Replies

1. 
   DanH | May 27, 2007 12:21am | #1

   There are many varieties of plain old taste-and-odor filters (generally based on activated charcoal), some with optional (and expensive) cartridges that purportedly remove heavy metals. All require periodic replacement of the cartridges.

   It's possible that your RO setup would benefit from a sediment filter ahead of it. It's not uncommon for rubber valve systems to be thwarted by sediment. (How much sediment is built up on them when you take them apart?)

   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
2. 
   BillHartmann | May 27, 2007 02:53am | #2

   I am on city water and always thought that the taste was good.

   About 2 years ago I got a new frig with water in the door and a water filter. I though that the water through the filter tasted better.

   But the frig filter was about $35 every 6 months. And I also wanted to also filter the water for my instant hot water dispensor.

   Found out that there where two types of carbon filters. The basic one are taste and order. They remove chorline (taste). More expensive ones also filter for lead, crysto, and a few other chemicals. Those filters are much more expensive and/or don't last as long.

   I went with the basic taste and oder filter.

   And there are a number of different configurations. Some come with a "dispensers" (counter top faucets) and some have a light that lights up when the filter needs changing.

   And some of the fancier ones have quick disconnect fiters and automatically seal off when they are changed, etc.

   I chosed a basic Under the Counter setup. It use a screw in cartridge. I have it setup to feed the refigerator and the hot water idspenser It uses an industry standard filter.

   Lowes has it under Whirpool and HD under GE. Caligon, Pure and other also use the same filter.

   The system is about $35 and the cartriged cost about $9 and good for 5000 gal or 6 months.

   .
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
3. 
   popawheelie | May 27, 2007 03:33am | #3

   I'm no expert. But I'm pretty sure that RO filtration units are a higher volume system. They are less dependent on replaceable filters. That's in theory. The idea is to have a filter system that doesn't need filters replaced all the time. Less cost and upkeep.

   One way to get a better percentage of filtered water to discharge water is to increase the pressure on the system. I bumped up the pressure on our system as high as I could. We are on a well.

   They sell an electric pump for RO units the install right before the unit. They are for just this purpose.

   You might be able to get away with an under cabinet carbon filter like billhartman said if it just for taste.

   Each water source has different problems or needs. Yours might be just a carbon filter. Your first course of action should a water analysis. They are around and it isn't expensive. Then you will know what you are dealing with. From the analysis you should be able to figure out what system is best suited for your water.

   
   

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   Edited 5/26/2007 8:34 pm ET by popawheelie

1. 
   Karl | May 27, 2007 07:08am | #4

   Thank you for all the input. Aside from the expense of the wasted water we are also in a water conservation mode in our city so I am leaning towards a replaceable filter system with no water wasted.The booster pump is an interesting idea but it sounds like a significant expense and bother when I am not even sure the RO filter is really necessary.The filter system does have two sediment filters and there is even a whole house filter ahead of it. The downside to this is that it may be creating a pressure drop that is increasing water waste???Can anyone make a specific recommendation on an under the counter carbon taste/chlorine filter that has readily availible/economical filter media and generates good tasting water?thanks again,Karl

1. 
   DanH | May 27, 2007 02:30pm | #6

   The less-expensive under-sink units are something of a commodity. There are 3-4 unique brands and 3-4 brands with interchangeable cartridges. All pretty much equivalent I suspect -- the main difference is in the cartridge itself, and most manufacturers sell a range of qualities of cartridges.
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

1. 
   DanH | May 27, 2007 02:32pm | #7

   (Though if I ever replace ours I'm probably going to go for one of the bayonet-mount units -- pretty much impossible to change a standard threaded unit without spilling some water.)
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

   Edited 5/27/2007 7:33 am by DanH

4. 
   Stan | May 27, 2007 09:06am | #5

   Hey Karl,

   Give http://www.multipureco.com/ a call. We have used their water filtration systems since the early 1990's. When we recently remodeled our kitchen last year we upgraded to an under the sink mount. At that time I went through the same questioning as you are doing now. R/O or carbon, etc. Their staff are quite knowledgeable. The water tastes great too.

   Just so you know, I do not distribute their products, we just use them.

   Let me know what you decide on.

   Stan