[n8marx]

Mikester,

I work for the GE supplier that builds the particular RO unit you asked about. I'm also the guy that designed and developed it for GE. I'm not going to go into any great detail here but I will tell you that it is a great product that meets or beats the performance of its competitors in a smaller, more convenient package. Carbon filter changes are based on totalized gallon usage or a six month timer, whichever you hit first, and will run around $80 bucks for the pair. The RO element will be about $90 and will need to be replaced every couple years realistically. The RO element performance is monitored electronically. The unit actually tells you when to replace the element based on it's actual performance rather than just a couple year timer. Many units out there do this but the method we developed and employed is more accurate than the others due to the logic we used. Filter and element changes will be fairly steep but not out of line with the rest of the industry.

Great little product and I'd have one if I didn't despise RO units so much. Flushing 4+ gallons of water down the drain, as all ROs do, for every gallon of drinking water produced is just too wasteful for me. There are a few people in the US who actually need one due to health concerns and the state of their immune systems but most do not. A good carbon filter with VOC capability will be cheaper and take care of everything you're likely to run into.

More than you probably wanted to know. Bottom line. It's a good unit and isn't likely to be much more expensive than the others.