Review: GE Profile PXRQ15F Reverse Osmosis Filtration System
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Feb 28, 2024
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The GE Profile PXRQ15F Reverse Osmosis Filtration System is a user-friendly under sink RO with three filter stages. The system is straightforward, featuring a twist and lock cartridge design that allows easy and quick filter replacements. But should you — or can you even — buy this water filter? Let’s see!
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GE Profile PXRQ15F Reverse Osmosis Filtration System |
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| Price: | ? |
| Filter Stages: | 3 |
| Water Flow: | 0.75 gpm |
| NSF Certifications: | – |
| Annual Cost: | ~$260 |
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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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GE Profile PXRQ15F Reverse Osmosis Filtration System – All Specs
- Model: Profile PXRQ15F
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$260
- Filter Media/Process: Carbon Block Pre, RO, Carbon Block Post
- Filter Stages: 3
- Flow Rate: 0.75 gpm
- Filtering Capacity: 6-12 Months
- WxHxD: 11″x12″x4.5″
- Tank: 11″x17″x11″, 4 gal
- Water Temperature: 40-100 °F
- Water Pressure: 40-125 psi
- Water pH: 4-10
- Warranty: 1-Year (Limited)
GE Profile PXRQ15F – Key Features
So the GE Profile PXRQ15F has three filter stages. In detail:
- The first stage is a sediment and carbon block pre-filter that removes chlorine and larger floating particles – think sediment.
- The second features a thin-film polyamide reverse osmosis membrane, which reduces TDS (total dissolved solids) and organic substances in water. TDS can include all kinds of harmful stuff such as lead.
- The last stage, a sediment and carbon block post-filter, gives the water a finishing touch after sitting in the storage tank, removing any remnant taste and odor.
Basically, we have the typical filtration process for under sink RO systems, and that’s fine. The company says the GE Profile PXRQ15F has been NSF-tested/certified to achieve these reduction rates:
- 98% Arsenic
- 99.9% Asbestos
- 96.1% Chlorine Taste and Odor
- 96.5% Chromium III
- 97.5% Chromium VI
- 97.5% Copper
- 99.99% Cysts
- 97.6% Lead
- 91.6% Sodium
- 91.6% TDS
- 99.9% Turbidity
The product description page also lists sulfate, tannins, rust, cadmium, and magnesium for removal.
All in all, the GE Profile PXRQ15F appears to be quite effective at removing water contamination and providing healthier drinking water.
What else does the system offer? Well, there’s an electronic faucet assembly that includes a change indicator for the pre and post-filters. So when the two filters are due (after six months or 900 gallons), the chrome faucet will flash blue. The main filter, the RO membrane, only needs replacement every 12 months. We estimate $260 in annual filter replacement cost, which is rather high.
Finally, there’s a one-year limited warranty on the system.
GE Profile RO Pros
What are the perks of using this reverse osmosis system? A few things. The filter cartridges use the “twist and lock” design, so they are super easy and quick to change. The chrome faucet adds a lovely aesthetic to your kitchen.
And thanks to the faucet’s electronic assembly, you get a reminder (a flashing blue light) to change your pre-filter and post-filter every six months, and the RO membrane every 12 months. That removes the stress of calculating filter replacement dates to keep your filter effective.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
Again, the GE Profile PXRQ15F Reverse Osmosis Filtration System removes:
- 98% Arsenic
- 99.9% Asbestos
- 96.1% Chlorine Taste and Odor
- 96.5% Chromium III
- 97.5% Chromium VI
- 97.5% Copper
- 99.99% Cysts
- 97.6% Lead
- 91.6% Sodium
- 91.6% TDS
- 99.9% Turbidity
- Sulfate
- Tannins
- Rust
- Cadmium
- Magnesium
- And more
Installation
Installing the GE Profile PXRQ15F Reverse Osmosis Filtration System isn’t overly difficult. If you are handy around the house, you should be able to do this yourself.
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
You’ll need these tools for installation:
- Two crescent wrenches
- Measuring tape
- Electric drill
- Drill bits (1-¼ and 1/16 if you want pilot holes)
- Screwdrivers (Phillips and Flat Blade)
- Cutting knife
- Compression fitting and other hardware (optional for homes using a rigid pipe as their main line).
Follow these steps to get the system ready to work:
- Choose an accessible spot under your sink to install.
- Take out the pre and post-filter cartridges and remove the system assembly cover.
- Mount the RO system to the wall using mounting screws.
- Install the feed water supply using the existing sink supply valve and detachable faucet tubing (if your home uses a rigid pipe here, you’ll have to try another option; details are in the manual).
- Connect the tubing to the storage tank and RO faucet.
- Install the faucet and its fittings (O-ring, base, bottom base gasket, lock washer, mounting bracket, and hex nut) to the second hole in your kitchen sink. You may need extra hands to mount the faucet assembly.
- If your sink has no extra hole, drill a 1-¼” hole on the sink top or a nearby countertop.
- Remove the tray beside the faucet base using a tiny flat blade screwdriver.
- Fix the battery in the faucet base and cover it with the tray.
- The faucet will flash blue five times if you’ve installed the battery correctly.
- Install the filtration drain using either the basement access, dry-vented p-trap, wet-vented p-trap, or drain line adapter methods.
- Remove the cap on the tank and cover the threads with three wraps of thread tape clockwise.
- Fix the push-to-connect fittings to the threaded fitting.
- Connect the ⅜” tubing from the RO system to the tank.
- Switch on the feed water supply valve and check for leaks.
- Remove the cartridges and sanitize the system with regular bleach.
- Fix the cartridges back on and flush the system four times before you start using your filtered water.
The Package (Parts)
- Reverse Osmosis Assembly
- Owner’s Manual and Installation Instructions
- Performance Data Sheet
- Feed Water Adapter and Supply Valve
- Faucet Assembly
- Storage Tank
- Drain Line Adapter
- Tubing
Maintenance
The faucet base indicator will remind you to replace the pre and post filters every six months (RO membrane lasts 12 months); that’s the good part. The twist and lock cartridge design also makes replacements easy and fast. The not-so-good part about maintaining this RO system is that you spend about $260 each year.
Here’s how to change the filters:
- Switch off the water supply valve and icemaker (if there’s one).
- Open the faucet until all the water in the tank drains out.
- Turn each cartridge to the left, about a third of the way around, to remove them.
- Fix the replacement cartridges in the manifold by rotating them to the right (about one-third) to align with the manifold’s lines.
- Switch on the water supply and wait till the tank fills up.
- Reset the battery timer.
- Flush the system twice if you replaced only the pre and post filter.
- Flush the system four times if you replaced the RO filter.
- Resume enjoying your filtered water.
- Remember, turn the icemaker back on if you use one.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
NSF and Other Certifications
The company says that this system is certified against NSF standard 58, but we didn’t find the certification online.
Earlier Product Versions
To our knowledge, the GE Profile PXRQ15F has no earlier versions.
GE Profile Reverse Osmosis Cons
If you’ve been considering buying, sorry, that might not be possible. That’s because the system is not available for sale anymore – at least as far as we can tell. That aside, there are other reasons why it might not even be an ideal choice:
- A minor one is that it doesn’t use a pump, so it’ll waste at least three to five gallons of water for every gallon of purified water.
- Then, the annual replacement cost ($260 according to our estimate) is rather high for what you get. We found customers complaining about the expensive maintenance cost, especially when the filters didn’t even last up to the promised 6-12 months (meaning more money spent at the end of the year).
- Also, we could not find the system’s NSF 58 certification online. That’s probably because the system is old, and its certifications have not been renewed. We appreciate the provided reduction rates, but detailed NSF testing would have been better.
GE Profile PXRQ15F Review: Our Verdict + Best for
So what’s our final verdict on the GE Profile PXRQ15F Reverse Osmosis Filtration System?
Well, first of all you can’t buy this system even if you wanted to because it is no longer available for sale. Secondly, while its filtration process looks effective, we don’t have up-to-date NSF certifications. The system doesn’t use a pressure pump (meaning lots of wastewater) and is expensive to maintain. Our verdict for now: 3.5 stars!
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 3.5/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 3.5/5.0
- Purchase Price: X.X/5.0
- Annual Cost: 3.5/5.0
- Overall: 3.5/5.0
Comparison to Other Reverse Osmosis Systems
Let’s see how the GE Profile PXRQ15F system stacks against the AquaTru and the Waterdrop G3.
Waterdrop G3 |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Flow Rate: | 0.42 gpm |
| NSF: | 58, 372 |
| Annually: | ~$145 |
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Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
Get 10% Off! Use Code: |
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AquaTru |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| 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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GE Profile PXRQ15F |
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| Price: | ? |
| Filter Stages: | 3 |
| Flow Rate: | 0.75 gpm |
| NSF: | – |
| Annually: | ~$260 |
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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 AquaTru system is our top RO water filter. It has what we love to see — NSF testing and certifications backing its 4-stage filtration process. Its NSF backing covers almost 80 water pollutants with certifications against standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473.
That’s quite spectacular, plus it guarantees clean and healthy drinking water. The AquaTru system is sure to remove 96.6% chlorine, 95-99% 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% trace pharmaceuticals and pesticides, and 97.5% PFOA/PFOS among other things.
In comparison, GE has fewer tested contaminants and an outdated certification. AquaTru’s certifications are very much active.
Did we mention that the AquaTru is a countertop system that does not require installation? Yup, it takes less than ten minutes to get ready to work. The system design is also compact, space-saving, and easy to use.
What else? Super-fast filtration process, safe design materials made from BPS and BPA-free Tritan plastic only, and highly minimized wastewater. Because the system has an internal pump, it wastes only 20% of input water. This is way better than GE, which we assume wastes about 80% of the input water.
Any downsides? Yeah. We found negative reviews about leaking due to poor design and units that stopped working after only a few months. Even though we didn’t experience these issues, it’s still something to keep in mind. Also, the system is more expensive. Thankfully, though, it’s way cheaper to maintain than the GE, with an annual cost of just $100 to $120.
The Waterdrop G3 is a no-tank under sink RO system. It filters water when you need it instead of filtering and storing it in a big tank that eats up your space. So, this system takes up only a little space. It has four filtration stages, all backed by NSF certifications/testing. There’s testing against NSF standards 42, 53, 58, and 401 for reducing 99% VOCs, 99% chlorine, 98% nitrate, 99% fluoride, 99% chromium 6, 99% arsenic, 99% lead, 99% PFOA/PFOS, and other contaminants. There’s also the NSF 58 certification for TDS reduction.
What’s more, the Waterdrop G3 uses an internal pump, so it has higher water pressure. Water flows at a whopping rate of 0.42 gallons per minute, meaning you’ll never run out of filtered water, and you can fill a cup in just 8 seconds. The internal pump also helps reduce wastewater to only 33% of feed water, better than the GE.
And like the GE, the Waterdrop G3 is relatively easy to install. The RO faucet and system have LED lights and sound to alert you of filter replacements. The TDS monitoring panel also tells you at a glance how well the filters (especially the RO filter) are doing.
Waterdrop G3 filters are rated at 6 to 24 months (or 550 to 2,200 gallons). They are easy to replace; no sweat. Just turn the cartridges, and they’ll come off — no need for tools or long disconnections. You don’t even need to turn off the feed water valve.
Other perks include the BPA-free design, a 1-year manufacturer warranty (only when you use the filter on city water), and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee period, during which you can get a full refund if you’re dissatisfied with your system.
On the other hand, some users complained of constant annoying noises. Also, the Waterdrop G3 is quite expensive. It’s better than GE when it comes to maintenance, though, costing only $145 per year.
In summary, we prefer the AquaTru because it offers reasonable pricing, affordable maintenance, fast filtration, zero installation, NSF-supported filtration, and little wastewater. The Waterdrop G3 is a good option if you specifically want an under sink system. GE’s PXRQ15F is not really an option since it is no longer available in the market.
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This completes our review of the GE Profile PXRQ15F Reverse Osmosis Filtration System. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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