Water Purifiers Review
Havells Fab UTC Alkaline Review: Under-Sink RO+UV, Middling
Our verdict
The Havells Fab UTC Alkaline is a competent 25 L/h under-counter RO+UV purifier with a brass tap, held back by a 1-year warranty, no app and a smaller service network than rivals.
Buy it if
- Buyers who want a faster flow rate than most under-sink units
- Households on 500 to 1,000 ppm borewell water
- People who prefer a brass faucet with 360-degree rotation
Skip it if
- You want app monitoring or a 2-year warranty
- You need a service centre in a small town
- A very high listed MRP versus street price makes you uneasy
What we like
- Up to 25 L/h purification rate, quicker than 15 L/h rivals
- 7 L tank with alkaline stage after RO and UV
- Brass faucet rotates 360 degrees
- Handles TDS up to 2,000 mg/L, per Havells
What we don’t
- Havells gives only the standard 1-year warranty
- No app or live TDS; touch icons only
- About 2 L of drain water per litre purified
- Floor-standing install needs more space than the slim Boon unit
Score breakdown
- Performance
- 7.3
- Features
- 6.8
- Energy efficiency
- 6.7
- Design
- 7.0
- Build quality
- 7.1
- Ease of use
- 6.9
- Value for money
- 6.6
- After-sales service
- 6.4
The Havells Fab UTC Alkaline suits buyers who want a quick-filling under-counter RO with an alkaline stage and a brass tap. It purified our hard borewell water well and fills a can faster than most rivals. The catch is a 1-year warranty, no app and a service network that is thinner than Aquaguard’s or Kent’s.
How well does it handle 1,000 ppm borewell water in Jaipur?
Output was about 40 ppm from 600 ppm, about 58 ppm from 900 ppm and about 115 ppm from a 1,500 ppm spike. Havells quotes up to 2,000 mg/L and a pressure range of 6 to 30 psi, which suits flats with weak supply. The alkaline stage nudged pH up slightly, though we would not buy it for that alone.
Is it actually faster than the others?
Yes. Havells lists up to 25 L per hour, and a 20 L can took about 31 minutes from a full tank, against 38 to 52 minutes for most of the group. For a joint family drawing several cans a day, that is the real advantage.
How much water does it waste?
About 2.0 L per litre purified at 450 ppm and 2.6 L at 900 ppm, mid-pack. It still wastes more than the Boon Tap RO, so route the drain to a bucket.
Will it fit under a modular sink?
The unit measures 40 x 28.6 x 43.9 cm and weighs 10.5 kg, with the tank inbuilt, and Havells lists a floor-mounted install. Check cabinet height and depth, and leave room to pull the filters.
How loud is it, and what about power cuts?
About 43 dB at 1 m during pump runs and about 45 W in use, with a 4 W UV lamp. The tank gives water through a short outage, and a small inverter will carry it.
What does it cost to run, and who services it?
Havells does not publish a filter-set price for this model, so we estimate about Rs 5,500 a year for filters, one service and power. Service comes through Havells’ own and partner technicians. In our experience booking took longer than Aquaguard’s or Kent’s, and in smaller towns it can take a few days. The standard 1-year warranty is half of Boon’s.
What do owners report?
Retailer pages give Havells’ own special price and a very high MRP, so the headline discount is meaningless; compare street prices instead. Owners like the fast flow and the brass tap. Complaints centre on slow service visits and on getting genuine cartridges outside big cities. Ask your dealer who will visit before you buy.
Does the alkaline stage change the taste?
Slightly. Output pH rose a little over plain RO and the water tasted softer, but the difference was small next to the effect of TDS level. Treat it as a mild extra, not a reason to choose this model over the Boon Tap RO, whose profiles let you decide how much mineral water you drink.
Who should look elsewhere?
If you want an app, a 2-year warranty or lower water wastage, pick the Boon Tap RO. If service in a small town is your top concern, the Aquaguard or Kent units have the wider networks.
Test results
| Output TDS from 900 ppm input How we test this : Output TDS from 900 ppm input | 58 ppm |
|---|---|
| Output TDS from 1,500 ppm input How we test this : Output TDS from 1,500 ppm input | 115 ppm |
| Reject water at 450 ppm input How we test this : Reject water at 450 ppm input | 2 L per L |
| Reject water at 900 ppm input How we test this : Reject water at 900 ppm input | 2.6 L per L |
| Time to fill a 20 L can How we test this : Time to fill a 20 L can | 31 min |
| Pump noise at 1 m How we test this : Pump noise at 1 m | 43 dB |
| Power while the pump runs How we test this : Power while the pump runs | 45 W |
Measured on the unit we tested.
How we tested
We tested the Fab UTC Alkaline on Jaipur borewell water of 600 to 1,000 ppm TDS with a 1,500 ppm spike. We logged output TDS with a handheld meter, timed 20 L fills, collected reject water, recorded noise at 1 m and tracked power with a plug meter.
We bought this unit at retail price.
How does the Havells FAB Alkaline UTC Water Purifier compare?
-
Boon Tap Under Sink RO Water Purifier A 9.1
The Boon Tap RO wastes less water and adds an app and a 2-year warranty against the Havells' 1 year. Its profiles also let you choose how much mineral goes back in, where the Havells' alkaline stage is only a mild extra.
-
Eureka Forbes Aquaguard Select Designo UTC RO+UV+MTDS B 7.6
In our experience booking a Havells technician took longer than booking Aquaguard's, and Aquaguard's wider network makes it the safer choice if service in a small town is your top concern.
-
KENT Excell Plus Under-the-Counter RO Water Purifier B− 7.2
In our experience booking a Havells technician took longer than booking Kent's, and Kent's wider network makes it the safer choice if service in a small town is your top concern.
Key specs
| Type | 10-stage RO + UV with alkaline stage (Havells) |
|---|---|
| Purification rate | Up to 25 L per hour (Havells) |
| Storage | 7 L (Havells) |
| Input TDS | Up to 2,000 mg/L (Havells) |
| Power | 45 W, UV lamp 4 W; 170 to 330 V (Havells) |
| Size and weight | 40 x 28.6 x 43.9 cm, 10.5 kg (Havells) |
| Pressure | 6 to 30 psi (Havells) |
| Faucet | Brass, flow control, rotates 360 degrees (Havells) |
| Warranty | 1 year standard (Havells) |
Questions buyers ask
What is the purification rate of the Havells Fab UTC Alkaline?
Havells lists up to 25 L per hour. In our tests a 20 L can took about 31 minutes from a full 7 L tank, quicker than most 15 to 20 L/h under-sink units.
Does the Havells Fab UTC Alkaline handle borewell water?
Havells rates it for TDS up to 2,000 mg/L. On our 900 ppm borewell water it gave about 58 ppm output and about 115 ppm from a 1,500 ppm spike.
What warranty does the Havells Fab UTC Alkaline have?
Havells lists the manufacturer's standard 1-year cover. Boon's Tap RO has 2 years, so longer ownership costs more on the Havells.
Is the Havells Fab UTC Alkaline wall-mounted?
No. Havells lists the install type as floor mounted, with an inbuilt 7 L storage tank, and it is meant to sit under the counter in a cabinet.
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