APEC WATERSystems ULTIMATE Series US Made Stage 1, 2 & 3 Replacement Filter For Undersink System(FILTER-SET)

We have had the system for a while, and I was surprised to see it on their website when it came time to swap filters. Awesome, see you again next year !

Great product now just need parts 4&5

Delivery was super fast and these fit perfectly. After you turn the water back on, open your drinking water on if possible but only a drip. Your system will gurgle a bit while all the air is purged out. After the air is gone and the tank is repressurized, the good water flowed great

I've been purchasing filters for years, going on 10 years at least, and finally decided to do some REAL research on these filters I've been buying for my 5 STAGE RO systems (which I purchased 3 in those 10 plus years). There are only a few actual US makers (officially made in this country) of the charcoal and sediment filters that I can find. Most are for commercial use since that's where the high-end markets demands are. APEC (NOT to be confused with another filter company APEX) is officially a MADE IN THE USA filter. There are some residential RO filter companies that claim or market their filters as US products but if you look closer they are ONLY following American Standards or labeling their products with ONLY a US address or US contact information making it "appear" they were actually 100 percent made in the US. Some get their materials from the US and are assembled overseas to claim this MADE IN THE USA but that is NOT official and they are not legally allowed to put MADE IN THE USA on their products that are shipped into this country.Okay, so sorry for this long ranting on made in the USA issues on residential filters. When I got these APEC (Not APEX which most of their filters are not officially US made) I was shocked of the quality difference like the big difference in the charcoal filter weight or the solid feel and different look in their sedement filters. The price is much higher but I know these charcoal filters will actually be safer and last the 6 months the manufacturer rates them for.My next purchase is finding a RO membrane that's 100 made in the US. I think DOW might still make these in this US but haven't look into it yet. Also not sure if APEC sells RO membrane filters either. Please keep in mind that APEC does sell low end filters that are not made in the US and don't claim that they are. So if you're wantimg a filter that's 100 percent MADE IN THE USA you'll need to make sure the labeling on that product say "Made in the US", if it doesn't than it's likely not.

This filter set works with our APEC RO-90 and seems to do the job well, but I was surprised by the updated design for stage 1 and stage 2 filters, which are now wrapped in a plastic mesh/netting that wasn’t present in previous versions.I’m using this system because I want the cleanest water possible that is low in TDS, free of contaminants, and ideally with minimal plastic exposure. That includes things like microplastics, manufacturing residue, or anything introduced during filtration.So, when the filters arrive wrapped in plastic mesh, it feels like it contradicts the goal of purification. It’s also a visible reminder that my water passes through plastic layers.I’m not just filtering water. I’m filtering out all the stuff I don’t want to consume chemicals, toxins, microplastics, residue, whatever’s unnecessary. If the filtering system itself reintroduces plastic into the path, it begins to break my trust in the product. My goal is the cleanest water possible, so why add plastic back in?I’d love to see a low-plastic option.

We formally purchased another line of filters for a different under-sink RO system and would spend $200 every 3 months and it required us shutting down our system and purging it for 24 hours. This system can be used within 15 minutes of installing/replacing filters. The water quality is even better. Although the filters do create waste once you dispose, it isn't in comparison to the hundreds of plastic bottles that create even more waste and hazards. We live in a town where water filtration is subpar and very hard. The drinks you make with our water vs. this filter can't compare in clarity alone. I only gave it 4 stars for installation due to the fact that most under-sink units aren't easily accessible and require some maneuvering on floor level, but overall straightforward. We date and mark each filter with the corresponding order of installation to ensure we properly install them and change them out timely. In the pictures you will see a glass of tea, with the same tea concentration, with the same steeping times, same brand. The difference is one on the left is from the tap source no filtration and the one on the right is filtered with APEC. The smell alone was a stark contrast before the clarity and taste was addressed. We used a flashlight to show the murkiness of the one on the left (a) vs. the one on the right (B) in two of the pictures. Just an overall great investment.

They are the correct filters for my APEC system under my kitchen sink. My wife swears it makes the water taste better, but I can't tell much of a difference. When I change them, they aren't super dirty, as we have a pre-filter as our first line of defense. That gets a little rust-colored over time, but these always look clean - I just changed them every so often because I feel like I should. They fit fine, seem to work as designed, and I don't have any complaints.

This is the third year I have gotten these. I have a APEC water system in my home as I don't like drinking chemicals and I use water to water plants and they don't like the chemical either. These filters are easy to change. I am 69 and I can change them. They work well and love that my water taste good and it is good for what I grow.