Review on FS TFC Filter Kit 100 GPD by Terrance Duncan

I bought my first reverse osmosis system in the late 90's and it was a two stage reverse osmosis system for about $500 and the membrane itself was almost $100. I bought the FS-RO-100G-A system (for about $90) earlier this year and while it worked reasonably well, this filter replacement kit is about half what I get for a new full size system could if I use my existing tank and faucet. The only reason for this is that many systems use larger standard 10" x 2.5" filters, which are often discounted and/or significantly cheaper than proprietary filters like these, which only fit in one system. Although the system came with replaceable filters, it didn't include a reverse osmosis membrane, and buying the whole thing to get it is a cheap option, as it costs $27 and is also only available from one source. The system I bought and many others claim the filter sets are rated to last 1 year, when the original reverse osmosis filter says it should be replaced after 12-24 months. However, the overall lifespan depends on the quality of your water, and the more that is filtered, the more frequently you may need to change filters. I lost count or time and the light was 9 months before I changed the filters and only then because the flow became slow. My first 2 stage filters looked fine but the third one was black and that's probably because I didn't bleed the tank separately when I installed it and it would be a good idea to bleed all the filters individually before replacing one. I'll wait 3 months before changing the reverse osmosis and then stick to the schedule because our water tastes good (chlorinated) but doesn't have a lot of solids of any size that should clog the filters even though we're around 115ppm. . Sometimes something gets into the water system so I'm not sure why the third stage was contaminated, but it fouled the membrane. I really don't like being a slave to this filter pack which is often listed as "currently unavailable" but I wanted something more compact than the behemoth it replaced which was good but took up too much space and was vulnerable for leaks was...while all filters for the first three stages were inexpensive, they could be bought on a case-by-case basis and should be changed most frequently, so the cheaper the better. These filters are easy to replace and no leaks have occurred to date. That's probably overkill for my main taste issue, but I once had a Culligan EZ-Change Premium single filter system and it did next to nothing and each filter was about $25. There are currently 5-tier systems that offer a year's supply of filters for less than $30, but you never know you've made the right choice until you install them and see how long the filters last. Reverse osmosis membranes are usually sold separately, but the one on my old system seemed to last longer than these, so now that I have a new utility room I may return to something more that will quickly pay for itself just in the reduction account. Filter. Once the flow from the faucet is a mere trickle of what it used to be, chances are the reverse osmosis membrane needs to be replaced. Having had filters in my system for 6 months I am disappointed that it was so expensive to purchase a single filter like the RO while others of standard size are around $10 as they come without a housing. The larger filters in my old system lasted 6-12 months on the pre-filters and 2-3 years on the reverse osmosis membrane, and replacing all 5 filters costs about $25, but I didn't have to do it that often. They fit into a nice little system, but I don't yet have the options I've found in filters other than this one source. Once you go down the reverse osmosis route you will be buying filters for life so now I gravitate more towards what I had than what I have and I'm willing to pay a little more for a filter that does anything takes up more space, has larger filters and full-size filters available at full price. I chose the Culligan system because I believed the ads but it only removed 8ppm from my water source and did little for the taste but now I have an issue I just didn't address until I used replacement filters. I bought a compact under the sink water heater earlier this year and it leaked as soon as I turned on the water and the replacement (which took months for anyone to service the warranty) leaked too so I'm buying some compact again from China seller and i can only get filters from them and pay as much as they want because there is no alternative. I seriously doubt I'll ever be able to get about 100 gallons per day ("100 GPD") out of a system that has a tank that holds about 1.5 gallons (which is an average, based on factors that determine how much water it can hold). . but even if this were true, it falls off quickly as the membrane closes. To get close to 100 gallons per day I had to use a much larger tank and be able to live off it all day...and even my previous full sized system was only good for 50 gallons per day with a 5 gallon tank. . I had to add another tank as the size of the tank included in the kit didn't produce much water before the flow stopped. The 100 GPD membrane fills the tank faster, so that's a plus. We average about 2 gallons a day so that's about 550 gallons in 9 months and given my water source I won't need to change anything for the first year except maybe the pre-filters. A standard 10" filter actually measures 9-3/4" x 2-1/2", but is actually 6-5/8" x 1-3/4" and has about half the surface area than that larger filter It's very likely I'll get half the advertised life as every system, regardless of filter size, advertises 6 months for the pre-filters. To keep the RO it looks like the pre-filters need to be changed 3 times a year and it just won't happen. The RO "System" is just a collection of connected filters, and those are the ones I should have paid more attention to than the price, some extra filters, and some reviews. However, there is an alternative: throw this one away and buy a new one with standard size filters, which is what I should have done from the start. I have a new utility room with lots of space and the new system should pay for itself in the first year assuming I need to run 3 sets of filters a year. I will also be selling this one with all the new filters and I should be able to break even with the new system which will also include additional filters but filters that last a lot longer than these thumbnails. Obviously experiences vary and I was happy camping out until I saw the bleak future of buying expensive filters and contemplating upgrading to a new system when those filters need replacing. Reverse osmosis systems are much more compact today than they were when I bought my first one in the 90's, so even a full sized system doesn't take up much more space than a "compact" system unless you're completely limited to a few extras Since a full-size system is required, there's just no good reason to consider a system that only uses these filters from this one supplier... and larger systems can save you money on filters. I gave 2 stars because I don't like it and I admit that buying a system that can only use these filters was my mistake. I don't like it for the price, availability and I find the change interval is much shorter than the standard size filter despite both having the same advertised timing. Changing the filters after less than 600 gallons is no good so I'm not sure their lifespan is the same as advertised so it means more replacements. Any references to users actually getting 100 GPD should be questioned as not everything you read can be based on actual usage. If you think it's my fault that I missed the recommended 6 month pre-filter change and my reverse osmosis clogged up as a result, then that's your prerogative, but remember I have a municipal water system and less than 600 gallons, so these mini filters don't seem like the best option to me...and if I need them, I don't want to see that the only person selling them doesn't have them on sale.