This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey delivers clean, filtered water right at the kitchen sink. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)
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Shopping List for Installing a Water Filter With A Separate Faucet:
– water filter and cartridge
– 3/4-inch screws
Tools for Installing a Water Filter With A Separate Faucet:
– slug cutter (a.k.a.: knock-out punch), used to cut faucet hole in stainless steel sink
– electric drill and 3/8-inch-diameter bit
– ratcheting box-end wrench
– basin wrench
– adjustable wrench
– drill/driver and 1/8-inch-diameter bit
– Phillips screwdriver
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How to Install a Water Filter With A Separate Faucet | This Old House
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey installs an under sink water filter that can remove most contaminants
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Time: 1 hour
Cost: $100
Skill Level: Moderate
Tools List for Installing a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter:
Adjustable Open Ended Wrench
Screwdriver
Shopping List:
Reverse Osmosis Filter
3⁄8” x 3⁄8” x 1⁄4” compression T fitting
Steps:
1. Before doing any plumbing work, turn off the water supply at the water main.
2. Mount the filters to the inside of the kitchen cabinet.
3. Remove the hand soap dispenser or side sprayer to allow for a hole for mounting the new faucet.
4. Pass the tubes through the mounting hole and connect them to the faucet base.
5. Mount the faucet base to the sink or counter using the supplied toggle bolt and a screwdriver.
6. Connect the water line to the faucet and attach the faucet to the faucet base.
7. Add the compression T fitting to the existing cold water supply to allow connection to the new water filter. Use a wrench to tighten the connections.
8. Install the drain adapter to the existing drain piping and connect the drain tubing to the new drain adapter. You may need to modify the existing drain piping.
9. Connect the final piece of tubing to the pressure tank and tuck the tank under the sink.
10. Turn back on the water supply.
Resources:
Richard installed the Twist and Lock Reverse Osmosis Filtration System, which is manufactured by GE Appliances ( available at home centers.
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Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Install a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter | Ask This Old House
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to ensure clean water for your entire home. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)
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Shopping List for How to Install a Whole-House Water Filter:
– whole-house water filter
– ball valves, used to shut off water before and after filter
– solderless brass fittings, for joining cold-water line to copper pipe and filter housing
– copper pipe, for connecting filter to cold-water line
– teflon tape, for sealing threaded fittings
– plywood panel, used to attach the filter’s mounting bracket
Tools for How to Install a Whole-House Water Filter:
– pliers, for tightening plumbing connections
– pipe wrench, for tightening plumbing connections
– ratchet wrench and sockets, for fastening the filter’s mounting bracket
– close-quarter hacksaw, used to cut water pipes
– cordless drill, for screwing the plywood panel to the wall
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This Old House is the No. 1 multimedia home enthusiast brand, offering trusted information and expert advice through award-winning television, a highly regarded magazine, and an information-driven website. This Old House and Ask This Old House are produced by This Old House Ventures, LLC and are presented on PBS by WETA Washington, DC.
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How to Install a Whole-House Water Filter | This Old House
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how to choose the right water filter for different water quality issues.
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Time: at least 1 hour
Cost: $20-$1000
Skill Level: Beginner
Shopping List:
Water quality test kit
Water filter
Steps:
1. Purchase a water quality home test kit.
2. Follow the instructions on the kit and wait for results on water quality issues.
3. Based on the results of the test, choose a filter that will treat the water quality issue.
Resources:
All the filters Richard demonstrated, including the granular activated carbon filters, sink mounted filters, sediment filters, and water softeners can be purchased at a home center or plumbing supply store.
Expert assistance for this segment was provided by Morris Merchants (
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Choose the Right Water Filter | Ask This Old House
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey improves the taste and odor of municipal drinking water with a whole house filtration system that includes a sediment filter and a granulated activated carbon filter.
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Shopping List:
Whole House Filtration System
Copper Pipe and Fittings
3 Copper Ball Valves
Adapter Fittings to Connect Filters
Flux
Solder
Thread Sealing Tape
Steps:
1. Turn off the main plumbing supply to the house and drain as much water as possible from the pipes by opening all faucets and fixtures and then opening a drawoff valve near the main.
2. Determine the location of the prefilter. If necessary, attach a piece of plywood for attaching the filter bracket.
3. Use a tubing cutter to cut in to the main water supply pipe.
4. Clean, apply flux, and solder the adapter fittings to transition into the filter housing on a workbench to keep the heat away from the filter. Once cool, connect the adapter fittings to the filter housing, using thread sealing tape on threaded connections.
5. Clean, flux, and then dryfit the remaining connections. Include “T” fittings that allow water into and out of the filter, but also connect to a shutoff valve that serves as a bypass. Include a shutoff valve for water entering the filter and a shutoff valve for water leaving the filter.
6. In normal operation, the bypass valve remains in the closed position and the two filter valves are in the open position. If the filter requires service, those valves should be reversed, allowing untreated water into the building temporarily.
7. Once all connections have been made, turn water pressure back on to the building and check for leaks.
8. Follow manufacturer instructions to properly activate the carbon filter.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Install a Whole-House Water Filter | Ask This Old House
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey travels to Los Angeles to update a water filter to preserve the look of a retro faucet.
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Time: 1 hour
Cost: $250
Skill Level: Beginner
Tools List for Installing a Water Filter:
Wrench [
Bucket [
Shopping List:
Water filtration system
Steps:
1. Start by shutting off the cold water line underneath the kitchen sink. The cold should always be to the right.
2. Open the faucet to release any cold water that’s in the line upstream of the shutoff valve.
3. Place a small bucket or tray underneath the cold water line underneath the sink to catch any extra water that might fall out. Then, break the water connection using a wrench.
4. Connect the adapter that comes with the kit to the hose.
5. Push the black tubing that also comes with the kit into the adapter on one end and the filter on the other. The back of the filter has images that indicate which pipe should receive which tube.
6. Connect the second adapter to the water shutoff valve. Push the black tubing that came from the filter to the shutoff.
7. Turn the water back on.
8. Run the sink for 5-10 minute increments according to the instructions that come with the kit to activate the carbon and fully filter the water.
Resources:
Richard installed the Advanced Water Filtration System, which is manufactured by Kube ( It comes with a kit of adapters and connectors so that it’s easy to connect it with whatever pipes you have underneath your sink. The only other tool required for installation is a wrench, which can be found at any home center.
The retro faucet the homeowner had in her kitchen is called the Dishmaster M76 Imperial Four ( which can still be found on the manufacturer’s website and on some third party sites.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Install a Water Filter Under the Sink | Ask This Old House
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains the many options available for filtering drinking water. (See below for a shopping list and steps.)
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Shopping List for How to Choose a Water Filter:
Pitcher-style water filter [https://amzn.to/2Ls4Kxc]
Faucet-mounted water filter [https://amzn.to/2NXQxtH]
Under-sink water filter [https://amzn.to/2ZUdDJ5]
Under-sink reverse-osmosis water filter [https://amzn.to/2O1PRDB]
Whole-house water filter [https://amzn.to/2NV4jxf]
Sediment filter [https://amzn.to/34FDkvB]
Steps for How to Choose a Water Filter:
1. The simplest way to filter tap water is with a pitcher-style water filter, which has a granulated carbon filter that improves taste and odor, and removes some chlorine and sediment.
2. Faucet-mounted filters have a switch that diverts tap water through a granulated carbon filter. Turn on the switch for filtered drinking water; flip it off when washing dishes.
3. For greater water filtration convenience and capacity, install an under-sink, dual-filter system that has its own gooseneck faucet.
4. For optimum point-of-use filtration, consider a reverse-osmosis system. Water passes through a series of three filters, resulting in extremely clean, pure drinking water.
5. Whole-house water filters are installed near the water main and are ideal for delivering clean, filtered water to every faucet throughout the entire house.
6. There are a variety of filters available to remove a wide range of impurities.
7. Sediment filters contain a stainless-steel pre-screen filter and back-flush system that automatically cleans the filter.
8. For the highest level of water filtration, first have your tap water tested, then call in a water-treatment specialist to install a whole-house filtration system designed specifically to treat your water.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Choose a Water Filter | Ask This Old House
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