.png)
Tap water in the US is generally safe, but in certain areas it can have a funky taste. Tap water can also contain traces of pesticides, VOCs, lead, and dirt, all of which you don’t want to ingest no matter how small the amount. Install an under the sink water filter to improve your water’s taste and remove many of the impurities.
The Brita filtered water pitchers work well, but are slightly inconvenient. Filling the pitcher and waiting for the water to pass through the filter can be time consuming. The next most economical solution for filtered water is to install an under the sink water filter system that includes a separate faucet for on-demand filtered water and an easily replaceable filter.
What You’ll Need
I recommend the Filtrete drinking water system, which is just $49 on Amazon. It’s a single stage system offering the least amount of filtration, but it’s better than nothing. You can spend up to $600 for dual and triple stage filtration systems as well as reverse osmosis filtering, but remember these under the sink options still only work for one faucet. How much you want to spend is up to you.
The tools needed include an adjustable wrench, a philips head screwdriver, a drill, bits and hole saw bits (if needed), and protective eyewear.
Step One: Drill a Hole in Your Sink
Your filter will have its own little faucet for drinking water, so you’ll need some space to install it next to your regular faucet. Start by checking to see if you have a pre-existing hole in your sink. These holes are usually covered with rubber grommets and are used to secure soap dispensers or sprayers. Without a pre-existing hole, you’ll need to drill a 1 1/4” hole yourself.
Drilling into a ceramic or granite sink countertop is a tricky process but it can be done. There are a couple different techniques, one using a knock out method and the other using a diamond tipped hole saw as shown in step 2 of the video above and in this video.
If you’re drilling a hole into a stainless steel sink, you can use a standard carbide tipped blade with a lubricant to keep it from overheating. Running the drill at 1/2 the speed will also keep the heat down. Start with a 1/4” bit then step up to larger bits as needed.
Step Two: Split Your Water Line
After drilling the hole, run the water line and end of the filter’s faucet through and secure it with the supplied nut. Plug the water line into the water filter.
Look under your sink and use the knobs to turn off the cold water. Then drain the cold line by turning on the faucet.
Use an adjustable wrench to remove the line coming down from the sink that is attached to the water supply line. Screw the splitter to the fitting (shown above on the right) that will run water to the filter but also allow water to pass to the regular faucet.
For 1/2” fittings you’ll need to get an adapter (which you can find at any hardware store) to attach the 1/4” splitter.
Step Three: Install Your Water Filter
After tapping into the cold water, attach the water line to the splitter and plug the other end into the filter. The filter will be marked which water line is tap water in and clean water out.
Secure the water filter and holder to the wall or side of the cabinet using two screws, which the holder will slide over. The filter screws in and out of the holder and should be changed every 6 months.
Turn the cold water back on and check for leaks. Turn the filtered water faucet on and let it run for a couple minutes before drinking.
Photos by Charles & Hudson.
Workshop is a new blog from Lifehacker all about DIY tips, techniques, and projects. Follow us on Twitter here.
from Lifehacker http://ift.tt/1JVAXFX
0 comments:
Post a Comment