Under sink filter systems

[Red Squirrel]

RO is probably overkill for my needs, as really I'm just looking for something to remove the chlorine taste, mostly. I still want to keep the rest of the minerals. I find Britta filters are fine, so whatever uses a similar type filter would probably work ok for me.

I actually kinda forgot about this post, it's an idea I always think of doing then forget it haha. Next time I'm at BORG I'll probably just look at whatever they have there and go from there.

Originally I was thinking of getting a small fridge, putting it in the crawlspace under the kitchen then coiling up pex inside of it to act as a chiller, but considering the tap water is still decently cold here most of the year, and even hits dangerously close to freezing, don't really need that. For the summer months I can always make ice cubes with it.

I find I don't drink a lot of water at home vs at work because my only source of decent drinking water is what I make with the britta and it's kinda a pain to refill the jug. I don't like putting the britta directly in the fridge since the water picks up all the tastes from whatever is in the fridge. So I just use the jug to filter water then pour it in a jug that has a cap. But with the under sink system it will just be on tap. Also good for making coffee. Of course I could get a water cooler but then I need to keep buying big jugs. Actually, if I get a water cooler with a refillable jug (there's a special end you can buy) I could theoretically fill my own jugs and also have cold water on tap. Hmmm that's an idea.

 

[NAC]

I've had a RO filter from ebay for probably 7 years now. I replace the main 4 filters every 12 to 18 months. I replaced the RO filter once, or maybe twice. Best decision I ever made. We drink a lot of water, and it tastes great, and I'm confident that the water is free from anything unhealthy.

I thought about routing the waste water to a tank to use in the yard, but really it isn't consequential in my opinion. We each drink what - a gallon of water a day? Half that? Assume one gallon of water a day for each of the 4 members of my family. To produce 4 gallons using the RO filter, we create 12 gallons of waste. That is about 6 minutes in the shower, or a few toilet flushes, depending on the toilet. That is less than a minute of watering the yard. So if you replaced all shower heads with low flow, and toilets, and have a high efficiency washer and dishwasher, and you are careful to not over water your yard by a few minutes - then yeah, those 12 gallons are of consequence.

I suppose if I lived in a dry place I may think differently, but not on the east coast.

 

[zinfamous]

Been using everpure since the kitchen re do. $100/yr.

Baller.

 

[highland145]

Baller.

Most dubiously. Chlorine smelling water isn't what God intended.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Finally decided to buy a system, went to HD to see what they had in store, ended up getting this one:

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.advanced-water-filtration-system.1001016342.html

Installed:



This one is a bit different, instead of having a dedicated faucet for the fresh water, it just comes out the cold water tap. Basically you just connect it to the cold side of the faucet. Come to think of it that actually makes sense anyway as in the kitchen I'm probably always going to want filtered water anyway. Whether it's for making coffee or cooking etc. It also has a bypass button so if I need to let the water run for a long time for some reason I can just flip it.

Think this will make me drink water more often too. My old source of good water was to use a Britta to filter it then fill a jug and that was kinda a pain. I found if I put the Britta directly in the fridge the water starts to pickup tastes from the fridge. (pizza especially lol)

So yeah glad I finally bit the bullet. It was ridiculously easy to install too, all push and screw fittings.

 

[NutBucket]

So what's your cut on every sale?

 

[paperfist]

You are right. However, there are newer systems that waste much less water. Undersink ro system below has a 1:1 efficiency. Furthermore, you can buy a zero waste retofit kit from Watts and route all the waste water to the hot water line. This way, you won't waste water at all.
https://www.wecofilters.com/vgro-75.html

No other treatment technology can filter all the lead, mercury, fluoride, bacteria....in the water. And since these are standard systems, you can buy quick replacement filters from almost any local hardware store that sells water filters.

Why route waste water to hot water line? I can see it going to toilets. Kinda surprised CA doesn't mandate it.

 

[NutBucket]

The waste water is still perfectly safe to drink.

 

[paperfist]

The waste water is still perfectly safe to drink.

Ok you first

 

[NutBucket]

I drink tap water...not dead yet!

 

[IronWing]

Finally decided to buy a system, went to HD to see what they had in store, ended up getting this one:

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.advanced-water-filtration-system.1001016342.html

Installed:



This one is a bit different, instead of having a dedicated faucet for the fresh water, it just comes out the cold water tap. Basically you just connect it to the cold side of the faucet. Come to think of it that actually makes sense anyway as in the kitchen I'm probably always going to want filtered water anyway. Whether it's for making coffee or cooking etc. It also has a bypass button so if I need to let the water run for a long time for some reason I can just flip it.

Think this will make me drink water more often too. My old source of good water was to use a Britta to filter it then fill a jug and that was kinda a pain. I found if I put the Britta directly in the fridge the water starts to pickup tastes from the fridge. (pizza especially lol)

So yeah glad I finally bit the bullet. It was ridiculously easy to install too, all push and screw fittings.

Did you remember to change the filter?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Did you remember to change the filter?

It's still good so far, only like 1 bar of usage though I think after a year I still have to change it whether it's used up or not, but I'll just wait to see. I'll notice if the water starts to taste funny I guess.

 

[paperfist]

I don't know if it's applicable for domestic water, but I have a TDS meter that runs in-line on my window cleaning system that tells you how much dissolved solids are in the water after it's filtered.

 

[NutBucket]

TDS is for minerals/metals. It doesn't tell you anything about chemicals.

 

[Red Squirrel]

So 3 years later I finally had to change the filter. The indicator was showing red, and it seemed to coincide pretty well with a noticeable drop in pressure. Instructions say to change it every year no matter what, but I figured as long as I feel the water tastes fine I would keep it going.

Home Depot does not sell this system anymore and that was my original fear, of buying into a system that years down the line I can't get filters for, but I was able to find them on Amazon.

I'm hoping I can find a way to recycle these though, there's lot of plastic I hate to just throw it in the trash. I guess it's still better than people who buy bottled water as their main source of drinking water.

 

[zinfamous]

So 3 years later I finally had to change the filter. The indicator was showing red, and it seemed to coincide pretty well with a noticeable drop in pressure. Instructions say to change it every year no matter what, but I figured as long as I feel the water tastes fine I would keep it going.

dear GOD I hope you don't treat your engine oil the same way.

 

[Red Squirrel]

dear GOD I hope you don't treat your engine oil the same way.

Can't even compare the two. Not like I risk blowing something by not changing the filter. They probably just say that as in a typical home the quality would probably degrade faster but with just me it does not get enough use. It's at a constant ~100 PSI I don't think I really need to worry about any kind of pathogens either.

 

[Micrornd]

It's still sold by HD in the US. Kube is just a product line of Kinetico.
Filters are available from www.kubewater.com also.
http://www.kinetico.ca/ should be able to refer you to a local dealer that may have filters cheaper

 

[NutBucket]

And there's always eBay. Yes yes dubious sources but to be honest I've never had an issue with eBay ones. Tastes fine and no strange illnesses I'm aware of!