Review: Ecosoft 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System with Pump
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Mar 8, 2024
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The Ecosoft 5-stage reverse osmosis system immediately stands out from the competition with its hefty price tag – often a sign that you’re getting more than what the average product on the market has to offer. But is that the case here too? Let’s take a look!
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Ecosoft 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System with Pump |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 5 |
| Water Flow: | Not Specified |
| NSF Certifications: | 58 |
| Annual Cost: | ~$200 |
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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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Ecosoft 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System with Pump – All Specs
- Model: Standard with Pump
- Last Price: $649.99
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$200
- Filter Media/Process: Sediment Pre, 2x Carbon Pre, RO, Carbon Post
- Filter Stages: 5
- Membrane Rating: 50 gpd
- WxHxD: 16.1″x17.9″x7.7″
- Tank: 10.2”x13”x10.2”, 3.2 gal
- Weight: 22.04 lb.
- Water Temperature: 39-86 °F
- Water Pressure: 29.0-72.5 psi
- Water pH: 6.5-8.5
- Fitting: 3/8”-1/2”
- NSF Certifications: Standard 58
- Warranty: 1 Year
Ecosoft 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis – Key Features
The Ecosoft 5-stage RO system features a somewhat impressive combination of features, including 5 stages of filtration, one NSF certification, and an integrated pressure pump for improved water flow. Let’s take a closer look!
The five filtration stages are:
- 1-micron PP melt blown sediment pre-filter: removes floating particles like silt, rust, sand, and scale.
- Carbon block pre-filter: removes chlorine, organic and organochloride compounds, such as pesticides and dioxides, improving the overall taste and smell of water.
- Granular activated carbon. See stage 2.
- Reverse osmosis membrane: handles most of the actual filtration, removing many types of contaminants such as salts and heavy metals with a high level of efficiency.
- Coconut shell carbon post-filter: removes leftover contaminants, further improving the taste and smell of water after the storage tank.
In summary, we have a standard RO filtration process that looks promising and that is backed by an NSF certification against standard 58 for effective contaminant reduction (more on this in a bit).
What’s more, the filter housings are made of food-grade plastic, entirely manufactured in the EU. And thanks to the electric booster pump, you’ve got a relatively low drain ratio of around 1:1.5. You also get a better flow rate for the same reason.
Filter life is 3-12 months. We estimate $200 in annual cost.
Finally, your purchase is backed by a 1-year warranty.
Ecosoft RO Pros
- Thorough 5-stage filtration process.
- One NSF certification.
- Integrated water pump.
- Standard installation procedure easily doable for DIYers.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
Mostly thanks to the reverse osmosis membrane, you can expect the Ecosoft 5-stage system to remove a large number of contaminants. Some of those have been NSF-certified. All in all, you can expect the system to deal with the following, at the least:
- Silt
- Rust
- Sand
- Scale
- Chlorine
- Pesticides
- Dissolved solids
- Arsenic (V) (300 ppb influent level)
- Barium
- Cadmium
- Copper
- Fluoride
- Hexavalent chromium
- Lead
- Radium 226/228
- Selenium
- TDS
- Trivalent chromium
- Turbidity
Installation
Installing the system is relatively straightforward – but make sure to check the user manual for more detailed instructions at every step, of course!
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Shut off cold water supply.
- Connect the system to the water supply using the feed water adapter.
- Connect the drain saddle to the drain pipe from the kitchen sink. Find a suitable location for it that’s on a horizontal or vertical piping segment, and not downstream from the garbage disposal (if you’re using one).
- Connect tank using the tank valve and PTFE tape to tighten the connection.
- Install the reverse osmosis faucet. You may need to drill a hole into your countertop if one isn’t already available.
- Find a spot for the filter housing and drill holes for it.
- Insert cartridges into the first and second housings, observing the direction of the water flow.
- Turn on the cold water supply, and let water run through the first two cartridges for a while to wash off any manufacturing residue.
- Turn off the cold water supply and install the third filter cartridge.
- Install the reverse osmosis membrane into its housing.
- Open the tank valve, and turn on the cold water supply.
- Keep water running for 30 minutes. Discard all filtered water.
- Let the tank fill with water completely. Discard it.
- Fill the tank a second time. This water can be used.
- Check for leaks.
The Package (Parts)
- Filter Rack
- Filter Elements
- Chrome Faucet
- Pressure Tank
- Tank Valve
- Feed Water Adapter, Feed Valve, Drain Saddle
- Tubing
- Service Wrenches
- User Manual
Maintenance
As with most other reverse osmosis systems, the main point of maintenance with this one is replacing the filter cartridges on a regular basis. Don’t worry, this is pretty simple!
- Turn off the feed valve and storage tank valve.
- Unscrew sumps 1 and 2, and remove the used cartridges.
- Wash sumps with soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
- Insert new cartridges.
- Disconnect tube from 3rd sump from auto shut-off valve.
- Let water run through the first 2 cartridges to flush them.
- Repeat steps 2-4 for the 3rd
To replace the reverse osmosis membrane:
- Turn off the feed water valve and storage tank valve.
- Disconnect the white tube from the inlet in the membrane housing cap.
- Unscrew the membrane housing cap.
- Remove the old reverse osmosis filter.
- Lubricate seals of replacement membrane.
- Install new membrane into housing, and screw it in.
- Connect white tubing to the membrane housing inlet.
- Open the feed water valve and storage tank valve.
- Fill the tank with water completely, then discard it.
Filters should be replaced according to the following schedule:
- Sediment pre-filter: 3-6 months.
- Carbon block: 6 months.
- Carbon GAC: 6 months.
- Reverse osmosis membrane: 12 months.
- Carbon post-filter: 12 months.
On average, this will cost you around $200 per year, which is a bit on the high end.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10dvFb20BV9xu7UQWHXZlZd1mrg_VwIEA/view?usp=sharing
NSF and Other Certifications
The unit has one NSF certification:
- WQA/NSF 58: removal of arsenic (V) (300 ppb influent level), barium, cadmium, copper, fluoride, hexavalent chromium, lead, radium 226/228, selenium, TDS, trivalent chromium, turbidity.
Earlier Product Versions
There are no earlier versions of this Ecosoft model that we could find.
Cons
- Very expensive upfront at $649.99, as well as an annual maintenance cost of around $200.
- No specific contaminant reduction rates provided.
- No information on filter lifespans – the ones we gave above are just our estimates.
Ecosoft 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The Ecosoft 5-stage reverse osmosis system is not a bad system by itself, thanks to the NSF certification and the integrated pump, but way too expensive at this price, both upfront and in the long run. With that in mind, we feel that 3 out of 5 stars is an appropriate rating for this model.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 4.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 2.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 4.0/5.0
- Overall: 3.0/5.0
Comparison to Other Reverse Osmosis Systems
Need an alternative? We have you covered! Below, you’ll find a comparison with two of our favorite RO systems, the AquaTru and the Waterdrop G3.
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: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Water: | 1 Gallon in 10-15 Minutes |
| NSF: | 42, 53, 58, 401, P473 |
| Annually: | ~$100-120 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Ecosoft 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 5 |
| Flow Rate: | Not Specified |
| NSF: | 58 |
| Annually: | ~$200 |
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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 AquaTru in particular is a very impressive product. It’s a countertop reverse osmosis system with no installation, and is certified against multiple NSF standards, guaranteed to remove more than 80 contaminants. In total, the model has 5 NSF/ANSI certifications for standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473, covering the removal/reduction of:
- 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%
This is clearly much more impressive than what’s offered by the Ecosoft, and we have much more trust in the performance of the AquaTru as a result.
The unit takes up very little space, and is easy to install – it only takes 10 minutes. It’s also easy to use and works quite fast, while also wasting only around 20% of the input water in the process. It’s made of BPA and BPS-free Tritan plastic, and it’s more affordable to maintain at $100 – $120 per year. Some users have reported minor leaks, but we haven’t experienced anything of the sort.
The Waterdrop G3 takes up even less space, if that feature is important to you, since it doesn’t even have a storage tank. It comes with 4 filtration stages, and its performance is backed by NSF standard 58, and testing for standards 42, 53, 58, and 401. As a result, you can expect it to cover at least the following contaminants:
- VOCs: 99%
- Chlorine: 99%
- Nitrate: 98%
- Fluoride: 99%
- Arsenic: 99%
- Chromium-6: 99%
- Lead: 99%
- PFOA/PFOS: 99%
It has an internal pump which helps regulate pressure, achieving a flow rate of 0.42 gallons per minute, which means that you’ll never run out of purified water and can pour a full cup in just 8 seconds. At the same time, the device only wastes around 33% of the input water.
It’s also easy to install, and comes with a smart faucet that alerts you when it’s time to replace a filter using lights and sounds. Speaking of which, you will need to replace filters every 550 – 2,200 gallons of water, which equates to around 6 – 24 months, depending on the filter type. Replacing a filter is very easy, and you don’t even have to shut off the water supply.
You can also take a look at the TDS monitoring panel to get an idea about the effectiveness of the system. The whole unit is made of BPA-free materials, and it’s covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, as well as a 1-year warranty valid if you’ve used the system with municipal water. It’s more affordable in terms of annual maintenance compared to the Ecosoft, at around $145 per year.
Some users have complained about noises during operation, but that doesn’t correspond to our experience. The system is also more expensive to purchase than the AquaTru, but still more affordable than the Ecosoft.
More Reviews:
This completes our review of the Ecosoft 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System with Pump. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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