Under Cabinet water filter for taste
Now I am not one to buy bottled water and have seem the need for expensive “water treatment systems”.
Now the water that I have is “good” tasting. And all of the reports from the water company show it to be of excellant quality. So I have no concerns about contaimates.
But last spring I got a new refigerator with a water filter in it.
Altought the tap water tastes “good”, this is even better.
Now that it has expired I want install a unit that will filter not only the refigerator, but also the instand hot water dispenser. It will be an under the cabinet style.
The filters come in basic types. About $10 for “chorine and taste” and about $35 for “chorline, taste, lead, and a million other items”. It varies from model to model, but often a holder will only take one cartridge or the other, not both.
My question is, since I am only interested in taste, will the $10 cartridge perform as well as the $35 one.
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I stumped Theodora at trivia. -Jan.2005
only interested in taste, will the $10 cartridge perform as well as the $35 one
Probably. The real difference in under-counter filters is really how easy it is to change the filters, not the price.
A filter that is a real PITA to chage won't be, so the taste will go back to "tap," and the effort will be lost. A filter that leaks after replacement (because it's "finicky" to install) is a real nightmare--so there goes another install.
I've been thinking about the same sort of thing--it's getting a little annoying to fill the name-brand pitchers on either side of the sink. So, and under counter run to a single lever faucet in a new hole (or ditch the soap dispenser) in the sink is a definite possibility. But other things want my attention first, sad to say.
unless you get a NSA brand..
more class action suits at hand..
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Yes, I hear you about the easy of change.The GE refigerator uses a 1/4 turn "oil filter style" cartridge. And GE is also a supplier of water filter systems. However, none of the use that same size filter or I would have already installed one. I am too cheap and waited until that one was used up.Another thing is getting the filters. GE at the borg and Whirlpool at Lowes seems to be redialy available.
Whirlpool at Lowes seems to be redialy available
Not only that, but a hair cheaper with sales tax at the blue box than shipping charges without.
I just wish the filter had been in front--it's a pain to pull everything out of the way, just to spin (and spin and spin and spin) the filter off . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
I have to ask a question first, how old is the water system you are on? Do you live in a city where it has been around since the time of lead pipes, or in a suburb where the system was built within the last 20 years or so? Or, do you have a well?
I can tell you for a fact that Tap water is very strictly controlled. The only time I would recommend the $35 filter is if you live with a very old public water system (in a city) where they have to pump extra chorine into the pipe or are on an old well near horses or other live stock. (Manure piles). If your water tasted good before, then I am inclined to believe that you don't fall into either of the above conditions.
On newer systems a good micro filter to take out the fines and something to ax the chorine smell (smell plays a huge role in taste believe it or not) is all you need. Go for the $10 one.
Price is irrelevant. You have to select a filter that will remove from the water what you want to remove.
If the data show that you don't exceed limits for lead, pesticides, and so forth, then there is no reason to choose a filter that will remove them.
To improve the taste, you need to remove what is causing the off taste. For many people, the off taste comes from chlorine or various organic compounds. Activated carbon is a good medium to remove those type of things. If you have particulates in your water, then a particulate filter would help. If you have iron, sulphur, or hardness, then you'd need specialty treatment to remove those contaminants. They cannot be removed by filtration.
Since your water is safe and you will judge success by taste, I'd start with a carbon filter and see if does what you want.
Yeah, just the carbon "chlorine and taste" filter should be fine. The other filter removes heavy metals, which might be worth it if your city has old lead pipes or gets water from a suspicious source. But the more expensive filter generally won't last as long (usually about half as long).
There are brands that allow the various filter types to be interchanged.
Accessibility and ease of filter change are important. Make sure the filter is securely mounted, as you put a fair amount of force on it when changing filters.
I just installed a triple unit, not under the sink, but in the basement before the pipes go into the crawl space to feed the kitchen.
This makes for easier changes with the unit solidly mounted on 3/4" ply and any water spills inconsequential.
I got the unit, new, on eBay for $75. It included a sediment and two carbon filters. The seller also included 3 additional sediment filters to substitute for an on deck faucet I didn't need. Filters are standard with replacements readily available.
Use ball valves on both side of the filters.