Review: Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 Reverse Osmosis System
Written by: Alexandra Uta // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Jan 29, 2024
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In this review, we are going to take a thorough look at the Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 Reverse Osmosis System.
Now, most of us may associate Whirlpool with all kinds of home appliances, from top-load washers and dryers to refrigerators and microwaves. But how well does the company score when it comes to drinking water treatment? You are about to find out!
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Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 Reverse Osmosis System |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Stages: | 3 |
| Water Flow: | Not Specified |
| NSF Certifications: | 42, 58 |
| Annual Cost: | ~$100-145 |
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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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Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 Reverse Osmosis System – All Specs
- Model: UltraEase WHER25
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$100-145
- Filter Media/Process: Carbon Pre-Filter, RO, Carbon Post-Filter
- Filter Stages: 3
- Recovery Rate: 21.18%
- Filtering Capacity: 6 Months to 3 Years
- WxHxD (System): 12.25″x13″x4.75″
- Tank: 9″x14″9″
- Water Temperature: 40-100 °F
- Water Pressure: 40-100 psi
- Water pH: 4-10
- NSF Certifications: 42, 58
- Warranty: 1 Year (Limited)
Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 – Key Features
First of all, the Whirlpool WHER25 RO system uses 3 stages of filtration. The process has been tested and certified against NSF standards 42 and 58 for guaranteed effectiveness at removing a wide range of water contaminants. Let’s take a closer look:
- Stage 1: A carbon pre-filter reduces sand, dirt, and other sediments as well as chlorine taste and odor. The activated carbon also targets all kinds of organic chemicals like pesticides.
- Stage 2: The semipermeable reverse osmosis membrane separates the water from most dissolved solids and organic matter. Some reduction rates are: Lead (99.0%), arsenic(V) (99.3%), cysts (99.99%), nitrate (84.7%), nitrite (75.3%), chromium 6 (99.2%), and fluoride (94.9%).
- Stage 3: This stage is identical to stage 1. It’s mostly used to give the water a fresh taste after it has been sitting in the storage tank.
All in all, the filtration process is pretty basic and similar to what we find in other under sink reverse osmosis systems. And as mentioned before, it’s backed by NSF testing/certification with solid contaminant reduction rates.
Filter life: 6 months to 3 years at around $100-145 in annual replacement cost.
Whirlpool Reverse Osmosis Pros
Probably the most important advantage of the Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 is the low price tag.
Also, according to Whirlpool, the UltraEase WHER25 is designed for use with municipal and private well water supplies.
Installation and maintenance are relatively easy and DIY-friendly. In fact, you can change the modular filters in seconds with just a quarter turn and without the need to shut off the water supply. By the way, the EZ-Change filter indicator light tells you when it’s time to replace.
Finally, there’s a 1-year limited manufacturer warranty.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
Whirlpool provides these contaminant reduction rates based on NSF standardized testing:
- Arsenic (pentavalent) – 99.3%
- Barium – 98.6%
- Cadmium – 98.6%
- Chromium (VI) – 98.8%
- Chromium (III) – 99.2%
- Copper – 98.4%
- Cysts – 99.99%
- Lead – 99.0%
- Nitrate – 84.7%
- Nitrite – 75.3%
- Radium 226/228 – 80%
- Selenium – 98.3%
- Turbidity – 99.1%
- TDS – 93.4%
- Chlorine Taste and Odor – 95.2%
Whirlpool further provides these rates “tested against industry protocols”:
- Ammonium – 90%
- Bicarbonate – 96%
- Bromide – 89%
- Chloride – 92%
- Magnesium – 97%
- Sodium – 88%
- Sulfate – 98%
- Tannin – 97%
- Zinc – 98%
- Fluoride – 94.9%
The Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 – learn more on Amazon.com
Installation
The Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 Reverse Osmosis System was designed to be easy to install and maintain without the need for a plumber and without having to struggle with ongoing leaks. The RO system comes with illustrated DIY instructions.
The Whirlpool can be installed under the sink or in a remote interior location. Here’s how to install your system under the sink:
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 to install a cold water supply fitting. To do this, close the cold water shutoff valve, open the faucet to release pressure, and disconnect the current cold water pipe from the shutoff valve.
- Next, fix the water supply fitting to the cold water shutoff valve, connect the present cold water pipe to the male threaded part of the water supply fitting, and hand-tighten.
- Now, install the RO drain adaptor above the P-trap (pictures in the manual). Ensure there’s no corrosion on the drain pipe before installing it.
- Install the reverse osmosis filter assembly (the assembly is mounted on hanger washers). Take out the cover and locate the mounting slots in the assembly, then place the assembly against the wall and mark out locations for the hanger washers.
- Screw the hanger washers to the wall and hang the assembly on the washers, then replace the cover.
- Next, install the storage tank. Use thread-sealing tape on the threads on the nipple on top of the tank. Then, gently tighten the tubing connector onto the tank nipple (about seven to eight turns). Be careful not to over-tighten. Set the storage tank next to the RO assembly.
- Select the location for your RO faucet, then install the RO faucet. You could drill a new hole in the sink or use an existing hole in the sink or on the countertop next to the sink.
- Next, cut and connect the tubes. Route the yellow tube to the storage tank, connect the green tube to the cold water supply, and connect the blue tube to the reverse osmosis assembly. Also, connect the black tube from the RO faucet to the drain adapter and the red tube to the RO faucet.
- Finally, sanitize, pressure test, and purge the system. Open the RO faucet and let the tank drain. Add 3 ml of household bleach into the open end of the yellow tubing, then fix the yellow tubing to the tank connector.
- To pressure test the system, turn on the cold water supply valve for the RO system. Then, open multiple faucets in the home to flush air from the house plumbing. Close them when the water flows smoothly without any spurting. In about 2 hours, check all the fittings and connections in the RO system and search for leaks. If you find any, fix them right away.
- To purge the system, open the RO faucet and let water flow for 24 hours. Note: Don’t drink water from the RO system until the purging is complete. Close the faucet once the 24-hour purging period is over.
- Once purging is complete, your Reverse Osmosis system is ready to use!
The Package (Parts)
- RO System Assembly
- Tubing
- Product Water Storage Tank
- RO Faucet
- Hanger Brackets
- Eye Dropper
- Tank Connector
- Coin Battery
- Drain Adaptor
- Water Supply Fitting
- Nitrate/Nitrite Test Kit
Maintenance
Like we said, the Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 was designed to allow for easy maintenance. You can change filters in seconds – literally. Just give them a quarter-turn, remove, and replace. No need to turn off the water supply, no spilling, no leaks, no worries.
The built-in filter change indicator is supposed to let you know when filters need replacement.
According to Whirlpool, this is how often you will have to change each component in order to keep up the filtration performance and guarantee high quality drinking water for your household:
- Carbon pre-filter: About every 6 months
- RO membrane: Every 1-3 years
- Carbon post-filter: About every 6 months
As always, replacement frequencies are highly dependent on your water usage and source water quality. So you might need to change less/more often.
Replacement costs? A tad higher than expected, especially when we take into account the fact that we only have 3 filter stages.
Here’s how to replace the pre-filter/post-filter cartridges:
- Note: You don’t need to turn off the water supply before removing filter cartridges. You also shouldn’t remove the manifold from the mounts. Disturbing the manifold could damage it.
- Detach the pre-filter cartridge from the filter head, then take out the post-filter cartridge.
- Discard the cartridges following appropriate disposal guidelines.
- Fix the new cartridges in reverse order (the post-filter comes first, then the pre-filter). Reattach the filter heads by turning the cartridges to the right.
- Remove and change the timer battery.
- Purge the system.
Here’s how to replace your reverse osmosis membrane:
Now, follow these steps to replace your RO cartridge:
- Detach the pre-filter cartridge from the manifold (turn it to the left) to stop flow to the RO cartridge.
- Next, remove the reverse osmosis and post-filter cartridges and dispose of them correctly.
- Install the new cartridges in this order: post-filter, reverse osmosis, and pre-filter. Reattach the cartridges to the filter head (do this by giving a gentle but firm right turn. Do not over-tighten).
- Remove and change the timer battery.
- Purge the RO system.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://whirlpoolwatersolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/7322259Eng_Z-1.pdf
NSF and Other Certifications
The Whirlpool WHER25 Reverse Osmosis System holds NSF 42 and 58 certifications. NSF 42 clears it for chlorine, taste, and odor reduction. NSF 58 covers the reduction of barium, arsenic 5, fluoride, cadmium, cyst, copper, radium, nitrate/nitrite, chromium 6, chromium 3, radium 226/228, TDS, turbidity, lead, and selenium.
Earlier Product Versions
There are no earlier versions of this product.
Whirlpool WHER25 Cons
Here is what we don’t like:
- Customers have complained about missing parts upon arrival that delayed the installation. Others have mentioned system parts that started leaking all of a sudden. Apparently, Whirlpool’s customer service is not always helpful in cases like these.
- For several users, the filters and membrane tend to wear out faster than specified.
- There were multiple complaints about the system being too noisy.
- The system’s recovery rating is 21.18%, which means around 80% of the input water flows down the drain as wastewater, while only the remaining 20% can be used. This ratio may be pretty average for an under sink reverse osmosis system that doesn’t use a pressure pump, but it’s still something to consider.
- Personally, we would have liked more NSF standards and against more types of contamination, such as organics.
Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 Review: Our Verdict + Best for
On the one hand, the Whirlpool WHER25 Reverse Osmosis System is reasonably priced, backed by NSF certification, and easy to maintain. But installing the system can be a bit like gambling – think leaks. For now our final rating is 4 out of 5 stars!
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 4.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 5.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 4.5/5.0
- Overall: 4.0/5.0
Comparison to Other Reverse Osmosis Systems
Let’s compare the Whirlpool to two heavyweight competitors: the Waterdrop G3 and the AquaTru reverse osmosis system.
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: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Water: | 1 Gallon in 10-15 Minutes |
| NSF: | 42, 53, 58, 401, P473 |
| Annually: | ~$100-120 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Stages: | 3 |
| Flow Rate: | Not Specified |
| NSF: | 42, 58 |
| Annually: | ~$100-145 |
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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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The Waterdrop G3 is a tankless under sink model, so naturally, it saves space and filters water on demand.
Waterdrop uses a 4-stage filter process, and its NSF certifications confirm that the filter stages are not just for show. The Waterdrop G3 is certified for NSF standard 58 (for total dissolved solids reduction). It has also been tested against NSF Standards 42, 53, 58, and 401 for the removal of chromium 6 (99%), nitrate (98%), fluoride (99%), VOCs (up to 99%), arsenic (99%), chlorine (99%), lead (99%), PFOA/PFOS (99%), and so many other contaminants.
The Waterdrop is also designed with an internal pump that raises water pressure, providing a flow rate of 0.42 gpm (this flow rate is fast enough that you never run out of filtered water). For a clearer picture, 1 cup fills up in about 8 seconds, and only 33% of input water is wasted. The Whirlpool wastes a lot more.
Like the Whirlpool, the Waterdrop G3 is easy to install. It has a smart faucet complete with LED lights and sound that tell you when the filters are due for replacement. The RO system itself also carries the same LED lights. Basically, you never have to worry about being unaware of your filter’s current status.
Waterdrop filters last a comfortable 550-2,200 gallons, or 6 to 24 months, and replacing old filters is easy. There’s no need to disconnect anything or shut off the feed water. Replacements are completely tools-free, and each cartridge can be removed and replaced with a single effortless turn.
The Waterdrop faucet (and the system itself) has a TDS monitoring panel that displays the RO membrane and the filters’ current level of effectiveness.
Finally, Waterdrop offers a money-back satisfaction guarantee that allows you to return your unit for a full refund if you’re unsatisfied after purchase (this is only valid within the first 30 days after purchase). Customers also get a 1-year manufacturer warranty (however, this is only valid if the system is used on municipal water).
Let’s cover the downsides really quick. Despite the system’s user-friendly design, a bunch of users complained about the system producing annoying noises, even when it’s not supplying water. It’s also more expensive to purchase than the Whirlpool (although it costs the same to maintain – about $145 a year).
The next system is the AquaTru. It’s our favorite RO system, and you’re about to see why. It’s an installation-free countertop unit with a 4-stage filtration process. It’s been independently tested and certified against NSF standards for the removal of almost 80 contaminants. The AquaTru holds 5 NSF/ANSI certifications in total. They include standards 42, 53, 58, 401 and P473. These certifications guarantee you’ll get clean, safe, and purified water. The Whirlpool doesn’t have as many contaminants tested as the AquaTru.
The AquaTru reduction rates are listed below:
- chlorine – 96.6%
- VOCs – 95% to more than 99%
- chromium 6 – 97.2%
- TDS – 87.1%
- cyst – 99.99%
- fluoride – 93.5%
- lead – 99.1%
- radium 226/228 – 96.4%
- BPA – 99%
- several trace pharmaceuticals and pesticides – 86.7% to 96.6%
- PFOA, PFOS – 97.5%
More AquaTru pros:
- For one, its space-saving design has caught many eyes.
- The system is also installation-free and ready to be used in less than 10 minutes.
- Did we mention how easy it is to use?
- Filtration is also really fast.
- The system has an 80% recovery rate, meaning only 20% of input water is wasted (thanks to the system’s internal pump). This is much better than the Whirlpool and the Waterdrop.
- AquaTru also uses BPA and BPS-free Tritan plastic only.
We also noticed a few unsatisfactory reviews with the AquaTru. First, some past users complained about leaking due to design flaws. There were also complaints of units that stopped working after a few months of use. We didn’t encounter those issues, though. The AquaTru is also more expensive than the Whirlpool (although it costs the same $100-120 in yearly maintenance).
Final Verdict: The AquaTru remains our favorite thanks to its fair pricing, affordable maintenance, NSF certifications, fast filtration, installation-free setup, and low wastewater production. Coming up second is the Waterdrop; it’s effective, easy to install, tankless, and wastes a relatively small amount of water. As for the Whirlpool, some Whirlpool systems have issues with leaks; if yours doesn’t, then it’s a good deal, especially if you’re on a budget. But remember, there are no extras (for instance, no internal pump, so wastewater content is high), and the system filters water rather slowly. Installation is also a bit more complex compared to the other two systems.
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This completes our review of the Whirlpool UltraEase WHER25 Reverse Osmosis System. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
Information provided on BOS is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.
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