AlcaPure Zero Installation Purifier Reverse Osmosis Countertop Water Filter Review
Concerned about PFC levels in your municipal or well water? Studies have shown that a reverse osmosis water filtration system is more effective at removing PFCs from water than most other types of filtration systems. And the AlcaPure Zero Installation Purifier is one of the best!
A high capacity countertop water purifier or water filter can be installed at the point of use in your home (ie kitchen sink, bath sink, showerhead). Replaceable premium-grade carbon filters and a RO membrane are the key features of a quality reverse osmosis water filtration system, and the Zero Installation Purifier ticks both of these boxes.
The AlcaPure Zero Installation Purifier is ideal for kitchen use, with a stylish modern look to it that’s quite attractive. If your household uses water from the tap often but the city water supply is contaminated by hard water, high levels of chlorine, TDS, lead, pesticides or other toxins, the Zero Installation Purifier is cost-effective and extremely hassle-free to install, operate and maintain.
Check out the specs, features and details in the Zero Installation Purifier review below.
AlcaPure Zero Installation Purifier: Product Overview
Description: Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter with Patented High Capacity 4 Stage Technology
Key Features
- Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 9.5 x 16.2 inches
- Weight: 23 Pounds
- 75 GPD Max
- 24W
- 120 AC / 220 AC
- BPA Free
- Removes up to 99% of all contaminants
- 50% recovery rate (1:1 Ratio)
Best Suited For:
- Residential Homes
- Rental units
- Small Offices
Alcapure Zero Purifier Installation Review
Installation: It doesn’t take long to start enjoying refreshing, crisp and healthy tap water with the Zero Installation Purifier. It has a space-efficient, compact square design that can sit on any countertop. It’s also an attractive, elegant looking appliance that fits in well with almost any kitchen decor, whether in your home, office, or home office!
As advertised, there is absolutely zero assembly required so you won’t need any tools, and no need to worry about missing screws, washer, or other parts. Positioned nearest to an outlet, you can simply plug in the AC adapter.
How To Set Up The AlcaPure Zero Installation Purifier
- Remove the unit from the box and place it on your countertop.
- Plug in the AC adapter into the electrical outlet
- Flush the filters by running 2 filtering cycles.
You’ll notice there are 2 BPA-free plastic containers for water storage and purification. They can each be removed and washed with ordinary dishwashing soap.
To flush the filters for the first time, you fill the bottom container (1 gallon capacity) with water from your tap. Turn on the unit, and let the filter take care of the rest!
How The Zero Installation Purifier Works
To purify your tap water thoroughly, the Zero Installation Purifier utilizes a patented high capacity 4-stage method. Water is cycled through four stages of filtration to ensure your water is as toxin-free as possible and boosted with healthy minerals and an increase of alkaline.
To operate the Zero Installation Purifier, you simply fill the BPA-free bottom container with 1 gallon of tap water, push the ‘start’ button and wait 15 minutes.
The 4 stages of the ZIP water filtration system are as follows:
- Contaminated water passes through a five-micron Sediment Filter.
- Water passes through the Activated Carbon Block filter.
- Water flows through the RO Membrane.
- A high quality Alkaline Post Filter injects beneficial minerals such as calcium, magnesium into the water, and increases water Ph to alkaline level.
Clean filtered water goes into the top container. The manufacturer recommends running 2 filtering cycles to flush the filters of any factory residue that might remain before you start using it in your home or office.
Since the water is dispensed from the front, you can place it just about anywhere you might put a coffee maker.
Under optimal conditions, and depending on the level of contamination, you should get about 0.5 gallons of filtered water within 15mn of turning on the unit, which is quite impressive.
Toxin Removal:
Does the water from your tap leave a metallic after-taste on your tongue? Or maybe you’ve noticed a white chalky build-up around the rim of your taps, particularly the hot water. These are just some of the signs that indicate your tap water is contaminated with toxins that, over time, can prove unhealthy and costly.
The AlcaPure Zero Installation Purifier is designed to improve both the quality and taste of your tap water. It can effectively remove 99% of the following types of contaminants:
- Chlorine, Fluoride, Arsenic,
- Lead, Chromium (-6)
- TDS (total dissolved solids), VOC (volatile organic compounds)
- Pharmaceuticals
- Pesticides
- Improves taste, purity, and Alkaline pH
Waste Ratio:
Reverse osmosis water filtration can produce a great deal of excess, or water waste, that isn’t suitable for drinking. And while the water waste can be used for other tasks like watering your lawn or washing your car, less waste is always better.
It’s absolutely impossible for zero waste to be produced by reverse osmosis, and the industry standard is 1 gallon of water for every 6.7 gallons of waste water. The Zero Installation Purifier achieves 0.5 gallons from a full container of water, which is a very impressive 1:1 ratio.
Viscosity levels, contamination levels, temperature and water pressure can all affect the waste ratio, however. Generally speaking, though, if you are filling the container with tap water from a city water supply, you should have no problem achieving this ratio as well.
Filter Replacement:
One of the great features of the Zero Installation Purifier is the filter notification. When the light blinks red, it’s time to change your filters. The filters have a lifespan of 12 months, which compares well to similar countertop purifiers.
A steady red light notification is an alert that the reverse osmosis membrane, which is the heart of the unit, needs to be changed. Under optimal conditions, the RO membrane has a lifespan of 24 months, or 2 years, which is also standard in the industry for a quality water purifier.
Of course, these figures will change depending on the level of contamination, your water consumption levels, incoming water temperature, and PSI.
How To Change The Filters In Your Zero Installation Purifier:
Changing the filters in your ZIP is super easy! All you need is a screwdriver (standardPhillips head) and a clean rag or cloth. Overall, it takes about 15 – 20 minutes to change the filters and clean the water tank.
After replacing the filters according to the manufacturer’s directions, you can’t drink the water immediately. Just as in the set up, you’ll need to run through 2 cycles to flush the new filters of any residue.
- First stage filter (Five micron): Change every 12 months
- Second stage filter (Sediment): Replace every 12 months
- Post Carbon Filter: Should be changed every 12 months
RO Membrane: Replace every 24 months
What We Like:
Easy installation and set up takes only a few minutes compared to other types of purifiers
Produces clean, crisp tasting water
Performs with low noise
Drawbacks:
Water leakage can occur from the tubing
Is Reverse Osmosis Water Better For You Than Other Types of Filtered Water?
If you’ve done any research online, you’re probably aware that there are several different types of water filtration. Some are more effective than others, but there isn’t a single type of filtration that can remove 100% of contaminants from your water. Even the best reverse osmosis system will leave behind miniscule levels of toxins.
Reverse osmosis, however, is undeniably one of the most effective types of water treatment because it removes a wide range of chemicals and toxins. The heart of any RO filtration system is the reverse osmosis membrane. A quality RO membrane is the key to successfully treating contaminated tap water and improving the taste.
In many parts of the US, you’ll find tap water that contains traces of sulfur, lead, nitrates and other compounds. Reverse osmosis is a water treatment that effectively removes these contaminants and a host of others.
Countertop Vs Whole House Water Filtration
Purifier or water filtration system? Which one is right for you?
There’s a significant difference in cost between a countertop water filter or purifier and a whole house filtration system. Mainly you’ll want to consider your water usage before deciding on which is the better option.
Reverse Osmosis Countertop Water Purifiers:
- If you’re noticing that the tap water in your home is unpalatable due to high levels of chlorine, lead, or sulfates, then a RO countertop water purifier is economical and requires less hassle to install. They utilize storage tanks to filter water and store waste, so no tubes or connections are required.
- Fitted with replaceable, long-lasting filters, these can be ordered from the manufacturer or supplier when needed. Depending on the type of filter and level of use, the typical lifespan of most filters such as active carbon filters and sediment filters is 6 months – 1yr.
- If your home or office is small, with few peaks in demand and an average or below average daily consumption, a countertop water purifier is definitely a worthwhile investment.
Whole House Filtration Systems:
- Large households with multiple bathrooms (2-3) and water appliances (laundry, dishwasher, jacuzzi) might be better served by a whole house filtration system.
- Installing a whole house water filtration system takes time and requires some level of plumbing expertise.
- A whole house filtration system is significantly more costly but engineered to handle higher volumes of water consumption.
- Replacement filters for a whole house water filtration system are necessary, and requirements differ with each manufacturer. Luckily, the filters used in whole house systems have a standard industry lifespan of 1 – 2 years.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, the Zero Installation Purifier (ZIP) by AlcaPure is a great investment for the price. It effectively treats your tap water for a wide range of toxins, and improves the health, taste, as well as quality of your drinking water.
The filters are high quality, long lasting, and easy to replace, which significantly reduces the operating costs of your water purifier over time.
An impressive 1:1 waste ratio also makes this water purifier more efficient than the industry standard. You may experience some leakage, but such defects are covered by the warranty and the manufacturer has proven to be quite responsive to their customers.
