Review: Waterdrop A1 Reverse Osmosis Hot & Cold Water Dispenser
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Nov 05, 2023
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The Waterdrop A1 Reverse Osmosis Hot and Cold Water Dispenser is an advanced water filtration unit with some impressive capabilities.
However, are all those features worth the quite hefty price tag, or are you better off looking elsewhere?
Let’s find out!
Contents
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Waterdrop A1 Reverse Osmosis Hot & Cold Water Dispenser |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Sediment Filtration, Carbon Block, Scale Inhibition, RO Membrane, UV |
| Filter Life: | 0.5-1.0 Year |
| NSF: | 42, 58, 372 |
| Water Temp: | 41-203 °F |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, water temperature settings, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Waterdrop A1 Reverse Osmosis Hot & Cold Water Dispenser – All Specs
- Model: A1
- Last Price: $699.00
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$130
- Filter Media/Process: Sediment Filtration, Carbon Block, Scale Inhibition, RO Membrane, UV Sterilization
- Filter Stages: 6
- Membrane Rating: 100 gpd
- Recovery Rate: 66%
- Filtering Capacity: 6-12 Months
- WxHxD: 7.8″x17.1″x18.3″
- Tank Sizes: 0.6 gal Feed Water, 0.48 gal Waste Water, 0.2 gal Pure Water, 0.26 gal Cold Water
- Input Water Temperature: 41-100 °F
- Output Water Temperature: 41-203 °F
- NSF Certifications: Standard 372
- Warranty: 1 Year Limited
Waterdrop A1 – Key Features
The Waterdrop A1 Reverse Osmosis Hot and Cold Water Dispenser is capable of dispensing RO-filtered water while also cooling or heating it as needed. Here is what the 6-stage filtration process looks like:
- PP cotton membrane, which removes floating particles.
- Carbon block pre-filter that addresses chlorine, bad taste and odor, as well as organic chemicals, PFAS and pesticides.
- Scale inhibitor, which protects the reverse osmosis membrane from scale build-up.
- Reverse osmosis membrane – this is where most of the filtration happens, and this stage can remove various contaminants like heavy metals (including lead and chromium-6), salts, TDS, and many others.
- Non-woven fabric – captures additional particles and prevents them from making it into the filtered water.
- UV filter – keeps the water sterile, killing all microorganisms.
Pretty solid and NSF-tested to remove 95.34% TDS, 99.53% fluoride, 99.69% lead, 97.38% chromium 6, and more!
You can dispense water at several temperature levels within the range of 41°F to 203°F. Keep in mind that cold water is stored in the tank and kept cold, while hot water is heated on the spot using a three-second instant heating solution. Since there’s no dedicated hot water tank, you should expect hot water to come out at a slower rate than cold and room temperature water.
Besides, the dispenser has a very low wastewater ratio – it only produces one gallon of wastewater for every two gallons of purified water, which is very impressive compared to other reverse osmosis filters on the market (the standard under sink reverse osmosis system wastes 3-5 gallons of water for each gallon purified).
The Waterdrop A1 further comes with an OLED display that simplifies its use. You simply place your cup under the dispenser, select your water volume and temperature, and press the button. You can’t adjust the temperature precisely between the upper and lower levels, and instead get to choose from six presets: 41°F, room temperature, 113°F, 140°F, 185°F, and 203°F. Those temperatures are also indicated by light:
- Blue light for cold water
- White for room temperature
- Light orange for 113°F
- Orange for 140°F
- Dark orange for 185°F
- Red for 203°F
Cup sizes comes in five settings: 4, 8, 16, 20 ounces, or all available water.
The model has an ambient light with three color settings that allows you to easily use it in the dark. You can also configure it in three different usage modes – night mode, which conserves energy and automatically turns the unit off; off-home mode which empties stagnant water automatically, and altitude mode, which features a boiling point correction system.
You can additionally see the current state of your water on the built-in display, which shows the TDS level. The flushing feature allows you to get rid of stagnant water after it hasn’t been used in three days.
Finally, you can return the dispenser in the first 30 days after purchasing it with no extra hassle, and it comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
Waterdrop A1 Dispenser Pros
- 6 filter stages for thorough water purification with most contaminants removed.
- Very low wastewater ratio compared to other similar products.
- No installation – just plug and play.
- Easy-to-use OLED screen with additional information about water quality.
- Hassle-free warranty and return program.
- Child lock safety feature for dispensing hot water.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
Thanks to the 6-stage filtration process, this model deals with a long list of contaminants. It has specifically been NSF-tested (Standard 42 + 58) against:
- TDS (95.34% reduction)
- Nitrate (99.38% reduction)
- Fluoride (99.53% reduction)
- Arsenic (91.67% reduction)
- Lead (99.69% reduction)
- Copper (99.84% reduction)
- Chromium 6 (97.38% reduction)
- Chlorine (99.5% reduction)
- Chloramine (97.22% reduction)
- Chloroform (99.94% reduction)
- Total Coliforms (>99.99% reduction)
- Several antibiotics (99.93-99.94% reduction)
The Waterdrop A1 – learn more on Waterdropfilter.com
Installation
Almost no initial setup is required, other than installing the filters and flushing the system. So no drilling, plumbing, or anything! Just take the dispenser out of the box and set it on a surface, and you’re good to go. To install the filter cartridges:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Insert each cartridge into its corresponding slot, rotating it until the dot aligns with the lock icon on the dispenser.
- Take off the water tank cover plate and fill the tank with water.
- Place the tank back into the dispenser and place the cover back on.
- Push down on the tank to secure it in place.
- Turn on the dispenser.
- Hold down the “confirm” key until you see the interface.
- Tap the “confirm” key and place a large water container under the dispenser (at least 100 oz).
- Tap any key to start the flushing process.
- Wait for about 30 minutes for the flushing to complete – follow the on-screen indicator. You will have to refill the dispenser two times in the process.
Video
The Package (Parts)
- Main module
- Body cover plate
- Water tank
- Water tank cover plate
- Display screen
- Drip tray
- CF filter
- RO filter
- Brush
Maintenance
The main point of maintenance for the Waterdrop A1 RO system is the same as with other water filters: You need to replace the filter cartridges on a regular basis. Under normal circumstances, the first filter element (CF filter) should last for up to 6 months, while the reverse osmosis membrane will last for up to 12 months.
You will be notified by a flashing light when the time approaches to replace one of those – once the indicator icon starts staying permanently on, this means the filter has expired. All in all, you can expect to spend around $130 per year on maintenance.
To replace a filter cartridge:
- Rotate the cartridge counterclockwise until the dot aligns with the unlocked icon.
- Pull out the cartridge.
- Insert the new cartridge.
- Rotate the new cartridge clockwise until the dot aligns with the locked icon.
- Navigate through the menu options until you get to “Reset CF Filter” or “Reset RO Filter”, depending on which one you’re replacing.
- Press “confirm” to reset the corresponding filter.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://www.waterdropfilter.com/products/ro-hot-cold-water-dispenser-a1?ref=navigationbar#manual
NSF and Other Certifications
This dispenser comes with NSF certification 372. However, this has nothing to do with filtration capabilities, as this certification is specifically related to structural integrity and nothing else.
What we have, though, is NSF testing against standards 42 and 58 for the contaminant listed above.
Earlier Product Versions
There are no earlier versions of this product.
Waterdrop A1 System Cons
- No official NSF certifications related to water filtration.
- Relatively expensive for a water filter, although the price is okay for its feature set.
- Dispensing button may occasionally get stuck.
Waterdrop A1 Review: Our Verdict + Best for
All in all, we consider the Waterdrop A1 Reverse Osmosis Hot & Cold Water Dispenser an adequately priced model, given everything that it brings to the table. We especially appreciate the effective filtration process, the low amount of wastewater generated, as well as the instant availability of both hot and cold water. The filter is easy to set up and use too. Overall, a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars product.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.5/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 4.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 4.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 4.5/5.0
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Comparison to Other RO Hot and Cold Water Dispensers
The RKIN U1 is another similar hot and cold water dispenser that offers comprehensive reverse osmosis filtration and a good overall performance at an acceptable price. If you’re looking for an alternative to the Waterdrop A1, it could be a viable option.
RKIN U1 |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Sediment Filtration, Activated Carbon, RO, Remineralization, Hydrogen Infusion, UV |
| Filter Capacity: | 6-24 Months |
| NSF Standards: | 58, 372 |
| Water Temp: | 59-212 °F |
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Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, water temperature settings, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Waterdrop A1 |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Sediment Filtration, Carbon Block, Scale Inhibition, RO Membrane, UV |
| Filter Capacity: | 6-12 Months |
| NSF Standards: | 42, 58, 372 |
| Water Temp: | 41-203 °F |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, water temperature settings, 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 A1 is more efficient than the RKIN U1 in terms of wastewater, wasting only 1 gallon for each 2 gallons of purified water. In comparison, the RKIN U1 has a ratio of about 1:1. Both systems have an intuitive control panel with a sleek design, but we were more impressed with the range of options offered by the RKIN U1. In particular, the RKIN U1 comes with more a more detailed list of cup sizes.
Due to the fact that both systems are based on reverse osmosis at their core, you can expect them to cover a similar range of contaminants, with some small differences coming from the additional filtration stages. An advantage of the RKIN U1 in comparison to the Waterdrop A1 is that it comes with a remineralization stage. In addition, the Waterdrop A1 has some filtration stages of its own that are not offered by the RKIN U1 – such as the scale inhibitor and non-woven fabric.
Both models have some options for energy saving, but we appreciated the fact that the RKIN U1 specifically allows you to disable the water cooler when you’re not using it. Hot water is dispensed almost instantly in both cases, and neither model really stands out in this regard.
The two systems both have reasonable annual maintenance costs, although the Waterdrop A1 is a bit simpler and more affordable in this regard as it has a smaller number of different filters to watch out for.
Neither model has any official NSF certifications related to filtration properties, although the A1 by Waterdrop is NSF-tested against about a dozen contaminants, RKIN U1 is only tested against 5.
Finally, the Waterdrop A1 only has a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, while the RKIN U1 is covered for a full year. Both models have a 1-year warranty as well.
All in all, which model to choose should depend on your personal preferences, although we prefer the Waterdrop A1 mainly because it cheaper, is easier to maintain, tested for more contaminants, and wastes less water.
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This completes our review of the Waterdrop A1 Reverse Osmosis Hot and Cold Water Dispenser. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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