3M Aqua-Pure DW8090 Under Sink Replacement Water Filters AP-DW80/90 for Aqua-Pure AP-DWS1000

My kids ask why everyone else's water taste so bad. They don't like using water fountains because our water taste better than even bottled water without the plastic waste or cost. Love this filtering system. It's been 10 years and the cost has almost doubled, but overall, still cheaper than bottled.

Installation was straightforward, and the filter works effectively, reducing chlorine taste and other impurities. I’ve noticed a significant improvement in the flavor of my drinking and cooking water. On the expensive side

I bought this filter to replace my Clear20 pitcher. Happily, the twin solid block carbon filters do an excellent job of filtering my well water. Without filtration, my water has a noticeable mineral taste. My well is 181 feet deep. The Aqua-Pure makes it taste better than bottled water. Because the filters should last about 6 months, the cost per gallon is low. In general, solid block carbon filters filter out more contaminants than regular "loose" filters like Brita filters. They also do a better filtering job than the whole house filters with the string wound filters. Installation was quick and easy although the instructions were not as helpful as I would have liked. I mounted mine under my sink with the filters towards the front of the cupboard. That way, I have easy access to the filters. My system came with 2 sets of instructions, one manual for the filter and faucet and one for just the faucet. Each manual calls for a different size drill bit for boring a hole in the sink (if a pre-drilled hole is not available). I used a 1/2" bit. It worked perfectly. The only knock against the Aqua-Pure, and it's a minor knock, is the water flow pressure. It's a little on the slow side. However, when one considers the water is passing through 2 blocks of carbon it really isn't that slow. If I am filling up a big pitcher or pot, I flip the faucet lever up so the faucet stays open. For filling drinking glasses, just a little bit of patience is required.

Accuracy of Product Description 3/5 Main reason that I'm giving the description a rating of 3/5 stars is because technically this isn't the Aqua-Pure AP-DWS1000, it's the Aqua-Pure AP-DWS1000LF. The difference is that the "LF" version doesn't include the faucet. So that faucet that you see in all of the product images - yep, not included. Instead you get a shiny chrome faucet, which was fine (I can post a product link / photo of the faucet the system comes with if someone is curious) - but it would have been nice to know that so I didn't spend 20 minutes searching the internet for why I received a different faucet. Packing 5/5 The system arrived very well packed and all the items were wrapped in loose plastic to prevent scuffing. Functionality 5/5 Functionality is why I bought this specific filter. Even though this system isn't the highest rated, nor the most popular, brand on Amazon I went with this one because when it came to water quality/taste it seemed (in my opinion) to have the best reviews. It was/is also rated #2 in undersink water filtration systems by Consumer Reports. Note the #1 filtration system is about 3 times the price of this one. Instructions 2/5 The instructions........if this isn't the first review you've read for the Aqua-Pure AP-DWS1000 you will most likely have an idea as to where I'm going with this. It's not that the instructions are the worst you'll ever read, because they aren't *that* bad. The issue with the instructions is that they are out-of-date - by at least 2 years. I ended up using another Amazon review (posted September 30, 2012) to help me figure out where the "saddle valve" that the instructions kept mentioning was. Spoiler: There's no saddle valve. What you receive instead is called a "Feed water connector." Stock image of the feedwater connector: (stock photo: http://i.imgur.com/Zn2HH0f.jpg ). This is a picture of what you receive instead of the saddle valve: http://i.imgur.com/sFvUoW1.jpg (my apologies for not having a better picture of the part, I didn't think I was going to write a review during the installation. I'll get into the reasons why I have this one picture shortly). Main things to know about the piece you get instead of a saddle-valve: both the inlet and the outlet are 3/4" (this tidbit isn't listed anywhere on the part, I had to measure). For your own sanity I highly recommend measuring the connections to your water pipes before getting too far into this, mine are 1/2" and resulted in having to make a trip to the hardware store mid-installation, hence my taking a picture of the part next to my flex hose. The other item regarding the instructions that I want to touch on is the "blue tubing" that gets mentioned with the faucet assembly. There is no blue tubing. Because you get a different faucet than what the product actually comes with there is no blue tubing (it's white, and attached to the faucet assembly). Key takeaways for the Aqua-Pure AP-DWS1000 Drinking Water System: - it's truly is a great filtration system - the instructions are out-dated. If you know going into the installation that they aren't the best it makes the installation process easier. - There is NO saddle-valve - You can absolutely install this yourself (note: I did not have to drill a hole in my counter top since I was replacing an undersink soap dispenser, so I can't comment on whether drilling the hole is something you can DIY). Edit: Found a stock photo for the feed water connector, added it to the bit where I talk about it not being the saddle-valve.

We’ve had this system for many years and it suits our needs perfectly. We may go too long before replacing the filters, which was why the leaked a bit under the sink (they were over 6 years old). These replacements solved the problem, good flow and no leaks one year out.

if you have a problem there is no one to talk to in order to resolve the problem

Plumber installed this and raved about it. Said it was easy, user friendly, grwat filtration system and easy filter replacement. He is going to recommend it to others in our area wishing to install an inder-sink filtration system. Our water here is HORRIBLE; super hard and overly minerally (is that even a word?). I also have a water softener system. I had an RO system which made the water taste wonderful but the coffee taste bitter. RO systems wastes water thus I needed a more H2O friendly drinking water system. This was my choice. The filtered water tastes good (not as good as RO but I can live with that) and most importantly...the coffee tastes divine! Plus no water is being wasted like my old RO system. Overall it's a win win!

Short version: Nice system, but don't use the adapter they provide, get this instead: JG Speedfit ASVPP1LF 3/8-Inch by 3/8-Inch by 1/4-Inch Angle Stop Adapter Valve JG Speedfit ASVPP1LF 3/8-Inch by 3/8-Inch by...