Each tap manufacturer produces taps which have a water filter built into the tap system. The filter cartridge, or inline filter, sits in the cupboard under the sink and gives filtered water on tap, rather than having to keep filling the Brita type cartridge filter jugs. Inline filters need replacing approximately every six months on average useage, being quick and easy to change.
These type of taps are known as Triflow/Trispray (Franke), Aquifer (Abode) and Springflow (Astracast). Usually lever operated, some filter taps have three levers for each supply hot, cold and filtered while other have two levers; hot and a dual acting cold/filtered. Which one to go for is personal perference.
Why do I need a filter tap?
Water filters are designed to improve the smell, appearance and overall taste of drinking water. They are one of the most economical and convenient ways of improving water quality inside the home by providing filtered water on tap 24 hours a day.
Filtered water is useful not just for drinking – by using it when cooking it can improve the overall taste of a dish, and the filter itself also helps to slow the build up of scale on cookware and kettles.
Where would I put my filter tap?
A filter tap take up no more room than a standard mixer tap on your sink. The filter is located beneath the sink housing, plus the compact design of the filter housings mean they do not take up excessive space in the cupboard.
Will a filter tap match my kitchen?
There are a range of designs available for the taps – incorporating style and functionality into the kitchen. You normally find that popular standard mixer taps are also available as filter taps. Usually filter taps have three levers: the standard hot and cold levers, and an extra one at the front for the filtered water e.g. a
Franke Triflow Olympus tap. Alternatively there are designs available with just 2 levers where you can ‘switch’ between cold water and filtered water at the push of a lever e.g. an
Abode Atlas Aquifier tap.
Can a filter tap save money?
Although the initial cost of a filtered tap can be more expensive than a standard mixer tap, customers generally start saving money in the first year of use. There is no need to purchase bottled water as it is available on tap at home, and all taps are supplied with the first filter so are ready to use once installed.
The average cost per litre of Evian still bottled water is 55p, and Sainsburys is approximately 19p. By using a filtered tap the cost per litre is only around 0.56p or 34 times cheaper than Sainsburys bottled water.
Are replacement filters expensive and how often do I replace them?
The filters do need to be replaced but this is usually every six months and you can replace them quickly and easily yourself
The cost of a replacement filter is normally about £30, so for £60 per year spent on filters this will provide you with all the drinking water you need for a whole year!
Do filter taps help the environment?
By installing a filtered tap you will be reducing the amount of plastic bottles you will be throwing away, as with the tap installed there is no need to purchase bottled water and this can dramatically decrease the amount of waste you throw away. By filling an empty bottle with your filtered tap water you are cutting down on your own personal waste, and also helping the environment.
The filter tap should reduce the amount of shopping trips you make as an average family of four drink approximately 56 litres of water a week – making you feel better about your carbon footprint.
And don’t forget – you also save room in your fridge and money on cooling as you will not need to store chilled water in there!
Are there any special requirements when using one?
You use the tap as normal - just turn on when you need filtered water. The only suggestion is you may want to run it momentarily before use to ensure the filtered water is fully filtered.
Fitting
Simply Kitchen Sinks recommends taps should be fitted by a professional plumber and is not able to offer advice on the fitting of sinks as individual installations vary.
