faucet water filters

[rh71]

Been buying a lot of bottled water (gallon size so it's cumbersome) - need a better solution with how much we consume these days. I just don't like the idea of drinking straight out of the tap... so are these filters actually useful?

UPDATE> So I picked up a Brita system @ $20 after rebate, compared to the nearly $50 PUR system. But the thing is terrible under medium-high pressure even without going through the system (just through the regular drop-thru)... pressure builds up too easily and pops the whole thing off the faucet even with the included adapter ring (with washer). Does this happen to anyone else? The teeth are on the inside of my faucet but there seems to go only 2 rings up. Is it too short or is the pressure simply too much? How do you people combat this?

I've already ripped off the UPC for rebate so I can't even swap it for the PUR.

UPDATE AGAIN> http://www.viewpoints.com/Brita-FF-100-review-58e04 (read it and weap with me)

 

[Capt Caveman]

Yes, I used a PUR for years til I got a fridge with it's own water filtration system.

 

[amdskip]

I have a PUR faucet filtering system and I'm happy with it.

 

[0roo0roo]

just get a cheap water bottle from costco ~3 dollars for a .5L nalgene type bottle. newer thermos types with silicon seal lids/auto pop up drinking caps at target are also pretty neat, the design is geeky goodness..about 10 dollars. http://www.naturemoms.com/blog...ter-bottle-by-thermos/
http://thesoftlanding.wordpres...in-ny-times-gear-test/
cost per use of a faucet filter is very low. so yes its worth it.
just remember to not run hot water through it.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I use the Pur fridge tank, it holds >3 liters and gets the water nice and cold. If you use more than that a day just refill it mid-day.

The filters last 2-4 months depending on how heavily you use it (3-4 months using a bit more than a full tank a day).

 

[theblackbox]

if you are going to get one, i would recommend an undersink filter. believe it or not, GE makes a really nice one with a water storage tank that all goes under the sink, is triple pass reverse osmosis, and does a great jobm plus isn't a big ugly thing on your faucet.
Plus, if you have a sink like mine, my faucet doesn't allow an add on filter. so i seperate one was a must.
we have well water, so it's not too much of a deal, the water tastes great as is, but i figured it wouldn't hurt to get all the minerals out.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: amdskip
I have a PUR faucet filtering system and I'm happy with it.

me too

 

[rh71]

^ bump for update / question

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

What's wrong with tap water?

 

[IronWing]

Does your tap water taste bad or something? Filters can clean up the taste of tap water a bit.

If your water comes from a municipal water company of some sort then home filters are a waste of money, at best, as far as the safety of the water goes. If one doesn't install, maintain, and change the filters according to the manufacturer's specifications the filters can be worse than a waste of money but actually lead to poorer water quality than was coming from the tap as improperly installed, poorly maintained, or past date filters are a great growth medium for bacteria.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
What's wrong with tap water?

Filtered water taste better and removes a lot of impurities.

 

[rh71]

no one with the pressure problem?

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: rh71
no one with the pressure problem?

Use a pressure gauge at outside hose bib to check pressure, adjust/replace spring/replace PRV (Pressure Reducing valve) if you can't drop the pressure below 80 PSIG.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: rh71
no one with the pressure problem?

Never had that issue and I've gone thru maybe a half-dozen faucet filters over the years. Are you sure that it's properly installed? If you don't even have the water filtering, it should be a straight pass thru, so I'm guessing user error in the installation or you have something clogging/blocking the aerator.

 

[0roo0roo]

thats a weird problem. my purs screw on to the aerator threads. those are steel or whatever, no way to "pop" off. if it popped off it would have had to be barely on, the threads barely srewed on otherwise a failure would entail lots of badness going on to snap metal. point of failure for water pressure is the plastic filter casing. not the screw on metal fittings. and yes thats happened to me before ...the damn thing cracked.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
thats a weird problem. my purs screw on to the aerator threads. those are steel or whatever, no way to "pop" off. if it popped off it would have had to be barely on, the threads barely srewed on otherwise a failure would entail lots of badness going on to snap metal. point of failure for water pressure is the plastic filter casing. not the screw on metal fittings. and yes thats happened to me before ...the damn thing cracked.

I agree. I also have a Pur filter.
rh71 ---- You sure you have the right adapter for the faucet and/or didn't strip the threads?

What brand name faucet?

 

[0roo0roo]

think he just didn't screw it on right. the threads can be hard to line up. the washer/mesh thing has to be pushed down a bit as well.

 

[rh71]

The adapter is plastic and the rubber washer was still a bit raised above the small indentation on the adapter for it. I'll have to re-check it - perhaps hammer it down a bit. The thing turns perfectly inside the faucet so I know it "fits" but it doesn't turn up there too deep as mentioned so when it pops off, it is the plastic adapter (and the whole system) popping off the metal faucet. I'm still surprised the faucet teeth don't run higher.

 

[nakedfrog]

One too many washers in there?

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Does your tap water taste bad or something? Filters can clean up the taste of tap water a bit.

If your water comes from a municipal water company of some sort then home filters are a waste of money, at best, as far as the safety of the water goes. If one doesn't install, maintain, and change the filters according to the manufacturer's specifications the filters can be worse than a waste of money but actually lead to poorer water quality than was coming from the tap as improperly installed, poorly maintained, or past date filters are a great growth medium for bacteria.

Taste is the big reason for me, my tap water tastes like a swimming pool. MUCH better after a trip through my brita pitcher. I know the tap water won't hurt me but with filtering I'm much more likely to drink it rather than reaching for a Diet Pepsi.

Viper GTS

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
think he just didn't screw it on right. the threads can be hard to line up. the washer/mesh thing has to be pushed down a bit as well.

Yeah. I got a similair one and they tend to be a challenge to put on. Take lots of force with no adapter....I can imagine with an adapater. Are you sure the threads are inside?

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: rh71
The adapter is plastic and the rubber washer was still a bit raised above the small indentation on the adapter for it. I'll have to re-check it - perhaps hammer it down a bit. The thing turns perfectly inside the faucet so I know it "fits" but it doesn't turn up there too deep as mentioned so when it pops off, it is the plastic adapter (and the whole system) popping off the metal faucet. I'm still surprised the faucet teeth don't run higher.

i dunno, i know the pur ones i have are metal adaptors.

 

[TridenT]

Heh... I don't really care about tap/filtered as long as it is super cold. It may be just brain psychology, but I like to think that I can taste the difference between filtered water and non-filtered when it is room temperature. I tend to hate drinking water when it is room temperature, I like it cold... That's why I have a brita water filter thing in my fridge. It holds 144oz apparently... (This has to be wrong, I go through this thing in like a day) http://www.amazon.com/Brita-35...&qid=1230478647&sr=1-5 I have one like that except it isn't electronic.. I hardly ever replace the filter. I have been using it the past month or so, and I have to refill it VERY often. (Every day it seems) I fill it up to the max.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
thats a weird problem. my purs screw on to the aerator threads. those are steel or whatever, no way to "pop" off. if it popped off it would have had to be barely on, the threads barely srewed on otherwise a failure would entail lots of badness going on to snap metal. point of failure for water pressure is the plastic filter casing. not the screw on metal fittings. and yes thats happened to me before ...the damn thing cracked.

I will say it's possible he has the wrong sized adapter, the only time I have seen this was when the person thought they screwed it on (it was tight) but kept popping off/leaking. Turns out they just crossthreaded it and it wasn't a good fit.

 

[rh71]

It came with 2 adapters to try... only one of them fit and without one, it won't fit at all with the teeth on the inside of the faucet. The washer is taken off the adapter pretty easily so I know there's only one in there. I can't re-test it now because my dad brought it to his place to try... he tells me with adapter, without adapter, no washer, etc... it all pops off for him as well. He is a pretty handy guy and built his own backyard deck so I'm pretty sure he knows what he's doing with it.. he couldn't figure it out for me either... the only thing left to try is a new faucet perhaps... or I still have to try hammering that washer into the adapter further... but he doesn't think it will go. Maybe it's just cause it's plastic? I should call Brita and see if others have seen this...