As the name implies these water filters fit under the sink. They vary in height and width but generally measure somewhere between 10 and 15 inches tall and 4 to 6 inches wide and unless you have the worlds smallest sink or a very cluttered cupboard you should be able to fit a water filter underneath.
The typical under sink water filter uses something called an activated carbon block. The carbon is usually made from charcoal and is extremely porous, a small amount has a very large surface area. This means that the tiny impurities in the tap water can be easily absorbed by the water filter because the carbon presents many faces to the particle.
Unfortunately carbon water filters cannot remove all of the impurities in your tap water but it does significantly reduce the chemicals. For instance a typical under the sink water filter will remove up to 99% of Chlorine and over 90% of pesticides. A typical carbon filters figures are shown below.
An under the sink water filter will be effective for quite a long time, you can use it typically for 6 months and can filter over 2500 gallons. After this time you should change the filter. A replacement filter is around $30 to $40 dollars.
So what do you get for your money?
Usually you will get a kit, which contains the filter that can be free standing or screwed to the wall or cabinet side. The pipework will be 1/4″ flexible tubing that is fairly easily bent to suit the space where the water filter is fitted. A saddle valve which connects your new filter to the water supply, this ingenious device fits around your cold water pipe and has a pin that is screwed down onto the pipe piercing the pipework and allowing the water flow into the filter. And finally a tap that fits to your work surface or sink.
How easy is an under the sink water filter to fit?
As indicated above it is really easy to fit this type of water filter. You need absolutely no plumbing skills and minimal tools. I fitted our water filter in less than ten minutes. The saddle valve is a straight forward fit and you may have already used one if you fitted a new dishwasher or washing machine.
The filter itself can be left stood upright in a corner in most cases without having to get your drill out, I fixed mine to the cabinet side.
The hard part is fitting the tap, you will need to drill a 1/2″ hole or similar in your sink or work surface in which you put the pipework and fixings for your tap.
The final part is to run off about a gallon of water through your new filter. This is just to remove an loose deposits before you drink your vastly improved tasting water.
Finally
Under sink water filters are well worth installing if you are on a budget, they give you the convenience of on tap filtered water and really don’t cost a fortune to install.
Give it a try you will be amazed at how much of a difference an under the sink water filter will make and you never know you might stop buying expensive bottled water. Which is good for your pocket and good for the environment too.