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Review on πŸ” Efficient Filtration with Watts 531204 Push Button Sediment Cartridges by Benjamin Robinson

Revainrating 4 out of 5

Compact sink unit

This review is written for Revain.com. It's easier to install if: - you already have a hole in the sink area to install a custom faucet (e.g. by removing an existing sink sprayer or lotion dispenser already installed in your home) - your plumbing is fairly modern and standard size have fittings - your existing shut-off water valves will work properly. - Your existing check valve faucet is a flexible hose, not a rigid pipe. Installation is more difficult when: - You need to drill a hole to attach a faucet. - There are old water pipes in your house, e.g. B. an iron pipe with non-standard connection dimensions. - Your check valves are stuck and won't close. - Your existing connection from the faucet to the check valve is a rigid pipe, not a flexible hose. Pros: - Compact unit doesn't take up too much space under the sink - Filter replacement much easier than an average under-sink water filter. Cons: - Branded filters are not widely available. This water filter is nothing special, does not do "reverse osmosis" and so on. This is a conventional activated carbon filter with a sediment pre-filter. Installation: - Turn off the cold water shut-off valve under the sink, open the faucet to ensure the water is actually shut off. If not, you may need to turn off the water supply to the entire house (and sometimes replace the sink shut-off valve as well). Install a special faucet (drill a hole to install it if you don't already have one). Attach a plastic water pipe to the bottom of the faucet. - Mount the filter frame on the side of the kitchen cabinet under the sink. - Turn off the cold water supply from the shut-off valve to the faucet. Shut off valve.- Reinstall the cold water supply from the tee to the faucet (easy if the plumbing is flexible pipe. If the plumbing is rigid you may need to cut and install the pipe).- Install the plastic pipe from the T-valve to filter unit inlet.- Install the plastic tubing from the special tap to the filter outlet. - Open the special tap. - Open the cold water shut-off valve and allow the water to drain for a few minutes to flush the system - Check for leaks. In my case, I had a rigid iron pipe installation with frozen fittings, no shut-off valves under the sink, and a hard water line to an existing faucet. I found the easiest way is to buy an adapter from an iron pipe to a regular faucet fitting, install new shut-off ball valves in there and I replaced the existing faucet with a modern one that can use flexible connections to feed a hose. The quality of the dedicated faucet is not outstanding but about what I expected for the price of this kit. The mixer spout moves when the valve is turned to the "on" position or back to the "closed" position. However, after a year of use, the system was not leaking. Replacing the filter in this unit is very easy compared to your average under sink filter set. You close the cold water shut-off valve, press the button on the filter housing and remove/change the filters (recommended interval is six months). On the other hand, these filters are proprietary (order them from the manufacturer's website as they are not generally commercially available). I've used several different under counter filter kits over the years and this one gets top marks for easy filter changing. He gets OK grades for the completeness of the kit. And good marks for the quality of the special fitting. The water in this household has problems with scale/rust (associated with old iron pipes) so the 1st stage pre-filter helps here. I wondered if the sediment would clog the mesh leading into the filter or the inside of the filter itself, but it didn't. The second stage of the filter is a carbon block and performs the main filtering function. The water taste is normal from the block. It is best to always let something run before use to rinse out the filter.

Pros
  • Kitchen and bathroom lighting
Cons
  • Very expensive