Sherry and I are serious water drinkers. We refill our Klean Kanteens at least five times a day and usually skip other drinks at restaurants — I even gave up soda for 2009 — so staying well hydrated is a priority. Even though our area has decent tap water, we wanted a dedicated filtration solution because we drink so much of it. We avoided faucet-mounted filters that clutter the sink and didn’t get into the habit of keeping a pitcher filter full, especially since those pitchers are plastic and Sherry prefers glass or stainless steel.
We were excited when someone gifted us an under-sink Filtrete filter system (surprising to learn Filtrete does more than air filters). The idea of tucking everything under the sink appealed to us, and the box promised “easy” installation with just a few basic tools. Since Sherry knew simple plumbing projects were my kind of task, this turned into my Sunday morning assignment.
I started by clearing out the cabinet under the sink, shutting off the cold-water supply, and gathering the minimal tools recommended: screwdriver, adjustable wrench, drill, and a knife for cutting tubing. The package itself includes the filter, filter head, tubing and screws. I also found plumber’s tape helpful. (And yes, a curious chihuahua can provide extra supervision.)
The first step was mounting the filter head. I held it in place with enough room beneath to insert and remove the filter, marked the screw locations with a pencil, drilled pilot holes, and inserted the screws. You don’t fully tighten the filter head until all tubing is connected, so I only tested the placement at first.
Next, we removed the existing piping and prepared two lengths of tubing cut to size. Our fittings were pretty tight, so it took both Sherry and me to loosen them — which meant no one was available to take progress pictures. The first length of blue tubing connects the cold-water supply to the Filtrete filter head. The cold-water end uses a hex-nut attachment included in the kit, and the filter head end uses a push-in fitting for a secure, tool-free connection.
The second length of blue tubing connects the filter head to the faucet adapter. It also uses the push-in fitting at the filter head and the faucet adapter supplied in the kit at the other end. The connections were straightforward and snug.
After tightening the filter head into place, we inserted the filter cartridge. It slips into the head and locks with a small quarter turn. The replacement interval for this cartridge is every six months, so we wrote the next replacement date on the filter with a black Sharpie to make sure we don’t forget.
The package also included a reminder sticker, which appealed to Sherry’s organized nature, so we placed it in her dayplanner as an additional prompt. When December arrives, we may upgrade from the current Advanced filter — which reduces sediment, chlorine taste and odors similar to a pitcher filter — to the Professional filter that also removes parasitic cysts, offering a higher level of protection.
To finish the installation we turned the water back on, ran the faucet for about five minutes to flush the system, and checked for leaks — none were found. Now we have cleaner-tasting water without any bulky faucet attachments or constant pitcher refills.
Are you heavy water drinkers too? Do you filter your tap water, and if so, what system do you use? Do you use aerators or other methods to reduce water usage? We’d love to hear about your setup and any tips you’ve found useful.