Had a few tenants try countertop filters over the years—honestly, those things have been a headache for me as a landlord. Here’s what I’ve run into:
- Countertop adapters rarely fit snug on older faucets. I’ve had leaks that went unnoticed and caused water damage under the sink.
- Tenants sometimes force the adapters, which can strip threads or crack faucet parts. That’s a repair bill nobody wants.
- Under sink filters take more time to install upfront, but once they’re in, they’re out of sight and don’t get tampered with much.
- I always make sure to use shutoff valves and check for leaks after install. Safety first—water damage is no joke.
If you’re comfortable with basic plumbing, under sink is usually less risky long-term. Countertop units might seem easier at first, but in my experience, they end up being more trouble than they’re worth.
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve had similar issues with countertop filters—especially the part you mentioned:
Countertop adapters rarely fit snug on older faucets. I’ve had leaks that went unnoticed and caused water damage under the sink.
Honestly, I’m not a fan of drilling into cabinets for under sink units, but once it’s done, it’s way less hassle. Countertop ones always seem to wiggle loose or get in the way. If you care about long-term peace of mind (and avoiding water damage), under sink is probably the safer bet, even if it’s a pain at first.
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve had similar issues with countertop filters—especially the part you mentioned:Honestly, I’m not a fan of drilling into cabinets for under sink units...
Totally get what you mean about drilling into cabinets—nobody loves that part. But honestly, once you push through it, you barely think about it again. Countertop filters, on the other hand, always seem to need fiddling. I’ve seen way too many “just a little leak” situations turn into a mess. That peace of mind is worth the hassle upfront, even if it’s annoying for a day or two.
Funny thing—last time I installed an under sink filter, I totally stressed about drilling, but it ended up being way less dramatic than I thought. Countertop ones? I swear, every time I bump into mine, it drips just enough to drive me nuts. Anyone else have that “slow leak” paranoia?
Honestly, I’ve had the opposite experience—under sink filters always feel like a bigger commitment to me. It’s not just the drilling (which, yeah, is never as bad as it seems), but crawling around under the sink, juggling wrenches, and then realizing you need a part you don’t have... it’s like a rite of passage for home projects. Countertop ones might drip if you nudge them, but at least you don’t have to become a pretzel to install or check them. Plus, if something goes wrong, you just unplug and mop up—no waterworks under the cabinet.
That slow leak paranoia is real though. I swear I can hear phantom drips at night sometimes. Still, I’d rather deal with that than having to pull everything out from under my sink just to fix a tiny leak. Maybe I’m just lazy or have trust issues with plumbing...
