The trickiest part was drilling for the faucet, but if you have an existing hole (like for a soap dispenser), that makes it way easier.
Man, I wish I’d thought of using the soap dispenser hole. I spent half an afternoon trying to line up my drill and not wreck the countertop. Honestly, I was sweating more than when I assembled my IKEA wardrobe. Countertop filters are definitely less sweat-inducing, but I agree—having everything tucked away under the sink just feels cleaner. Still, I’m not sure I’d volunteer to do another faucet hole anytime soon...
I totally get that—drilling into the countertop was way more nerve-wracking than I expected. I actually chickened out and just went with a countertop filter for now. Did you notice any difference in water pressure after installing the under sink one? That’s my main hesitation.
Honestly, I was super skeptical about drilling too—felt like a point of no return, right? But after a lot of back and forth, I finally bit the bullet and installed the under sink filter. I was worried about water pressure too, but in my case, it barely changed. Maybe a tiny drop, but nothing that made washing dishes or filling pots annoying. I guess it depends on your plumbing and the filter brand, though.
One thing that bugged me: the amount of plastic in some of these filters. Kind of ironic when you’re trying to be eco-friendly. Have you noticed if your countertop filter uses a lot of disposable parts? I keep wondering if the countertop ones are actually any greener in the long run, or if it’s just trading one hassle for another...
One thing that bugged me: the amount of plastic in some of these filters. Kind of ironic when you’re trying to be eco-friendly.
That’s been my gripe too. I’ve seen countertop filters that claim to be “greener,” but when you crack them open, it’s just more plastic cartridges and single-use bits. At least with under sink units, you can sometimes find models with longer-lasting filters, but then you’re stuck with the install. Did you run into any issues with leaks after drilling? I’ve seen a few folks get caught off guard by that, especially with older plumbing.
Honestly, I’ve had more trouble with countertop filters than under sink ones, at least when it comes to leaks. The countertop models I’ve used always seemed to have some weird connection or adapter that never quite fit right on the faucet, and I’d end up with drips or worse. Under sink installs can be a pain—especially if you’re not handy—but once they’re in, they tend to stay put and don’t need much fussing.
About the plastic, yeah, it’s everywhere. But I’ve seen a few under sink brands that let you swap just the filter media instead of tossing the whole cartridge. Not super common, but they’re out there if you dig around. Sometimes I wonder if the “eco-friendly” label is just marketing... Like, does anyone actually recycle those spent cartridges?
I get the worry about drilling into old plumbing too. In my experience, as long as you use the right hardware and double-check for corrosion before starting, it’s usually fine. Worst case, a little plumber’s tape goes a long way.