Under-Sink Filtration Systems
Out of sight and out of the way
Under-sink water filtration systems are capable of removing 500 or more different kinds of contaminants from your water. Once installed, these systems require little ongoing maintenance.
Most under-the-sink filtration systems consist of three or four filters.
- A basic filtration pad is used to remove dirt and rust from your water. This stage is optional in many under sink filtration units but it can be critical in removing larger particles that will clog the other (more critical) filters.
- The water passes through a KDF (electrochemical) filter that can kill many of the microorganisms.
- A carbon filter (usually a carbon block filter) removes many chemical pollutants from the water.
- Once the water has passed through the KDF and carbon filter, it finishes by passing through a micron filtration pad.
The multi-filter approach makes this one of the most effective water filtration systems on the market.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Under Sink Filtration Systems
There are many benefits associated with this type of filter.
- An under-sink water filter will remove 99 percent of particles that are 0.5 microns or larger. This makes it one of the most effective methods of water filtering.
- The installation underneath the sink means it’s out of the view of company and curious children.
- The carbon block filter reduces the amount of chlorine in your water by 95 %.
- Its design and out-of-the-way installation make it more durable than many other systems.
- The filtration cartridges in this system are easy to replace. Simply open the unit, pop out your old filter(s) and pop in the new one(s).
- They are easy to install and fit standard faucets.
Some of the cons to this type of water filtration are:
- Of course, you are restricted to the filtration at one sink.
- Of course, it is also not portable. You can’t take it with you when traveling or moving.
- It is comparably more expensive than popular portable methods of water filtration.
- Out-of-sight does mean out of mind, and this may lead you to forget important aspects of medicine.
Some Cautions
One strong caution concerning these units: be sure you do not have hard water. Hard water can build up inside the unit and limit its effectiveness. Softening your water with a water softener will greatly reduce calcium buildup, improving the effectiveness of your under-sink filtration system. (It will also improve other aspects of your life, such as skin care).
And finally, let us add one last reminder to maintain your water filtration system. If you fail to replace the cartridge(s) it can become full of the contaminants it has been storing. Once it is full it will begin to release these contaminants back into the water (counter-productive, to say the least).
