Water Filter
I am in the process of a house redo and want to put in water filtration. We have a lead water main and unsure about the pipes so a whole house reverse osmosis is not the best plan, but I want to filter at point of use for kitchen and bathroom. I also am installing…
I am in the process of a house redo and want to put in water filtration. We have a lead water main and unsure about the pipes so a whole house reverse osmosis is not the best plan, but I want to filter at point of use for kitchen and bathroom. I also am installing a famrhouse sink, so I’d like an undersink water filter in the kitchen that would generate filtered water to the regular faucet. Any suggestions and tips welcome! Thanks!
one more thing before you change your pipes. old lead pipes are covered with chemicals which make then more or less safe for drinking water. On the other side new copper pipes are soldered with new lead solder. so new pipe can give away more lead then the old pipes.
I’ve had an Aquasana filter under my kitchen sink for a few years. Very happy with it and I believe it removes lead
Checking the levels of lead (and other toxic elements) is an excellent idea. I’ve had it done a few times at a lab in LI where you can mail your samples. I recently read the city will do it for free… check the DEP web site. You may discover you don’t need a filter or changing your pipes… or maybe you do. When you do this I’d recommend you do collect several samples: in particular, for water at the points where you normally drink, check it both first thing in the morning (when it has been sitting on the pipes for a long time), and after having run the faucet for a couple of minutes.
I you need to act, consider changing your water main (I think this will cost you a few thousand dollars, possibly 4 or 5.) Have a plumber inspect your exposed pipes (if you have some in the basement) and see if any are made out of lead or very old iron – you may need to replace those eventually too.
If you decide to look for a filter, do look at your options carefully, and when you consider prices factor in both installation and maintenance. I have an Aquapure for drinking and cooking (at kitchen faucet) and it costs about $300 annually (I change its cartriges twice a year.) You couldn’t use such filter for the shower, it would be too slow and you’d have to replace it constantly. I like it for the kitchen though.
A few months ago when the plumber fixed the hot water tank, the hot water (with lots of debris) was absolutely disgusting, and it took 2 days for the debris to settle, I thought I should install a house filter. I have not done it yet though.
Please let us know what you decide! I’d love to hear suggestions and thoughts about the home filter. Thanks!
city adds chemicals to the water. this chemical coats the lead pipes and makes them less reactive. Still I used one of this:
http://www.amazon.com/Value-Line-Stage-Filter-Defender/dp/B000F5NKCA
it is easy to install, does not waste water and only filters lead.
In general Brooklyn tap water is one of the best in country.
I have been using a reverse osmosis water filter system for years now, and couldn’t be happier and feel more safe with the water I am drinking. I got myself an Aquasafe system and get 0 ppm removing everything from the water that is harmful. This will remove the lead and other heavy metals from your water, along with chlorine, flouride, and other contaminants. They have a good article at http://aquasafesystems.wordpress.com/ which may clear things up a little.
I have a whole house filter because it removes debris before the water hits the water tank, ice maker, laundry, etc. It’s cheap to install & easy to change the filters. I had a test done where the water enters the house & found no lead even w/o the filter.
the city uses plenty of lead and i’m filtering anyway…
Why not start with replacing the lead pipes????
Have your water tested. It’s doubtful that there’s even any lead in it due to the corrosion buildup inside the lead main.