Review: Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 Tankless Reverse Osmosis System
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Feb 6, 2024
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A tankless design, fast flow rate, easy installation, affordable maintenance, and minimal wastewater — the Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 Tankless Reverse Osmosis System comes packed with some sweet features. But before you hit the Buy button, there are several things you must consider. This post has all the details!
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Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 Tankless Reverse Osmosis System |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 8 |
| Water Flow: | 0.41 gpm |
| NSF Certifications: | – |
| Annual Cost: | ~$110 |
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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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Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 Tankless Reverse Osmosis System – All Specs
- Model: PD600-TAM3
- Last Price: $469.99
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$110
- Filter Media/Process: Sediment Pre, Carbon Block, RO, Carbon Block + Remineralization
- Filter Stages: 8
- Membrane Rating: 600 gpd
- Recovery Rate: 60%
- Flow Rate: 0.41 gpm
- Filtering Capacity: 1-2 Years
- WxHxD: 5.3″x15.5″x14.7″
- Weight: 33.06 lb.
- Water Temperature: 39-100 °F
- Water Pressure: 20-80 psi
- Fitting: 3/8-1/2″
- Warranty: 1-1.5 Years
Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 – Key Features
The first thing to note about the Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 Tankless Reverse Osmosis System is that it filters water on demand. That means there’s no bulky storage tank sitting under your kitchen sink, and that saves space.
According to Frizzlife, the system has eight filter stages.
- The first 2 filter stages are a pleated sediment + activated carbon block pre-filter. It reduces sediments, chlorine, taste, smell, organic chemicals, and more.
- Next comes the RO membrane, which removes the bulk of contaminants, including salts like nitrate, heavy metals such as lead, and organics.
- Then, a carbon block and remineralization post-filter removes any leftover impurities while adding back healthy minerals to the water. Frizzlife says this remineralization raises the water’s pH above 7.5 and thus makes the water alkaline.
As usual, the alkaline water is said to improve immunity, slow down aging, and help with weight loss etc. While minerals are good in drinking water, we don’t quite buy all of these extreme health claims.
By the way, because of the remineralization stage, you’ll never have a 0 TDS reading of your RO water using the Frizzlife PD600-TAM3. That doesn’t mean the water quality is bad – far from it!
How solid is this RO system when it comes to contaminant reduction? Well, we have a time-proven filtration process and Frizzlife says the PD600-TAM3 removes TDS, chlorine, taste, odor, cadmium, lead, barium, copper, and other stuff (full details later), but there are no specific reduction rates. So we don’t know how much of each contaminant will be removed.
Other key features include a smart display panel (shows output water TDS in real time) and a filter life reminder.
The wastewater ratio is 1.5:1, meaning only 1 gallon of water goes to waste for every 1.5 gallons of purified water. This is much better than any standard under sink reverse osmosis system that doesn’t utilize a pressure pump. Also, filtered water flows at a 0.41 gpm rate, so you won’t have to wait long to fill a cup – around 8 seconds.
Finally, a stainless steel brushed nickel faucet is part of the package as well as a 1 to 1.5-year warranty. Filter life: 12 months to 2 years at about $110 in yearly cost.
Gallery
Frizzlife Reverse Osmosis Pros
What else is in it for you when you use the Frizzlife PD600-TAM3?
When it comes to installation and filter replacements, the system shines. It’s relatively easy to install and very fast (and affordable) to replace filters. Again, filter lifespan is between one to two years, costing only $110 per year to replace which is totally fine. The system has a filter life indicator that flashes red when it’s 5% close to expiring and stays constantly red when the filter expires.
Another impressive feature is the inbuilt TDS system. It constantly monitors your drinking water quality, and it displays the current TDS level on the smart panel. Remember, the TDS level will never read “0” because of the remineralization stage.
Lastly, you can extend the warranty by registering the product.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
Frizzlife lists these contaminant and impurities for removal: TDS, chlorine, taste, odor, chloramine, chromium-6, cadmium, turbidity, lead, mercury, barium, radium, copper, aluminum, cyst, arsenic, asbestos, fluoride, benzene, nitrate/nitrite, BOA, disinfection byproducts, and PFOA/PFOS.
As mentioned before, the company does not provide specific contaminant reduction rates.
The Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 – learn more on Frizzlife.com
Installation
The system is relatively easy to install. Once you get your PD600-TAM3, confirm that all the package parts are complete, then get to work. You’ll need:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Protective glasses
- ½” drill bit
- Screwdriver
Now, follow these steps to install:
- Cut the ⅜” tubing and dip one end in hot water for five seconds.
- Load the tubing into the nut and insert the dipped end into the 3-way feed water valve. Tighten the connection with a wrench.
- Connect the cold water supply to the feed water valve.
- Attach the other end of the ⅜” to the “supply” water port behind the system.
- Create a ¼” hole in the drain pipe to fix the drain saddle.
- Use mounting screws to attach the saddle to the drain pipe. Secure it well with a screwdriver.
- Connect one end of the ¼” tubing to the drain saddle and the other to the “waste” water port behind the system.
- Cut another ¼” pipe and fix one end to the “filtered” port. Insert the other end into the TAM3 filter.
- Install the TAM3 filter.
- Install the drinking water faucet to your kitchen sink. You’ll have to drill a ½” hole if you don’t have an extra hole in your sink.
- Switch on the angle valve and three-way feed water and look around for leaks.
- Plug the power adapter head in the “power” port behind the system.
- Follow the instructions for filter priming.
Video
The Package (Parts)
- PD600-TAM3 System
- Dedicated Faucet
- Drain Saddle
- Feed Water Valve
- Converter Set
- 1/4” White Tubing
- 1/4” Red Tubing
- 3/8” White Tubing
- Blade
- Plumber Tape
- 1/4” Quick Fitting
Maintenance
How often will you need to replace the filters? It depends. The first filter lasts 12 months, the RO membrane lasts two years, and the third element lasts 12 months. But there’s no need to memorize all that. The filter life reminder will flash red when the filter life is at 5%, and once it expires, the indicator will remain red until you replace the filter.
Filter replacements are very affordable, costing about $110 per year. Also, the replacement process itself is swift and easy. You don’t even need tools.
Here’s how you replace filters:
- Switch off the power and turn off the water supply.
- Open the faucet to depressurize the system.
- Take out the front cover.
- Turn the cartridge anti-clockwise to unscrew it.
- Slot the new cartridge into the system and turn it clockwise to secure it.
- When replacing the TAM3 filter, simply twist the housing anti-clockwise and unscrew it with a wrench. Remove and change the cartridge and screw back the housing clockwise.
- Press the “reset” button for three seconds to reset the filter life.
- Open the faucet and let the water run for 10-20 minutes.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0159/8429/5990/files/PD600TAM3_Manual.pdf?v=1702972049
NSF and Other Certifications
This system has no NSF certifications or testing.
Earlier Product Versions
The Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 has at least one earlier version. The RO membrane in that version had a lower gpd (gallon per day) rating.
Frizzlife RO Cons
Of course, we also noticed some drawbacks to the Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 Tankless Reverse Osmosis System.
- First, it costs $469.99 to buy, so it isn’t exactly cheap.
- Also, it does not have specific contaminant reduction rates, so we don’t know how much of each contaminant it reduces. No reduction rates also mean no NSF testing/certifications. Even though this isn’t as important for RO systems, we always prefer models with NSF testing/certification. It gives us more reason to trust them.
- We also noticed a discrepancy in the number of filter stages. Frizzlife says this is an 8-stage water filter, but it seems like there are really only 5 (6) filter stages in the system.
- Some users experienced technical issues with the filter indicator, saying it indicated that filters were due even when they were new. We also found complaints about leaking units and a slower flow rate than advertised. Lastly, some users couldn’t get the necessary customer support when they had issues with their system.
Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The PD600-TAM3 by Frizzlife offers an effective RO filtration process + a remineralization stage, a tankless + space-saving design, easy installation and maintenance, fast filtration, and reduced wastewater. These are great features. However, we wished it had specific contaminant reduction rates and NSF certification/testing to top all these, especially since the price is a bit higher. Therefore, we’re giving it 4 stars.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 5.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 4.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 4.0/5.0
Comparison to Other Reverse Osmosis Systems
Now, let’s compare the Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 to two other popular RO systems, Waterdrop G3 and AquaTru.
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: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Water: | 1 Gallon in 10-15 Minutes |
| NSF: | 42, 53, 58, 401, P473 |
| Annually: | ~$100-120 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 8 |
| Flow Rate: | 0.41 gpm |
| NSF: | – |
| Annually: | ~$110 |
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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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The Waterdrop G3 is a tankless system like the Frizzlife. It uses four filter stages, with NSF certifications/testing supporting its filtration performance. The system holds an NSF Standard 58 certification and testing against NSF 42, 53, 58, and 401. It has these reduction rates:
- Up to 99% VOCs
- 99% chlorine
- 98% nitrate
- 99% fluoride
- 99% arsenic
- 99% chromium 6
- 99% lead
- 99% PFOA/PFOS and more
This is obviously better than Frizzlife, which has no reduction rates at all.
The Waterdrop G3 uses an inbuilt pump to boost water pressure. That gives it a 0.42 gpm flow rate, which means you’ll never run out of filtered water. The fast flow rate also helps you fill a cup in about eight seconds and reduces wastewater to 33%. The Frizzlife is quite close, with only a slightly higher wastewater percentage.
Additionally, the G3 is pretty much simple to install and replace. You don’t need to shut off the water supply, disconnect stuff, or use any tools when changing filters. It takes only a single turn to remove the cartridge and install a new one. The filters last between 550 and 2,200 gallons or 6 to 24 months. The smart faucet and RO system uses LED lights and sounds to tell you when to replace the filters. There’s also a TDS monitoring panel that clearly displays the real-time effectiveness of each filter, particularly the RO membrane. The Frizzlife has this feature, too, but only on the system front panel.
There’s more. Waterdrop offers a money-back satisfaction guarantee, so you can return your system within 30 days and get a full refund if you don’t like it. There’s also a one-year warranty, but it applies only when you use municipal water. By the way, the system’s design is BPA-free.
On the down side, the Waterdrop G3 is slightly more expensive than the Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 and costs more to maintain ($145 a year). We also found complaints about the system making irritating noises even when it’s not dispensing water.
The second system, AquaTru, is a space-saving countertop RO system that requires no installation. In fact, it’s our favorite RO system. This system has been independently tested and certified against NSF standards to reduce about 80 contaminants. It has five certifications — NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473 — which is really impressive and serves as an assurance of clean, safe water. The AquaTru is better than both Frizzlife and Waterdrop in this area. Here are some of its reduction rates:
- 96.6% chlorine
- 95% to over 99% VOCs
- 97.2% chromium-6
- 87.1% TDS
- 99.99% cyst
- 93.5% fluoride
- 99.1% lead
- 96.4% radium 226/228
- 99% BPA
- 86.7%-96.6% several trace pharmaceuticals and pesticides
- 97.5% PFOA/PFOS
Did we mention how easy it is to set up and use the AquaTru? In just ten minutes or even less, you can get it ready to work. Plus, it filters water really quickly. The system also has the lowest wastewater level among the three: It has an 80% recovery rate, meaning only 20% of the feed water gets wasted. Now, that’s impressive too. Finally, the AquaTru uses only BPA and BPS-free Tritan plastic, making it safe and durable.
Note that the AquaTru costs about the same as the Frizzlife, both at purchase and maintenance ($100-$120 per year), so it isn’t cheap. Also, we found complaints about leaks due to design issues and units that went bad after only a few months. However, we didn’t experience any of this ourselves.
What’s the takeaway? The AquaTru stands out as our top choice because it offers reasonable pricing, affordable maintenance, NSF certifications, zero installation stress, quick filtration, and very little wastewater. If you’re looking specifically for an under sink system, we suggest selecting the Waterdrop G3 over the Frizzlife. That’s because Waterdrop provides specific reduction rates, NSF testing and certification, and less wastewater. That’s not to say that the Frizzlife is not a solid choice, but we prefer the other two filters.
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This completes our review of the Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 Tankless Reverse Osmosis System. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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