Review: Epic Smart Shield Under Sink Water Filter

Full Analysis of the Epic Smart Shield

Filtration: 4.50/5.00

1. Lab Results: 4.50/5.00

Lab Results Chart

*100% means reduction to below the minimum detection level. To learn more about our testing procedures check our editorial guidelines.

Link to Filtered Water Report
Link to Unfiltered Water Report

Usability: 4.75/5.00

Costs: 4.87/5.00

Please note: This page is still a work in progress. Additional content and details will be added shortly – stay tuned!

Paraphrased Video Script

We recently tested and compared 19 different under sink water filters and the Epic Smart Shield stood out as our non-RO top pick – especially for those on a tighter budget. But, there’s more to the story, so in this video we’re diving deep into what makes the Epic Smart Shield great, what our lab tests revealed about real-life contaminant reduction, and the #1 complaint users have had – plus a super simple fix. So whether you’re considering the Epic, or you just want the real story beyond the marketing claims – let’s get into it.

Hi, I’m Sara with BOS Water and in today’s video we’re reviewing the Epic Smart Shield, which is a simple single-stage under sink water filter.

Most importantly, the Epic Smart Shield became one of our top recommendations in our recent video comparing 19 of the most popular and most effective under sink water filters. Essentially, the comparison featured 8 filters that don’t apply reverse osmosis, and among these 8, the Epic achieved the highest lab score for contaminant reduction. The Epic is also great in terms of usability, and it’s really affordable making it a great budget pick! So let’s go through all its product aspects one by one, including the one issue that 3rd party users have complained about most and how to make sure that you’re not affected.

Side note: You can find our full analysis of the Epic Smart Shield including lab reports in addition to the 18 other under sink filters we tested in this Google Sheet, so everything is fully transparent. And the sheet also contains our product link and a 20% discount code for the Epic, so don’t forget if you want to save a few bucks making a purchase while also supporting our work! You’ll find all the information you need in the video description below! And of course, another way you can support us is by liking this video and subscribing – this would be highly appreciated.

Lab Testing

So after installing the Epic Smart Shield on our tap water supply following the manual, we took an unfiltered and a filtered water sample which we sent to a professional lab for analysis and then studied the reports as they came back, comparing the concentrations of all the impurities and contaminants in our tap water pre and post-filtration.

Alright, so keeping in mind that such before-and-after lab testing isn’t an exact science, and that we can only test for the contaminants as they occur in our water supply, the Epic Smart Shield could remove most relevant substances to 100%:

1. Chlorine
2. 4 disinfection byproducts
3. Copper
4. Barium
5. Lithium
6. Uranium

Other results:

• Boron was removed by 50%
• Strontium 76%
• Fluoride 0%
• Nitrate reduction was between 74 and 99%, meaning traces remained (<0.5 ppm)

Now, boron, strontium, nitrate, and fluoride not fully removed might not seem that good, but the Epic actually did best among all 8 non-RO filters. The AO Smith AO-US-200 and the Culligan US-EZ-4 did almost as good, but they lacked behind in other areas. And when we compare the Epic to our under sink ROs, we can clearly see that it’s being outperformed which just shows the power of reverse osmosis. But RO systems have their own set of trade-offs and I don’t want to spend too much time comparing the Epic to the other filters here – remember: You can check our comparison video or Google Sheet for all the details. Bottom line is: The Epic Smart Shield did really well in our lab testing considering that there’s no RO membrane involved. And, no sign of chemical leaching into our water!

More filtration pros: The filtered water tasted and smelled perfectly clean. And, although mainly covering easier-to-remove organics, the Epic has several NSF certifications awarded by the IAPMO against standards 42, 53, and 401. Plus we have some additional NSF test data for even more organics, microplastic, radiological elements, and 2 microorganisms.

And all of this is achieved using a single coconut shell carbon filter block rated at around 1 micron – a huge space saver and also pretty sturdy.

Usability

For one, we like the simple setup:

1. You install an adapter on the cold water inlet and connect your faucet’s tubing to the adapter.
2. You can mount the Epic Smart to your cabinet’s wall using the provided screws, or use Velcro strips included in the box.
3. If you choose the optional dedicated faucet, insert the tubing through the hole in the top of your sink.
4. Connect the tubing to the proper valves.
5. Turn the knob on the adapter and it’s ready for use.

Once the Epic Smart Shield is installed under your sink, everyday use couldn’t be easier – you just open the faucet whenever you’re thirsty! In our speed test, we could dispense 1 cup in just 2.25 seconds, again using the optional dedicated faucet, so really, really fast!

The Most Common Complaint

Fast faucet flow apparently hasn’t been the case for everyone, especially for people using the Epic as an inline filter, so before their regular kitchen faucet.

What to do about this? Well, we recommend that you seriously consider getting the dedicated faucet like we did. Why?

• Reduced flow is less of a problem when it’s only for drinking/cooking water.
• Slow flow from your regular kitchen faucet can get annoying (e.g. doing dishes).
• You’ll save filter life for when it really matters.
• Epic’s dedicated faucet is simple, modern, and doesn’t take up much space.

And in addition, if you happen to live in an area with high sediment, older plumbing, or you’re on well water, Epic recommends adding their Smart Shield sediment pre-filter – to prevent rapid clogging of the carbon block.

Filter Replacements

Super straightforward thanks to the modular cartridge design:

1. Twist the filter from the housing.
2. When installing the new filter, line it up with the holes on the housing and twist into place.

One downside is that there’s no filter life indicator and so you have to estimate your next replacement date based on your water consumption – according to Epic you should get around 650 gallons per cartridge. Also, it might be a good idea to keep a spare cartridge on hand as they appear to be out of stock at times.

Costs

Like I said, the Epic Smart Shield is a great budget pick at $129 upfront, or $160 if you’re getting the extra faucet. The optional sediment pre-filter kit would add another $50. Note that you can get 15% off everything if you sign up to a filter subscription. Or you can use our special code to get a full 20% off even without a subscription!

Annual filter replacement comes down to around $175, so more on the higher end for a single-stage system. At least you can save 15% with a subscription. Plus, Epic offers a recycling program: for every 3 used cartridges you mail in, you’ll receive 1 new cartridge for free. This also applies to the sediment pre-filter which usually lasts 12 months or 1,000 gallons, adding another $50 annually.

Warranty & Discounts

Epic offers:

• A lifetime warranty
• Special discounts for veterans, healthcare workers, and students

Summary

The Epic Smart Shield:

• Offers simple yet effective and extremely fast under sink filtration on a budget
• Paired with great usability and a space-saving design
• You get a lifetime warranty
• Epic offers discounts and a filter recycling program that’s actually useful
• But, there have been issues with slow flow, so we recommend getting the optional faucet

Alright! Remember to check our Google Sheet for our full analysis of the Epic and 18 other under sink water filters. Also, check the sheet and the video description for our product links and discount codes in case you want to purchase. And as always, please drop any questions or filter requests in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe! Thanks so much for watching — and I’ll see you in the next one!