Table of Contents
🧾 Overview
The Instapure F2 Essentials is a tap water filtration system that is ANSI/NSF 42 and 372 certified to reduce chlorine, improving taste and odor of drinking water. It has an easy-reach lever that lets you switch between filtered and unfiltered water, so you can use this unit at your faucet for cold water, while still being able to produce unfiltered hot water.
The F2 Essentials has a unique design, with a chrome base and a clear cap, through which you can see the filter inside. Its modern appearance makes it a good fit for anyone who’s keen to use a filter that matches the aesthetics of the rest of their kitchen.
No tools are needed to install the Instapure F2 Essentials, which comes with seven adapters to help you fit it directly onto your standard faucet. The filter provides 200 gallons of filtered water, roughly equating to 3 months of use. Replacement filter packs of 1, 2, and 3 can be bought directly from the manufacturer.
💡 Features
Filter cartridge
The F2 Essentials comes with the first filter cartridge, which should last you approximately 3 months. You will have to buy your own replacement filters whenever you need them.
Filter cover
The filter cover houses the filter cartridge, protecting it from damage. This attaches onto the chassis, and is then connected to the faucet (with or without an adapter).
Adapter kit
The Instapure system includes an adapter kit with seven adapters that can be used to fit the filter directly to your faucet. You won’t be able to use the F2 Essentials on a non-standard faucet.
Installation instructions
You will find instructions for installing the Instapure in the box. If you’re more of a visual learner, the manufacturer’s step-by-step installation video might be more useful to you.
🚦 Performance
The Instapure F2 Essentials is perfect for people with a slightly lower budget, or people who have never tried a faucet water filter before and are reluctant to part with too much money.
But the lower price tag doesn’t reflect the quality of the product, as this filter still ticks lots of boxes when it comes to performance. For a start, it’s ANSI/NSF certified to reduce up to 97% of chlorine, and can also reduce up to 99% of lead and VOCs. You would expect the same performance from a fitler costing double, or even triple, the price.
With a lifetime of 200 gallons, you can get about three months of use out of the F2 Essentials filter cartridge. It’s fairly efficient at what it does, producing filtered water at a flow that you couldn’t complain about. There’s also the option to switch to unfiltered water whenever you’re just washing your hands, doing the dishes or collecting water for cleaning, so you don’t need to waste the filter when you’re not using it.
🔧 Installation & Maintenance
You can install the F2 Essentials to any standard bar faucet. The manufacturer also provides seven faucet adapters, some for faucets with internal aerators, and some for faucets with external aerators, so you can fit the unit to your own faucet.
You don’t need any tools for the job – it’s a simple case of attaching the right hardware to the right location and screwing them in place with your hands – which is always a bonus.
To look after the Instapure F2 Essentials and help to lengthen its lifespan, you should change the filter cartridges after 200 gallons or a couple of months. The unit won’t work if the filter is too clogged with sediment, so the only way to benefit from the F2 Essentials for years down the line is to keep replacing the filter.
A bonus of this system is that it’s designed from materials that are much more durable than flimsy plastic, so the unit itself should withstand plenty of use without breaking.
📝 Filter Info
This Instapure filter is ANSI/NSF 42 certified, which means it can remove up to 97% of chlorine – a pretty impressive figure. It also has an ANSI/NSF 372 certification for reducing up to 99% of lead. The filter uses a coconut carbon membrane, which is a more environmentally friendly filter option, but still uses the process of adsorption to trap contaminants in its pores, like other activated carbon filters.
Replacement filters for this unit are nice and cheap, so you really are making a good investment if you choose to purchase the F2 Essentials. You can bulk-buy them in packs of 4 from the manufacturer, which gives a bit of a discount when compared to buying the one at a time. You can buy other filters for the unit, but make sure they fit your system before parting with your money.
🔔 Pros & Cons
Pros
- NSF/ANSI certified for reducing chlorine and lead
- Made from high-quality, durable material
- Filter replacements are fairly low cost
Cons
- You will need to make sure the F2 Essentials is adequately tightened, as it has a tendency to leak
- Faucet adaptors are made from plastic
- No filter replacement alert
❔ Frequently Asked Questions
Will this filter lower water pH?
No, the fitler is only designed to remove chlorine and lead, not minerals that affect water pH. You will need a water softener for that purpose.
Does the filter fit in a threaded faucet?
Yes, but as there are many different types of threaded faucet, you may need to use one of the provided adaptors to get the fit just right.
Will the filter alter the regular faucet pressure?
No, not at all. The filter doesn’t affect the ingoing water pressure to your faucet. You may notice that water comes out of the filter at a slower rate, but this is because the water needs to go through the filtration process before coming out the other side.
How do I know when to change the filter?
You need to change the filter every 200 gallons, or roughly 2 months. You might want to write a reminder on your calendar, but if you forget, you will probably notice anyway, as your water will only come out of the spout at a trickle.
Where can I buy replacement parts for the filter?
You may be able to contact the manufacturer for replacement parts, but in many cases, it’s a lot easier to just buy a new system. You shouldn’t experience any issues with your filter until after many years of use, so buying replacement parts (hopefully) isn’t something you’ll have to think about right away.
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