Essence Overview: Aquibear Reverse Osmosis Counter Water Air purifier

Water retains us alive. Our earth is 71% water. Our physique is about 60% water. So, it’s fairly apparent to me that water is essential to sustaining our well being. Well being specialists advocate that we drink between 10 and 16 cups of water a day to make sure our our bodies stay correctly hydrated. However one thing that’s neglected is the purity of the water you drink. Water that’s contaminated, soiled, or stuffed with chemical compounds in all probability isn’t the perfect on your well being. So, in my pursuit to make sure higher well being for my household, I used to be excited when Aquibear reached out to me asking if I wished to overview a prototype of their new Reverse Osmosis (RO) countertop water air purifier. (*Disclosure beneath.)

As a coverage, I usually don’t write opinions about pre-production gadgets or prototypes, nor do I cowl crowd-funded devices just because those I’ve invested in merely haven’t been nearly as good as “marketed.” Whereas I used to be a bit reluctant to overview a prototype, after a few months of utilizing the Aquibear RO Countertop Water Air purifier, my religion has been considerably restored. The actual fact is, the Aquibear is now utilized in my house a number of instances a day by your complete household. Actually, it’s now a part of day by day routines and is the go-to water air purifier within the kitchen.

There are a lot of nice options of the Aquibear which I’ll go into on this overview. At a excessive stage, it’s a countertop reverse osmosis water air purifier that pumps out purified room temperature water. It has a detachable pitcher that may be saved within the fridge. And it produces scorching water for tea or different scorching drinks on the push of a button. Better of all, it’s extraordinarily straightforward to make use of, appears good within the kitchen, and sits on the countertop – no plumbing required.

What’s Reverse Osmosis?

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a expertise used to take away most contaminants from water. However the way it differs from conventional water filters like those present in a Brita pitcher or your filtered fridge water is that it pushes the water via a semi-permeable RO membrane with stress.

Osmosis does happen naturally. Take into consideration plant roots – they will extract water from the soil and clear it up to be used in its system. Equally, our kidneys take up water from our blood utilizing osmosis. My understanding is {that a} weaker saline answer will naturally have a tendency to maneuver to a powerful saline answer – from much less focus to extra. semi-Salty water, if separated by a semi-permeable membrane, would naturally transfer in direction of extra closely salted water.

There isn’t any vitality required in osmosis – it happens naturally.

Reverse osmosis, transferring from heavy focus to much less focus, requires vitality since it’s doing the naturally-occurring course of in reverse. The membrane has to permit for water molecules to move via it however not issues like micro organism, organics, or different dissolved supplies like salt. When reverse osmosis is occurring, it has to have sufficient vitality and stress to beat the naturally occurring stress of osmosis.

There may be extra scientific mumbo-jumbo behind this, having to do with the molecular weight (MW) of the molecules throughout the water. For instance, the MW of a water molecule is eighteen. Sodium and Calcium have even decrease MW’s. Nonetheless, any contaminant having an MW bigger than 200 needs to be stopped by a RO system.

As there’s some complexity in house Reverse Osmosis techniques, a majority of those techniques are literally plumbed into your kitchen and might value a number of a whole bunch of {dollars}. And, the truth that they’re sometimes hooked up beneath your kitchen sink means they aren’t transportable.

That is the place the Aquibear is a little more distinctive. It’s transportable however makes use of a lot of the identical expertise.

The Tech within the Aquibear RO Countertop Water Air purifier

Earlier than I dive into the tech, I need to shortly speak about filtration and purification. Typical water filters (just like the Brita filter or these present in your fridge) use an activated carbon filter. These take away components that trigger the dangerous style and scent of water—issues like chlorine. And so they take away different bigger contaminants. However that’s just about it.

With Reverse Osmosis techniques, you have got a number of layers of filters and the RO membrane which are energetic to take away way more from the water. And, there are RO techniques which have completely different phases. Usually, you will notice 3-Stage, 4-Stage, and 5-Stage techniques for beneath your sink. However I’ve seen as much as 11-Stage RO techniques accessible. Keep in mind, you in all probability have to exchange a filter for every of these phases (filters = $$$).

A 3-Stage system, just like the Aquibear, has…3 phases of cleansing. Usually Stage 1 is a carbon pre-filter. (That is like that Brita or fridge filter.) Stage 2 is the RO membrane. And Stage 3 is a carbon post-filter. A 4-Stage system often provides a sediment pre-filter forward of every part else and modifications the final carbon post-filter to one thing referred to as a “sprucing filter” (which is, in impact, a carbon filter). A 5-Stage system has a sediment filter > carbon pre-filter > second carbon pre-filter > RO membrane > sprucing filter. Different phases might add different varieties of particular filters into the method.

As I stated, the Aquibear is a 3-Stage filter, however there are solely two filters it’s important to change six months to a yr or so later (relying in your utilization): the PPC Composite Filter and the RO Composite Filter. The filters for the Aquibear are offered by Hydranautics, one of many international leaders in membrane expertise.

The 2 filters are cleverly hidden away in the primary physique of the Aquibear, virtually like a secret compartment. That you must slide off the highest to entry them. As soon as the highest is eliminated, taking the person filters out could be very straightforward. Notice: as of this writing and since the Aquibear continues to be within the pre-production and funding stage, I don’t have a worth for the alternative filters but.

Utilizing the Aquibear

OK, sufficient scientific tech talks. You in all probability need to know the way it all works. The great thing about the Aquibear is that it’s actually a plug-and-play sort of system. The filters come pre-installed (no less than my model did). You simply must unpack it and plug it into the facility. There isn’t any plumbing it’s important to do or something like that.

One factor to recollect, this overview is predicated on the prototype/pre-production unit I obtained. I’ve offered the producer with some utilization suggestions throughout my overview interval, so the manufacturing mannequin could also be completely different.

There may be an preliminary setup course of that I’m not going to speak about just because the producer has informed me they’re refining that course of. However there’ll all the time be a course of to prime the hoses and pumps and get the filters activated and dealing. This additionally will flush out the tubes and hoses.

There are three essential sections to the Aquibear: the pre-filtered water storage reservoir, the detachable purified water pitcher, and the water spout.

First, you take away the reservoir to fill it up with faucet water. Whenever you take away this tank, you’ll hear two beeps. This allows you to know that it has been eliminated. The reservoir does have a deal with to make carrying it a bit simpler. And it has a lid to maintain mud and particles out. When filling the tank, Aquibear recommends that you just dump out the remaining water inside to make sure nothing stays settled on the backside. Whenever you place it again into the physique, it’s important to make certain that it sits firmly in place. You’ll know when you have finished this if you hear two beeps once more.

Aquibear tries to make sure you all the time have filtered water accessible. So, from the reservoir tank, the water is robotically filtered and purified, and it’s saved within the detachable, small water pitcher. The water pitcher could be taken out and put within the fridge if you need. However, so as so that you can use the Aquibear in any method, the pitcher should be correctly inserted into the bottom. Whenever you take away it, the bottom will beep 3 times, and if you correctly insert it, it can beep 3 instances once more.

Truthfully, we hardly ever take away the pitcher; we use the water outlet spout as an alternative. The spout itself can pivot 90º for higher positioning. One good characteristic concerning the spout is that it’s going to mild up both in blue when the cool water is being poured (it’s room temperature water) or in crimson in case you select to have scorching water.

The new water is virtually boiling and might burn your hand. It’s excellent for tea (or, as my children found, making scorching chocolate). Notice: as a result of the water stream when scorching water is activated is a bit gradual, it does are likely to splatter a bit greater than when distributing cool water, so it is best to preserve your mug nearer to the spout when doing scorching water. I’ve talked about this to Aquibear, and this could possibly be simply resolved with a water defend across the spout.

The entrance of the Aquibear is the place you have got all the soft-touch controls for the water in addition to the varied alert lights. A fast notice: in vibrant mild, it’s typically tough to see the buttons and alert lights – I handed this data on to Aquibear. Simply contact any of the buttons to wake it up from sleep mode and illuminate all the buttons and indicators.

On the prime, you have got the outlet water quantity. You may choose 8 oz, 12 oz, or Max for the output. The 8 oz. is ideal for a cup or mug, the 12 oz. is nice for a glass, and the Max simply retains pouring till you’re out of water. Any of the settings could be began or stopped by urgent the new or chilly water button. You select the outlet quantity with the plus or minus arrow buttons.

The following most vital buttons are the kind of water you need: cool or scorching. The cool water (room temp) is the cup icon with out the steam, and the new one is the one with the steam (clearly). After choosing the output quantity, press both of those buttons for cool or scorching water.

Under the cool/scorching buttons is the flush button. That is solely used when flushing the system for setup or cleansing. And on the prime of the soft-touch button column is the lock. The lock serves a wide range of functions. You may activate a baby lock to stop children from burning themselves with the new water. Or the lock might robotically activate when scorching water isn’t accessible. Urgent and holding the lock button for about 3 seconds will activate/deactivate the kid lock characteristic.

On the far right-hand aspect are the varied alerts and indicators. You may see the standing of the 2 filters (PPC and RO) in order that you already know when it’s essential to change a filter. After a few months of day by day use, each of my filters are exhibiting 4 white dots! If the crimson mild on both of these filter indicators activates, it’s time to exchange the filter.

The ultimate three indicators are vital for day by day use. The highest one is expounded to altering the water. Whether it is flashing white, it’s essential to fill the faucet water tank. Whether it is flashing crimson, meaning the Aquibear has detected a excessive TDS (Complete Dissolved Solids) depend. The water could possibly be closely polluted, so it’s essential to change the water within the tank. Whether it is strong crimson, it’s essential to do the identical factor as there’s a excessive TDS depend.

The indicator beneath that exhibits that the water is purifying (transferring from the faucet tank to the pitcher). And the underside indicator…effectively, I’m not completely positive what that’s for.

Fast water high quality checks

We all the time use filtered water in our home, despite the fact that the standard of our faucet water straight from the tap is extraordinarily excessive. Some fast style comparisons between the faucet, the Brita-filtered water, the refrigerator-filtered water, and the Aquibear have been so shut, it was powerful to inform the distinction to my untrained style buds. And there’s no chlorine scent with any of these. And, for good measure, I attempted a bottle of distilled water.

So, I made a decision to select up a TDS meter/water high quality tester to really attempt to do one thing considerably scientific. I examined the 5 water sources I named above: faucet, Brita, fridge, distilled water from a bottle, and Aquibear. Listed here are the outcomes:

• Faucet water (chilly) – 37
• Faucet water (scorching) – 52
• Brita filter water – 24
• Fridge water – 27
• Bottled distilled water – 31
• Aquibear water (chilly) – 10
• Aquibear water (scorching) – 22

I’ll let the numbers converse for themselves (with a tiny little bit of context). From what I perceive, there’s a TDS (Complete Dissolved Solids) quantity vary: 0-50 = ultimate consuming water (reverse osmosis), 50-100 = carbon filtration, mountain springs, 100-200 = onerous water, 200-300 = marginally acceptable, 300-500 = excessive ranges of TDS, 500+ = most contamination (don’t drink). Common faucet water is usually between 100 and 400. However this is only one supply I discovered. Others say the perfect vary is between 300-500. Backside line, in case you are over 500, you want a Reverse Osmosis system.

Remaining ideas on the Aquibear – Price & Availability

As I discussed, as of this writing, the Aquibear is at present not within the manufacturing section. Nonetheless, some early-production models, like mine, have been distributed. And, there’s at present an Indiegogo marketing campaign launching shortly. That being stated, you could need to monitor the marketing campaign to get a greater estimate of the value.

I’m guessing that the Aquibear will likely be priced round $200-300, which might be in step with different under-the-sink RO models. And I’m guessing that the alternative filters will likely be lower than $100. Keep in mind, you in all probability solely have to exchange the filters about annually, but it surely actually will depend on a number of elements like the standard of your water and the quantity you utilize it.

I’ve to say, although, it is a nice system to have in your house and even your workplace. Whereas the tank isn’t large, which implies that you do must refill it fairly often, particularly in case you are a heavy water drinker, the Aquibear’s measurement makes it fairly transportable, and it may be positioned in any room. I used to be considering that it might be an excellent gadget for a kid going off to varsity (my daughter would LOVE to have one). Not solely can they get pure water of their room, but when they want boiling-hot water, they’d have that on the contact of a button.

The Aquibear is now utilized in our house every day and a number of instances a day for each cold and warm water. It’s tremendous handy, and also you don’t have to fret about your water not being pure.

Disclosure: I’ve a cloth connection as a result of I obtained a pattern of a product for consideration in making ready to overview the product and write this content material. I used to be/am not anticipated to return this merchandise after my overview interval. All opinions inside this text are my very own and are sometimes not topic to the editorial overview from any third celebration. Additionally, a number of the hyperlinks within the submit above could also be “affiliate” or “promoting” hyperlinks. These could also be robotically created or positioned by me manually. This implies in case you click on on the hyperlink and buy the merchandise (typically however not essentially the services or products being reviewed), I’ll obtain a small affiliate or promoting fee. Extra data could be discovered on my About web page.

HTD says: The Aquibear RO Countertop Water Air purifier is a kind of devices you didn’t notice it is best to have till you have got one. Ingesting plenty of water in the course of the day is essential to your well being. However consuming well-purified and filtered water is much more vital, and the Aquibear conveniently purifies faucet water from a tool that sits in your countertop.