Water filters are necessary for almost all houses, even if the water supply to your home is processed and filtered. It is because cities like New York, where the water is ready to drink from the tap, have many contaminants that can enter through the supply system. Many studies have shown an alarming amount of contaminants such as lead, mercury, etc. But filters can be expensive, large, and messy. That is not the case with the Epic Smart Shield water filter.
The Epic Smart Shield water filter is perhaps the most compact under sink water filter we have ever tested. The filter unit is literally the thickness and size of a large room freshener or an oversized Pringles can. But sometimes, the benefit of compactness comes at the cost of filtration. This is why we put this water filter to the test and check if it can be the most compact water filter recommendation from us.
We put it to a very difficult filtration test, pushing its filtration limits making it clean some of the most contaminated water. Along with this, we used it extensively to find all the small details. It is the review of the Epic Smart Shield water filter.
What Do You Get In The Box?
The packaging in which the filter came was small and slender, just like the filter itself. The unboxing experience was good. You get two water adapters, screws for the wall mount, two hoses for the water inlet, and the filter in the box. That is all. So by the sheer lack of complexity or the number of filters, you can imagine how simple and easy it was for us to install it.
Installation
Installing this filter is as easy as it can get. There is really not a single adult we can imagine who’d have a difficult time installing this filter. There is just one filtration unit that needs to be hung on the wall or the cabinet door. Two screws to put the wall mount on, and then place the filter there. Fitting the hoses to the water inlet can be a little difficult, nothing too complicated. But, a simple wrench would get it done in no time.
We had no issues installing the filter, and we certify it as a “DIY filter.” Also, apart from the ease of installation, it hardly takes any space. The compactness makes it possible to fit it anywhere, even if you have the tiniest under sink space. It alone makes it a great choice for many houses where there’s a problem with space.
But what about the most important feature; Filtration? Does the size impact the quality of filtration? First, let’s see what the company claims and what we found out.
Filtration of The Epic Smart Shield
The filter, on paper, is perhaps one of the most capable filters, especially for just one filtration unit. The filter uses one single block of carbon block, which is capable of handling a lot of contaminants. The company says that it can remove more than 70 contaminants by up to 99.99%. It is possible by using a single-block carbon filter instead of using granular carbon. Take a look at its removal capabilities of some of the most common and dangerous contaminants:
- Chloramine – 95.5%
- Lead – 99.4%
- Microplastics – 99.6%
- PFOA – 94%
- Uranium – 99.97
- E. Coli – 99.9%
- Fluoride – 97.8%
Along with these, it can remove pesticides, herbicides, mercury, arsenic, etc. So with all the different filters that we have tested, this one is a very capable and powerful filter.
Apart from this, the plastic used to make the filter is 100% recyclable BPA-free. So it is both safe for humans and the environment. The filters are also 100% made in the US. But how does it perform in real life? Let’s find out.
Testing The Filter
We put the filter through a tough test. As granted that we did not use the same contaminated water sample that we have used for other filters. It is because the other filters used three or even four filtration units, so comparing those with a single filter would be unfair. But that does not mean we went easy on the Epic Smart Shield.
The water sample we used was heavily contaminated with sand, silt, small debris, microplastic, lead, and chlorine, along with some other dissolved chemicals. However, after the water sample was processed, the results were okayish. And we were not disappointed. Here’s why.
The filter is capable of removing high amounts of lead, mercury, even some asbestos. Not just this, but it easily removed all the dissolved fluoride, chlorine, and chloramine. We did not test it for E.Coli, but we can vouch for the company’s claim. So, where does the problem come from? The part that we found a little lacking was the filtration from sand, silt, and the larger contaminants.
It was expected as there is no sediment filtration unit. So, if your water supply has less water and is more solid; and it is looking for a filter that can efficiently remove the larger contaminant parts, you should consider some other filter. Or get an addon; Epic Smart Shield sediment filter, a 5-micron filter made to clean the larger sediment particles. That is the only complaint that we have with the filter; other than that, everything works as the company claims.
What We Loved About The Product?
- Compact
- Eco-friendly
- Good Filtration Capacity
- Ease of Installation
- Price
- No Sediment Filter Bundled
- Stock
Apart from the great filtration, there are many other things that we loved about the Epic Smart Shield. Here are all the pros of this water filter and why you should consider buying it.
1. Compact
The USP of this product is compactness. With just one filtration unit, that too the size of a Pringles can, this is one of the most compact water filters that we are confident to recommend to our readers. There are compact and small filters in the market, but they lack performance. This one does not. So if there is a lack of space under your sink or you want to fit the filter in some other place, get this filter. It hardly takes any space while giving the best filtration in its segment.
2. Eco-friendly
Not a common term that you hear when shopping for filters, but it is a rising issue. The filters are made of plastic and other non-recyclable materials that all end up in some land dump or the ocean. Epic filters are to be used again without polluting the environment or the ocean. All the filters are 100% replaceable and 100% recyclable. It ensures that you are getting clean drinking water without running the water bodies or the water life.
3. Good Filtration Capacity
We were delighted and somewhat shocked to see that this tiny single filter can filter a total of 651 gallons of water. It means that if you live alone (for which this filter is the best), a single filter will easily last you for more than one year. For two people, the filter can be stretched to almost a year, while for a family, the filter will last for 9-months. These are impressive numbers since we have seen 3-stage filtration units last only a year.
4. Ease of Installation
Installing this water filter is as easy as it gets. There is no hassle in fitting it. Just a couple of holes, put the wall bracket, and tighten the screws. That’s it for the filtration unit. For the pipes, all you need is a wrench, and that’s it. It took us around 20 mins to fix it up and get it running. So we estimate that for first-timers, it would not take more than half an hour.
5. Price
Another pleasant thing about the Epic Smart Shield is the price. The filter comes at an easy $135 only. Adding the compactness and the great filtration that it can provide, we can easily say that this is one of the most value-for-money filters in the market. It also cements this filter’s top position in the “filters for individuals” section. Low price, good filtration, and small footprint; what else do you need if you live alone and want to drink clean water?
What We Did Not Like?
It was certain that there would be some issues coming on the way. And there are a few, although not deal-breakers. Some of the cons of the Epic Smart Shield are downright baffling. So let’s start with the cons.
1. No Sediment Filter Bundled
Sand, silt, and other particulate contaminants are very common in the US water supply. It is the contaminant that is not toxic but a problem for many. While you can get a sediment filter as an addon, it could have been better if Epic had found a way to integrate the sediment filter with the main carbon filter.
2. Stock
Before getting the filter, we were stuck on an issue. Almost all the places where you could get a filter did not have this filter. As a result, even at the time of writing, we have seen many sites, even Amazon, with the dreaded “Out of Stock” warning under this product. It could be because of the extreme demand for this product or low production. Or even both.
Epic Smart Shield Under Sink Water Filter System comes in a compact size, which makes it quite portable, It uses a single-block carbon filter that can remove more than 70 contaminants by up to 99.99%, as per company claims.
Conclusion
The Epic Smart Shield is a great water filter. It is not as powerful as some other under sink water filters in the market, but it is also not as bulky or expensive either. We tested it and were happy to see the results. This filter is a great choice for individuals or couples, especially if their house is lacking in space. But for families bigger than three, this should not be your choice.