Choosing The Water Cooler And Filter For Your Job
Installing a thirsty work water cooler is one of the least expensive ways to rid drinking water of bad tastes, odors or particles.
Does your tap water recall the aroma of a swamp? Or a swimming pool, perhaps? Is it cloudy or full of rust flakes? Are you worried that it may be laced with lead?
An easily installed thirsty work water cooler may be the answer. Although these water coolerss can't solve all water problems, they can handle some of the most common complaints, and they usually can be installed in half an hour, even if you're a plumbing rookie. And they're much cheaper, per gallon of water, than bottled water, faucet-mounted filters, or countertop filters. Here's the scoop:
Three problems are fairly easy to identify and treat with a water cooler: bad taste or odor, lead and particles. Each needs a different kind of water cooler.
For particles or bad taste and odor, you don't need a water test--you know if you've got a problem. For lead, however, you must get your water tested to find out if you actually have a problem, before you buy any water cooler. Every house is different--even if your neighbor has lead in her water, and most of your city has lead problems, you might not.
Don't be stampeded into buying a water cooler you don't need. There are many variations in the installation procedure. All are installed very much the same.
This is the simplest water cooler to install. It's a plastic cylinder that holds a replaceable carbon filter, and is mounted under your sink. The carbon filter removes odors and unpleasant tastes--including those from chlorine--from your cold water. It also reduces pesticide residues. (However, if you have well water with a "rotten-egg" smell, see a water treatment dealer for better options.)
Cost: The water cooler unit costs around $50, and usually includes all supplies. Replacement filter cartridges generally cost less than $10 and last from several months to a year, depending on use and water quality.
How to Install: The filter housing screws to the side of your cabinet. The plumbing is simplicity itself: You cut out a length of the cold water supply tube, then screw on compression-type plastic fittings and plastic hose. Use a tubing cutter or hacksaw to cut the tube, and then file the ends of the tubes to remove any burrs. Usually the water cooler comes with all necessary supplies. If you need to screw fittings into the filter housing, wrap the threads three or four times with Teflon plumbing tape. And when you mount the filter to the cabinet, leave at least 3 in. below it (more is better) so you can change filters.
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