GE Merlin Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of GE Merlin Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System
Customer Review: Merlin Lacks Magic, it can't make water.
Summary: 3 Stars
The "Merlin" reverse osmosis filter does the job. Our 'problem' with this filter, as in another brand we had before, is water waste. All these low pressure, below 90 PSI, filters, waste ten times more water then they produce.
We know exactly, because we recycle light 'grey' water for toilet flushing. In water shortage regions , we are on a poorly producing well, I recomend spending an extra thousand for a small salt water desalination unit such as used on ocean going ships. Run THAT motor on 12V, solar and one has the purest fresh water, free.
Desalinating 'fresh' water should be a snap with few if any, "filter" changes.
With plenty of fresh water available, one could simply redirect "Merlin's" waste water for garden or other non drinking uses. In most regions of North America,GE Merlin Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System clean drinking water will soon have more issues then Readers Digest.
Customer Review: Mine is loud garbage too
Summary: 1 Stars
I've had the system for 2+ years now. It's never worked well. It's very loud when filtering water, and has very low output pressure. I added a booster pump and a storage tank to make it moderately useful. Even though our water usage is low, the prefilter has to be replaced every month or 2, or the valve will make even more noise. It kinda whines like a dying animal as it leaks waste water throught the manifold valve. My wife will be extremely happy when it's in the trash. I'll be replacing it with a conventional RO system in the next couple weeks. I'd only recommend it if you need 200+ gallons of water per day, don't mind 60+dB of noise, only use the supplied faucet, install the unit within 2 feet of the faucet, and keep a big stockpile of prefilters on hand to swap out every few weeks.Customer Review: Not for everyone. Didn't pass the wife test.
Summary: 2 Stars
Pros: I used to have the more typical sears RO system but was frustrated by low capacity. I bought one of these last summer. It was great to be able to fill a 5 gal water jug in minutes instead of hours. Cool design.
Cons: LOUD! The air-break in the spigot sounds like a jet engine. Because it is filtering so much more water per unit time than the low capacity systems, it sounds like you are pouring a bucket of water down the drain the entire time it is running. It has startled people in the next room when the ice maker goes off. Replacing filters is a $250 exercise. Mine lasted 9 months before the flow rate dropped to the point where it was no longer acceptable. Now it keeps turning on spontaneously with a trickle of water. It may be because of a bad valve or because the filers need replacing.
Customer Review: Specs Look Great, Not a Great Product in Practice!
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased this item for a complete house remodel after reading the information and performance specs. I had purchased all GE Profile appliances and have long respected the GE name for quality. The installation baffled the plumber but after a large amount of head scratching by both of us we finally figured it out and got it installed.
THE REASON I INSTALLED A RO SYSTEM:
This was put in front of a "pot filler" faucet installed over the cook top, the ice maker in the fridge, the insta-hot and a built-in coffee maker.
THE PROBLEMS I ENCOUNTERED:
The first problem was that the system did not provide adequate flow for the coffee maker to work, so that was disconnected. I was bummed because that is a major reason for the system. The second problem was the low flow in the refrigirator water dispenser. I had to remove the filter in the fridge or it would take forever to fill up a glass. The pot filler ran exceeding slow as well.
All that pails in comparison to the agrevation of listening to this system continue to run after each use. I am on a water meter and generally take great pains not to "waste" water. It's not possible with this system
EXCESSIVE COST OF REPLACEMENT FILTERS:
The final straw was when the system would not shut off. I decided I would try to replace the filters. My bad for not checking the cost of these items BEFORE putting the system in. The replacement RO filters and the other two required cost more than most competing units. Even after extensive price shopping the best I could do was $209 to replace the filters and membranes.
I cannot recommend this for anyone.
Customer Review: Very Satisfied with this product
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the GE Merlin over a year ago and have been extremely satisfied with it. I have read all the reviews others have made but I don't use any of the fancy components that others may use like a booster pump or fridge ice makers etc. I just fill a tank with the merlin and then have plenty of RO water for whatever I need. I use about 300 Gallons of RO water per week.
I have figured out that the amount of RO water compared to how much it uses is about 1/5. So out of 5 gallons of water used you get 1 RO gallon. I am filtering city tap water and have it connected to a faucet which I operate manually. The TDS of my city water ranges between 80-110ppm and when it is processed it measures under 10ppm. I also have nice pressure (90psi) so i just use the included pressure gauge and open the valve accoringly until the gauge reads 80psi, and it works great.
I am boggled why it has such bad reviews. It is quiet, it has the most filtering capability for any thing in this price range. You could easily spend twice as much as this on one that has a large storage tank setup or a bunch of fancy valve tank assembly junk. This is an on demand system so produce as much as you need. It would work great in a restraunt or somthing in a cafateria where you you produce it when you need it. It takes up a small space and best of all it has 2 RO Filters, instead of other systems which cost twice as much and only have one filer and produce less volume. I find it takes about 5 minutes for 5 gallons. There is a drawback however they dont seem to provide you with very much hose to hook it up with so you might have to take a trip to your local hardware store and get some additional components. It you are try to have some sort of automated system setup or somthing, can simply hook up a simple gardening timer available at you local hardware store for anywhere from 15 bucks to 100 or so take your pick.
My advice is BUY IT. It has worked great for over a year and produces nice clean water, and it tastes good too. Dont get all fancy with the gadges and it will work fine, and always put a valve between the merlin and the water source so if it automaticly turns on one day you can shut it off. I dont understand how the thing would just turn on but, Im not getting fancy with it. But make sure to install it with care and dont be confused, it you are have a plumber to it. Hope this helps to all of you who want to be healthier by have lots of clean water to drink and cook with. Take care!