Just a few years ago, the under-sink water filter – or pretty much any other type of residential water filter for that matter – wasn’t really considered a must-have in the US households. That was especially the case with people who used communal water. But let’s face it, if you live in a city in the US, your drinking water has to be treated extremely vigorously before it actually reaches your home. Now, you probably think that your city’s water treatment plant is as effective as it can possibly be, don’t you? After all, with all the testing that happens every single year, your drinking water is supposed to be safe, isn’t it?
Well, this actually isn’t always the case. For example, in one of the most recent drinking water incidents, the water was found to contain lead large enough to cause poisoning in small children. In other words, people realized that while the water may be safe for drinking out of the factory, there is a good chance that it will pick up contaminants along the way. In this particular case, the water carried lead from the old pipes to the homes of more than 100,000 people. With this in mind, the bad news is that when the water comes out of the tap, there is a real chance that it comes with hormones, arsenic, and lead – all of which are known to cause many different health problems. But the good news is that the residential filtration technology has developed to the point where it allows you to take control and minimize – if not completely eliminate – the risks.
Different Types of Under-Sink Filters
When it comes to drinking water, there are a few good filter options available on the market. However, generally speaking, for a few gallons of pure, safe water a day for cooking and drinking, both under-sink and countertop filters are your best bet. That being said, we are now going to focus on under-sink filters, and we are also going to help you understand how they work. Basically, there are two different types of under-sink filters – simple under-sink filters and standard under-sink filters. And now, let’s see how each one of these two under-sink filter types actually work, shall we?
Simple Under-Sink Filters
Simple under-sink filters are very convenient, they are easy to install, and they are a perfect choice for those who don’t have the time nor money to install a separate ledge faucet on their sink. The main objective of simple under-sink filters is to filter all of the water that comes from a current cold-water faucet. These filters are usually not that expensive, since you don’t need to install an additional faucet or inlet valve. And to summarize, you can use simple under-sink filters to filter all of the cold water at your sink, and one thing that is so good about these filters is that you don’t need to have a separate faucet or inlet valve.
Standard Under-Sink Filters
There is a difference between simple and standard under-sink filters. A good standard under-sink filter can produce high-quality drinking water for many years with minimum maintenance and maximum convenience. And what’s so good about standard under-sink filters is that they are not too expensive either! However, unlike simple under-sink filters, standard under-sink filters actually require a separate faucet.
But regardless of which one of these two under-sink water filter types you decide to go with, one thing is certain – under-sink filters are economic performers, and their basic simplicity makes them almost maintenance-free. And there you have it. These are the main differences between simple and standard under-sink filters. So, take your time, think about what you need, and go for it!