How to Hook Up Reverse Osmosis
Treating water with a reverse osmosis system can considerably improve the flavor and smell by removing heavy minerals, salts and treatment chemicals. Many reverse osmosis systems are purchased in kits that come with all necessary installation parts and are designed to be hooked up by homeowners in an hour or two. If drilling into your sink or counter top or crawling under the sink is a project beyond your interest, a plumber can make quick work of this type of installation for you. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Reverse osmosis system kit: Filter, hosing, storage tank, tap, saddle valves
- Drill and drill bits
- Pencil
- Hole saw fitted with a 1.5-inch to 3-inch diameter cutting blade
- Screwdriver and wrench
- Teflon plumbers tape
Instructions
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1
Hold the mounting bracket for the unit in position under the sink against the side or back of the sink cabinet. Mark the screw holes with a pencil. Use the drill fitted with a screwdriver bit to fasten the mounting bracket to the cabinet.
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2
Wrap the tip of the unit's water supply hose with Teflon plumbers tape. Screw the hose tip with plumbers tape into the unit's valve and tighten with the wrench without overtightening. Place the osmosis unit in the bracket and ratchet down or close the clasp.
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3
Tap the cold water supply line as it travels up to the faucet by placing the saddle tap on the pipe and fastening down the bolts. Connect the other end of the water supply hose that is hooked up to the osmosis unit to the saddle valve on the cold water supply line.
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4
Drill a hole in the sink top or counter top to receive the osmosis tap assembly. If your sink already has pre-drilled holes and caps, simply use the edge of a screwdriver to pop out the hole cover.
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5
Place the faucet assembly into the hole. Turn the faucet assembly nut to tighten it from the underside of the sink.
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6
Connect the waste water supply line by drilling a small hole in your drain assembly. Clamp the second drain saddle to cover the hole you have made and fasten with the provided bolts. Connect the drainage tubing to the saddle and turn the nut to just past hand tight with the wrench. Connect the other end to the outflow connection on the osmosis unit.
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7
Turn the water supply back on and test the system. Do not drink the water that comes out of the new tap immediately but let it run for several gallons to clear out any fluid inserted into the filter for shipping.
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Tips & Warnings
Turn off the water supply before commencing this installation. If you have noticeably low water pressure in your home you may want to install an ancillary water pump to increase the flow rate out of the reverse osmosis tap.
