Had a similar run-in last winter. Thought I’d breeze through installing an under-sink filter at my aunt’s place—turned into a three-hour scavenger hunt for the right compression fitting. Ended up crawling around on cold tile, cursing at 40-year-old copper pipes. Countertop ones might look clunky, but honestly, the “just screw it on” part is hard to beat if you’re dealing with anything older than, say, the 90s. Under-sink is tidy, sure, but only if you’re not fighting ancient plumbing every step of the way.
Countertop ones might look clunky, but honestly, the “just screw it on” part is hard to beat if you’re dealing with anything older than, say, the 90s.
That’s exactly what I’m worried about—my place was built in ’78 and I have no idea what’s lurking under the sink. Is there any real downside to just going with a countertop filter besides how it looks? I keep hearing about flow rate issues or leaks, but are those actually common or just rare horror stories?
Honestly, countertop filters are usually pretty reliable—leaks aren’t super common unless you’re rough with the fittings or the gasket’s shot. Flow rate can drop if you don’t change the filter often enough, but that’s true for under-sink ones too. Have you checked what kind of faucet threads you’ve got? Some older ones are weirdly sized and might need an adapter, which can be a pain.
I’ve run into that adapter headache more than once—some faucets just don’t want to play nice. One thing I’ve noticed is countertop filters are easier to swap out if you’re dealing with tenants who move a lot. Under-sink ones can be a hassle if you’ve got older plumbing or tight spaces. Have you ever had to deal with a stuck shutoff valve under the sink? That’s a whole other can of worms...
Stuck shutoff valves are the bane of my existence. Last time I tried to swap out an under-sink filter, the valve wouldn’t budge—ended up snapping the handle right off. Had to shut off water to the whole house and replace the valve, which turned a simple job into a half-day ordeal. Countertop filters might look a little clunky, but at least you’re not crawling under the sink with a flashlight and a wrench, cursing at 30-year-old plumbing.
That said, under-sink filters do keep things looking tidier, and you don’t have hoses hanging off your faucet. If you’re in a rental or you know you’ll be moving soon, countertop is just less drama. But if you’re settled and don’t mind a bit of hassle up front, under-sink is a set-it-and-forget-it kind of deal... as long as those valves cooperate.
