[donnachangstein]

> and maintaining a dedicated three stage filter spout next to my kitchen faucet costs me approximately nothing

Calling bullshit on this one. I have one, it's positively wonderful, but the filters are expensive and per the manufacturer's recommendation you're supposed to change them all simultaneously. So when one times out, they all time out. This runs approximately $150 a year minimum depending on usage.

[BugsJustFindMe]

> This runs approximately $150 a year

$150 per YEAR at american prices is approximately nothing. That's a measly 41 cents a day.

People spend far far more than that on far far more frivolous things without thinking twice.

[EA-3167]

People spend an order of magnitude (and much more) on coffee every day, never mind smokers or drinkers who spend crazy amounts just to hurt themselves.

Not that I don't love and respect Wirecutter (I don't), but I'm on team "I like how my water tastes when it's filtered."

[kelnos]

I suspect for most people posting here, $150 per year is "approximately nothing".

[bernawil]

> So when one times out, they all time out

Some units give you different fixed timespans for each. For that reason, I just use the Reverse Osmosis stage and ignore the rest. RO is the last step, and in theory it renders pure water meaning the only reason to have the previous ones is to pre-filter somewhat the water and extend the RO cartridge lifespan. Problem with that is, first, there's no way to gauge when each filter is spent. Second, they're priced the same anyway, so why even bother. Just go straight from tap to RO! Keep the post re-mineralization stage if you want.

[tguvot]

pre-filters typically have specified "capacity" in gallons. which is measurable. also if water is very dirty filters get clogged and pressure dropped. it's also measurable.

"post re-mineralization stage" is actually "ph adjustment".

[bernawil]

I know pressure drops. The problem is knowing which filter is the one causing it in particular. Also, filters that are spent at different rates are a PITA. What I mean is if you are going to feed it nominally clean tap water, there's no reason to protect a catridge with equally or more expensive cartridges. Just use the RO filter and be done with it.

[tguvot]

you can put pressure guages in between or one of $10 flow meters before system.

RO membrane doesn't remove chlorine iirc or vocs. On the other side chlorine degrades membrane. "nominally clean tap water" can have enough dirt to clog membrane if you don't auto backflush it frequently

[Xss3]

It isnt merely ph adjustment... You want some amount of minerals in water for your health, plants, and taste. Changing the PH isnt the concern in most cases, its just part of the result.

[tguvot]

All those filters are specifically made for PH adjustment (you are welcome to look at specs). There are bunch of different formulations depends on how much PH adjustment is needed.

RO makes water more acidic. if water was somewhat acidic to start with, it can get more acidic or become corrosive.

[Xss3]

The spec doesn't tell you intent it tells you the resulting product performance.

Ph change is one part of the result, not the goal. The goal is water purification.

[tguvot]

i am talking here about post-filters for PH adjustment. their goal is PH adjustments

those for example https://www.freshwatersystems.com/collections/specialty-cart...

or those https://www.freshwatersystems.com/collections/filters-media?...

[bernawil]

Are you sure that it makes it more acidic? AFAIK it only outputs pure H20, should be neutral. If you feed it alkaline water you'll get "more acidic" water, but the other way if you feed it acidic water.

[tguvot]

yes. it removes calcium and magnesium and it makes water more acidic. also i think it starts absorbing CO2 making it even more acidic.

RO doesn't output pure water. if you want pure water you slap DI filter after RO membrane.

[mousethatroared]

Food gives you all the minerals you need. Matter of fact food can cover most of your hydration needs.

[bernawil]

True. But have tasted distilled water? Tastes metalic. Probably just my imagination but I feel like it pulls stuff from the mucous in your mouth and tastes like blood.

[BugsJustFindMe]

It is your imagination. I drink distilled water all the time and it tastes great, not metallic at all.

[mousethatroared]

What system are you using? My five stage filter system has me replace the charcoal filters once a year and the RO every... three? Maybe five?

But let's assume it costs you $150 a year. Thats less than $0.50 a day for drinking and cooking water. I doubt you could buy any significant amount of bottled water for fifty cents.

[tguvot]

filters are cheap if you don't use fancy branded system that came up with it's own filter that incompatible with anything else

[an_aparallel]

You generally want to avoid cheap filters as they apparently can be tainted with formaldehyde

[tguvot]

standard, 2x10 filters from well known brands (pentek, apec or membranes from dow filmtec) are "cheap" compared to non-standard filters.