Whole House Water Filter vs. Single Sink Water Filter
August 25, 2017 5:57 AM Subscribe
We're updating our kitchen and want some sort of built-in water filter. Looking at either having a built-in (under-counter) water filter for the kitchen sink only, or a whole-house filter. More thoughts under the cut.
My concerns about a house filter - will it make our water too soft for showers/cleaning? Will the taste of the water be worse than with a single-sink system, especially if you're only supposed to change the filter every few years and so much water is passing through? On the other hand, it seems like a win to filter all of your water if the quality / taste is the same. For taste comparison, we currently use a Brita pitcher and change the filter regularly.
You can assume we only get drinking water from the kitchen sink, and that cost is less of a factor than taste or other practical considerations. For those of you with either a whole-house or under-sink system, any advice?
My concerns about a house filter - will it make our water too soft for showers/cleaning? Will the taste of the water be worse than with a single-sink system, especially if you're only supposed to change the filter every few years and so much water is passing through? On the other hand, it seems like a win to filter all of your water if the quality / taste is the same. For taste comparison, we currently use a Brita pitcher and change the filter regularly.
You can assume we only get drinking water from the kitchen sink, and that cost is less of a factor than taste or other practical considerations. For those of you with either a whole-house or under-sink system, any advice?
We plumbed the refrigerator line to get the filtered water there. Entire rest of house is as it comes. (in essence we use it like you woukd at the sink). Filter lasts longer as its not involved in hand washing or dishes. We do however use the hell out of it for drinking. We live in fla so tap water is pretty gross and are happy having the sole source filtered water. I hate softened water showers so this is how we ended up here...
posted by chasles at 6:58 AM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by chasles at 6:58 AM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just wanted to add, we just had a new softener put in. It's a million times better than old ones.
posted by Ftsqg at 7:18 AM on August 25, 2017
posted by Ftsqg at 7:18 AM on August 25, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks! To clarify, I am not looking to soften water at all. I'm afraid that a whole-house filter will soften water as a side effect (and I don't want that). I'm most concerned about water flavor.
posted by beyond_pink at 7:26 AM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by beyond_pink at 7:26 AM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
To remove water "flavor", you really need a decent reverse osmosis water filter. These are often sold as under-the-sink units. Whirlpool makes what seems to be the most common one, resold as Kenmore and a few others. This filter has a small tank to supply water on demand, as the process of reverse osmosis is not particularly fast, and the tank needs time to refill after it is drained of its few gallons.
While sold as an under-the-sink system, I took ours and mounted it in the basement, and then ran PEX piping to several places such as the fridge, kitchen sink, and master bath where I wanted to add a filtered drinking water tap. The pre- and post-filter need to be replaced at least yearly at a cost of around $80 for the pair, and the RO membrane every five years for around $50. The original system was around $300, but often on sale for less. This was far less than the capex/opex of any reasonable whole-house system I could find.
posted by jgreco at 7:47 AM on August 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
While sold as an under-the-sink system, I took ours and mounted it in the basement, and then ran PEX piping to several places such as the fridge, kitchen sink, and master bath where I wanted to add a filtered drinking water tap. The pre- and post-filter need to be replaced at least yearly at a cost of around $80 for the pair, and the RO membrane every five years for around $50. The original system was around $300, but often on sale for less. This was far less than the capex/opex of any reasonable whole-house system I could find.
posted by jgreco at 7:47 AM on August 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
I have a reverse osmosis set up that came with my house. It serves a water tap in the kitchen and the ice maker in the fridge. All other faucets, etc., get unfiltered water.
If you're just brushing your teeth at a bathroom sink, you really don't need filtered water, IMO, unless the water is truly undrinkable.
The reverse osmosis filters and membrane are not cheap. I think I have a pretty basic model--just pre and post filters, and not, like, five of them. It was $200 to replace all three the last time I did it. It was my first time doing it, but it took about a day of draining the tank, letting it run in, all that. I found it to be a hassle--though I like the water.
Worth mentioning, if you haven't had a RO system previously, is that they waste a LOT of water. In the range of 2-3 gallons per gallon of filtered water. Depending on your setup, the water may drain directly into your pipes (and thus be invisible to you), but ours drains into a downstairs sink. It sends a lot of water down the drain. There may be systems that waste less water now, and you can, surely, reuse the gray water for something. Since it's got pretty concentrated dissolved solids in it, I'm not sure if it's good for watering plants. But maybe!
In short, I'd go for just a sink or two, and not whole house. The cost and waste would only be amplified if you're sending filtered water to your toilets.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:58 AM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you're just brushing your teeth at a bathroom sink, you really don't need filtered water, IMO, unless the water is truly undrinkable.
The reverse osmosis filters and membrane are not cheap. I think I have a pretty basic model--just pre and post filters, and not, like, five of them. It was $200 to replace all three the last time I did it. It was my first time doing it, but it took about a day of draining the tank, letting it run in, all that. I found it to be a hassle--though I like the water.
Worth mentioning, if you haven't had a RO system previously, is that they waste a LOT of water. In the range of 2-3 gallons per gallon of filtered water. Depending on your setup, the water may drain directly into your pipes (and thus be invisible to you), but ours drains into a downstairs sink. It sends a lot of water down the drain. There may be systems that waste less water now, and you can, surely, reuse the gray water for something. Since it's got pretty concentrated dissolved solids in it, I'm not sure if it's good for watering plants. But maybe!
In short, I'd go for just a sink or two, and not whole house. The cost and waste would only be amplified if you're sending filtered water to your toilets.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:58 AM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also a filter will NOT soften water in any noticeable amount. You need a whole separate system to soften.
posted by saradarlin at 11:37 AM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by saradarlin at 11:37 AM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Our appliances, toilets and taps last much longer now.
Others in our city have reverse osmosis systems, again whole house.
posted by Ftsqg at 6:55 AM on August 25, 2017 [2 favorites]