Water Filters and Coolers - Frequently asked questions
Is UK tap water safe to drink ?
UK public water is produced to meet some of the highest standards in the world. The most common complaints are the taste (often because of chlorine which has a bleachy smell) and scum in hot drinks (because of water hardness). Our drinking water also contains very low levels of many other contaminants (such as pesticides and anti-depressants), which is a cause of concern to some of our customers.
Which filter should I choose ?
For the best possible water, it is worth investing in Reverse Osmosis, for an abundance of water that is purer, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than bottled water.
For great tasting cold drinks at the lowest cost, chose the 6 inch Taste & Odour Filter. Or spend a little more for the advanced filtration of the Doulton Ceramic Ultracarb Filter.
Click here to see water filter products and prices. For any other water filtration enquiries please contact KindWater for advice.
What if I need a replacement filter for an American fridge freezer ?
American style fridge freezers generally use low specification Taste & Odour Filters that need to be replaced every 6 months. We recommend our superior 6 inch Taste & Odour Filter.
You will need to check the plumbing connection used for your existing filter. You can do this by using a ruler or tape measure to check the thickness of the flexible plastic tube running to and from the filter. This will normally be either 1/4 inch (6mm) or 3/8 inch (9mm). KindWater’s 6 inch Taste & Odour Filter is supplied with 1/4 inch push fit connections. If your flexible plastic tubing is 3/8 inch, KindWater can supply a pair of simple adaptors for £3.
What about removing fluorides or nitrates ?
Conventional filters will not remove fluorides or nitrates. To achieve this very high level of water purity you will require a reverse osmosis system. It is strongly recommended that they are supplied using softened water in hard water areas. Please contact KindWater for advice.
How long does a filter last ?
Filters are rated for a certain volume of water (for the Kinetico 9000 filter hardness is also a factor). The Kinetico Reverse Osmosis systems and 7500/7000 filters are protected by the MACguard system, which indicates how much capacity remains and shuts off the water when exhausted (typically after 12 months). KindWater's other filters will comfortably meet normal family use for the period recommended, but in any event all filters should be replaced at least annually.
How do the filters work ?
Our Taste & Odour Filters contain activated carbon which acts as a physical screen to block the passage of larger particles (above 5 micron) and a chemical trap for molecules such as chlorine.
The Doulton Ceramic Ultracarb Filter (which is similar to the Kinetico 7500 filter) consists of a ceramic shell and a (mainly) carbon core. The ceramic shell provides a physical screen for all particles above 0.9 micron (this traps 99.999% of all bacteria and cysts) and is bacteriostatic (the ceramic is silver impregnated to kill all of the trapped bacteria). The carbon core acts has two main components, the first to trap chemicals such as chlorine, the second to trap heavy metals such as lead.
The Kinetico 9000 filter combines a taste and odour filter with a limescale removing resin. The resin can remove a certain volume of hardness (equivalent to about 7 jug filter cartridges), after which the cartridge will need to be replaced. The 10 inch Scale Prevention Filter contains hexametaphosphate. This is a food grade material specifically developed for drinking water treatment and is completely safe, tasteless and odourless. The hexametaphosphate is very slowly released into the water and forms a thin protective film on metal surfaces. This film prevents scale formation and corrosion.
How does a Reverse Osmosis system work?
Softened water is filtered for particles and chlorine, before being squeezed slowly through a membrane (very fine mesh) designed to screen out almost all contaminants. The waste water (with contaminants) is flushed to the drain, while the ultrapure water is stored in a small tank. When the drinking tap is turned on, the stored water passes rapidly through a final polishing filter.
Why not filter all the water in the house ?
It is possible to buy whole house water filters. These are much larger (and more expensive) than normal water filters because 98% of household water is not used for drinking.
Most UK households have a cold water tank in the attic to supply the bathroom and hot water system. Water from this tank is not officially potable (drinking water). A whole house water filter should not be used with an attic tank because water in the tank will no longer be protected by the chlorine in your mains water.
How cold is the water from the cooler?
7°C is cool but not icy. Most fridges are set to 5°C so the water will be just slightly warmer than from your fridge.