water filter - kitchen under bench

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hangon

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#169783 25-Mar-2015 16:09

After a few recent water supply incidents, I've been thinking about a water filter in the kitchen, mainly for drinking (direct or boiled)

I've seen some under bench versions and that's probably what I'd pick. It probably requires drilling a hole on the sink.

Any thoughts or recommendations? Thanks.

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#1267732 25-Mar-2015 16:20

We like ours. Basic filter cartridges are typically replaced every 2 years.

You can also get a UV bug-killing version where the water passes through a unit that blasts it with UV which kills any nasty germs. Never seen one installed, but have heard of them. That UV option may be a commercial-only product.

These guys were clients of mine before they were bought by an Aussie company: http://www.daveynz.co.nz/at-home/single-tap-water-treatment/microlene-underbench-water-purifier.html

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BlueShift

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#1267733 25-Mar-2015 16:23

If you're feeling rich you can also get one with a chiller unit, so you get icy cold, filtered water. Friend of ours used to work for Just Water, so she got hers for mate's rates, but she loves it, especially in Summer.

mattwnz

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#1267751 25-Mar-2015 16:33

Depends what you are trying to do with it. Most filters just have a charcoal filter which mainly just improves the taste. If you want to remove impurities, a water distiller is good, and the smelly sludge left behind is scary.

For my rural tank water I have a UV system installed, quite expensive as you have to replace the UV tube regularly, but you don't need this for domestic water, as they add chemicals to it.

scuwp

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#1267777 25-Mar-2015 16:46

Wouldn't be without one now. We use these guys: http://www.purewater.co.nz/

Easy to install with some basic tools, and yes you will need a hole in the bench or depending on your sink design it may have space through the metal.

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hangon

397 posts

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#1267783 25-Mar-2015 16:56

thanks, it'll be for town supply water, UV might be overkill.

also wonder if anyone has done those water test kits? i.e. send off a tube for testing. I might be thinking too much... I did notice some tiny black bits from the tap a while ago, watercare came and flushed the fire hydrant (!?) for half an hour, and some bits were also found in the water from the hydrant...

Bung

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#1267794 25-Mar-2015 17:17

If you're getting grit or rust flakes at the tap and you have ceramic mixers you should filter the cold supply either at the incoming pipe or at the mixer connection. If the ceramic discs get scratched the tap will leak.

We have a filter on the kitchen tap because the town supply was heavily chlorinated. Most of the filter cartridges recommend changing every 6-12 months. The town supply has been upgraded so I am probably going to leave the filter empty to see if anyone notices.

SATTV

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#1267831 25-Mar-2015 18:50

I know a plumber and he just puts the filter on the cold water line on the mixer so you dont have to drill any holes in the sink.
yes you will be using filtered water to wash the dishes but it will make them extra clean :-)

John

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morrisk

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#1268034 26-Mar-2015 07:35

You can also use the tri tap solution - means replacing the whole tap unit but you do not have to drill any new holes in the bench unit. There are a number of types available. I did this some years back and have found it works well and it avoiding the problem of putting a new through the stainless steel bench top.

scuwp

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#1268035 26-Mar-2015 07:41

SATTV: I know a plumber and he just puts the filter on the cold water line on the mixer so you dont have to drill any holes in the sink.
yes you will be using filtered water to wash the dishes but it will make them extra clean :-)

John

A nice idea, but you will need to take into consideration the additional volume of water being used when looking at the filter replacement schedule. They only last so long, and the good ones tend to be fairly expensive.

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Dingbatt

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#1268041 26-Mar-2015 07:54

morrisk: You can also use the tri tap solution - means replacing the whole tap unit but you do not have to drill any new holes in the bench unit. There are a number of types available. I did this some years back and have found it works well and it avoiding the problem of putting a new through the stainless steel bench top.

+ 1 to this.
Admittedly mine was because of a kitchen renovation but we installed a tri tap that has a mixer (unfiltered) on one side and the filtered cold water on the other. Didn't want more holes in a stone bench top than necessary.
A relative has the filter on the cold water line option. From what I can tell you need a higher capacity, more expensive, filter for this, and if you forget to turn the mixer to full cold before filling the jug, you get disgusting chlorinated water in your tea.

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Elpie

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#1268613 26-Mar-2015 19:44

scuwp:
SATTV: I know a plumber and he just puts the filter on the cold water line on the mixer so you dont have to drill any holes in the sink.
yes you will be using filtered water to wash the dishes but it will make them extra clean :-)

John

A nice idea, but you will need to take into consideration the additional volume of water being used when looking at the filter replacement schedule. They only last so long, and the good ones tend to be fairly expensive.

I've had a separate tap set-up and a filter on the cold water line (one pre-renovation, the latter after fully redoing the kitchen). The difference in replacement schedule was negligible (couple of weeks, no more). However, almost all dishes were washed in the dishwasher and on the odd occasions that the sink was used we filled only with hot water, no mixing. Water volume does need to be considered but unless you are washing dishes in the sink regularly it shouldn't be much of an issue at all.

The under-bench, filtered line gave better pressure and didn't require any additional taps or holes. I'd definitely go that way again.

MikeAqua

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#1274290 31-Mar-2015 12:50

UV filters don't improve aesthetics (taste, colour, odour). They do kill pathogens, at the correct flow rate.

Town supply water that complies with drinking water standards won't have pathogens in it.

UV has a warm up period (for lights), during which pathogens may not be killed. In a simple under tap installation this mean you would need to run for x seconds to ensure the water you are putting in your glass has actually been sterilized.

UV tubes also require regular cleaning, as any deposits on the inside surface reduce effectiveness.

Mike

hangon

397 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1274336 31-Mar-2015 13:33

thanks all

so far I've checked mitre10, moutain fresh and planning to visit bunnings

tri tap is expensive, even though we might need a new tap soon, it's still more expensive than an in-line filter + a decent tap.

most likely consider a in-line filter, least hassle.

MikeB4

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#1274340 31-Mar-2015 13:36

I think its HRV but one of the Ventilation companies do water filtration where they filter all the water going into the home at a central point of the home, this means Bathroom water kitchen water and both hot and cold is filtered.

hangon

397 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1274359 31-Mar-2015 13:39

we looked at whole house filtration before - it's not necessary for us, shower may benefit a little, toilet flush nuh.

it's also more expensive to install and run, reduce shower pressure, and generally i have doubts with said brand and their sales pitch

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