Kitchen water filter cooler units

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richms

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Topic # 164343 6-Feb-2015 03:11

Since I really should cut down on the sugary drinks, but am not going to be replacing the fridge for a while, I was thinking about getting a stand alone watercooler which plumbs in with a filter.

Anyone got one? Any good?

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 1232094 6-Feb-2015 06:53

They tend to be semi expensive, more than I wanted to pay. I use a jug with a filter in the fridge, brita I think.

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Niel

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Reply # 1232097 6-Feb-2015 07:06

Got one at work, very expensive with a heat pump cooler and UV sterilizer. Does cooling and heating, replaced the califont. Works well, except when you run it too long it pauses to catch up with the heating/cooling. But it also supplies the basin next to it and it is at a decent rate almost like mains pressure.

Fridge at home is okay, slowish but fine. Not that cold either. Filter replacement interval is supposedly every 6 months, I stretch it to 12 months as we don't use it that much. If not changed then eventually it fills up with rubbish and poisons you.

BTW someone at work setup tank water for his mew house and designed/sourced his own system including filters. In the end he paid extra for a good brand filter. There is nothing wrong with the filtering elements of cheap brands/sources, it is not hard to manufacture nano-tubes, the issue is the quality of the sealing at the ends of the tubes. For a bench filter it does not really matter, but for tank water it does.

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richms

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Reply # 1232098 6-Feb-2015 07:11

Yeah I'm not keen on the jugs. Need 2 so that you have cold and then have to make sure you get from the right one and fridge space is at a premium at the moment.

I've seen some ok priced compressor based coolers on trademe but they were bottle based. Not seen any plumbed in ones.

I'm assuming they all use that same thin water hose like fridges do so I could snake it thru to the cooler location vs having to run big water lines thru the walls to a tap like you have under a sink.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 1232112 6-Feb-2015 08:59

As a compromise between a built-in filtration/cooling unit, and a jug and fridge solution, you can get cheap-ish standalone filters/coolers, which do not connect to the plumbing. They use peltier coolers. Rather than recommending such, I am posting this as a warning... don't be tempted to buy the Sunbeam model (WF6100 BRITA Water Filter & Chiller II). Reviews of this model are poor, but I know of at least three people who own the previous model, all of whom had multiple units fail in short order. We actually have one, and it hasn't failed after two years or so, but I guess we've been lucky.

alasta

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Reply # 1232134 6-Feb-2015 11:19

timmmay: They tend to be semi expensive, more than I wanted to pay. I use a jug with a filter in the fridge, brita I think.

Can you taste the difference between filtered vs tap water? Personally I think that tap water in Wellington and Christchurch tastes as good as anything that you can get bottled or filtered.

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Reply # 1232136 6-Feb-2015 11:23

I just replaced one at work that had the bottle on top with a plumbed in unit , $40 a month for it (fully serviced) or you can purchase them outright for around $1100 this is from Just Water

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Niel

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Reply # 1232158 6-Feb-2015 11:57

This is what we have at work, was told our model also has a UV steriliser.
http://www.h2only.com.au/Filtration-Products/Chilled-and-Instant-Boiling-Systems.aspx
http://www.infolink.com.au/c/zip-heaters/boiling-chilled-filtered-water-instantly-from-one-tap-from-zip-heaters-p20819

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richms

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Reply # 1232168 6-Feb-2015 12:08

I saw someone selling those taps at the home show and they were more expensive than a fridge with a icemaker and chiller in it.

I have a cheap peltier based one and it says in the book peltier are awesome because quiet. Then it has a noisy as fan in it. Go figure.

At $40 a month leasing may be an option till I get around to rebuilding the kitchen.

Richard rich.ms

Aredwood

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Reply # 1232207 6-Feb-2015 14:14

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alasta:
timmmay: They tend to be semi expensive, more than I wanted to pay. I use a jug with a filter in the fridge, brita I think.

Can you taste the difference between filtered vs tap water? Personally I think that tap water in Wellington and Christchurch tastes as good as anything that you can get bottled or filtered.

Although not quite the answer you want - I can easily taste the difference between rainwater and mains water in Auckland. Rainwater tastes far better. Can't taste much difference between filtered and non filtered though.

ObidiahSlope

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Reply # 1232281 6-Feb-2015 17:36

I used to work as a gofer in the laboratory of a food processing plant. Part of quality assurance was to collect water samples for bug counts.

Surprisingly the bug counts for filtered water were higher than untreated water from the plants artesian well.

If you have access to good quality tap water I question the need for filtered water.

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richms

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Reply # 1232282 6-Feb-2015 17:38

It tastes aweful comprared to bottled water sometimes, its a pain maintaining bottles of it in the fridge that are cold which is a huge issue this time of year when I have a warm and a hot tap available to me.

Richard rich.ms

MikeB4

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Reply # 1232291 6-Feb-2015 18:04

We have one of these. It is very good

https://www.sunbeam.co.nz/Coffee-and-Beverages/Water-Filters/WF6100-BRITA-Water-Filter-and-Chiller-II.aspx

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Incindre

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Reply # 1232927 8-Feb-2015 14:53

alasta:
timmmay: They tend to be semi expensive, more than I wanted to pay. I use a jug with a filter in the fridge, brita I think.

Can you taste the difference between filtered vs tap water? Personally I think that tap water in Wellington and Christchurch tastes as good as anything that you can get bottled or filtered.

I think you may need to have your tongue looked at; Wellington water tastes like it comes from a runoff pool at a Ravensdown fertilizer plant.

In order to combat aforementioned terrible Wellington water I've got a UBOCK300 In-Line Water Filter. It's the 3 year version so I don't have to think about replacing the filter until 2018. Haven't hooked it up yet but the carbon filter is top notch. This isn't a cheap option mind you.

As far as cooling is concerned, a quick Google couldn't find any products that do anything like what I think you want (a unit which filters and cools and filters your water under your kitchen bench). Although there is a Benchtop Cooler which is probably your most compact option.

What are your pipes made of? If they're copper (and not alcathene or the braided insulated stuff) You might be able to jerry-rig your own cooling system using a coiled copper pipe around your line, a tank of coolant, a passive heatsink and a tiny pump. It's purely conjecture but that may be a fairly inexpensive option.

Either way, don't skimp on your water filter! The heavy metals (flouride etc. that our enlightened district council's lace the water with) can't be broken down by your body, so it stores them in your bones and lymph nodes. This can lead to a host of unpleasant health issues.

Aredwood

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Reply # 1232936 8-Feb-2015 15:38

Those particular filters are also available from almost any plumbing shop branded as Microlene / Davy water products. But AFAIK they are not rated to remove fluoride. I did a filter install job for someone who wanted to remove flouride. The only filter I could find that could reduce fluoride. Cost more, only lasts for 6 months, had a max flow rate of only 2L / min. Probably would have been cheaper for them to just buy bottled water. But if that water is mineral / spring. It would probably have a little fluoride as well.

If anything I would be more worried about hormones in the council supplied water than fluoride. As I have not been able to find out anything much that says either way. If hormones are or are not present in council supplied water. And if hormones are present, Then any claimed problems from fluoride will be insignificant in comparison. Looks like I will just have to pay for this study to find out. It was done at Auckland uni. So hopefully they used Auckland mains water for the study.

For the record I think adding fluoride to water is a great idea and it should continue.

blakamin

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Reply # 1232951 8-Feb-2015 16:02

Incindre:
In order to combat aforementioned terrible Wellington water I've got a UBOCK300 In-Line Water Filter. It's the 3 year version so I don't have to think about replacing the filter until 2018. Haven't hooked it up yet but the carbon filter is top notch. This isn't a cheap option mind you.

Jeeebus! We get those installed here in Oz (only with a 2 year filter) for $50. "Puratap"

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