Problem: Many homes have impurities or foul tastes in the water supply.
Solution: Installing a water filter is a great way to solve this problem, and the best type of filter for drinking water is one that connects directly to the kitchen faucet. This project involves minimal plumbing skills, making it an easy one for even a beginning do-it-yourselfer.
Materials:
water filter
drill with Phillips driver bit
adjustable wrench
Teflon tape
brass fittings
- To assemble the water filter, first dress the filter fittings by wrapping them with Teflon tape. Teflon paste will not work when installing a water filter.
- Screw one fitting into each of the filter's threaded water line openings and tighten them with a wrench (figure A).
- Attach a brass 1/2" adapter fitting to the "IN" side of the water filter (figure B).
- If you haven't done so already, now is a good time to upgrade to flexible stainless-steel braided water supply lines (figure C). One end has a 1/2" opening; that's why you installed the 1/2" adapter in step 3. The other end is a 3/8" opening, made to fit onto the main water supply valve under the sink.
- Turn off the water at the cold water supply valve under the sink, and use a wrench to disconnect the supply line from that valve (figure D). Leave the other end of the water supply pipe attached; you'll connect it to the "OUT" pipe of the water filter.
- Attach the small end of the new supply line to the shut-off valve, and attach the larger end to the "IN" side of the filter. Tighten both fittings with a wrench. These new braided flexible steel lines have rubber seals built right in, so they don't require Teflon tape.
- Attach the top of the filter to the cabinet underneath your sink according to the manufacturer's instructions (figure E). Be sure to leave ample space to remove the water canister so changing the filter will be easy.
- Hand tighten the bottom part of the filter (the water canister with filter inside) onto the top part.
- After the filter is secured in place, attach the small end of another new flexible supply line to the "OUT" side of the filter.
- Attach the other end of that new supply "OUT" line to the original water supply pipe that you detached earlier (it's still hanging under your sink). To do this, you'll first need to screw on a special brass adapter (usually provided with the filter). One end of the adapter has a 1/2" opening to attach to the new pipe, while the other end is smaller to attach to the original supply pipe (figure F ).
- Tighten those last two fittings together by using one wrench to get a firm grip on one fitting while turning the other fitting with another wrench.
- Turn the water back on and check for leaks. Run the water for a couple of minutes to flush out the system. Then get yourself a glass of water and taste your handiwork! Remember to change the filter regularly according to the guidelines provided with your filter kit.
Resources water filter - Omni (Model #: CB3 series A)
$20-$30
OMNI Corporation
Hammond, IN
USA
Phone: 219-989-9800
Toll Free Phone: 800-937-6664
Email:
omniinfo@staritemail.com
URL:
www.omnifilter.com
