Under Sink Water Filter
Choosing an Under Sink Water Filter
More and more people want the clean, fresh taste of filtered water without the expense of buying bottled water or the hassle of refilling a filtration pitcher. Installing an under sink water filter provides bottled water taste with tap water convenience. These filters insert easily into the pipework under your sink having standard pipe connections for the inflow and outflow. There are several different features to look at when choosing an under sink filter.
Additional Faucets
Most under sink water filters do not require an additional faucet. They usually don't even need a different faucet from the one you already have. There is an additional faucet that some people install that dispenses instantly hot water. This is a great feature for brewing tea, making hot chocolate, or preparing the noodle cups. With the right filter, the hot water is also filtered which can enhance the flavor of any food or beverage prepared with the filtered hot water.
Hot and Cold Filtration
Not all under sink water filters can filter both hot an cold water. If you have an instant hot tap on your sink, then having a filter that can filter hot water as well as cold water is a definite plus.
Gallon Rating
The cartridges that go with the filters have a rating of how many gallons it can filter before it needs to be changed. There is also usually an average time span given for how many months a cartridge will last. There is a wide range of gallon ratings, from about 500 gallons to more than 3,000 gallons. If the space is tight underneath your sink, you might have to get a filter that processes fewer gallons before needing to be changed.
Cartridge Changing
Some filters say on the box that it is easy to replace the cartridges with little to no mess. Before buying one, read the directions on how to change the filter to get an idea of how difficult it may be. Also, read reviews of the filter to see what other people had to say about how easy the cartridges are to change.
Cartridge Availability and Price
Before buying an under sink water filter, check to see how easy it is to get the cartridges for that filter. When it comes time to change the filter, will you have to search all over town for filters or special order them? Buying a filtration system that has cartridges that are easy to find will make your life much easier in the long run. Also look at what the cost of the replacement cartridges is. Cartridges that are expensive, especially for filters that have to be replaced more often, are less likely to be replaced as often as they are supposed to be.