APEC ROES-50 5-Stage RO System Review

A 5-stage reverse osmosis system  from trusted brand APEC Water. But does this water filter live up to all the hype? Find out the answer today.

APEC ROES-50

Cost: $

Filtration Stages: 5

Warranty: 1 Year + 30-day money back guarantee

Dimensions: RO system: 16 x 5.2 x 17.5 inches, storage tank: 11 x 11x 15 inches

Filter Lifespan: Pre-filters (stages 1-3) = 6-12 months, Stages 4 & 5=  2-4 years

Similar Models: iSpring RCC7

Introduction

The APEC ROES-50 is a 5-stage reverse osmosis home water filter. It earns rave reviews on Amazon.com where it is currently the #1 best selling under-sink water filter. It actually has the best feedback among their RO system reviews. APEC offer 17 years experience in reverse osmosis filter design and production, and price their systems slightly higher than competitors. With this extra cost, they do offer excellent customer service which offers a lot of peace of mind. Choosing, installing, and maintaining a reverse osmosis system can be a real trip into the unknown for most people, so to have an experienced voice at the end of the line is a real bonus.

The APEC ROES-50 can treat all kinds of water effectively including well water, tap water, and hard and soft water. It can also handle water of a variety of pressures, and extreme pH. APEC claim their filter technology removes up to 99% of contaminants, but the lack of a water quality meter means measuring this is impossible. Fortunately, these can be purchased for around $15. In fact, the ROES-50 also lacks the ability to monitor the condition of its filters. In APEC’s defense, the omission of this features is common in similarly priced models. It just seems like a massive design oversight to me. Fortunately, an accurate water quality meter can be purchased relatively cheaply. Otherwise, the filters should be changed when there is a noticeable pressure drop, or when they look dirty.

Performance

The system can produce 50 gallons of clean water a day. It must be said that reaching this figure is unlikely though. Your home would have to be supplied with water at the optimum temperature and pressure. A production rate of 40 gallons per day is more likely.

It has a holding tank of 4 gallons. When compared to competitors, this is a good size and slightly larger than similarly priced models. This would suit larger families or households with more people. The manual indicates that this will take around 2-3 hours to fill. The filling time is dependent on household water pressure and temperature, so again be prepared for a slightly longer time. Once the tank is full, the system will automatically shut down.

This water filter system requires no electricity, and relies solely on water pressure. Doing so means that it makes little noise and is very quiet.

The APEC ROES-50 is a 5-stage reverse osmosis system, with each stage performing a specific task in the water filtering process:

Stage 1: A sediment filter that removes dust, particles, and rust.

Stage 2 & 3: Carbon filters that remove unpleasant tastes, colors, cloudiness and odors. Will also remove chlorine, and common chemical contaminants.

Stage 4: A top quality reverse osmosis membrane that will remove contaminants such as arsenic, lead, chromium, fluoride, radium, chlorine, and bacteria.

Stage 5: A coconut shell refining carbon filter that will improve taste.

For further information on how reverse osmosis water filters work, please check our reverse osmosis guide.

Set of 5 water filters for APEC ROES-50

The stage 1-3 filters are recommended to be replaced every 6-9 months, while the stage 4 & 5 filters every 2-4 years. Filter life well depend on usage (how many people live in your house?), the quality of water, water pressure, and water temperature. It’s very important that the pre-filters (1-3) are replaced on time as they protect the stage 4 membrane. The filters each perform an important role, but to damage the RO membrane would really compromise the systems ability to treat the water. The most fearsome contaminants like arsenic and lead are removed by the membrane.  A pack of the 5-stage filters retail at a very reasonable price that falls in line with most other brands. However, not as cheap as the iSpring filters.

Installation Information

The unit is of dimensions 16 x 5.2 x 17.5 inches for the RO unit, and 11 x 11 x 15 for the storage tank. It weighs 26 lbs. It is designed to fit under your kitchen sink. Should this be impossible then it can be installed elsewhere as long as the water pressure does not drop too low. APEC Water has an excellent U.S. based customer service team available toll free at 1-800-880-4808 who will be happy to answer any installation queries. The APEC customer support is the best offered by any company that we’ve rated in our RO system reviews. 

A basic tool set will be required for installation. The recommended tool list is as follows:

1. Variable speed drill
2. Drill bits :1/4”(for the waste line)
   • 1/8” (not mandatory, it’s for a pilot)
   • 1/2”(standard faucet hole)
   • Air-gap faucet requires 1 & 1/4” hole
3. 5/8”, 9/16” open-end wrench, or adjustable wrench, pliers
4. Phillips screwdriver
5. Utility knife, or scissors
6. Teflon tape

The unit includes a lead free chrome faucet, but upgraded faucets are also available. Ice maker kits can also be purchased and can be installed easily.

The system package includes everything else needed for installation:

• Complete set of 5 filters
• System head
• Filter housings
• Color coded tubing
• 4 gallon storage tank
• Designer kitchen faucet
• Installation kit
• Detailed owner’s manual

Pros and Cons

If you’re interested in seeing how this model stacks up against its competitors, then please read our complete guide to reverse osmosis. We have all the information you need before buying an RO system for your home.

RO water filter systems filter the water at one faucet point in the home. If you require water filtration at every point in the home (bathing water too), then you need a whole house water filter. Check out our guide to these systems here.

Products Similar to the APEC ROES-50 5-Stage RO System

Express Water RO5DX Reverse Osmosis Filtration NSF Certified 5 Stage RO System

Check Latest Price on Amazon

With a filtration capacity of 99.99% against fluoride, lead, chlorine, nitrates, arsenic, calcium, bacteria, and more, the Express Water RO5DX makes for a fantastic reverse osmosis system for home use.

Since this is an under sink unit, it won’t take up any noticeable space inside your home, so you’ll be able to install it and then simply forget about it until maintenance is required. The Express Water RO5DX NSF Certified 5 Stage RO System also includes, among other things, an emergency leak stop detector that shuts off water flow when it detects unwelcomed moisture.

Another thing we simply love about this filter and all of Express Water’s offerings is the fact that they’re fully upgradable and customizable with quick connecting fittings. You can try all sorts of attachments such as UV water sterilizers, deionization units, and much more.

SimPure Y6 UV Sterilization Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

Check Latest Price on Amazon

The SimPure Y6 UV Sterilization Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System is tested against the NSF’s standards for disinfection and decontamination. One selling point of this particular reverse osmosis system is its UV filtration capabilities.

What it does is effectively kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites with ease. So on top of the already good reverse osmosis process killing off most of these things, you now have an extra layer of protection against disease-causing pollutants. As for performance, you’ll be glad to hear that the SimPure Y6 UV Sterilization Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System has a 5:1 drain ratio that can save your water up to 1500% compared with other brands.

As such, we think that this is an amazing combo of reverse osmosis, water filter, and UV water sterilizer that you should definitely give a try.