Written by: Alexandra Uta // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Dec 20, 2023
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In this review, you will learn all you need to know about the Brondell H2O+ Circle Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System.
The Brondell H2O+ Circle Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System, or just Brondell Circle, is an under-the-sink unit. Tank and filter stages are integrated into a single, sleek case which saves space. Plus, we like the looks!
However, don’t make the mistake and confuse the Brondell H2O+ Circle with one of the more modern systems that use internal pumps to boost filtration speed and reduce wastewater. The Brondell may look like one of those, but it isn’t. It’s really just a standard under sink unit with a pressurized tank (1.6 gallons) combined into a single case.
With that out of the way, we have 4 filter stages:
As you can see, reduction rates are good, although we’ve seen higher ones (more on this below). You can expect your drinking water to become much safer and healthier, and also better-tasting.
By the way, manufacturer warranty is 1 year.
Filter life: 6 months to 2 years at around $190 in annual cost.
There are 3 aspects about the Brondell H2O+ Circle that we’d like to point out:
Also worth mentioning is the relatively easy installation. Plus, changing filters doesn’t require tools. In fact, you simply twist the filter elements on/off when installing/removing. Did we mention the chrome faucet with its built-in LED filter-change indicator?
The Brondell Circle has been thoroughly tested and certified against NSF standards. Here are some of the reduction rates, as per the manufacturer:
The Brondell H2O+ Circle – learn more on Amazon.com
Many of today’s RO systems are bulky. They take up quite some space under your kitchen sink or in the basement and require more effort to install than most other types of water filters. The Brondell H2O+ Circle is not much different – at least as far as installation goes.
You have to drill a hole in your sink or countertop for the extra faucet. You have to install the feed water valve. And you have to connect the wastewater line to the drain. They are not overly complicated, but if you don’t feel comfortable doing these tasks, then you better call a plumber. By the way, all the bits and pieces are contained in the package, including illustrated installation instructions. Here’s a quick rundown of the process:
Like I said, the Brondell RO system is easy to maintain, thanks to the quick change twist and seal filters. When the LED of the filter change indicator starts to flash red instead of blue, it’s time to change the filters and reset the indicator afterwards by replacing its battery (a new battery comes with each filter replacement set).
Here is what you need to do:
FYI: The filter change indicator does not measure TDS, but time and water usage. It will start to flash after 6 months or 475 gallons – whichever comes first.
What are the average lifetimes of the filters/membrane?
Please be aware that filter life can vary depending on how much water you use on a daily basis and its condition prior to filtration. Water with high levels of hardness minerals/TDS require you to replace the components more frequently.
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://www.brondell.com/content/rc100-owners-manual-040717.pdf
The system comes with NSF certifications 42, 53, 58, and 372.
To our knowledge, there are no earlier versions of this product.
Here is what we don’t like:
We appreciate the thorough NSF certification and testing, as well as the provided contaminant reduction rates. The Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System also looks nice and sleek – but the price is, overall, a bit too much for what you get. All in all, it’s still a thumbs up from us. Our verdict: 4 out of 5 stars!
The market offers plenty of alternatives if you’re looking for a good reverse osmosis system – such as the Waterdrop G3 and the AquaTru.
Waterdrop G3 |
|
Price: | $$$ |
Filter Stages: | 4 |
Flow Rate: | 0.42 gpm |
NSF: | 58, 372 |
Annually: | ~$145 |
Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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AquaTru |
|
Price: | $$$ |
Filter Stages: | 4 |
Water: | 1 Gallon in 10-15 Minutes |
NSF: | 42, 53, 58, 401, P473 |
Annually: | ~$100-120 |
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.
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The Waterdrop G3 is a tankless under sink RO unit which filters water on demand. This makes it very efficient in terms of space utilization. However, it costs a bit more upfront than the Brondell but is far more affordable to maintain (~$145 a year). It comes with 4 filtration stages, with comprehensive NSF testing and one certification backing the contaminant reduction claims. Specifically, the system is tested against NSF standards 42, 53, 58, and 401, and certified for 58. It can cover these contaminants, at the least:
The unit uses an internal pump to regulate water pressure, making it very fast (flow rate of 0.42 gallons per minute – you can fill a cup of water in just 8 seconds, almost twice as fast as the Brondell) and water-saving (only 33% of the input water is wasted, as opposed to Brondell’s 70%).
The Waterdrop is pretty easy to install too – and even lets you know when it’s time to replace your filters with the use of LEDs and sound effects. On that note, you can expect between 550 and 2,200 gallons of life out of the different filter stages, meaning they should last you between 6 to 24 months. And when it’s time to replace a filter, doing so is very straightforward without the use of any tools. You can take advantage of the integrated TDS monitoring panel to get an idea of how well your system is operating and what the current state of your water is.
Finally, the system is made of BPA-free materials, and Waterdrop offers a money-back satisfaction guarantee program for the first 30 days after your purchase. You also get 1 year of warranty on top of that – but keep in mind that it’s only valid for systems hooked up to municipal water.
The AquaTru is another great choice if you’re looking for an integrated reverse osmosis system – this one is a countertop model (installation-free) and not an under sink one though. It uses a 4-stage filtration process certified against multiple NSF standards – 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473 – which is quite impressive and gives us a lot of reassurance about the overall performance and quality of the product. Some of the contaminants it can target include:
Like the Waterdrop G3, the AquaTru utilizes a compact, space-saving design, and is very easy to set up and maintain. It also filters water very fast, and only wastes around 20% of the feedwater – better than both the Brondell and the Waterdrop G3, mainly thanks to the internal pump. The model uses only BPA and BPS-free Tritan plastic in its construction. The only downside is that it can occasionally leak – some users also report units failing prematurely, but we can’t tell if this is a more general trend or just a few isolated incidents (it never happened to us).
Bottom line: The AquaTru is our favorite because it offers a mix of acceptable price, affordable maintenance, NSF-backed filtration, installation-free setup, and fast filtration with little wastewater. Second place is the Waterdrop because it too is effective, tankless + fast, quite easy to install, and water-saving. Compared to that we find the Brondell too expensive. It costs about the same as the other 2 but you don’t get a pump, wastewater is quite high, the system is rather slow. What is really good is the NSF certifications.
This completes our review of the Brondell H2O+ Circle Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
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