confused about under sink water filtration - help with faucet

13 years ago

I am feeling a little dense about the whole under sink water filtration thing... Please help me understand!

We're doing a modern kitchen reno, with stainless countertops. I got the Brizo Venuto SmartTouch faucet, which I'm super excited about. But I didn't think through the water filter faucet decision before buying that. I want under sink water filtration just for cold water, and nothing fancy--just charcoal. I live in the city with good water, but there are always questions about lead pipes somewhere between the municipal supply and my ancient carriage house. That said, I want something that will look good with my faucet. I don't care for the basic Insinkerator and other such faucet taps that come standard with many systems. But I am unclear about what the alternative is. When one buys an undersink filter, do you have to buy a water-filter-specific-faucet, or can you use a bar/prep faucet, for example? And what is a 'cold water only' tap?? And finally, anyone have any suggestions for a decent looking one that will go with the Brizo Venuto faucet?? (Brizo Venuto faucet: http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2009/10/09/kitchen_faucet_venuto-brizo_WexwP_24431.jpg )

Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

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Comments (5)

carriage
Original Author
13 years ago
And can I, for example, use this Grohe "cold water dispenser faucet" with an undersink filtration system?? http://www.oneclickdirect.com/catalog/product_page/44910/Kitchen+and+Bath/Kitchen/Faucets/Bar/Grohe-30004000.html?ck=11e30cff8426bca46eeb

Here is a link that might be useful: Grohe K4 cold water tap picture
busybme
13 years ago
We have a Watts Premiere RO filtration system under our sink and had to buy their faucet in order for the tubing and sensors to work. It really doesn't match my main faucet but I'm trying not to let it bother me.

I would contact your filtration manufacturer and see what the requirements are for you system. Once you know what you need, you can shop for the best available match.

Good luck!
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pricklypearcactus
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Like busybme, I have a reverse osmosis filter under my sink. I have tubing going to a small secondary faucet/water dispenser on my sink and more tubing going under the floor across to the fridge water dispenser. The tubing is very small and would not be sufficient to power a normal faucet. (I'm not an expert, but I believe the reverse osmosis filtration process has "waste" water and thus would be difficult to support a full standard flow for a standard faucet. In fact mine has a several gallon tank under my sink to make certain you have sufficient water for whatever you are doing. If you empty the tank, a much smaller amount of water comes out of this already small faucet.) Mine does not match well, and I will probably look for another option when I remodel the kitchen.
roxy1234
13 years ago
As long as the water filtration system allows water flow of 2.2 gpm then the Grohe bar faucet will work.

If you later decide to have chilled water too then the faucet might be a problem as the flow would be too much to replenish the chilled water tank unless you bought a larger chiller.
kaseki
13 years ago
There is a lot to be said here but I will restrain myself.

For only charcoal filtration, any faucet should work. Use a charcoal filter that is standard size (guessing without moving my keister to measure that standard means 3 inches in diameter by about 10 inches long.) Pressure drop should be modest until depleted so flow would be high.

With R.O. water, one needs a pressure tank and at least 3/8 poly tubing to use with a standard faucet. One may also need other active components to keep the pressure up. My R.O. system feeds a Brizo Venuto, a Brizo pot filler, a plant wand, a refrigerator ice maker, and eventually a bar sink faucet. However, I have a peristaltic brine-driven pump from Spectrapure, and two pressure tanks.

With R.O. filtration, it is possible in some cases for the resulting water to become soft and acidic, and this can leach lead where present. For such cases, a lead free faucet is needed. My R.O. input is municipal water that has been dosed at the source with alkali chemicals, and pH measurements show that it is still alkaline after R.O. filtration.

kas

confused about under sink water filtration - help with faucet

Comments (5)

carriage
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busybme

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confused about under sink water filtration - help with faucet

Comments (5)

carriageOriginal Author

busybme

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pricklypearcactus

roxy1234

kaseki

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carriage
Original Author