A reverse osmosis system is perhaps essential in today’s world. With an increased amount of contaminants present in the water, it is necessary to filter.
A reverse osmosis filter works using a simple mechanism. It uses a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows water particles to pass through while retaining any bacteria or other contaminants. This produces highly purified water, that is safe for drinking.
However, these filters can often be hard to install. This is because of the lack of knowledge over how they work, and the technical difficulties in their placement. Luckily, with our handy guide, you can learn to install the filters in no time. Your taps will soon be running purified water.
Where to place the water filter
The first question that you would need to ask yourself is where you want to place your filter at. There are two kinds of filters that may be available in the market, and you first need to distinguish between them.
The first type of filter is the countertop filter. This is a simple filter that goes on top of the counter. The placement for this type of filtration system is fairly obvious. The confusion comes with the second type of filter.
These filters go under the sink, and would thus need to fit in the cabinet. However, there may be concerns about the filter not fitting in the cabinet or area under the sink.
In such a case, you can also install the filter in the basement or any other such lower area. However, this might mean that you would need a delivery pump to deliver the water from the filter to the tap.
After you have figured out the placement, you could move on to the next step!
How to install a countertop filter
As we mentioned earlier, a countertop filter is one of the easiest to install. If you have a countertop filter, you should be getting filtered water in no time.
To install a countertop filter, you first need to identify the area you want to place it at. This should be right next to the sink and depends upon your kitchen plan.
Once you’ve placed the filter where you want to, you should then attach the diverter valve to the faucet. The diverter valve sends the water into the filter, which has another faucet on it, that is then used to get the water.
There are a few things that you should keep in mind when attaching the diverter to the faucet. First of all, you should remove the aerator head from the faucet. After that, you should tighten the diverter over your faucet.
You should check if the diverter is attached properly, and test for any leakages. If there are none, you’re good to go. Otherwise, you may need an adapter or a washer to ensure that no water leaks.
Installing an under-the-sink RO system
Installing an under-the-sink reverse osmosis system is typically harder than the countertop variant. After having decided on the placement, you still have a lot of work to do!
The first thing that you need to do is to find a cold water pipeline. This water pipeline should also be downstream from any other mechanisms that you have in place.
This means that the water in this pipe should already have gone through any additional filters or softening systems. Once you’ve found the perfect spot, you would be ready for the next step.
The next step depends vastly on the specific type of system that you have. After having identified all the placement related concerns, you should head over to the manual that arrives with the package.
The manual will typically give you a roadmap as well as clear and concise instructions on what to do or not do. They should thus always be the first direction for you to follow.
What to do if you don’t have a manual
If you do not have a manual or can’t seem to find one for whatever reason, we have the solution for you. Please remember that these are very general guidelines, and the exact methods may vary between different systems.
The first step involves installing the faucet. This is not necessary if you already have a faucet. In case you don’t, you would need to install a new one.
To install a new faucet, you must first check if a hole for a faucet already exists. If it does, you can simply put a faucet through.
If it does not, you would have to drill a hole. This would require special drills to ensure that the hole does not cause damage to the sink.
Next, you should install the draining saddle into a drainage pipe. This means that you have to drill a hole into the drainage pipes.
It is recommended that you only drill at or near the top of the drainage pipe to ensure that no drainage gets out. After you have made the hole, you should set the saddle in it with clamps and bolts.
Next, you have to add an adapter to or change the pipes on the cold water supply at the spot identified earlier. In order to do so, you should first turn off the water supply. You should then remove the pipes and replace them as needed to get a separate redirecting pipe for your filter.
After these installations, you would next need to attach the storage tank between the filter and the faucet. This will store your water and should ideally be close to the faucet.
The last step involves attaching the different modules and installing the filters. These are usually very specific to the reverse osmosis system that you have. You should ensure that all filters are set in their proper place.
Steps after installation
Your work is not complete after an installation. It is very important to test that everything is functioning before you can consider the job done.
The first step involves checking for leakages. You should keep all valves closed and test the joints in the waterline first. This can be done by opening the water supply of the house and checking the pipes for any leakage.
After that, you should open the valve to your filtration system. This would allow the water to enter the filter and your storage tank. You should let the faucet run for a while.
The water may be murky at first, but that is because the filters have to be cleared of carbon fines. After they have run through, the water will be clear.
You should flush the tank empty two to three times before regular usage.
If any of the steps seem too hard to manage on your own, hire a professional. It can save you a lot since you won’t have to worry about damaging anything.
Conclusion
A filter can provide you with safe drinking water and save you from a lot of diseases. However, it is important to ensure that you have installed it right to save yourself from future hassle.
We hope our useful guide helped you understand how to install the reverse osmosis system right. Happy and safe drinking!
