Review: CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter
Written by: Alexandra Uta // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Sep 12, 2023
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The CuZn UC-200 is an easy-to-install under sink water filter that, according to the manufacturer, processes up to 50,000 gallons of water without needing replacement.
Sounds too good to be true?
Let’s explore the features of the CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter in detail. We’ll also discuss its not-so-fascinating side and decide if it’s worth a shot!
Contents
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CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Sediment Pre, GAC, KDF55 |
| Filter Life: | 50,000 Gallons |
| Flow Rate: | 2 Gallons Per Minute |
| Annual Cost: | – |
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Overall Rating: 3.0/5.0 ⓘ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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CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter – All Specs
- Model: UC-200
- Annual Maintenance Cost: $0
- Filter Media/Process: Sediment Pre, Granular Activated Carbon, KDF55
- Flow Rate: 2 gpm
- Filtering Capacity: 50,000 gal or 5 Years
- WxHxD: 4.5″x15.5″x4.5″
- Water Temperature: Up to 110 °F
- Water Pressure: Up to 80 psi
- Fitting: 3/8″Male NPT
- Warranty: 5 Years
CuZn UC-200 – Key Features
The CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter features three filtration stages combined in one cartridge:
- The first stage is a sediment pre-filter membrane that removes dirt and particles.
- The second stage uses granular coconut-shell activated carbon to remove poor taste and odor, and organic contaminants like chlorine, pesticides, and disinfection byproducts.
- The third stage uses KDF 55 to reduce heavy metals like lead, and prevent bacteria growth in the filter. (Another version of the CuZn UC-200 (designed for chloramine-containing water) uses KDF 85 here.)
The system features a flow rate of 2 gallons per minute, which is enough for an under sink filter, and a 50,000 gallons filtration capacity, which (as claimed) you can use for five years.
CuZn UC-200 Under Sink Water Filter Pros
The CuZn UC-200 may not be the cheapest under sink filter out there, but it’s pretty affordable.
Also, the system is made in the USA. So we can assume that it was designed under strict quality control measures.
Besides, we love the simple installation process. You can easily DIY and save the costs of hiring a plumber.
There’s also the 5-year warranty that covers a wide range of issues as long as you use the filter correctly (5-year comprehensive pro-rated warranty).
Lastly, we like CuZn’s customer support base. If you have issues installing your filter, you can contact them through email, phone, or live chat, and they’ll help you figure out what you need. Not just that, they’ll also send a free kit containing everything you need to install your filter.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
The CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter removes sediments, chlorine taste and odor, organic chemicals, and a few water-soluble heavy metals like lead.
The CuZn UC-200 – learn more on Amazon.com
Installation
This system is easy to install, and we’ve outlined the installation steps here.
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
First, you’ll need:
- An adjustable wrench
Then:
- Turn off your cold water line to the kitchen sink.
- Set the system under the sink. Ensure the inlet hole is on the bottom, and the outlet hole is on top.
- Detach your cold water line from the shut-off valve.
- Connect the pipe to the outlet hole on your filter.
- Grab the ⅜” tube that comes with your filter. Insert one end in the system’s inlet hole and the other in the shut-off valve.
- Switch on your water supply and check for leaks.
- If you find any leaking connections, turn off your water supply, disconnect them, and seal the connections properly.
- Once there are no leaks, turn your water supply on.
- Let the faucet run for about five minutes before using your filtered water.
The Package (Parts)
- CuZn UC-200
- 36″ Braided Steel Hose
Maintenance
This system has a 5-year life span, after which you’ll need to replace it. If you need to change the filter earlier than that, CuZn provides a replacement as long as you meet the requirements in the warranty.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://cuzn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Final-UC-200-UC-50-inst.pdf
NSF and Other Certifications
This product has no NSF certifications.
Earlier Product Versions
This filter has no earlier versions.
CuZn UC-200 Water Filter Cons
The CuZn UC-200 under sink filter uses activated carbon. How exactly will activated carbon attract contaminants to its surface for 5 years without needing replacement? We don’t see how.
Realistically, this filter can only remain effective for about one year unless your water contains little to no contaminants to begin with. If you really need to filter your water, we won’t advise using it for five years as advertised. We even found users who complained of poor water quality after using the filter for about a year.
To add to our doubts, this filter has no NSF certifications or testing (only the filter media is tested against NSF 42).
Another con is that you can only use the filter for city-treated water, not private well water.
Finally, some customers had leaks. We also read about carbon particles that someone found in the filtered water.
CuZn UC-200 Review: Our Verdict + Best for
Pricing is okay for what the CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter does: Basic filtration of city water removing chlorine taste and odor, sediment, and maybe a bit of other organics and possibly heavy metals. But don’t expect crazy results, and definitely don’t expect 50,000 gallons filter capacity as advertised. Sure, you can use the system for 5 years, but it won’t do anything after around 1 year maybe, depending on water quality.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 3.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 5.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 3.5/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 3.0/5.0
Comparison to Other Under Sink Water Filters
Let’s compare the CuZn UC-200 filter to the Clearly Filtered and Epic Smart Shield under sink filtration systems.
Clearly Filtered 3-Stage |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon + Proprietary Blend |
| Filter Life: | 2,000 gal |
| Flow Rate: | Not Specified |
| Annual Cost: | $440 |
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Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘ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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Epic Smart Shield |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon Block |
| Filter Life: | 651 gal |
| Flow Rate: | 1.25 gpm |
| Annual Cost: | $115 |
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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.
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CuZn UC-200 |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Sediment Pre, GAC, KDF55 |
| Filter Life: | 50,000 Gallons |
| Flow Rate: | 2 Gallons Per Minute |
| Annual Cost: | – |
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Overall Rating: 3.0/5.0 ⓘ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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The Clearly Filtered 3-Stage (get the full review here) processes your water through three filter stages to remove most contaminants, including chlorine/chloramine, PFAS, heavy metals, VOCs, fluoride, and arsenic. You can trust its reduction claims because they’ve been tested against NSF standards 42, 53, and 401. The system is also made in the USA, is easy to install, and comes with a 30-day guarantee and a limited lifetime warranty. Its only downside is its relatively high price.
The other under sink filter system, the Epic Smart Shield (review), uses a single carbon block to remove chloramine, chlorine, asbestos, cyst, lead, mercury, MTBE, turbidity, VOCs, Bisphenol A, pharmaceuticals, and other water pollutants. It has NSF testing and certifications, and comes with a lifetime warranty and money-back guarantee. The Epic is also made in the USA and is pretty easy to install and maintain. The only downside is its lower flow rate (1.25 gpm).
Bottom line: The Clearly Filtered has the best features and broadest contaminant removal, so we’d recommend it if it meets your budget. If you have a lower budget, your ideal option is the Epic Smart Shield — it removes more contaminants than the CuZn UC-200.
More Reviews:
This completes our review of the CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
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