WaterFilterComparisons’ Review

The APEC-5 Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter, also known as the APEC ROES-50, is an affordable system if you’re interested in using reverse osmosis to improve your water quality. But what are you getting for that cost and are there compromises you should be aware of? In this APEC ROES-50 water filter review, we’ll share our thoughts on the system to let you know what we like and don’t like about it.

Product Specs

• Size: 16″L x 5.25″W x 17.5″H; 26 pounds
• Capacity: 50 gallons per day
• Filtration Technology: Five stages of filtration including a sediment filter, two carbon block filters, a high rejection TFC reverse osmosis membrane, and a coconut shell refining carbon 10″ filter
• Contaminants Addressed: Certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for the reduction of total dissolved solids (TDS), though the manufacturer also says the system removes chlorine, unpleasant tastes, odors, and up to 99% of contaminants. The manufacturer lists 53 contaminants that the system addresses including lead, VOCs, PFAS, PFOS, PFOA, Chloramines, Chromium-6, and more — though we don’t see certifications to back up this claim.
• Certifications: NSF/ANSI Standard 58
• Flow Rate: 50 gallons per day
• Installation: Easy to install, with clear instructions that feature pictures to help you understand how to set it up without a plumber.
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

Performance

The APEC 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System (ROES-50) features five stages of filtration to address a wide range of contaminants. Here’s some information about each:

• Sediment Removal Filter: Removes dust, particles, and rust which improves water quality and helps protect the system from damage.
  Carbon Block Filter: Addresses chlorine, unpleasant taste and odor, and cloudiness. The brand also says this stage helps remove VOCs and chemicals.
• Carbon Block Filter: A second carbon block to further remove additional contaminants that make it past the first carbon filter. The carbon blocks seem identical, so the second does not remove additional types of contaminants.
• High Rejection TFC Reverse Osmosis Membrane: Uses reverse osmosis to address a wide variety of contaminants including arsenic, bacteria, lead, chromium, radium, and more.
• Coconut Shell Refining Carbon 10″ Filter: Removes residual taste and impurities from the tank.

Overall, the APEC ROES-50 makes some bold performance claims regarding how many contaminants are addressed. While the utilization of five filter stages should help improve water quality, we cannot verify the system actually lives up to the claim that it removes “up to 99% of contaminants” including others not listed because the system’s WQA Gold Seal Certification only specifies that it reduces TDS.

Certifications

The APEC ROES-50 water filtration system features a WQA Gold Seal Certification, which in this case applies to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for the reduction of TDS. This means we can’t verify if the system actually removes up to 99% of the contaminants it claims to address.

Flow Rate

The APEC ROES-50 can filter 50 gallons of water per day, which breaks down to about 0.035 gallons per minute.

Limitations

Because the system is only certified against the reduction of TDS, we can’t confidently say it will protect you against all the contaminants it claims to. It’s also worth noting that the system doesn’t feature a remineralization stage, which is an extra stage on some high-end reverse osmosis systems that restores healthy minerals that get removed during the filtration process. Without remineralization, you lose healthy minerals like calcium which supports bone development, and potassium which helps reduce blood pressure among other benefits. The lack of minerals can also make the water taste bland or flat.

Installation and Maintenance

Installing the APEC ROES-50 is easy, with many users saying they were able to do it themselves. The brand provides detailed instructions, but we’ll summarize key steps here:

1. Assemble the filters and housings onto the main system
2. Shut off the cold water supply valve under the sink
3. Put together the feed water connecter and associated parts
4. Install the drain saddle
5. Drill a hole for the RO faucet
6. Mount the new faucet
7. Connect the system using supplied fittings
8. Turn the system on to check for leaks, then wait 2-3 hours for the tank to fill
9. Flush the system for 5 minutes, then give it another 2-3 hours to refill before first use

The system requires little maintenance, as you just need to replace the filters following the manufacturer’s guidelines. The pre-filters for stages 1-3 should be replaced every 6-12 months, while stages 4 and 5 should be replaced every 2-4 years depending on water quality and usage. The company also recommends replacing the filter housing O-ring every year or when replacing the pre-filters.

Pros and Cons

The APEC ROES-50 has a low entry price, offers multiple stages of filtration, has easy installation and little maintenance. However, there are a few cons like the lack of a remineralization stage. Here are our thoughts about the pros and cons of this system:

Pros

• WQA Certified: WQA certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58, though only for the reduction of TDS
• Five Stages of Filtration: Features multiple stages of filtration to address a wide array of contaminants
• Low Cost: A sub $200 price point is on the low end for reverse osmosis systems
• Easy Installation and Maintenance: Users report the installation process is easy and there’s little maintenance needed with the system

Cons

• Certifications Don’t Specify Other Contaminants: According to WQA, the system is only certified for claims to reduce TDS. While it may help remove other contaminants, we can’t confirm it will actually remove 99% of them as the brand claims.
• No Remineralization Stage: The system doesn’t feature a remineralizer, which means you’ll lose minerals that provide health benefits and enhance the water’s taste.

FAQs

How long does the APEC ROES-50 last?

The APEC ROES-50 features five stages of filtration. Stage 1-3 pre-filters should be replaced every 6-12 months while stages 3 and 4 should be replaced every 2-4 years.

What does the APEC ROES-50 remove?

The APEC ROES-50 is WQA certified to NSF/ANSI for the removal of TDS. The brand also states that the system can help address contaminants including lead, VOCs, PFAS, PFOS, PFOA, Chloramines, Chromium-6, and more. However, we couldn’t verify the system’s effectiveness in removing those contaminants.

Is the APEC ROES-50 worth it?

The APEC ROES-50 is one of the most budget-friendly reverse osmosis systems on the market, so it’s a great choice if you want RO water but don’t want to spend a lot. That being said, the system doesn’t have certifications to back up claims about addressing contaminants other than TDS so that’s something to keep in mind. Additionally, the system doesn’t come with a remineralization stage so you’ll lose minerals like calcium and potassium that provide benefits for your health and improve the taste of your water.

Summary

The APEC 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter is a great choice for anyone on a budget, as it can help remove TDS and the five stages of filtration should help improve your water quality. However, the system doesn’t have certifications to support claims about the reduction of 99% of contaminants, and it doesn’t feature a remineralization stage that’s in some higher-end systems.

If you have a little extra money to spend, we recommend the Aquasana SmartFlow® Reverse Osmosis system, which is WQA certified to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and CSA B483.1. The system can remove up to 99.99% of 90 contaminants including fluoride, arsenic, chlorine, lead, and more. To learn more about other reverse osmosis filters on the market, you can also visit our reverse osmosis filters page to see our current system ratings.