What is the best water filtration system?
August 16, 2022 12:17 PM Subscribe
We’d like to install a water filtration system in our new kitchen sink, but are having trouble knowing where to begin. Our family drinks a lot of water, so taste and quality are important factors for us. Thank you!
New wave enviro is what we got. Make sure to grease the threads with vaseline or beeswax or something when you screw it together otherwise when you go to change the filter you'll need a strap wrench. My previous recommendation for this filter, in which I said:
posted by aniola at 12:43 PM on August 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
This isn't really enough information to give an informed answer.
- where do you get your water from right now? If it comes from a municipal system, they will regularly provide water quality data in most locations.
- what are your present concerns? You say "taste", but what does that mean? Does the water taste metallic? Too much chlorine? Musty?
posted by Paper rabies at 12:44 PM on August 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
- where do you get your water from right now? If it comes from a municipal system, they will regularly provide water quality data in most locations.
- what are your present concerns? You say "taste", but what does that mean? Does the water taste metallic? Too much chlorine? Musty?
posted by Paper rabies at 12:44 PM on August 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: More details:
- Our refrigerator’s water filtration system, which we had been using and sort of liked, stopped working. The maintenance tech said there isn’t a good way to get it functional again.
- We don’t like the taste of our city tap water, but I will drink it if it’s the only option. It tastes slightly earthy.
- We’re currently buying filtered water in 10 gallon jugs from our local market. While we like the water, the plastic use is pushing me to move in another direction as soon as possible.
- Ideally, we’d like something that could run through our kitchen sink/faucet - simply for ease of use. However, we’re definitely open to other ideas.
- We’re in the US (Minnesota).
posted by WaspEnterprises at 1:42 PM on August 16, 2022
- Our refrigerator’s water filtration system, which we had been using and sort of liked, stopped working. The maintenance tech said there isn’t a good way to get it functional again.
- We don’t like the taste of our city tap water, but I will drink it if it’s the only option. It tastes slightly earthy.
- We’re currently buying filtered water in 10 gallon jugs from our local market. While we like the water, the plastic use is pushing me to move in another direction as soon as possible.
- Ideally, we’d like something that could run through our kitchen sink/faucet - simply for ease of use. However, we’re definitely open to other ideas.
- We’re in the US (Minnesota).
posted by WaspEnterprises at 1:42 PM on August 16, 2022
Whatever you choose - price out the annual cost of the filters and fold into your thinking how difficult it is to get those filters and if that brand is going to be around in a few years.
Also consider how much space under your sink you are willing to give up is. reverse osmosis systems take up a ton of room.
Last consideration - do you have or do you want a separate drinking water faucet ? If not, you are effectively paying to filter all the cold water that comes out of the tap. If so, you may need another hole drilled into your counter.
posted by walkinginsunshine at 1:52 PM on August 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also consider how much space under your sink you are willing to give up is. reverse osmosis systems take up a ton of room.
Last consideration - do you have or do you want a separate drinking water faucet ? If not, you are effectively paying to filter all the cold water that comes out of the tap. If so, you may need another hole drilled into your counter.
posted by walkinginsunshine at 1:52 PM on August 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
If it's just a matter of tasting "earthy" a simple single-element system with an activated charcoal filter should take care of that. Just swap out the element when the taste you don't like comes back. And, yes, install a separate small drinking water tap with the filter on it -- there's no point in filtering dishwater for taste.
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:05 PM on August 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:05 PM on August 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Get an undersink filter that attaches to a separate drinking water faucet. Otherwise, you're filtering all your water for no reason and thus spending much more on filter changes. Countertop models are annoying and faucet-attached models have tiny filters; there is no reason not to install an undersink filter unless you are a renter.
A single stage filter is sufficient for taste, chlorine and most things. Getting a model that takes a standard filter cartridge that you won't be locked in to a single vendor for is a good idea (e.g. the GE GX1S01R).
posted by ssg at 2:54 PM on August 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
A single stage filter is sufficient for taste, chlorine and most things. Getting a model that takes a standard filter cartridge that you won't be locked in to a single vendor for is a good idea (e.g. the GE GX1S01R).
posted by ssg at 2:54 PM on August 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Do consider that reverse osmosis systems waste a lot of water.
posted by oceano at 2:57 PM on August 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by oceano at 2:57 PM on August 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
If your only issue is taste, you could do one of these 'fountains' that filters water for drinking. it's like a 5-gallon water cooler, but without the bottles.
Or maybe consider getting a service with those 5- or 10-gallon jugs delivered. They'll exchange the old ones and refill them.
posted by hydra77 at 3:11 PM on August 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
Or maybe consider getting a service with those 5- or 10-gallon jugs delivered. They'll exchange the old ones and refill them.
posted by hydra77 at 3:11 PM on August 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
If you want easy to use, low on replacement “items,” and close to plastic free I think it’s hard to beat a Berkey water filter. For what it’s worth they were issued to myself and Peace Corps volunteers in many countries.
The only real downsides I see are that they take up counter space and need to be filled up. (If you go out of town the sitting water can taste “stale” but if you just fill up the cup a bit lower then it aerates again.) Other than that they provide excellent filtration, have a good taste and the ceramic filters are easy to clean and reuse.
posted by raccoon409 at 3:56 PM on August 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
The only real downsides I see are that they take up counter space and need to be filled up. (If you go out of town the sitting water can taste “stale” but if you just fill up the cup a bit lower then it aerates again.) Other than that they provide excellent filtration, have a good taste and the ceramic filters are easy to clean and reuse.
posted by raccoon409 at 3:56 PM on August 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
I've been very happy with my Filtrete under sink set up, which installed it over 10 years ago. It was easy to install and you can get a range of filter levels depending on what you are trying to filter out. I have it come through our main faucet as I was too lazy to install a seperate tap and it still lasts me 6 months or more but most of our dishes go through the dishwasher. Makes our tap water taste like bottled.
posted by wwax at 3:57 PM on August 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by wwax at 3:57 PM on August 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
A couple years ago we installed a reverse-osmosis system with, importantly, a tank. The tank fills with water and the water that comes out of the little faucet will fill a pasta pot. There's also an extra 'mineral' filter, which replaces minerals in the water and affects its taste.
It works well for us. (We live in an area with no water-scarcity issues.)
posted by From Bklyn at 12:59 AM on August 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
It works well for us. (We live in an area with no water-scarcity issues.)
posted by From Bklyn at 12:59 AM on August 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I bought the Brondell Coral Undersink filter based on Consumer Reports (86 rating) and I am happy with it.
posted by vivzan at 11:05 AM on August 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by vivzan at 11:05 AM on August 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
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