How Does an Under Sink Water Filter Work?

The Importance of Drinking Clean Water

Drinking water is essential for life. It can also help to prevent or treat health conditions such as heart disease, kidney stones, and type-2 diabetes. Clean drinking water is important to human health, but not all water sources are safe to drink from. But how does an under sink water filter work and how can it help?

Several things affect water quality, including the amount of bacteria or other microbes in it, the chemicals it contains, or even the physical features of the area where it’s located. These factors can make tap water unsafe to drink without proper treatment.

A water filter is an essential investment for any home. It’s difficult to know what kind of filter you need or how it works. In this blog post, we are going to look at how under sink water filters work and how they might benefit your household.

What is an Under Sink Water Filter?

A kitchen sink water filter is a device that removes sediment, chlorine, and other impurities from the water to make it more suitable for drinking and cooking. An under-sink water filter is a filter installed right under the kitchen sink. It is a more sophisticated version of the faucet-mounted water filters that are also popular. The advantages of an under-sink water filter are many.

Some people think that installing an under-sink water filter might be too much trouble for little gain. But once you see how much better your water tastes, you’ll quickly change your mind!

Why do you need an under sink water filter?

Your water comes in contact with a variety of contaminants as it travels through the pipes that deliver it to your home. To protect your family from these contaminants, an under sink water filter is the perfect solution. You can install them beneath your kitchen sink and filter away these harmful toxins before they reach you and your loved ones.

Are There Different Types of Under Sink Water Filters?

Yes. There are two main types of water filters that are installed under the sink. One is a single stage filter that strains particles out of the water. There is no chemical reduction, but a properly sized filter will also remove microorganisms.

A second type of filter and the one this blog post will discuss is the multi-stage activated carbon filter. These filters remove harmful contaminants, but leave the beneficial minerals.

Another type of filter is a reverse osmosis filter. These filters will remove virtually everything from the water. They have a very low flow rate of about 50 gallons per day. Since they differ greatly from the other two types of filters, we will discuss the reverse osmosis filter in another blog post.

Why You Should Get a Water Filter for Your Home

There are many reasons you should get a water filter for your home. For one, they help remove contaminants that may lurk in your tap water. Some of these contaminants include chlorine and fluoride. They also reduce heavy metals in the water, such as lead and mercury.

Aside from the safety aspect, a good water filter makes your water taste great. That means you and your family will drink more of it.

How does an Under-the-Sink Water Filter Work?

An under sink water filter is connected to the cold water line in the cabinet, which is directly under the sink.

There are only two ways to configure these filters:

1. It is connected to a dedicated faucet that is only used for drinking water and cooking.
2. It is connected to the line leading to the main faucet. This means you will be using filtered water to wash dishes, wash your hands or just rinsing out the sink. A configuration like this will cause you to go through filters faster.

The filter removes contaminants from the water as the water runs through it. It will also reduce any unpleasant taste and odors that may be present in your tap water because of the water treatment process.

These filters have multiple stages. That may mean there are multiple filter cartridges that need to be changed or there may be one large filter cartridge with the stages built into it, like the Epic Smart Shield.

The first step in an under-the-sink water filter is to remove all the sediment particles that are present. The most common way to complete this task is by using a fine filter which will catch any particles larger than five microns in size.

After removal of these sediments, the water enters an activated carbon filter which will remove any organic compounds or contaminants like:

• Chlorine
• Lead
• Fluoride
• Arsenic
• Chromium
• Pharmaceuticals
• Disinfection by-products
• and more

The better filters will have different types of activated carbon and ion exchange resins to remove the maximum amount of contaminants.

The Benefits of Using a Water Filter for Your Home

Filters are important for home water purification as they remove contaminants and toxic substances from the tap water.

The benefits of a filter include:

• They remove excess chlorine, sediment, and harmful metals from your tap water
• They improve taste and smell of the water.
• This will give you the convenience of drinking filtered water at home
• Helps maintain a perfectly healthy gut
• Removes lead, chromium and other heavy metals from water as it flows through system
• Reduce the risk of potential asthma and allergy attacks
• Stay healthy with cleaner water
• You can enjoy a glass of fresh tasting water – and it’s better for your health
• Your family will be healthier because of cleaner drinking water

How Much Does It Cost to Install an Under-Sink Water Filter?

Installing an under-sink water filter saves money over the long run, but it has a moderate upfront cost.

The upfront cost of installing an under-sink water filter is typically less than $200.

The major cost consideration is the replacement filter. You need to know how often to replace the filter.

I have an Epic Smart Shield under sink water filter. Initial cost is about $130 which includes a filter. The filter lasts me 12 months. The replacement filter costs $90. I have owned this filter for over two years and I am very happy with the results.

The Aquasana AQ-5200.62 2-Stage Under Sink Water Filter System costs $99. The replacement filters cost $59 and last 6 months.

Of course, these filters are near the low end pricewise. Often, the more you pay for your under sink water filter the higher the quality of the device.

What to Look for When Choosing a Water Filter System?

Choosing the right water filter system is important because it helps protect you from harmful contaminants.

The most important things to look for when choosing a water filter system are:

• It has to meet NSF standards. NSF International is an independent product safety certification organization which has been providing third party testing and certification programs for public health, safety or environmental protection since 1966. The NSF standards to be concern with for water filters are NSF 42, NSF 53 and NSF 401 (see table below.)
• The installation of the system should be easy and convenient
• The device should be designed for ease of maintenance as well. Changing filters should not be a problem.
• The life of the filter is also an important aspect of an under the sink water filter.

NSF Standards for Drinking Water Filters

What are the common problems with under sink water filters that people may encounter

Common problems that people may encounter with under sink water filters are water quality, effectiveness, and price. This section explains the problems in detail.

• Water leaks – usually caused by loose fittings and you can remedy this by simply tightening. However, some filter manufacturers use poor quality fittings. Check the reviews for indications of poor materials.
• Short filter life – If the incoming water contains a lot of particles, it can cause the filter to plug prematurely. For multi cartridge devices, you’ll just need to change that cartridge. For single cartridge devices, you may need to install a pre-filter to remove the excess debris.
• Water tastes different – this is usually not a problem at all. You will find that water that runs through a quality filter will taste different. That’s because it’s much cleaner. You’ll get used to it and become spoiled in no time.

Pros and Cons of an Under Sink Water Filter

There are many benefits and drawbacks associated with an under sink water filter. For example, the cost of installing this type of filter is relatively low, but it doesn’t regulate temperature.

Pros:

• The cost of installing an under sink water filter is relatively low.
• It doesn’t require a lot of space in the kitchen pantry or cabinet to be installed.
• They save on counter space, unlike a water filter pitcher or counter top filter.

Cons:

• You may experience a pressure drop at the faucet
• They take up some space in the cabinet
• You need to be aware of changing filters timely. If you do not change the filter in a timely manner, it could end up making the water less safe.

FAQs about installing and using an under-sink water filtration system

Do I need a licensed plumber to install my under sink water filter?

You will need to check your local ordinances, but installing these is pretty simple if you have even basic skills.

How long will my filter cartridges last?

It depends on the maker of the filters. Most cartridges have a 6 – 12 month life. Some are rated on the number of gallons they can treat. It also depends on whether you are using a dedicated faucet or one connected to the main faucet. Another factor is the quality of your tap water supply.

What is Included in the Under Sink Water Filter Package?

You should have everything you need to install you new water filter. This includes:

• The bracket you attach to the wall of the cabinet to hold the cartridges (screws included)
• The manifold for the cartridges
• All the connections and tubes to connect the filter to your water system
• The cartridges
• Instructions

How to install a new filter (step-by-step instructions)

1. Determine where you are going to install the device
2. TURN OFF the water. Usually you will have a shut-off valve right in the cabinet. If not, you will need to shut off the main water supply.
3. Attach the bracket to the cabinet wall (be sure your screws are short enough that they won’t go through the cabinet wall.)
4. Loosen and disconnect the line leading to the faucet at the valve.
5. Connect that end to the OUTLET of the filter manifold
6. Connect the supply line (should be provided) to the INLET side of the filter manifold and the other end to the valve
7. Install the filter cartridge
8. TURN ON the water
9. Flush the filter for at least two minutes (see manufacturer instructions)

How to Choose a Good Quality, Affordable Under Sink Water Filter

First, find out what is in your water. Get the Consumer Confidence Report from your water supplier.

Second, determine what you want to remove. Do you just want to remove taste and odor or want to remove the maximum contaminants possible?

Next, when selecting your filter check initial cost, replacement cartridge cost and filter cartridge life.

Finally, determine if you can install it yourself or will you need a plumber.

Conclusion: How does an under sink water filter work?

After reading this blog post, hopefully you will know how an under sink water filter works. The activated carbon and fine mesh filters remove contaminants from the water that might otherwise end up in your glass or on your dishware. With a little maintenance every few months to replace the filter, these systems are affordable and easy to install anywhere there is cold running tap water!