This is why I'm bringing standard housings from Taiwan. Clear profiteering from adapter head by these companies. This is the trick, make custom housings/heads and screw everyone. Most filters are simple sediment or carbon, yet cost a fortune.

i think else where like us and uk the prices have settled down. i mean just see their RO (with expansion tank) or 6 filter systems mostly below 200usd.
maybe this region still can price gouge until to the point where water filter sell for 3-5k, thats crazy.

Well, ok, RO for $200 is pushing it as well. I mean can be done, but low quality components. RO at 300 USD from high quality components is more realistic.


I find here we lack middle players. We have 3-5K systems and then have crappy systems that leak and don't filter anything for 300-500RM. But also mentality, always want brand. In USA almost no one will consider 3M if it costs 400USD and Pentek is 200USD (talking PoE now), this is why all these brands are priced ok there.

I will present my PoU ASAP. Have it already, but had no time to write it up.

Next step is PoE.

1 simple question, your aquaphor replacement cartridges is 350 for 3 units right?
why dont just make a plastic housing to house all 3 cartridge?
then total solution, of around rm500 can already.

I wish I could. But this is why the make their own cartridges and head, hard to copy. I mean can copy, but then need to sell like 5000 systems, because factory cannot make just 10 heads. There is also an issue of liability, these heads are damn strong and actually if they explode they may make a lot of damage, you can go to court against Aquaphor and win.

I have an idea that Pentek may use same head, but gotta check.


Actually I find Aquaphor cartridges rather cheap for what they are, UF, 3 carbon blocks, easy change. 3M cartridge is a stupid sediment for 600RM, now that's overkill.

RO is at another house, forgot the tap water EC/TDS reading already. Will retest again.

Hi I wonder if cuckoo and coway really good because it really popular among my friends. Because they have after sales services and some models offer cold and hot function. But what concern me more is how safe to drink their water. I already owned espring and looking for my in-laws.

wont explode wan la. lol. you think your incoming water pressure so great like hydraulic lines meh. your internal pipes will leak first

Unfortunately they do explode sometimes. Now, I am not saying it is always huge explosion with pieces flying around (though it may happen too). But those transparent housings for example, they are prone to cracking and flooding whole apartment and neighbors. Actually many manufacturers have insurance against housing/component explosion/cracking. This is why I never recommend transparent housings. Always get white or blue.

Likely caused by water hammer effect.
Quarter turn tap connect to rigid pipes are the usual cause.

Alright, I will do my best to present my new system, which I call Fresca Disruptor (FD) here. THIS IS NOT SALES PITCH. I will only share pure facts and whenever there's my opinion, I will clearly indicate it. But apologies if I break the rules of the forum.

So as you may know, I was coming up with my own, "boutique" style system. I must say right away, it's not a brand, meaning it is not 3M or Amway or whatever else. I sourced what I believe are highest quality components to custom build these systems. Enough bla-bla, let's move to the system itself.

FD is 3 stage system, made of industry standard housings, 2.5" by 10" (pics below, not professional quality yet and a faucet or diverter valve for over the counter installation.

Every single component that touches water is manufactured in USA/UK. I want to specifically address this point. Many systems are claimed to be "made in USA". However, what does it mean "Made in USA"? If someone buys all the components (housing, faucet etc) from China, bring them to USA, assemble the system there, it is considered "made in USA", which is a very tricky statement.

As the result of the above, every single component of the system that touches water is NSF certified. In USA, drinking water system parts and components must be NSF certified by default.

To break it down:
Manufactured in USA are: housings, all 3 filter cartridges, the faucet and the diverter valve.
Manufactured in UK are: tubing and all fittings (all by John Guest)
Manufactured elsewhere: inlet valve (it is before the filt elements anyway), bracket, housing wrench


Now to the system itself, stage by stage.

Stage 1 is pleated polyester sediment filter at 5 micron nominal.
It filters out sand, rust, little stones, slit, anything that is above 5 micron..
This filter is washable. Still recommended to change it once a year, but if your water is very bad and you don't have PoE system, or your PoE is media filter, then you can always wash the sediment off this filter and re-use it.

Opinion this filter is not rocket science, but it is absolutely crucial to any system and most systems lack it and this is beyond my understanding. Most systems will have carbon block as first (or only) filter. And carbon blocks are not washable. In fact, whatever system you have, adding sediment pre-filter can significantly increase lifetime of the cartridges.



Stage 2 this is a core of the system with new filter material from Ahlstrom (Finland). In short, it is electroadsorptive technology media able to remove or significantly reduce the following contaminants:
- Virus (Polio, Norovirus, Rotavirus, etc., etc.)
- Bacteria (E. coli, Legionella,Pseudomonas,, etc., etc.)*
- Cysts
- Humic Acid
- Lead
- Ortho-phosphate
- PCBs, BPA (plastic byproducts)
- Penicillin G,Flumenquine
- Polysaccharides
- Arsenic V
- Ferric Iron
- Chromium VI (very few filters able to remove it)

It is also AgION impregnated to prevent bacteria growth on it (same as Auqaphor AgION). It is also washable, meaning you can take it out and clean it up from any deposits.

More detailed information available from Link. Below is also a table of comparison of various filtering techniques.

Opinion I'm yet to see anyone offering this type of filters. There are few companies in USA and that's it. Why this insted of UF? UF is a membrane and it is not washable, has higher pressure drop and cannot remove viruses. Ahlstrom media is a clear winner here.



Stage 3 high quality coconut activated carbon block. Since stage 2 takes out most of the bad things, what's remaining is chlorine and so called "smell and taste". 1 micron high flow carbon block clears it up giving the water good taste.

Opinion This is again no rocket science, just quality US made carbon block. Most systems on the market are only carbon, however, since you must also remove lead, VOC etc, they are heavily modified which reduces the performance and clogs them quickly (This is like pulling a trailer with Myvi, you can do it, but the transmission will not last for long). In FD, carbon block does not do heavy lifting, it is there to do what it does the best, eliminate taste, odor and chlorine.


Now let's go to advantages and disadvantages of the system as a whole, rather than parts. Again, these are factual, I do not make claims like "this will make you live 100 years"

Advantages:

1. System uses industry standard parts (housings, fittings etc). All parts are covered by 2 years warranty, but even if something breaks afterwards, you just go and replace that part, easy to find, easy to change.

2. Cartridges are also industry standard size. If Fresca goes out of business, decides to increase the price beyond acceptable etc, you can always source cartridges from elsewhere.

3. Easy to upgrade to RO (I still believe RO has the best filtration, but it does waste water and it does cost more). Just replace stage 2 by another carbon block and add high flow RO membrane and you have tank-less RO system (can add a tank if required, but not recommended).

4. Quality and safety. Now, I may be subjective, and some people may argue that "doesn't matter where it is made as long as it's NSF", but one thing to keep in mind is that NSF is certification system, it is not quality control system. US/UK manufacturers have a well established supply chain, strict quality control and strict raw material control (very simple, if they don't control it, one lawsuit will put them out of business).

5. Washable stage 1 and 2. Unless you have a lot of iron (and iron clogs ANY filter quickly) system will not be dead clogged. Even if your water is extremely dirty, just take out the cartridges 1-2 and wash them.



Disadvantages:

Yes, I will be honest and will present what I believe are disadvantages.

1. Cartridges are more difficult to change. You must disconnect the tubing open the housing, check if it's not dirty or damaged, replace and reconnect. I will maybe take you 10-15 minutes instead of 5 minutes with Aquaphor-type twist cartridges. This is a trade-off for industry standard parts.

2. Heavier and larger than similar systems. Yes, it's probably twice the size and 1.5 the weight of Aquaphor.

3. Lack of fancy boxes. This is where Aquaphor, 3M and Amway win. For now, Fresca is lacking any fanciness in terms of packaging and labeling.


Feel free to challenge me, ask me any questions, voice concerns etc. I will reply them with all honesty

Pics are under the spoiler:



This post has been edited by hestati: Apr 25 2018, 01:20 PM

Nice system.
Questions:
Stage 2 and stage 3 cartridges listed in NSF ?
I like the idea of easy upgrade to non tank RO. But I don't get what you meant. Replace the stage 2 with another carbon cartridge and what about stage 3 ? The RO membrane is stage 4 or stage 3? Any recommendation for good quality RO cartridges?

Thank you!

Yes, all 3 stages cartridges are NSF. Everything that touches water is NSF 42, stage 2 is NSF 42 and 61.

To convert to RO, second stage is replaced with a carbon block and RO membrane is added as stage 4 on top. This way you get sediment+block+block+RO membrane. Since no tank, no need for stage 5, which usually polishes water coming from the tank.

For good quality RO membrane, are you looking for high flow for tankless or regular for system with tank?

This post has been edited by hestati: Apr 21 2018, 09:55 PM

Can skip one block and put RO membrane at stage 3 on top ?
Please recommend both options, high flow and regular RO membrane.

What is the total price inclusive installation ?

You mean remove stage 2 completely and just add RO on top? Not a very good idea. RO membrane is expensive. High GPD membrane is very expensive. On the other hand, properly tuned RO membrane can last virtually forever (I know of 10 y.o. membranes that still perform) if it is not exposed to chlorine and excess iron. 2 carbon blocks are needed to make sure virtually no chlorine makes it to the membrane. So no point to save approx 80RM to kill membrane that's 300RM (if we're talking high GPD).

As for membranes, for regular system with tank, there is nothing better than Dow Filmtec (make sure it is made in USA and imported from USA and not yet another fake)

For tankless, issue is that I'm not aware of US companies that make residential 200-400GPD membranes. Best bet is Taiwan Kemflo, but it must be authentic. It will run for about 350RM give or take. Also can get Vontron (China), around 200-250 RM, but properties are worse than Kemflo.

What membrane and what GPD do you have now?

Im interested too. Is it readily available now?

Yes, now creating a sales post in the right section with more details and pricing in order not to promote my product in this thread too much. Will also PM you the price.

Maybe can open a shop at Lazada or Shopee.

Yes, I actually have both, adding products there. Aquaphor already there