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ER-Series

Our ER-Series filters have always been sold at this price due to our emphasis on the quality of the product.

The cost of the filter comes mainly from the material used and the time we spend on each production – to make sure the filter can last for years, and even decades.

This is why maintenance for ER-filters only needs to be done once every 5 years, instead of every year. And many of our customers have been using our ER-filters for more than 10 years, and some even 20 years, without any issue.

You can take a look at some of our customer reviews that we shared on our FB page, or on our website www.bacfree.com.my.

We take the best materials from different countries so that we don’t limit ourselves to supplies from a single source.

The SUS304 stainless steel casing of the ER is made in Thailand.

The carbon and anthracite filtration media are made in India.

And the quartz sand and stones are made in Myanmar.

They are all assembled locally here in our HQ in Subang Jaya.

Both membrane filters and Multi-media filters (MMF) like this one, with carbon+anthracite+quartz sand & stones, can work well to provide clean, filtered water.

However, for point-of-entry filters (ie. outdoor filters), we prefer MMF filters compared to membrane. This is because:

1. Outdoor filters require a higher flow rate to provide filtered water for all the taps in the entire home. The flow rate for MMF filters is higher compared to membrane.

2. Outdoor filters filter water that is directly from our municipal source. As such, there may be more sediments and small matters to filter. These may get clogged and cause a lower flow rate in a membrane filter due to it being more fine. Which leads to…

3. The maintenance and servicing for membrane filters is more frequent due to the reasons above, compared to only one time servicing every 5 years for MMF filters.

4. Membrane filters are best used to filter particles and impurities, but not chemicals. For outdoor filters, where the water source can contain more impurities, carbon and anthracite are better materials to absorb chemicals like chlorine.

We would prefer to have membrane filters as indoor filters (point-of-use), after filtration at the point-of-entry by a MMF outdoor filter, so that the flow rate is not affected too much.

The theory is simple, the higher the filter vessel volume in the water filter, the cleaner the water, because there is more space for the filtration process to take place in the tank.

The ER-Series filter is specially designed with a specific height and width so that the flow of water has sufficient contact time with the filtration media layers to get the best absorption and filtration of the water.

There are 3 main sizes:

ER19M (Basic): 3 – 5 pax in an intermediate home (single or double storey); 48 Litres
ER19S/SM (Standard): 5 – 7 pax in an intermediate home or Semi-D; 66 Litres
ER28S/M (Premium): 7 pax and above in a Semi-D or bungalow; 130 Litres

Naturally, the bigger the filter vessel volume, the better the performance of the filtration process, too.

Of course, this also depends on several other factors, like:

  • how much water you use (more water usage = more volume needed),
  • the size of your home (the ER28M is the recommended size for a bungalow),
  • and the water quality of your area’s municipal treated water source (housing area with poor quality water sources require higher filtration performance).

Remember, you can opt to upgrade – but not downgrade.

If the water consumption in a household is high, you should not go for a smaller filter size because it will get dirty very fast and the water pressure may get affected if the household consumption rate is high.

Both carbon and anthracite are the main filtration media in ER-series water filters.

Carbon works by chemical absorption, so it absorbs and removes foul taste, colour, odour, chlorine, by-products and organic matters from your water.

The way carbon works is like a sponge, the more it absorbs, the more saturated it gets, and the absorption will be exhausted after a certain period of time.

On the other hand, Anthracite works by physical absorption. It absorbs and disintegrates as it removes rust and fine sediment as fine as 5 microns.

Over time, the volume of anthracite will reduce and would require a replacement as it can no longer work as efficiently as before.

For both filtration media, our labs have estimated a lifespan of approximately 5 years before requiring replacement.

ER-series filters use SUS304 stainless steel, which is rust-resistant. It contains between 16-24% chromium (key element in making metal rust-resistant), and up to 35% nickel, as well as small amounts of carbon and manganese.

SUS304 can resist corrosion from most oxidizing acids. This durability makes SUS304 easy to sanitize, and therefore ideal for kitchen and food applications. It is also common in buildings, decorations, and site furnishings.

However, SUS304 does have one weakness: it can be open to corrosion from chloride solutions or saline (salty) environments like the sea. Chloride ions can create localized areas of corrosion, called “pitting”, which can spread beneath protective chromium barriers to compromise internal structures. Solutions with as little as 25ppm of sodium chloride (salt) can begin to have a corrosive effect.

If there is no presence of chloride, then the “rust” may be stains on the body of the filter, instead of the body itself rusting. We do provide polishing services to remove these stains.

SUS304 is the most common form of stainless steel used around the world, due to its excellent corrosion resistance and value.

SUS304 can resist corrosion from most oxidizing acids, making it easy to clean and sanitize, so it is more suitable for household products where cleaning will be done often.

Besides, SUS316 has a higher cost (about 40% higher) than SUS304, with similar rust-resistant qualities, with the additional saline environment resistance, which isn’t common. And this higher cost would be reflected in a higher selling price of products, making it not ideal for household products like a home water filter.

There are always sediments that are settled at the bottom of the water tank.

When the water tank becomes empty during water disruption, incoming water that arrives after the water supply is restored will stir up these sediments and mix them with water, causing water to be cloudy or brown right after a water disruption.

To avoid this,

1. When water disruption occurs, remember to always turn off Valve 2.

2. After water supply is restored, the water may appear brown or coloured. But don’t you worry, you can just do a backwash to restore clean water. Please refer to this video on how to do a backwash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XlX53w5zR4

3. Water supply interruptions may cause airlock (the problem that arises when all water from the water storage tank is used up). To avoid airlock, try not to use all the water in the tank.

4. If your ER series outdoor filter is leaking from the air release valve. You can fix it by yourself DIY. Please refer to this video guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m45UgiLQwaI

We sincerely apologize if your initial communication with our personnel has caused any misunderstanding regarding the maintenance of your water filter.

The stainless steel body and casing of the ER filter, as well as the filtration system, is designed to last a lifetime.

And with regular maintenance and servicing, the filter will be able to sustain a maximum performance for as long as you use it.

Over time, the performance of the filter will slowly decrease, due to the wearing out of carbon and anthracite in the filtration media. So even though the filter will continue to operate, the quality and performance of the filtration will not be at the optimum level.

For carbon and anthracite, our labs have estimated a lifespan of approximately 5 years before requiring replacement.

And for the quartz sand, stones, and special stones, the estimated lifespan is approximately 10 years before requiring replacement.

The quartz sand and special stones act as a filtration support bed to ensure effective backwash, and to protect the filter drain.

Over time, the tightness and evenness of the sands and stones can decrease, and affect the performance of the filter in terms of water flow.

Replacing the quartz sand and special stone will help the filter maintain optimum performance.

Our labs have estimated a lifespan of approximately 10 years before requiring replacement.

Both carbon and anthracite (CAD) are the main filtration media in ER-series water filters, so to know whether or not the CAD is still performing optimally, the noticeable factor would be the water quality.

Our labs have estimated a lifespan of approximately 5 years before requiring replacement.

On the other hand, the quartz sand and special stones act as a filtration support bed to ensure effective backwash, and to protect the filter drain. So to know whether or not the quartz sand and stones are still performing optimally, the noticeable factor would be the water flow.

Our labs have estimated a lifespan of approximately 10 years before requiring replacement.

The replacement of CAD (carbon and anthracite) is to maintain the performance and quality of the water filtration system at an optimum level.

Without regular servicing and replacements, the filtration system still works and can still give you clean, filtered water, but the performance of the filter will not be as efficient as before.

Both carbon and anthracite are the main filtration media in ER-series water filters.

Carbon works by chemical absorption, so it absorbs and removes foul taste, colour, odour, chlorine, by-products and organic matters from your water.

The way carbon works is like a sponge, the more it absorbs, the more saturated it gets, and the absorption will be exhausted after a certain period of time.

On the other hand, Anthracite works by physical absorption. It absorbs and disintegrates as it removes rust and fine sediment as fine as 5 microns.

Over time, the volume of anthracite will reduce and would require a replacement as it can no longer work as efficiently as before.

For both filtration media, our labs have estimated a lifespan of approximately 5 years before requiring replacement.

We are working on improving our customer service regularly from time to time, and are now practising regular reminders for CAD replacement. Sorry for the previous inconvenience, and thank you for your continuous support!

The quartz sand and stones are specifically selected and produced to fine margins to achieve an optimum level of efficiency for the filtration media in our ER filter model sizes.

The cost of the filter comes mainly from the material used and the time we spend on each production – to make sure the filter can last for years, and even decades.

Watero

Watero has 5 layers of filtration in total:

1. Polypropylene Filter
Filters impurities and sediments larger than 5μm such as sand rust, and other large particles.

2. Pre-activated Carbon Filter
Effectively absorbs chlorine, odour and foul smell, bacteria and heavy metals.

3. Ultrafiltration Membrane Filter
Filters heavy metals, bacteria, antibiotics, hardness, and pesticides – 0.01 micron

4. Post-activated Carbon Filter
Adjusts the taste of water, absorbs odor and foul smell, removes color and foul taste.

5. UV (Ultraviolet) Disinfection
Removes 99.99% of harmful waterborne microorganisms, viruses, bacteria and parasites.

Watero uses Ultra-Filtration, it has 4 layers of filters:
T1: Polypropylene
T2: Pre-activated Carbon
T3: Ultra-Filtration
T4: Post-activated Carbon
+ UV Disinfection

As for the maintenance cost of Watero, Watero requires a cartridge change only once every 6 months.

The cartridges are sold in a 6-in-1 set at RM360 to last you for 2 times changes in 12 months.

The set includes:
2x T1, 2x T2, 1x T3, and 1x T4.

After the first 6 months(1,500L), you can change T1 and T2.

After the next 6 months (12 months total, 3,000L), you change T1, T2, T3, and T4.

So it’s RM360 for the whole year.

The UV Disinfection doesn’t require any maintenance.

Watero-UF does not consume a high amount of energy, because it uses instant heating – the water is heated up at the point of dispense only when you want to dispense water.

So there is no re-boiling of the water all the time to keep it warm, saving lots of energy. This reduces the power consumption significantly compared to dispensers that have boilers

Besides, the machine goes into sleep mode after a few minutes of inactivity, further reducing energy consumption.

Watero-UF is designed as a plug-and-play water dispenser without any piping installation required. Just refill water, plug into electricity, and use it.

The tank capacity in Watero-UF is a total of 5L, made up of 2 tanks: an external 3L tank and an internal 2L tank.

The external tank is removable to make it easy for you to refill water whenever the water level is low (an LED indicator will let you know). This water will then go through the 4 layers of filtration and into the internal tank, ready to dispense whenever you need it.

However, the tanks do not store hot water, because Watero-UF uses instant heating technology – the water is heated up at the point of dispense to your desired temperature only when you need it.

So there is no repeated re-boiling in the tanks.

Watero is FDA-approved (Food and Drugs Administration) and Halal-certified (Shandong Islamic Association).

The water tank is made of ABS plastic material. Because it doesn’t store hot water. Watero uses instant heating, so it stores ambient water and only heats up at the point of dispensing.

The internal tank is also plastic material because it also doesn’t store hot water. We design Watero to be light and easy to manage, as a plug-and-play unit. So the heating comes at the heating element placed at the point of dispense.

It actually depends on your preferences.

UF preserves minerals in water, so you still have your calcium, potassium, magnesium etc in your water.

Whereas RO removes all impurities in water and gives you pure water with no minerals.

Usually a majority of users use UF , but some customers with special requirements like dialysis patients, or some that need pure water for their drinks mixing will prefer RO.

The total tank capacity of Watero-UF is 5L, made up of 2 tanks: a 3L removable tank and a 2L internal tank.

Watero-UF does not have a hot water storage tank. The tank stores only room temperature water, and dispenses hot water through instant heating only when required.
Therefore, at any given time, the full tank capacity for Watero-UF is 5L (3L outer tank + 2L inner tank). And that is also the capacity in which you can dispense water of any temperature.

Like any other electrical home appliances, there is a minimal risk that the Watero-UF may encounter technical issues.

However, we assure you that our Headquarters in Malaysia are always ready to serve you if a problem ever arises with your purchase.

Just like any protection, water filtration is a form of protection for the quality of your water.

The use of pre-activated carbon and post-activated carbon is also a form double protection to absorb impurities from water, ensuring the best water quality with our lab-recommended specifications at an optimum cost.

The temperature difference is due to Watero being an instant heating water dispenser without a water boiler.

The heating element of Watero heats up the water instantly upon dispensing to a maximum of 100°C, so if we measure the water temperature at the point of dispensing at the nozzle outlet, the temperature of the dispensed water will be around 95°C and above.

However, upon testing the temperature of the water dispensed into the cup, the temperature goes down to an average of +-85°C.

The water temperature also goes down faster with thermal equilibrium in instant heating devices, compared to that of dispensers with a water boiler where hot water is stored for long periods of time in the boiler.

The cartridges should be replaced only when the display panel of T1/T2/T3/T4 is blinking in red colour.

When the cartridges are blinking in blue, the filter can still be used for approximately 2 weeks before they turn to blinking in red, which then the filter can still be used for approximately 2 more weeks.

Replacing the cartridges before the blinking turns red can cause system errors.

Yes, you can clean the external tank in Watero anytime you want.

As for the internal tank, there is no need to clean it, because it stores only filtered water. So there will not be any bacteria or microorganism growth in the tank.

The UV-disinfection light also turns up in the internal tank whenever water is dispensed.

Watero Setup Guide

Package List

  • Tray x 1 
  • External Tank x 1
  • Plastic Tube x 1 
  • Power Source Cable x 1 
  • Cartridge Tools x 1

Operation Guide 

  1. Place the tray at the dispensing area.
  2. Fill the external tank with water to the “Max” level sign. 
  3. Plug in the power source and switch on the machine. 
  4. Wait until the red sign “Processing Water” goes off. 
  5. Refill the external tank with water to the “Max” level sign.
  6. Unscrew the cap at the back of the machine and use the plastic tube to help the drainage of the water until it has stopped.
  7. Screw back the cap.
  8. Refill the external tank with water.

Watero Cartridge Replacement – T1 & T2

Important: 

Replace the Watero Cartridges only when the T1 and T2 lifespan indicators turn red. Replacing the cartridges when the indicators are still blue (or blinking) will result in a system error.

Operation Guide

  1. Unscrew the cap at the back of the machine and drain all the water from the machine.
  2. Screw back the cap.
  3. Use the cartridge tools to remove cartridge 1.
  4. Twist open the cartridge in an anti-clockwise direction to unlock the filter cartridge. 
  5. Insert the new cartridge and use cartridge tools to screw it tight in a clockwise direction.
  6. Watero RO
    Press and hold the reset button at the back of the machine for 5 seconds (or until you hear a beep sound) at the respective cartridge that you have changed

    Watero UF (2019-2021 Q1)
    Press and hold the reset button at the back of the machine for 5 seconds (or until you hear a beep sound)

    Watero UF (2021 Q2)
    Press and hold the reset button at the back of the machine for 5 seconds (or until you hear a beep sound) at the respective cartridge that you have changed
  7. Repeat the same method for cartridge 2. (Start from steps 3 to 6).
  8. Fill the external tank with water.
  9. Unscrew the cap at the back of the machine and drain all the water again.
  10. Refill the external tank with water, and you’re done!

Watero Cartridge Replacement – T1, T2, T3, T4

Important: 

Replace the Watero Cartridges only when the T1, T2, T3 and T4 lifespan indicators turn red. Replacing the cartridges when the indicators are still blue (or blinking) will result in a system error.

Operation Guide

  1. Unscrew the cap at the back of the machine. 
  2. Use the plastic tube to drain all the water.
  3. Screw back the cap.
  4. Use cartridge tools to remove all the filter cartridges in an anti-clockwise direction. 
  5. Insert the new cartridges following the numbers written into their respective slots of T1, T2, T3 and T4. 
  6. Use cartridge tools to screw them tight in a clockwise direction. 
  7. Watero RO

Press and hold the reset button at the back of the machine for 5 seconds (or until you hear a beep sound) at the respective cartridge that you have changed 

Watero UF (2019-2021 Q1)

Repeatedly press the reset button at the back of the machine rapidly for 10 times. 

Watero UF (2021 Q2)

Press and hold the reset button at the back of the machine for 5 seconds (or until you hear a beep sound) at the respective cartridge that you have changed

  1. Fill the external tank with water.
  2. Drain all the water again. 
  3. Screw back the cap. 
  4. Refill the external tank with water, and you’re done!
  1. Turn off the machine.
  2. Remove the LED Touchscreen cover carefully
  3. Run through the button springs with your fingers to ensure the elasticity and sensitivity is intact
  4. Replace the LED Touchscreen cover
  5. Turn on the machine

This is a safety feature to prevent users from accidentally dispensing hot water for baby milk.

After dispensing hot water (>60°C), the heating element may still retain some heat, so if we dispense 45°C water for making baby milk immediately, the water temperature dispensed may be slightly above 45°C.

You can either wait for about 1-2 minutes before dispensing 45°C water.

Or if you are looking to get 45°C water immediately after dispensing hot water, dispense about 50ml of 25°C water into an empty cup, then you can now dispense 45°C water.

This is a signal of E5 error, indicating a faulty heating element. Please send the unit to Bacfree HQ for repair.

This is a signal of a faulty cartridge display connection. Please send the unit to Bacfree HQ for repair.

There is probably a problem with the mini pump or it has been damaged. Please send the unit to Bacfree HQ for repair.

First, check the small rubber ring (O-ring) under the outer tank in the machine, right at the connector between the bottom of the outer tank and the machine.

If it has been misplaced or missing, please replace it properly and check if there is still water leaking.

This misplacement can be caused by frequent removal of the outer tank. To avoid this, do add water into the machine directly without removing the outer tank, if able.

Otherwise, please send the unit to Bacfree HQ for repair.

There is probably a leakage in the machine. Please send the unit to Bacfree HQ for repair.

BS-Series

BS-series filters use a different filtration technology compared to other water dispensers.

For example, Watero-UF uses 4 layers of cartridges – Polypropylene, carbon, ultrafiltration membrane, and carbon.

But for BS-series, the filtration is done through a ceramic and carbon block element.

Unlike filter cartridges where the water passes through each layer via gravitational pull (or sometimes with the help of a pump), in the BS-series water surrounds the ceramic and carbon block before slowly seeping through these layers into the middle before dispensing through the tap.

The fine 0.2 micron of ceramic elements also ensure a stable flow rate to make sure the water passes through the filtration thoroughly before dispensing.

Luna Series

We take the best materials from different countries so that we don’t limit ourselves to supplies from a single source.

The casing and system of the filter is made in China.

The carbon and anthracite filtration media are made in India.

And the quartz sand and stones are made in Myanmar.

They are all assembled locally here in our HQ in Subang Jaya.

Luna functions as an outdoor filter, or a point-of-entry (POE) filter installed at the incoming water source of your home.

The unique function of Luna is that it has an automatic backwash system, so you don’t have to do backwash for your filter every week, as it will conduct backwash by itself automatically.

Luna requires a change of filtration media every 2 years, where all the filtration layers are replaced at once.

Luna can be installed anywhere as long as the incoming water source is accessible and the space required for Luna Lite (450mm (L) x 450mm (W) x 1300mm (H)) or Luna Pro (450mm (L) x 450mm (W) x 1700mm (H)) is available.

Luna needs to be plugged into a standard electricity power source, with a standard UK 3-pin plug.

Luna runs on a low power mode most of the time as it goes into sleep mode and lets the filtration process take place through the filtration media with the water pressure automatically.

It only activates during the preset backwash time, and when the filtration media is due to be changed (automatic alert).

Therefore, the power consumption is low.

We provide a waterproof canvas that comes along with the filter to protect the plastic casing from rain or shine.

As long as the filter remains protected with the casing, it can last for years without any issue.

ER Series Luna
1 pax and above  Capacity 1 pax to 6 pax
MMF Filtration Media MMF + KDF
Once every 5 years Maintenance Once every 2 years
None Electricity Source 1x electric plug
Manual Backwash System Auto
Stainless Steel Casing Plastic with Waterproof Canvas

Luna is SIRIM tested and certified, and also Halal-certified for the carbon filtration media.

KDF is Kinetic Degradation Fluxion, which can remove heavy metal from water.

EVO

Some apartments, condos, or high-rise buildings may already have a centralized water filtration system installed, so you could opt to ask your management if your building has one installed.

However, you can always opt for another layer of protection to ensure clean and high quality water in your residence, especially for washing and cleaning.

Horeca Series

As a water filtration system provider, we provide customers with the recommended lifespan for our filters with water quality the top priority in mind.

There are many factors that can affect the lifespan of a water filter cartridge – incoming water quality, water usage, water quality requirement, flow rate, etc.

Based on your site condition and your requirement, we recommend you the best cartridge replacement intervals to keep your water quality at top condition, so that you can provide for your customers the best water quality possible.

As the Horeca series is specially designed for F&B in hotels, restaurants, and cafes, we design the filters with high flow rate, water quality requirement, and optimum cost in mind.

The stainless steel casing for Compact and Premium keeps the filters long-lasting and stable in your premise.

But for the longer and larger Premium Plus, fitting on a stainless steel casing would add significant weight and size to the filter which may impact its stability when mounted, and at an extra cost, too.

We make sure to select and use the best quality material suited for the filters, and will continually conduct research on improvements of material for our products.

So be rest-assured that we ensure a top quality filtration system designed for your requirement.

Chlorine is a non-edible chemical element.

The presence of chlorine to disinfect water should be present at the point-of-entry (POE) of the incoming water source, but not at the point-of-use (POU) of the water outlet for consumption.

For example, there are some premises that have chlorine in the water tank so that the incoming water source is disinfected. In that case, the POE water filter will be designed to preserve chlorine.

But for POU filters, which provide direct-drinking water like the Horeca, we have to filter Chlorine so that the water is safe to drink.

So in the end it comes down to what type of filter you are looking for.

BF Series

According to the drinking water standards set by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM), safe drinking water has to meet the following core requirements, among others:

  • pH 6.5 – 8.5
  • Color less than 15
  • Turbidity less than 2 NTU
  • Hardness less than 500 mg/L

A filtration of 1 micron has been tested to be sufficiently able to produce water quality which meets these requirements.

There are many different types of filtration, and different micron reading. It ultimately depends on your preferences for which type you prefer, as long as they meet the requirement for safe drinking water.