Buzz
While tap water in the US is typically safe to drink, it can sometimes develop an unpleasant taste, especially in certain locations. Moreover, it may contain traces of substances like pesticides, VOCs, lead, and dirt—all of which are undesirable, even in small amounts. Installing an under-the-sink water filter is a great way to enhance your water's flavor and eliminate many of these contaminants.
While the Brita filtered water pitchers are effective, they can be a bit inconvenient. You’ll need to fill the pitcher and wait for the water to filter, which can take time. A more convenient and affordable option for filtered water is to set up an under-the-sink filtration system, which comes with a dedicated faucet for filtered water and a filter that's easy to replace.
What You’ll Need
I suggest the Filtrete drinking water system, priced at $49 on Amazon. This single-stage system offers basic filtration, though it's better than no filtration at all. If you're willing to spend more, you can opt for more advanced systems that feature dual or triple-stage filtration, or even reverse osmosis, with prices reaching up to $600. However, keep in mind that these systems still only work for one faucet. The choice of how much to invest is yours to make.
The necessary tools for the job include an adjustable wrench, a Philips head screwdriver, a drill, drill bits, hole saw bits (if required), and protective eyewear.
Step One: Drill a Hole in Your Sink
Your filter will come with its own faucet dedicated to drinking water, so you'll need some space beside your main faucet to install it. Start by checking whether there’s already a hole in your sink. Often, these holes are covered with rubber grommets and are used for soap dispensers or sprayers. If there’s no existing hole, you’ll need to drill a 1 1/4” hole yourself.
Drilling into a ceramic or granite sink can be a challenging task, but it’s achievable. There are different methods for doing this, including a knock-out method or using a diamond-tipped hole saw, as demonstrated in step 2 of the video above and in this video.
For drilling into a stainless steel sink, you can use a standard carbide-tipped drill bit along with a lubricant to prevent overheating. Keeping the drill speed at half will also help reduce heat. Start with a 1/4” bit and gradually use larger bits as needed.
Step Two: Divide Your Water Line
Once the hole is drilled, feed the water line and the filter’s faucet through it, securing them with the provided nut. Then, connect the water line to the water filter.
Look beneath the sink and turn off the cold water supply using the knobs. Next, drain the cold water line by turning on the faucet.
Use an adjustable wrench to detach the line coming down from the sink, which is connected to the water supply. Attach the splitter to the fitting (shown above on the right) that will direct water to the filter while still allowing it to flow to the regular faucet.
For 1/2” fittings, you will need an adapter (available at most hardware stores) to connect the 1/4” splitter.
Step Three: Set Up Your Water Filter
After connecting to the cold water supply, link the water line to the splitter and connect the other end to the filter. The filter will have labels indicating which line is for tap water and which one is for filtered water.
Mount the water filter and its holder to the wall or the side of the cabinet using two screws, which will slide through the holder. The filter should be screwed in and out of the holder and needs to be replaced every six months.
Turn the cold water back on and inspect for any leaks. Once you’ve confirmed there are no leaks, turn on the filtered water faucet and let it run for a few minutes before using it for drinking.
Photos by Charles & Hudson.
