the membrane up to the ideal level. In doing so, the booster pump optimizes every aspect of the reverse osmosis process from production speed to drain ratio.

For price information and to purchase the above iSpring water filtering systems for tap water on Amazon please click the link below:

iSpring Reverse Osmosis Water Filtering Systems for Tap Water Only


Home Master Reverse Osmosis Water Filtering and Purification Systems

Home Master Water Filtering System
Home Master System (Photo Credits: Home Master)
The Home Master Reverse Osmosis water filtration and purification systems are designed to convert your tap water or well water into healthy, pure, odorless, and delicious drinking water that can be used for cooking, drinking and hydroponics. Like iSpring, the Home Master systems use multi-stage filtering coupled with the Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology. All Home Master RO systems are able to eliminate up to 98% of harmful chemicals, dissolved solids, toxins, rust, dust, particles and cysts. The Home Master UV systems also eliminate viruses and bacteria and all other microorganisms by exposing the water to UV (ultraviolet) light. Some systems are also designed to eliminate the large quantities of iron that can be found in well water. All filters have 5-micron pores and the RO membrane has 0.001 micron ultra fine pores. Filter change requirements depend on the amount of usage and the hardness of water. Normally, the filters need to be changed once a year except for the RO membrane that needs to be changed every 3 to 5 years.

The Home Master Systems consist of a purification unit and a reserve tank of 3.2 gallons. The two parts are connected with tubing. The purification unit is 16 inches high and 8 inches wide, while the reserve tank is 15 inches high and 11 inches in diameter. They can easily fit under most sinks, and all required parts as well as detailed documentation are provided for installation. If you are not handy, a plumber can do the job in minutes. Note that all Home Master systems come with a 5-year limited warranty, and a 90-day 100% satisfaction money back guaranty.

The Home Master products can be divided in two categories: Home Master RO Purification Systems with a UV sterilizer stage for both untreated water and tap water, and Home Master RO Filtering Systems for tap water only. The two categories are detailed below:

1. Home Master Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Systems for Untreated Water and Tap Water:

These systems are equipped with a UV sterilization stage and can filter microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses besides filtering all the other impurities listed above and can be used both with untreated water (such as well water) and tap water. Up to 50 GPD (gallons per day) can be filtered.
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The following products are available in this category:

Home Master TMULTRA-ERP UV RO Water Purification System with Permeate Pump: This 6-stage filtration systems does everything the Home Master TMULTRA UV RO system does, but in addition it is equipped with a non-electric permeate pump that maximizes limited water pressure, reduces water waste while increasing water production.

Home Master TMHP UV RO Water Hydro-Perfection Purification System: This 9-stage filtration system does everything the Home Master TMULTRA-ERP UV RO Water Purification Systems with Permeate Pump system does, but in addition, with its patented Full Contact technology, it adds calcium and magnesium minerals twice during the purification process for even better tasting water. This system is the top level water purification system that comes with all possible and required features. It represents perfection in water purification which also explains the higher price.

For price information or to purchase the above Home Master UV RO under-sink water purification systems on Amazon please click the link below:

Home Master Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Systems for Untreated Water and Tap Water


2. Home Master Reverse Osmosis Water Filtering Systems for Tap Water Only:

These systems do not include a UV sterilizer and therefore may not filter completely microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, and therefore they are more suited to be used with tap water or potable water only. They can eliminate up to 98% of harmful chemicals and dissolved solids, toxins, rust, dust, particles and cysts. There are specific systems used in specific applications as shown below. They can filter up to 50 GPD (gallons per day).
​

The following products are available in this category:

Home Master TM RO Water Filtering System: This is the most basic Home Master system for tap water filtering. It can eliminate up to 98% of harmful chemicals and dissolved solids, toxins, rust, dust, particles and cysts, except for microorganisms that may need UV sterilization.

Home Master TMAFC RO Artesian Full Contact Water Filtering System: This unit filters perfectly the water (except for microorganisms that may need UV sterilization), and then it remineralizes it to obtain an alkaline pH level balance of 7.5 to 8 which is ideal for the body to absorb. The patented Full Contact technology adds calcium and magnesium minerals twice during the purification process for great taste. It has in all 7 filtering stages.

Home Master TMAFC-ERP RO Artesian Full Contact System with Permeate Pump: This systems does everything the Home Master TMAFC RO Artesian Full Contact Water Filtering System does, but in addition it is equipped with a non-electric permeate pump that maximizes limited water pressure, reduces water waste while increasing water production. This is definitely the top of the line Home Master system for tap water filtration.

For price information or to purchase the above Home Master water filtering systems for tap water on Amazon please click the link below:

Home Master Reverse Osmosis Water Filtering Systems for Tap Water Only

​APEC Water Reverse Osmosis Water Filtering and Purification Systems

APEC Filtration SystemAPEC Filtration System (Photo Credits: APEC)
​APEC water filtration and purification systems are also designed to convert your tap water or well water into healthy, pure, odorless, and delicious drinking water that can be used for cooking and drinking. Like iSpring, and Home Master, the APEC systems use multi-stage filtering coupled with the Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology. All APEC systems claim to eliminate up to 99% of contaminants including arsenic, chlorine, lead, fluoride, heavy metals, bacteria, and viruses.  

Per product descriptions, all APEC systems claim to remove viruses and bacteria. However, for untreated non-tap water, such as water from wells and rivers, we recommend getting an APEC system with a built-in UV (ultraviolet) stage to make sure that all viruses and bacteria are indeed destroyed.  

The systems consist of a filtering/purification unit and a reserve tank of 4 gallons connected with tubing. They can easily fit under most sinks, and all required parts as well as detailed documentation is provided for installation. If you are not handy, a plumber can do the job in minutes. 

All systems include 5-stage filtering. Filter change requirements depend on the amount of usage and the hardness of water. A 6th stage is provided in certain models (see below) to further eliminate microorganisms such as viruses (UV stage) or to raise the pH level for those who like alkaline water. On average, the filters need to be changed every 6 to 12 months except for the RO membrane which needs to be changed every 2 to 3 years. These systems can filter either 50 GPD (gallons per day) or 75 GPD depending on the system chosen. Note that all APEC systems come with a 1-year limited warranty.​
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We recommend the following APEC water purification systems:
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APEC ROES-50 Reverse Osmosis Water Purification System: This system claims to remove up to 99% of contaminants including arsenic, chlorine, lead, fluoride, heavy metals, bacteria, virus and 1000+ contaminants, except for microorganisms that may need UV sterilization. It is WQA certified with a 1-year satisfaction guarantee. The system comes with 100% lead-free chrome faucet, plus NSF & FDA certified JG food grade tubing to provide safe, contamination free pure water. It can filter up to 50 gallons per day.

APEC ROES-PH75 pH alkaline Reverse Osmosis Water Purification System: This system claims to remove up to 99% of contaminants including arsenic, chlorine, lead, fluoride, heavy metals, bacteria, virus and 1000+ contaminants, except for microorganisms that may need UV sterilization. The system also adds calcium carbonate to effectively raise the pH level in the water for those who desire alkaline water. It can filter up to 75 gallons per day.

APEC ROES-UV75 Reverse Osmosis Water Purification System: This system claims to remove up to 99% of contaminants including arsenic, chlorine, lead, fluoride, heavy metals, bacteria, virus and 1000+ contaminants. For extra protection, an ultraviolet (UV) light exposure stage is also included for complete sterilization of all microorganisms. It can filter up to 75 gallons per day. Note: Though according to product descriptions, all APEC systems claim to remove viruses and bacteria, for untreated non-tap water, such as water from wells and rivers, we recommend getting an APEC system with the built-in UV (ultraviolet) stage to make sure that all viruses and bacteria are indeed destroyed.

For price information or to purchase the above APEC ROES under-sink water purification systems on Amazon please click the link below:

APEC Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Systems for Untreated Water and Tap Water


So which of the three under-sink water filtering and purification systems should you get?

All three brands make excellent water purifiers and have mostly received raving reviews from Amazon customers. Here is a short survey based on all Amazon reviews received at the time this article was written, for all iSpring, Home Master and APEC units reviewed by Amazon customers:

​Clearly, all three water purification systems have received a negligible amount of ratings below 4 stars which shows a very high degree of satisfaction with all three products. However, at 89.4%, the Home Master 5-star rating is huge and above the 86.9% and 74.8%  5-star ratings received respectively by APEC and iSpring! While the ratings received by APEC and iSpring are also quite impressive, the table shows customers were even more satisfied with Home Master systems. Though one needs to keep in mind that there had been a lot more reviews for iSpring, the Home Master rating results say something about the quality, easy of use, installation, and filtering/purification results of the product.

However, you should also keep in mind the following before you make up your mind:

1. If you want to get rid of microorganisms in your water (such as viruses or bacteria), then you should definitely choose a system with UV (ultraviolet) processing. Home Master and APEC water purification systems presented in this article come also with UV sterilization stages.

2. Home Master systems require the least amount of filter changes. Filter change requirements depend on the amount of usage and the hardness of water. Normally, Home Master filters need to be changed once a year except for the membrane that needs to be changed every 3 to 5 years. On the other hand, on average, the filters on iSpring and APEC systems need to be changed every 6 to 12 months except for the membranes that need to be changed every 2 to 3 years.

3. If your water pressure is low, an iSpring system with a booster pump (Model: RCC7P or RCC7P-AK) or a Home Master system with a permeate pump (Model: TMULTRA-ERP or TMHP) would be ideal.

4. If you want your water to be more alkaline, then you should get either APEC ROES-PH75, iSpring RCC7AK, iSpring RCC7P-AK, Home Master TMAFC or Home Master TMHP.

5. iSpring and APEC both provide a 1-year limited warranty while Home Master provides a 5-year limited warranty and a 90 day 100% satisfaction money back guaranty.

6. Finally, note that at the time this article was written, APEC ROES-50 was the top seller on Amazon in the under-sink water purifiers category due to its lower price for the high quality of the product and the features it comes with.

***** Our favorite? Home Master - Model: TMHP, the only 9-stage water purifier also known as the "water perfection" system, if you can afford the higher price! *****

You can find the various water filtration/purification systems referred to here, in the Amazon products section that follows.


iSpring, Home Master and APEC Water Systems on Amazon

You can obtain below on Amazon all iSpring, Home Master and APEC water filtering and purification systems described above, as well as replacement filters.
Please click the Amazon US link image below for the product of your choice to see exact price information or to purchase.
​Please Note: For non-US customers, when you click the links below, you will be provided with the Amazon links for your country (such as Canada or UK), if the product is available in your country.

iSpring Water Filtering Systems on Amazon:
​(As mentioned above, the iSpring systems offered in this section do not include a UV sterilizer, and therefore they may not completely destroy all microorganisms that may be found in river, lake or well water. They are best to be used with already treated tap water.)
​Please click the Amazon US link image below for the water purification system of your choice to see exact price information or to purchase.
​Please Note: For non-US customers, when you click the links below, you will be provided with the Amazon links for your country (such as Canada or UK), if the product is available in your country.
​

iSpring RCC7
5-stage 75 GPD RO System Pump

iSpring 5-stage 75 GPD RO System with Clear Housing (model RCC7): 75 GPD Model with 5-stage filtering for water filtration that includes all impurities. No UV sterilization included.

iSpring RCC7P
5-stage 75 GPD RO
System with Booster Pump

iSpring 5-stage 75 GPD RO System with Booster Pump (model RCC7P): 75 GPD Model with 5-stage filtering and a booster pump for water filtration that includes all impurities. No UV sterilization included.


iSpring RCC7AK
6-stage 75 GPD
RO Alkaline System

iSpring 6-stage 75 GPD RO System (model RCC7AK): This model has an additional stage that produces pH-balanced alkaline water. No UV sterilization included.

iSpring RCC7P-AK
6-stage 75 GPD
RO with Booster Pump

iSpring 6-stage 75 GPD RO System (model RCC7P-AK): This model has an additional stage that produces pH-balanced alkaline water as well as a booster pump. No UV sterilization included.

Home Master Water Purification Systems for Untreated Water and Tap Water on Amazon:
(The Home Master systems sold in this section can be used to filter untreated water to eliminate microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses as well as other impurities. They can also be used to filter tap water.)
Please click the Amazon US link image below for the water purification system of your choice to see exact price information or to purchase.
​Please Note: For non-US customers, when you click the links below, you will be provided with the Amazon links for your country (such as Canada or UK), if the product is available in your country.
​

Home Master TMULTRA-ERP UV
6-Stage
RO System with Permeate Pump

This 6-stage purification system does everything the Home Master TMULTRA UV RO system does, but in addition it is equipped with a non-electric permeate pump that maximizes limited water pressure, reduces water waste while increasing water production. It removes up to 98 percent of iron and other contaminants while safely sterilizing 99.99 percent of microorganisms. The included permeate pump will reduce water waste by up to 80% while increasing water production by up to 50%. It is also designed to filter the iron found in some well waters as the RO membrane can get damaged overtime by the iron in the water (Model:TMULTRA-ERP).

Home Master TMHP UV
9-Stage
Hydro Perfection RO System

This unique 9-stage purification system does everything the Home Master TMULTRA-ERP UV RO Water Purification Systems with Permeate Pump system does, but in addition, with its patented Full Contact technology, it adds calcium and magnesium minerals twice during the purification process for even better tasting water.It removes up to 98 percent of iron and other contaminants while safely sterilizing 99.99 percent of microorganisms. The included permeate pump will reduce water waste by up to 80% while increasing water production by up to 50%. It is also designed to filter the iron found in some well waters as the RO membrane can get damaged overtime by the iron in the water. This system is the top level water purification system that comes with all possible and required features. It represents perfection in water purification which also explains the higher price (Model:TMHP).

Home Master Water Filtering Systems for Tap Water only on Amazon:
​(The Home Master systems sold in this section do not include a UV sterilizer and therefore may not destroy all microorganisms that may be found in river, lake or well water. They are best to be used with already treated tap water.)
​Please click the Amazon US link image below for the water purification system of your choice to see exact price information or to purchase.
​Please Note: For non-US customers, when you click the links below, you will be provided with the Amazon links for your country (such as Canada or UK), if the product is available in your country.
​

Home Master TM
5-Stage
Basic RO System

This 5-stage filtering system is the most basic Home Master model for tap water filtering (Model: TM).

Home Master TMAFC
7-Stage
Artesian RO System

This 7-stage system filters the water up to 98 percent of chemicals, including chloramine, and other contaminants and then it remineralizes it to obtain an alkaline pH level balance of 7.5 to 8 which is ideal for the body to absorb. The patented Full Contact technology adds calcium and magnesium minerals twice during the purification process for great taste. (Model: TMAFC).

Home Master TMAFC-ERP
7-Stage Artesian RO System
with Permeate Pump

This 7-stage system does everything the Home Master Artesian Full Contact RO Water Filtering System does, but in addition it is equipped with a non-electric permeate pump that maximizes limited water pressure, reduces water waste while increasing water production (Model: TMAFC-ERP).

APEC Water Filtering and Purification Systems for Tap Water and Untreated Water on Amazon:
(All APEC systems sold in this section claim to filter viruses and bacteria, but for untreated non-tap water, we suggest to get the unit APEC ROES-UV75 that includes the ultraviolet exposure stage to make sure that all microorganisms are destroyed.)
​Please click the Amazon US link image below for the water purification system of your choice to see exact price information or to purchase.
​Please Note: For non-US customers, when you click the links below, you will be provided with the Amazon links for your country (such as Canada or UK), if the product is available in your country.

This system claims to remove up to 99% of contaminants including arsenic, chlorine, lead, fluoride, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses (no UV sterilization included). The system comes with 100% lead-free chrome faucet, plus NSF & FDA certified JG food grade tubing to provide safe, contamination free pure water. It can filter up to 50 gallons per day. (Model: ROES-50).

This system claims to remove up to 99% of contaminants including arsenic, chlorine, lead, fluoride, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses (no UV sterilization included). The system also adds calcium carbonate to effectively raise the pH level in the water for those who desire alkaline water. It can filter up to 75 gallons per day. (Model: ROES-PH75).

This system claims to remove up to 99% of contaminants including arsenic, chlorine, lead, fluoride, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, etc. For extra protection, an ultraviolet (UV) light exposure stage to kill all microorganisms is also included. It can filter up to 75 gallons per day. Note: Though according to product descriptions, all APEC systems claim to remove viruses and bacteria, for untreated non-tap water, such as water from wells and rivers, we recommend getting this UV (ultraviolet) unit to make sure that all viruses and bacteria are indeed destroyed. (Model: ROES-UV75).

TDS Water Quality Measurement Meter

​ A TDS meter is a digital tool that instantly checks your water quality. TDS stands for "Total Dissolved Solids", solids being any salt, metal or mineral in the water. With the push of a button, the TDS-EZ will determine your water purity level, which will be displayed on the screen in ppm (parts per million). Note that the meter does not test for biological contaminants. The TDS-EZ is an  indispensable tool for drinking water, water filtration and purification, hydroponics, aquariums, RO/DI systems, pools and spas, and more. To obtain the TDS meter, please click the Amazon link below:

iSpring, Home Master and APEC Water Replacement Filters on Amazon:



You can view all the iSpring filter replacements choices available on Amazon by clicking below:
iSpring Replacement Filters on Amazon

You can view all the Home Master (= Top Master) filter replacements choices available on Amazon by clicking below:
Home Master Replacement Filters on Amazon
Note that Tap Master is the old name for Home Master systems. Tap Master filters will fit the Home Master Systems.

You can view all the APEC Water ROES filter replacements choices available on Amazon by clicking below:
APEC Water ROES Replacement Filters on Amazon

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