Introducing The Aquasana AQ-5300.55 3-Stage Under Sink Water Filter System with Brushed Nickel Faucet.
The Aquasana AQ 5300 3-Stage Under Sink Water Filter System not only filters more ‘nasties’ out of your tap water than other leading brands but with its intelligent technology, actually retains the naturally occurring and healthy minerals or TDSs (Total Dissolved Solids) which you don’t want to lose such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.
We had heard so much about this Aquasana AQ 5300 product, we just had to rush out to buy one and test it for ourselves.
Aquasana claim that this filtration system removes ten times more contaminants than other brands and its retention of essential, desirable minerals described as ‘selective filtration’ is what marks it out in the marketplace and puts it ahead of the competition. It does seem to be a real winner in terms of the quality of taste of the finished product so let’s take a look at the unit in terms of design and installation to see how it compares with others on the market.
The Basics
This system uses NSF Certified Claryum filtration technology which will remove in excess of 97% of chlorine and chloramines plus organic chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides, asbestos, pharmaceutical compounds for example, ibuprofen and oestrogen, chlorine resistant bacteria such as cryptosporidium, and heavy metals such as lead and mercury, so effectively abstracting over sixty common contaminants found in tap water.
How does it actually work?
The three stage under the counter filtration system works in the following way:-
- Active carbon – reduces herbicides, pesticides and pharmaceuticals
- Catalytic carbon – targets chlorine and cholramines
- Ion-exchange – filters heavy metals such as mercury and lead
- Absolute Sub-Micron Mechanical Filtration – traps asbestos and chlorine resistant elements such as cryptosporidium and giardi.
This Aquasana AQ-5300.55 system has a 20 micron pre-filter which captures sediment, rust and the silt that can clog up your system and which can reduce both the capacity and effectiveness of any filtration system.
The Total Package
This unit is available with a choice of three taps so you can select one to complement your kitchen, the choices are brushed nickel, chrome or oil rubbed bronze. Available in a couple of options for installation, you can do it yourself, which is great and saves money, if you know your way around these systems and feel confident enough.
The easier option for peace of mind is to book an expert to come and do the fit for you. This takes away any worry and removes the chance of your ability being not quite as 100% as you thought. We suggest you read more about this service here and book your professional installation now.
Design Features
With a real nod to the environment, the Aquasana AQ-5300.55 has been designed with the intention of reducing where possible the use of plastic components and therefore unnecessary waste, the filters themselves contain 95% biodegradable carbon.
The performance element is impressive and this not only offers increased effectiveness compared to other models on the market, but also extends the life of the unit through this greater efficiency, effectively allowing you to enjoy a gallon of water at a much cheaper price than is the case with other comparable products. The pre-filter is particularly useful at removing sediments such as rust and silt which can not only diminish capacity but may also reduce the life of the system in its entirety.
This particular Aquasana model has Bluetooth connectivity which means you can download an app to your phone to alert you to when the cartridges need changing although the cartridges themselves have their own warning alert.
Customer Support
This unit is easy to install with two helpful videos on the website, one for initial installation and the other to replace the cartridges, this is possibly important as some users found the instruction manual less than helpful. The Aquasana AQ-5300.55 comes with a guarantee of one year and a three month initial warranty post purchase.
Aquasana suggest using original replacement cartridges, which can be ordered here.
Cleaning and Care
The filter cartridges come with a guaranteed life of six months and the clever thing about this unit is that you do not need to disconnect anything to change the cartridges so no fiddling about with hoses and joints and the inevitable nasty leaks or spillages. Rather than having to snap them out – why does that never seem to work – they simply twist out easily.
And the clever design alerts you to when the cartridges need changing with a beeping tone and a red flash so no need to guess, either replacing filters that still have a useful life or, conversely, waiting too long so that the system has failed to do its job and you have potentially harmful bacteria growing within the unit.
Final Thoughts On the Aquasana AQ 5300
With its eco-friendly components and thoughtful, stylish design, the Aquasana AQ 5300 really does have good green credentials. Its capacity is a staggering fifteen times greater than its leading competitors because filter life is extended through the modelling and performance aspects of the product. Almost all users complement the water on its improved taste although some do report a sometimes cloudy appearance. The Aquasana is definitely a front runner when it comes to choosing an under the counter water filtration system for the household.