Review: Brio AQUUS TROE800COL Tankless Under Sink RO System
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Feb 2, 2024
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The Brio AQUUS TROE800COL is a tankless, under sink reverse osmosis system that comes with a feature we rarely see: A dual flow faucet. Does this make the system a serious contender for the title “Top RO System” or does it not live up to expectations? Time for a closer look!
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Brio AQUUS TROE800COL Tankless Under Sink RO System |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Water Flow: | Not Specified |
| NSF Certifications: | 42, 58 |
| Annual Cost: | ~$135-270 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Brio AQUUS TROE800COL Tankless Under Sink RO System – All Specs
- Model: TROE800COL
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$135-270
- Filter Media/Process: Sediment Pre, Carbon Fiber, Carbon Block, RO
- Filter Stages: 4
- Membrane Rating: 800 gpd
- Recovery Rate: 66%
- Faucet Flow Rate: 0.26-0.66 gpm
- Filtering Capacity: 6-24 Months
- WxHxD: 5.2″x16.6″x18.2″
- Water Temperature: 39-100 °F
- Water Pressure: 14.5-58 psi
- NSF Certifications: 42, 58
- Warranty: 1 Year (Limited)
Brio AQUUS TROE800COL – Key Features
The Brio AQUUS TROE800COL Tankless Under Sink RO System comes with 4 filtration stages, arranged as follows:
- Stages 1-3: A composite pre-filter (outer layer is melt-blown polypropylene; then comes activated carbon fiber; then a 5-micron activated carbon block core) traps particulates like sand, rust, and other dirt, chlorine, bad taste and odor, organics, and chlorine by-products.
- RO Membrane: Rejects TDS including heavy metals such as lead, microorganisms, and much more.
We assume this filtration process is quite effective, but unfortunately, we cannot be 100% certain. The setup is pretty common among RO systems, but Brio provides no contaminant reduction rates whatsoever. And the NSF certifications are for material safety and structural integrity only.
By the way, the drain ratio of 2:1 is pretty efficient, meaning that only 1 gallon of water is wasted for every 2 gallons purified.
We also like the space-saving tankless design and the fact that the front panel features indicator lights for filter replacements. Speaking of, replacing filters is fast and easy with no tools required thanks to the convenient front access. Filter life: 6-24 months. We estimate $135-270 in annual cost (you can subscribe to filter replacements and save 20%).
What about the dual flow faucet? Well, it allows you to pick between filtered water and purified water. The difference is essentially that the “filtered” water option skips the reverse osmosis membrane, while the “purified” option utilizes all stages. This can be useful if you don’t specifically need RO-purified water, for example when you are doing the dishes. The faucet also has filter life indicator lights and a TDS meter for real-time monitoring of the purified water quality – nice!
Your purchase is covered by a 1-year limited warranty.
Brio Reverse Osmosis Pros
- Tankless design with impressive wastewater ratio of just 33%.
- Various indicator lights.
- Two water dispensing modes for the faucet.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
No contaminant reduction rates have been provided by the manufacturer, which is a major omission in our opinion. Due to the fact that the system uses a reverse osmosis membrane, we can assume that it filters out a wide range of contaminants, but we don’t know the exact reduction rates for any of them.
The Brio AQUUS TROE800COL – learn more on Amazon.com
Installation
Installing the Brio AQUUS TROE800COL is pretty simple and straightforward. Here’s a brief overview – though of course, check your manual for detailed instructions.
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Shut off your cold water supply.
- Connect feed water adapter to cold water supply line.
- Attach the shut-off valve.
- Connect tubing to system.
- Find a place for the drain saddle – it should be before the P-trap, and on a horizontal or vertical segment of the piping.
- Install the drain saddle by drilling through the pipe.
- Install the faucet – you may have to drill a hole for it if you don’t have an existing one you can reuse.
- Hook up all remaining pieces of tubing.
- Install filter cartridges.
- Turn on cold water supply.
- Start the system.
- Turn on the RO faucet and keep it running for 5-6 minutes until water turns clear – don’t drink any of the water before that.
The Package (Parts)
- RO filtration unit
- Smart faucet
- Power adapter
- Feed water adapter
- RO filter
- PCB filter
- Plumber’s Tape
- Drain Saddle
- Tubing
- Quick connectors
Maintenance
System maintenance is pretty easy – you just need to replace the filters on a regular basis. Here’s a rough guideline to follow:
- Composite filter: 6-12 months, each filter costs $60.
- Reverse osmosis membrane: 12-24 months, each costs $150.
This results in annual maintenance costs of $135 – $270. The higher end of that range is pretty high, but you can also subscribe to get 20% off filters.
And again, the filter indicator lights will let you know when it’s time for a filter replacement via blinking.
Here is how to replace:
- Unplug the system from its power source.
- Disconnect the water supply.
- Remove the front cover.
- Rotate the expired filter counterclockwise to unlock it. Take it out.
- Insert the new filter in the opposite fashion.
- Put the front cover back on.
- Reconnect water supply and power source.
- Reset the filter life indicator.
- Flush your new filter(s) according to instructions.
As you can see, filters replacements are fast and easy. No tools are required and the front access is really convenient.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0560/8144/9004/files/TROE800COL_Manual_Web_V1.pdf?v=1673987538
NSF and Other Certifications
The Brio AQUUS TROE800COL comes with two NSF certifications:
Unfortunately, neither of those concerns contaminant reduction.
Earlier Product Versions
There are no earlier versions of this product.
Brio TROE800COL Cons
- Not cheap – though it can often be found at a discount.
- Maintenance costs are pretty high at $135 – $270 (20% off with a subscription), much more than with most other RO systems.
- No contaminant reduction rates at all.
- No NSF testing related to contaminant reduction.
- Faucet only dispenses water at 0.26 gpm when using the reverse osmosis membrane.
- May occasionally work slower than expected.
Brio AQUUS TROE800COL Review: Our Verdict + Best for
In our opinion, the Brio AQUUS TROE800COL is not a bad system by itself – you get an efficient drain ratio and extras like the dual flow faucet and TDS monitoring – but it could have been much better at this price, especially in terms of information provided by the manufacturer about contaminant reduction rates. When you factor in the maintenance costs as well, this is quite the expensive system for what you get. 3.5 stars.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 4.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 3.5/5.0
- Annual Cost: 3.5/5.0
- Overall: 3.5/5.0
Comparison to Other Reverse Osmosis Systems
The Waterdrop G3 and the AquaTru are two great options to consider if you’re looking for RO system alternatives.
Waterdrop G3 |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Flow Rate: | 0.42 gpm |
| NSF: | 58, 372 |
| Annually: | ~$145 |
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Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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AquaTru |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Water: | 1 Gallon in 10-15 Minutes |
| NSF: | 42, 53, 58, 401, P473 |
| Annually: | ~$100-120 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
Get 15% Off! Use Code: |
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Brio AQUUS TROE800COL |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Flow Rate: | Not Specified |
| NSF: | 42, 58 |
| Annually: | ~$135-270 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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The Waterdrop G3 is another tankless under sink model which filters water on demand and doesn’t store it. It has 4 filtration stages, and is backed by a certification for NSF standard 58. It’s also tested against standards 42, 53, 58, and 401, but not certified for them. the contaminants removed/reduced by the system include:
- VOCs: 99%
- Chlorine: 99%
- Nitrate: 98%
- Fluoride: 99%
- Arsenic: 99%
- Chromium-6: 99%
- Lead: 99%
- PFOA/PFOS: 99%
So this is better than what you get with the Brio.
An internal pump helps regulate pressure, bringing the water flow rate to 0.42 gpm, meaning that you’ll always be able to fill a cup quickly – in just about 8 seconds. In addition, only about 33% of water is wasted in the filtration process. LED indicators tell you when it’s time to replace the various filters, which should be done every 550 – 2,200 gallons, or every 6 – 24 months. The replacement process itself is simple, with a streamlined system for swapping out the cartridges.
The system is made of BPA-free materials, and you get a money-back satisfaction guarantee if you return your product in the first 30 days of purchasing it. You are also covered by a 1-year manufacturer warranty, valid if you’re using the system on municipal water. The only downside is that the Waterdrop G3 sometimes produces strange noises, and it costs a bit more than the Brio to buy – although it’s less expensive to maintain.
The AquaTru is a bit different – it’s a countertop system, meaning that it requires practically no installation. It also comes with a total of 5 NSF/ANSI certifications, for standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473. This is very unique and an impressive feature. The system can remove/reduce:
- Chlorine: 96.6%
- VOCs: 95-99%
- Chromium-6: 97.2%
- TDS: 87.1%
- Cyst: 99.99%
- Fluoride: 93.5%
- Lead: 99.1%
- Radium 226/228: 96.4%
- BPA: 99%
- Various trace pharmaceuticals and pesticides: 86.7-96.6%
- PFOA, PFOS: 97.5%
It also only wastes around 20% of the input water, which is better than both the Brio and the Waterdrop G3. The model is made of BPA- and BPS-free Tritan plastic. Its construction quality is solid, even if users occasionally report minor leaks, which we haven’t experienced ourselves personally. It’s at the same price level as the Brio to buy, but costs far less in maintenance at around $100 – $120 per year.
The AquaTru is our favorite by far for many reasons, including its price, NSF certifications and testing, installation and ease of use, and wastewater. The Waterdrop G3 is also a great choice, with its high performance, tankless design and quick operation, as well as little wastewater and affordable maintenance. The Brio comes in last after these two as it’s pretty expensive in the long term, and has no NSF certifications at all.
More Reviews:
This completes our review of the Brio AQUUS TROE800COL Tankless Under Sink RO System. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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