Of the many ways to filter a home's drinking water, a reverse osmosis system offers one of the best solutions. In this system, a semi-permeable membrane removes ions, molecules and larger particles from drinking water. Reverse osmosis offers several advantages over different types of filtration, as it offers four or five different stages of filtration and removes most harmful contaminants, including heavy metals like lead. A reverse osmosis system consists of very few parts, making it very easy to clean and maintain. And it's fully EPA-approved.
Compared to other point-of-use filtration systems, reverse osmosis tends to be more effective than soot (carbon), simpler, and significantly less expensive than UV disinfection systems that are best at killing pathogens. If the water supply is properly chlorinated, a reverse osmosis system may be the best option, although according to Food & Water Watch they are grossly inefficient, using up to three gallons of water to produce a single filtered gallon.
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Installing a reverse osmosis filter
While there are reverse osmosis systems that can be installed to treat all water in the home it is most common to install an undersink unit under the kitchen sink, where most of the water for drinking and cooking is provided. The unit includes four or five separate filter canisters, each filtering a different set of contaminants, and a storage tank that holds the purified water.
A countertop faucet separate from the faucet indoors provides purified water when needed.
Although the physics of reverse osmosis filtration are complicated, installation is fairly simple and requires only basic plumbing skills.
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What you need
Equipment / tools
Tape measure
Screwdriver
Level
Adjustable Wrenches
Hacksaw
Duct Locking Pliers
Materials
Reverse Osmosis Undercounter Filter Kit
T-adapter (if required)
Plumbing pipe sealing tape
Instructions
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The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Plan the Installation Before you buy a reverse osmosis (RO) system, make sure you have enough space under the kitchen sink for the tank and filters. Measure the available space - In a sink full of trash cans or other items, it can be difficult to fit an RO unit with its tank and multiple filters. Also make sure you have an idea of what cold water source to use.
Most units come with a tee that attaches to the 1/2 inch cold water supply line to the faucet. Other RO units use a 3/8 inch flexible line that comes down from the faucet. In this case, a tee above the shutoff valve can be used to provide a water source for the filtration system.
Prepare reverse osmosis system Unpack the storage tank and filter components and double check that they fit under the kitchen sink in the desired locations. knows if adjustments are needed to the drain or water supply lines.
If this is the case, this task may require the help of a plumber.
Most reverse osmosis systems are installed under the kitchen sink, but they can also be installed in a remote location such as a garage or utility company be installed space, and then run. to the location of the sink. The filtration system must be installed in the cold water line after the water softener if your house is equipped with it. Remote installation does not take up space under the sink, but requires more installation effort. You may also need to purchase additional tubing to connect the components.
Install the faucet for the sink Install first the strainer at the sink You can get the lines under the counter before it gets too crowded under the sink. Mount the reverse osmosis faucet to the kitchen sink or countertop with the included hardware. Many sinks have an empty opening that can be used for the faucet. Sometimes the knockout hole provided for a sink spray can be used for the strainer tap. Worst case you can drill a new hole in the sink cover or worktop to hold the strainer pin.
Pass the water line through the opening and insert the air gap (red hose) into the faucet before locking the spigot into the body.
Prepare and position the tank Before placing the reverse osmosis tank under the sink, install the tank connector. Apply plumbing tape to the threads of the tank outlet, then screw the spigot connector into the tank, being careful not to twist the threads. The connection should only be hand-tight and should be easy to unscrew. Now place the tank under the sink.
Place directly under the tap if possible.
Assemble Filter Assembly Remove the filter assembly cover and mark the locations of the hanging washers on the wall under the sink using a spirit level to ensure the unit is level. This assembly should be at least 15 1/2 inches off the floor to allow enough clearance to remove the filters for maintenance. Screw the hanging grommets to the wall at the marked location and position the assembly then the washers.
Connect the water line The green water line from 1/4 inch of the filter assembly should now be connected to the water supply line.
First, shut off the water supply.
How you make this first water connection may vary depending on the situation. Most filters come with a 1/2" adapter that works well if your sink faucet uses a 1/2" flexible line. However, if your sink faucet uses a different size hose, you will need to use a T-adapter to switch to the water supply hose that goes to the filter unit. The green supply hose connects to the adapter tee using a nut, sleeve and insert.
Connect the other hoses Hose configurations vary by manufacturer , but usually consist of a pipe from the water supply to the first tank in the filter unit (the pre-filter), another pipe from the last filter in the tank (the RO tank) to the sink drain, and another pipe to the storage tank. Finally, there is a hose that runs from the storage tank to the countertop faucet. In some 5-stage systems, the water from the storage tank also passes through a "polishing" filter on its way to the sink faucet. However, plumbing configurations can vary quite a bit, so always refer to the manufacturer's specifications. into the correct pipe connections. When connecting hoses, take advantage of the extra length of hose and route it through the back of cabinets or where needed for a cleaner installation.
If possible, leave extra tubing in case the system needs to be moved at a later date. If desired, the hose can also be trimmed for a cleaner, tidier look.
On this particular reverse osmosis system, the yellow hose goes to the storage tank, the blue hose goes into the reverse osmosis kit, and the black hose fits into the drain adapter. Before connecting the yellow hose, follow the manufacturer's instructions for disinfecting the system.
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Connect the drain A drain tee is included for a spa reverse osmosis system.
Place the strainer tee against the existing drain pipe, then score and cut the pipe with a hacksaw. Make sure the tee is tight when cutting.
Secure the filter drain tee to the drain pipe using the washers and nuts provided; The connections are made in the same way as an odor trap is installed. .
Slide the black drain hose from the filter into the T-piece on the adapter.
Insert a Test Pressure Leak Turn on the water supply and turn on the cold water at the sink to get extra air out of the lines.
Pressure builds up in the system; You have to wait about two hours to reach the maximum pressure. Once the system is pressurized, check all connections and tighten any loose or leaking parts.
Before using the water for drinking, drain the system by running the faucet and letting it run for 24 hours Completely drain and drain for hours. The water will be a slow trickle after the tank is empty. Leave for a full 24 hours and continue testing for leaks during that time.
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