I’ve been looking into getting a water filter for my kitchen, and I thought I’d ask the community for some advice. Water quality is something I’ve recently started paying more attention to, and I want to make sure the filter I choose is going to be effective and easy to use.
Why Use a Water Filter in the Kitchen?
I know there’s a lot of talk about water quality, and I’ve heard that filters can remove chlorine, heavy metals, and other impurities that affect the taste and safety of our drinking water. Not to mention, it’s a good way to save money by cutting down on bottled water.
What Types of Kitchen Water Filters Are There?
There are so many options, and it’s a bit overwhelming. Here are a few I’ve been considering:
Activated Carbon Filters: These are the most common and are great for improving taste and odor. They don’t always remove every impurity, but they seem to be a solid option for everyday use.
Reverse Osmosis Filters: A bit more expensive, but they remove a wide range of contaminants. I’ve heard they’re great if you’re concerned about things like lead or fluoride.
Faucet-Mounted Filters: These are convenient because they’re easy to install and remove. But I’m wondering if they’re as effective as the bigger systems?
Under-Sink Filters: These seem like a good choice for those who want something out of sight. Has anyone here used one of these before?
What’s Been Your Experience?
Has anyone made the switch to a water filter in their kitchen? I’d love to hear your recommendations on what’s worked well for you and any challenges you’ve faced. What should I be looking out for in terms of maintenance and filter lifespan?
How bad is your muni water? When we moved to Colorado our city water was around 125 ppm which is fantastic compared to the 550 ppm we had in California. Never felt like I needed to filter here but used R/O in California.
Same where I’m at. The last time I measured it was 110ppm. The fridge has a filter and I drink about 5 mugs of ice water a day from it. I think @Deadhead is onto something because bottled water usually taste like crap to me
Thanks for the tag @OGIncognito I use RO Buddie 75 keeps up with my heavy demand. My tap water quality isn’t bad, but I like knowing exactly what’s in the water. This is important for the way I grow.
You do have to consider the base TDS of your water when using supplements. For example if you have a target TDS of your nutrient solution of 900 ppm you have to factor in the base water. So if it’s say 300 ppm you will only be adding 600 ppm worth of nutrients. This means you are only controlling 2/3 of your feeding. Many growers use R/O so they have complete control. I’m at 135 ppm where I am so not much is present before mixing nutes. Where I was before I basically had to use R/O as the base water was over 50% of my total TDS.
@john98658, thanks for sharing your experience with the Waterdrop G3P600. It’s great to hear it’s been working smoothly for you. I’ve been considering a reverse osmosis system myself and appreciate the recommendation. I’ll definitely check it out.
I’ve also read that considering the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) of your tap water is important when choosing a filtration system. For instance, if your water has a high TDS, an RO system might be more beneficial. Anyone else here have experience with different TDS levels and how that influenced their choice of water filter?
@Deadhead, that’s a funny way to look at it! You’re right, technically, if they’re dissolved, they’re not exactly solids anymore. I guess it’s just a way to describe the particles that are still present in the water, even if they’re dissolved.
On a more practical note, I’ve seen TDS meters used to check the quality of drinking water, so it’s interesting how something so simple can actually be a bit confusing!
Anyone else find themselves scratching their head over water terminology sometimes?
@Low, thanks for sharing your experience! It’s great to hear that the RO Buddie 75 is working well for you. Having that level of control over water quality definitely seems like a game-changer for growing.
I totally get the peace of mind that comes with knowing exactly what’s in your water, even if the tap water is decent. Do you find that using RO water has helped with the overall consistency and health of your plants? Would love to hear more about the impact it’s had on your grow!
I used a Brita pitcher type filter for a while checking with a meter and in one month the ppm was about the same as my tap unfiltered while they advertise 3 months so at 25 bucks (cdn) each not a good deal
