Water Filter Setup - Page 7

tmbc10784 · 12-15-2010, 10:12 PM

Very ignorant on these filters, but I think someone in this thread mentioning installing this under the kitchen sink? Is it as simple as getting the right fittings to place it in line from the cold water source, then to the faucet?

Will this create a bottleneck in the water speed/pressure from cold on our kitchen sink? It would be an elegant solution for some filtered water for beer, but hopefully we could also toss the brita.

I don't have a hole available on my sink on top for a separate faucet, so that's why I'm asking about putting it in-line to the actual kitchen faucet.

Gremlyn · 12-16-2010, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmbc10784

Very ignorant on these filters, but I think someone in this thread mentioning installing this under the kitchen sink? Is it as simple as getting the right fittings to place it in line from the cold water source, then to the faucet?

Will this create a bottleneck in the water speed/pressure from cold on our kitchen sink? It would be an elegant solution for some filtered water for beer, but hopefully we could also toss the brita.

I don't have a hole available on my sink on top for a separate faucet, so that's why I'm asking about putting it in-line to the actual kitchen faucet.

It is that simple... couple of fittings and away you go. It shouldn't really slow down your water flow, at least not noticeably.

**BigB** · 12-19-2010, 11:06 PM

I just built one of these and used it for the first time today. I didn't use the quick connects though. This thing works fantastic! Thanks for the thread.

chrisdb · 01-21-2011, 11:00 PM

i have used an omni filter under a second kitchen sink for cooking/drinking water. I went today to replace the filter and found no omnifilter cartridges anywhere. I picked up a off brand replacement and installed it and now have water leaking from a valve on top of the housing.
Anyway, I decided that OMNIFILTER was probably near defunct and after a bit of research ordered an AQUASAN in line filter.
Aside from my unfortunate day trying to replace my water filter, i'd heartily recommend good water filter for cooking and drinking (brewwing) water. I also keep a whole house filter on my main water supply... they are not expensive to buy or maintain.

ShlouBrew · 02-23-2011, 02:43 AM

how effective are these filters? has anyone run tests on the water before and after the filter? do they remove chloromines? any effect on ph?

i've recently switched to all grain and have been researching water quite a bit. always used spring water before but have been rethinking this as i am now using much more water.

this topic, more than any other, seems to produce more questions the more i look into it

The brew strong series on water is pretty informative, and this site is pretty good too:
http://www.themadfermentationist.com/2008/09/i-think-that-water-treatment-has-made.html

mabrungard · 02-23-2011, 01:11 PM

A 10" filter housing with an Activated Carbon cartridge is very effective at removing both chlorine and chloramine...as long as the flow rate through the system is at less than 1 gallon per minute. Most users fail to limit or throttle the flow rate and you will get 'break through' of the undesirable compounds very quickly. If you limit the flow rate, the filters can produce upwards of a 1000 gallons of treated water.

For the typical municipal water system delivery pressure of 60 psi, inserting an orifice plate with a 1/16th inch hole into the filter's supply line will limit the flow to about 1 gpm.

Both chlorine and chloramine treatment are removed by oxidation reactions with the activated carbon. They are time dependent reactions and the low flow rate is important.

For more information on water and its treatment, visit the Bru'n Water site:

https://sites.google.com/site/brunwater/

ShlouBrew · 02-24-2011, 12:08 AM

thanks, mabrungard. good info. i may consider going this route knowing it will take out both chlorine and chloramine. definitely makes sense efficiency would go up with more exposure time to the carbon.

good site too.

wedge421 · 03-01-2011, 02:15 AM

Any concerns for mold or mildew growing in the filter between uses? I only brew once a month so this might be a concern for me. Thoughts? Other then that the design looks super simple.

**BigB** · 03-01-2011, 02:21 AM

I take mine apart after every use. It drys in about a day.

mabrungard · 03-01-2011, 12:06 PM

As a side note, if you're not keeping your activated carbon filter unit connected to a disinfected water supply line, you should consider the water that comes out of the filter non-potable until its been boiled.

Even if the filter is always hooked up to a disinfected line, there have been cases where hazardous infections have occurred. Most particularly, there have been cases where activated carbon filters were placed on the supply line for a whole house and the residents evenually become infected with Legionaire's disease from the infected aerosol from the shower heads.

Play it safe and assume that the water out of filters is infected if your connecting and disconnecting in between brews. That water is perfectly fine for brewing, just not for drinking.