Drinking water solution

6 years ago

We're remodeling out kitchen and our new fridge won't have a water dispenser. (We use the current one all the time.) I'm told that filtered water out of the main sink faucet will reduce its water pressure, which we'd like to avoid. So...can anyone recommend a good water faucet/filtration system? Also, would you recommend a chiller or is that overkill?

Featured Answer

Jake The Wonderdog

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

The Cook's Kitchen has a point, but I'm going to assume you've decided on your fridge for a reason.

So, you can install a filter that won't reduce your flow, or you can install a separate faucet.

You can buy a standard filter holder and filters. For example:

- A Pentek 10" "Big Blue" filter holder - $35

- A Pentek 10" GAC carbon filter - $24 (you would replace this once a year)

This setup would give you 2 gpm flow (your sink faucet is limited to about 2.5 gpm)

You are talking less than $100 (including shutoffs, etc).

Or you could do the same thing with a 20" Pentek Big Blue filter and housing

The 20" gives you flow rates of up to 5 gpm at a 2 psi pressure drop.

This is generally more than you need - but you won't have any significant pressure loss.

I installed a 20" "Big Blue" filter holder and then a KDF 55 and carbon filter. The KDF 55 and carbon will be fine going 2 years between changes. It has a 3 gpm flow rate.

You can install this under the sink.

I installed mine in the basement and it runs to a 4 port PEX manifold. I currently run it to the kitchen sink cold water as well as the ice maker in the fridge. I can also run filtered cold water to the bathroom sink faucets if I want when I redo the plumbing to those rooms.

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Comments (7)

PRO
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I’d recommend a different fridge choice! You specifically use this feature, and it’s very important to you. Enough so that you’re trying to find an expensive workaround. Choosing something that does not have this feature is not a functional choice for your kitchen.
pricklypearcactus
6 years ago
I think it really depends on how / why you use your current fridge filter. Is there something specific you want to filter out of your water? Different types of filters provide different levels of filtration. Or is the chilled water important? As previously suggested, you may want to reconsider your fridge choice if cold, filtered water is important to you. Another alternative is to have a filtered water spigot next to your normal sink faucet. I've done this when I wanted reverse osmosis filtration, which is going to filter a lot more than a simple fridge filter will.
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patriotmike
Original Author
6 years ago
I appreciate the point people are making about the fridge. Unfortunately we had a few things that were important to us (fridge size and capacity, door type, water dispenser) and couldn't have all three. We had to sacrifice the one that seemed possible to achieve a different way: drinking water.
Jake The Wonderdog
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
@patriotmike

If you want cold water you can always put a pitcher of your filtered water in the fridge. I use the filtered water all the time - for coffee, cooking, etc and I am glad I don't have to get it from the fridge door.

Besides, my solution gives me the ability to run a filtered water line anywhere. And the cost is very reasonable - both the installed cost and the cost of filters.

Are you on municipal water or well water - do you have specific concerns (lead, arsenic, nitrates for example) or would you just like your water to taste better and perhaps clean up some of the chlorine and such?
MiMi
6 years ago
I was thinking like the above poster. A Brita filtered pitcher filters great tasting water
Jake The Wonderdog
6 years ago
MiMi

Just to be clear, I wasn't suggesting a filtered pitcher. I was suggesting a permanent installed drinking water filter supplying the cold water faucet (and then if they want chilled water they can refrigerate it).