Getting a reliable reverse osmosis system for your home helps keep your family protected from contaminants found in the water.
Such systems ensure that you get clean, pure, and great-tasting water at all times. With one, you won’t have to worry about bacteria, viruses, pesticides, or other dangerous water contaminants.
The Express Water ROALKUV10M and iSpring RCC7AK-UV RO systems feature high-quality components that offer real value for money. They are some of the best RO systems for well water you can find around.
But do they work in the same way? Absolutely Not!
In this post, we compare the 2 models to help you understand how they differ from each other. Keep reading.
Comparison Table: Express Water ROALKUV10M vs. iSpring RCC7AK-UV
| Feature | Express Water ROALKUV10M | iSpring RCC7AK-UV |
|---|---|---|
| Tank capacity | 4 gallons( 3.2 gallons capacity) | 3.2 gallons(2.5 gallons capacity) |
| Flow rate | Faster flow rate – 0.8 gallons per minute. | Fast flow rate – 0.5 gallons per minute. |
| Filtration stages | 11 filtration stages | 7 filtration stages |
| Waste water ratio | 3:1 | 2:1 |
| Dimensions | 19 x 15 x 5 | 15 x 8 x 18 |
| Installation | Easy to install | A little difficult to install |
| Today’s Price on Amazon | Today’s Price on Amazon |
Compare Express Water ROALKUV10M vs iSpring RCC7AK-UV
- Contaminants Filtered
No water filter can remove all water contaminants. It’s, however, wise for you to consider getting one that removes those that you are most concerned about.
The Express Water ROALKUV10M removes rust, sediments, 99.99% of lead, fluoride, chlorine, nitrates, arsenic, calcium, and bacteria.
The system also uses UV light to eliminate microorganisms like E.coli, coliform, and viruses from your drinking water.
iSpring RCC7AK-UV, on the other hand, gets rid of dirt, rust, chloramines, chlorine, arsenic, fluoride, lead, asbestos, hormones, nitrates, agricultural chemicals, industrial solvents, and drug residue.
The system removes large bacteria and parasitic cysts while the UV light kills other microorganisms that might be present in your water.
- Capacity
A water filter’s capacity shows just how many gallons it can supply between filter changes. For systems with storage like the ROALKUV10M and RCC7AK-UV, it also refers to the number of gallons it can filter within 24 hours.
Reverse osmosis filters are a little sluggish when compared to carbon filters as they remove high levels of contaminants, which takes extra time.
To compensate, most RO systems store water in storage tanks so that a few gallons are accessible at any time. When you use the water, more is generated.
The Express Water model filters up to 100 water gallons per day, while the RCC7AK filters 75 gallons in a day.
- Flow Rate
The flow rate tells how long it takes the water to move through the filtration system. The ROALKUV10M produces 0.8 gallons per minute. You actually won’t notice a big difference in the pressure of your water at the tap.
The iSpring model, on the other hand, produces 0.5 gallons per minute.
- Filtration Process
1. Express Water ROALKUV10M filtration process
The ROALKUV10M filters water in 11-stages. 6 RO filtration stages combine with 5 stages of mineralization to give you pure and tasty water.
The 1st stage targets dirt, sand, dust, and rust. The 2nd and 3rd stages include granular activated and activated carbon filters, which remove pollutants like VOCs, chlorine, and odor-causing compounds.
The 3 early stages help extend the life of stage 4, the RO membrane. The membrane eliminates the most difficult impurities like chromium, lead, arsenic, fluoride, radium, TDS, etc.
The alkaline remineralization filter then adds 5 stages of mineralization, oxygen, and antioxidants to your water.
The 10th stage is where the UV filter reduces up to 99% of any living impurities/microorganisms in the water.
And finally, the 11th stage. Here, a post activated carbon filter does a final pass on your water to remove any residual taste or odor.
2. iSpring RCC7AK-UV filtration process
The iSpring RCC7AK filters water in 7stages.The first 6 stages are water purification, while the last stage is the remineralization stage.
In the 1st stage, a 5-micron sediment filter traps and removes particles like dust, silt, and rust. This makes the water cleaner and prevents the particles from clogging up other filters.
A 5-micron GAC filter reduces dangerous organic compounds and chlorine’s unpleasant taste and smell.
A carbon filter block removes stubborn chlorine and chloramines in stage 3. The filter also improves the taste and color of your water.
In the 4th stage, the RO membrane with tiny 0.0001 microns gets rid of heavy metals, organic chemicals, copper, and sodium molecules. It also traps cysts and bacteria.
A fine post carbon filter removes residual taste and odor in stage 5. Enter the 6th stage.
In the 6th stage, healthy minerals including calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium are reintroduced into the water.
And in the final stage-7th stage, an 11W UV light kills the remaining bacteria and viruses. When your water comes out of this stage, it’s clean, pure, and safe to drink.
- Waste Water Ratio
The ROALKUV10M has a waste water ratio of 3:1, meaning that for every gallon of pure water, 3 gallons of waste water will be produced.
The RCC7AK is a better alternative with a waste water ratio of 2:1.
The 2 models are, however, quite efficient since there are some units out there that waste more than 10 gallons to produce a gallon of clean water.
Note that using an efficient unit is cheaper in the long run and better for the environment since very little water is wasted.
- Installation
The installation process of the ROALKUV10M is quite easy now that almost everything is provided for you in the packaging. You can actually install the system on your own in under 1 hour.
iSpring engineered the RCC7AK for easy installation as well. It’s designed to fit under the sink and comes with almost everything you need for a successful installation process.
The manual has clear instructions and pictures to guide you through.
With the 2 models, you don’t have to seek professional help.
- Maintenance
Most of the maintenance work for the 2 models involves monitoring the filters and replacing them when needed.
The filter changes for the ROALKUV10M are quick and easy. The pre and post-filters, which include sediment, granular activated carbon, the activated carbon block, post activated carbon, and the remineralizing filter, are changed twice a year.
The RO membrane and UV filter need to be replaced once every year.
With the RCC7AK, the pre and post filters require replacement every 6 to 12 months. The RO membrane requires replacement every 2 to 3 years.
Generally, you should consider replacing the filters after you notice a decrease in your water quality.
FAQs
Q. How long do iSpring water filters last?
Q. Is UV better than reverse osmosis?
RO purifiers are also easier to maintain.
Q. Where are iSpring water filters made?
Q. Are RO systems the most effective?
Q. What is the main disadvantage of an RO water purifier?
Q. Is iSpring NSF certified?
Conclusion
The two RO filtration systems guarantee clean, safe, and healthy drinking water that tastes great as well. They offer excellent filtration performance and are easy to install and maintain.
Both are perfect for large families that use reverse osmosis water for more than drinking.
They are highly efficient and will work perfectly for you whether using well or city water. The ROALKUV10M gives you even more peace of mind as it filters water in 11 stages.