Installing an Under Sink Water Filter looks tricky but with the right steps it’s a small weekend project. Make sure you always have the right equipment and if you hit an error at any point in the project you contact for professional help.
Materials Required:
- Crescent
- Sharp knife
- Thread tape
- Drill
- Towel
- Electrical Tape
- Pen/Pencil
- Hole punch or sharp object
Step 1: Preparation
Nothing can get more frustrating mid way then constantly bumping into old soap and sponges so before you begin:
- Take everything out of the cabinet first. Clean all dust, soap stains, and dirt using a wet cloth. It’s important that there’s no dust and grime on the cabinet so that Thread Tape and Electrical Tape can adhere well.
- Use your Towel to make sure the bottom and sides of the cabinet are bone dry.
- Place the filter assembly into the cabinet. Using your Pen/Pencil, draw a mark where the bracket should go. Draw the marks 6 inches above the bottom of the cabinet so that you will have enough clearance to unscrew the filters.
- Using your Hole Puncher or Sharp Object, make a small “dimple” in the pencil marks that you just made. This will give your drill bit something to bite into so that the drill won’t walk or scratch your cabinet when the drill motor is started.
step 2: turn off water supply
Close the cold water valve by turning it clockwise until it can’t be turned anymore. Place your Towel below the valve. Remove the existing hose from the water valve using the Crescent Wrench. Water may drip a little from the valve—it’s okay—the towel will catch it.
Step 3: Tape the Threads
Use your Thread Tape and wind it around the threads of the water valve 3 to 4 times clockwise. This makes sure that when you tighten the adapter, it will compress the tape within the threads of the valve, not unravel it.
Step 4: Fixing the Installation
Use your drill to screw in the holes according to the marks you’ve already made.
Drill Hack for Your Cabinet: If you have any concerns about drilling into your dishwasher or into the wall behind your cabinets, put some Electrical Tape on the drill bits before you start drilling. The tape will make sure that once the screw reaches the wood at the depth you desire, the drill will automatically stop working.
Step 5: Cutting the Lines
You have plastic tubes installed in your water filtration system. Use your Sharp Knife to cut the tube to size from the water valve to the filter, and from the filter to the water outlet. Make sure that the cut is perfectly perpendicular (at 90-degree angle).
Step 6: Installing the Faucet
If you need to create a hole in your sink, use the Hole Punch to indicate the exact spot for the hole. After drilling the hole, slide the faucet through. In the bottom half of the sink, you’ll use your Crescent Wrench to tighten the mounting nut until your faucet stops wiggling around.
Step 7: Controlling the Tubes
After inserting the tubes in the “Quick Connect” fittings, use the Electrical Tape to bind all loose tubing together. It will help organize your cabinet space and prevent the tubes from getting entangled when putting your cleaning equipment back into storage.
Step 8: Checking for Leaks
Start turning the water supply on gradually. Use a dry part of your Towel to clean all connections.
Count to 60.
Clean the connections one more time.
If any moisture gets onto your towel, use your Crescent Wrench to turn the nut another quarter turn.
Now that the connections have dried and the water flow cleared up, you’re ready to store your supplies in the cabinet. Since you’ve cleaned and organized everything in advance, you’ve made sure that your filtration system is safe from harm and accessible for the next filter change.
If at any time during the installation you find that things are becoming too complicated or if there is anything wrong with the process, it will be advisable to leave the job to people who have experience in such situations. If hard water is the bigger concern, our water softener services in Lubbock offer a more complete long-term solution. Leaky’s Plumbing Services offers Emergency Plumbing Services in San Antonio and Emergency Plumbing Services in Lubbock whenever they are required, to install an under-sink water filter in your house or other plumbing services. Call us today!