What is an under-sink water filter?
An under-sink water filter is a Point-of-Use (POU) device that works to remove many different kinds of contaminants from drinking water. POU means that the system is installed where you need access to clean water, such as at your kitchen or bathroom faucet, or anywhere you have an appliance that requires clean, filtered water. Also, under-sink water filters are in-line filters that connect directly to your waterline. The water passes through the filter before coming through your tap or other outlets. However, some under-sink filters dispense water through their own specially-installed faucet.
How do under-sink water filters work?
The water delivery process of a conventional under-sink filter is pretty simple and straightforward. The filter gets its water via a flexible plastic tube that’s connected directly to your cold-water line under the sink. Essentially, the tube diverts some of the water to the filter.
The water then leaves the filter through a separate flexible plastic tube and is delivered to you through the filter’s own dedicated faucet, mounted on top of the sink. That means there’s no mixing with unfiltered water.
Because of the constant pressure on the system, the water flows from the filter and out the tap when you turn on the dedicated faucet. Only drinking water delivered via the special faucet is filtered. The sink’s regular cold and hot water functions remain independent.
In contrast, simple under-sink filters have a slightly different water delivery system. In this arrangement, all of the water is diverted through the filter, and the filtered water is dispensed only through the regular cold-water sink faucet.
The Pros
They’re convenient and efficient: Under-sink water filters provide instant, permanent access to filtered water from a single water source. So, you won’t have to purchase a more expensive solution or refill a pitcher anymore. Besides that, under-sink filters are highly recommended these days because they don’t produce any wastewater.
They deliver targeted filtration: If you don’t want to waste money filtering water for your bathroom, laundry, and toilet with a whole-house filter, under-sink filters allow you to treat water at specific points in your home. After all, most families are mostly concerned with making sure that their drinking water is safe.
They save counter space: If you need the valuable storage space on top of your sink or counter, installing an under-sink filter will be a good choice, especially if you live in a small apartment and need all the countertop space possible.
Better capacity and speed: The best under-sink water filters on the market clean around 1,000 gallons of water. This means that some under-sink filters can last for a year before they need to be replaced. Moreover, because under-sink filter use water pressure to force water through the filter, their filters can be denser, so they can remove a broader range of potential contaminants.
No need to replace cartridges very often: When it comes to maintenance, under-sink water filters are a step-up from pitcher filters. Under-sink filters offer at least six months of filter-replacement-free operation, while filter replacement is required every two months or so for pitcher filters.
The Cons
They can be a bit pricey when compared to pitcher filters: Even with their less frequent filter replacement requirement, under-sink water filters are pricier than pitcher filters.
Low flow rate: The smaller faucet that comes with most under-sink filters dispense water at a slower rate than a regular kitchen faucet. Some dedicated taps will take about 15 to 20 seconds to fill up a 16-ounce glass.
They don’t chill your water: The water that comes from an under-sink filter will not be as chilled as the water you get from a refrigerator pitcher or dispenser. For some people, quickly adding a few ice cubes is still a lot of work.
Less space under your sink, if that matters: If the area under your kitchen sink is minimal and you need all the space you can get, then installing an under-sink water filter may be a bad idea.
The installation will most likely require a plumber: If you want a quick and easy DIY installation, you might be better off hiring a certified plumber in your area. Unless you have some prior plumbing experience, you may need to get an expert to install the filter for you. However, replacing the filter is very easy. In most cases, the replacement process is as easy as twisting off the old filter and twisting on the new one.
