3M Aqua-Pure 3M FF100 Under Sink Drinking and Cooking Water Filter System, Reduces Lead, Microplastics, Chlorine Taste and Odor, Cysts, Select VOCs. 2.5 GPM Full Flow

Excellent water filter. The filtered water tastes just like bottled water. I can say this because after installation we did a blind taste-test. My wife only drinks bottled water because she hates the taste of tap water, and she thought the water from the filter was the bottled water. Now we don't need to buy bottled water anymore. The filter is NSF certified so performance and specifications can be trusted. As expected, water flow from the sink faucet was reduced a bit since water is now going thru a filter, but it was not reduced significantly from 1.7 to 1.4 gal/min. The water flow is fine. The replacement filter cartridge uses a 1/4-turn quick-connect mechanism so it will be easy to replace in 1 yr (or 6,000 Gal).IMPORTANT INSTALLATION GUIDANCE: The filter is very easy to install. However, DO NOT install it as shown in the Installation Instructions that come with the filter or the 3M video that is found online. They both show Polyethylene Tube (i.e. Plastic Tube) being used to make the water connections, and we initially installed it that way but learned that there are several reasons not to use the tubing:1) The main reason not to use the plastic tubing is the risk of a major water flood situation. This is because the coupling of the tubes into the compression fittings can be flaky since the tube is just pushed in and compressed. In our installation, one of the tubes popped out after 48 hours. Fortunately we were near the kitchen so we heard the water flow, and were able to quickly shut-off the water. In just a short amount of time, we had water all over the floors. If we hadn't been home, it would have been a major and expensive flooding disaster.2) Other reasons are that there is a safer, cheaper, and easier way to install the filter. This installation uses standard braided water supply lines connected directly to the filter (see pictures). This is safer because all water connections are screwed-in so they cannot pop out. The installation is cheaper and easier because there are less parts and less connection points. A description of two filter installations with the list of parts required follows.1st Installation to Faucet (Pictures 1 thru 3):---------------------------------------------------The first filter was installed to feed a kitchen faucet. Parts required were purchased at HomeDepot:• Qty 2 of Everbilt Lead-Free Compression Adapter 3/8" OD x 3/8" MIP (Model #800669) $4.43/ea(Note: These fittings are used to connect the water supply lines to the filter. The MIP side of the fitting screws into filter head; one for the input and one for the output. You will unscrew and not use the pieces in the 3/8" OD side of the fitting because the supply lines will connect directly to the male end left after unscrewing the pieces).• Qty 1 of Oatey Fast Tape 1/2 in. x 260 in. PTFE Thread Seal Tape (Model #306212) $2.97(Note: This is the teflon PTFE tape to wrap the 3/8" MIP end of the fitting that screws into filter head to make it leak proof. We wrapped it using 5 loops around. If the MIP connection develops a slow leak, the thing to do is to unscrew it and rewrap it with new PTFE tape and perhaps add one or more loops of tape. Trying to over tighten the fitting connection doesn't fix the leak. If you use the white PTFE tape that is very thin instead of this Oatey tape, you may not be able to stop the leak. We experienced this with one side of the filter, and wasted lots of time redoing it over and over. Online we read about people fixing leaks with higher-quality, thicker PTFE tape. We got the Oatey tape and wrapped it 5 times around the fitting, and it immediately fixed the leak. This tape is color grey).• Qty 1 of BrassCraft 3/8" Comp x 3/8" Comp x 20" Braided Polymer Dishwasher Connector (Model #B1-20DW F) $4.58(Note: This is the water supply line to connect the filter to the incoming water valve at the wall. Only one water line is needed if you already had a line going from wall to faucet. That existing line will now go from the output of the filter to the faucet).2nd Installation to Faucet & Ice Maker (Picture 4 with brass Tee-connector):--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We liked the filter so much that we got a second one. This one was installed to feed a faucet and an ice machine so the water needed to be diverted with a tee-connection. The ice machine was far from the sink so had to route a long water line on the back of the cabinets behind the drawers. In addition to the parts and installation done in the first two bullets of the 1st installation above, the following parts were ordered from Amazon:• Qty 1 of BrassCraft GIDDS-131737 Female Compression Tee, 3/8" Od x 3/8" Od x 1/4" Od, Lead Free $5.98(Note: The 3/8" OD female side of this fitting was connected directly to the Everbilt compression adapter that is screwed to the filter head as described in the first bullet of the 1st installation above (see pic 4). The 3/8" OD male is connected to the water line going to the faucet. The 1/4" OD male is connected to the water line going to the ice maker. Since the two fittings attached together extend a pretty good amount from the filter head, the existing water line going to the faucet was creating strain. We got a longer and more flexible line to eliminate the unwanted strain; see below Fluidmaster B1F30)• Qty 1 of Certified Appliance IM180SS Braided Stainless Steel Ice Maker Connector (15-foot) $13.43(Note: The ice maker line has 1/4" female compression fittings on both ends. One end hooks to the 1/4" OD in the compression tee, and the other end connects to the ice machine. There are other lengths in the Amazon listing).• Qty 1 of Fluidmaster B6F16 Faucet Connector, Braided Stainless Steel - 3/8" Female Compression Thread x 3/8" Female Compression Thread, 16" Length $4.29(Note: This is the water supply line to connect the filter to the incoming water valve at the wall. There are other lengths in the Amazon listing. Only one water line is needed if you already had a line going from wall to faucet. That existing line will now go from the output of the filter to the faucet).• Qty 1 of Fluidmaster B1F30 Faucet Connector, Braided Stainless Steel - 3/8" Female Compression Thread x 1/2" I.P. Female Straight Thread, 30" Length $7.51(Note: New longer line going to faucet to replace existing line).

Full disclosure - I worked for 3M Company who makes this product for 37 years, which makes me biased.But that also makes me knowledgeable. In this case this filter will attach to the cold water line under your sink and provide full flow (2.5 gpm) filtered water for drinking and cooking. This is SO much better than installing a “shepherds crook” faucet on top of your counter that filters well but takes forever to even fill a glass. You can also use the same water line to feed your ice maker.It removes all the bad stuff you would worry about and makes the water taste great too.I believe the life of the filter is about 10,000 gallons or so. I replace mine every year. The replacement is very easy - a twist off/twist on process.Have recommended to all my friends and everyone that tries it loves it. Replacement cartridges are expensive but the ease and utility makes it worthwhile for us.

Got tired of Sparklettes overcharging and refusal to cancel but I think I finally shook 'em. I looked at the ANSI ratings and this one is ANSI 42 and 53 . Easy to Google search and read to your hearts content.For the real test I filled two glasses . I posted a picture of The Aqua Pure on the left and Camarillo tap water on the right. I used swimming pool test strips . I also asked my teenager with good eyes to look at and taste the samples . He chose the 3M over the tap. The test strips show an approximate range by color change on the tiny squares located on the strip. The second and third squares are for chlorine . Green equals chlorine . The filter removed the chlorine . The 4th square ,the red one is PH level. I'm not sure if its possible but the sample on the left ,the filter sample, seems to show a higher PH level . It also seems a higher alkalinity on the filtered water from the test strip indication.The pressure is easily 2.5 gallons per minute . I hooked up a dedicated faucet just for the filtered water and its very fast filling the coffee pot. This model claims one can hook it up straight to the kitchen sink but we chose to separate the feeds. No leaks at the connection points with threaded fittings and teflon tape. The bracket that holds the filter seems sturdy and easy to install. The water definitely tastes better and looks cleaner. Take the bracket with you to the store to get the right hoses. Not the tank but the tank connection bracket . It's smaller and has all the info a helpful hardware person would need to set you up properly.