Location: Where to Place a Reverse Osmosis Faucet?
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated: Feb 1, 2023
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Choosing a suitable location for a reverse osmosis faucet can make a huge difference in how convenient it is to use your RO system in the long term.
Some people rush through this decision and end up stuck with a configuration that doesn’t work that well for them.
Changing the setup once everything has been put in place can be difficult and expensive, so make sure you make the right decision from the start.
So, where to place a reverse osmosis faucet?
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Key Takeaways
- When choosing a location for installing a reverse osmosis faucet, you should attempt to strike a good balance between convenience of use and minimizing the amount of labor required for setup.
- In particular, look for opportunities to reuse existing holes instead of drilling new ones.
How to Choose the Ideal Location to Place a Reverse Osmosis Faucet at Your Kitchen Sink?
There are several factors to consider when installing a reverse osmosis faucet at your kitchen sink.
- First, the faucet should obviously be as convenient as possible to access. This may require some extra work around your current setup, but it will be worth the effort in the long term.
- Second, you shouldn’t always be tempted to reuse existing holes, depending on the situation. Sometimes drilling a new one can make more sense.
Have Convenience in Mind
A reverse osmosis faucet can take up quite a bit of space and it can make certain tasks less convenient.
For example, it can interfere with your dishwashing or make it difficult to fill large containers with water. Pay attention to what the faucet would obstruct and try to keep it out of the way.
Using an Existing Hole or Knock-Out Opening
Inspect your sink and countertop for any existing holes that you can use. Sometimes they might be occupied by another fixture – for example, a soap dispenser. In some cases it can make more sense to remove an existing object and reuse its hole. You might also have a knock-out opening in your sink – this will allow you to install the faucet without drilling.
Faucet Installation
Installing a reverse osmosis faucet is not that complicated if you’ve taken the time to prepare all tools and additional equipment from the start. Here’s a brief rundown of the process.
1. Prepare the Tools and Equipment You’ll Need
The exact list of tools you’re going to need will vary from one job to another, but here’s a general list that should fit most situations:
- Electric drill – you might need a more powerful one for stainless steel sinks
- Drill bits
- Wrench
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
2. How to Drill a Hole for Your RO Faucet
Drilling a hole for the faucet will be slightly different depending on the material of your sink. Always make sure to use the right drill bits and follow the manufacturer’s safety guidelines!
Stainless Steel Sinks
Stainless steel sinks are relatively simple in this regard. Mark the location of your hole and drill through it with a small bit – around 1/4″ should be fine for a start. Then, keep using increasingly larger drill bits to enlarge the hole until it’s the right size (check product manual).
Ceramic, Enamel, Cast Iron Sinks
Sinks made of ceramic, enamel, or cast iron require a bit more care to avoid damaging.
- First, mark the location of the hole as you normally would.
- Then, start drilling with a small (1/4”) bit, applying gentle pressure and moving as slowly as you can.
- Stop as soon as you see metal showing through the other side of the hole.
- Then, exchange the drill bit for a metal one and start increasing the size of the hole until it reaches the needed size.
Other Sink/Countertop Materials
If you have a countertop made of more special materials – like wood, marble, or anything else that doesn’t fit in the above steps – check the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure that you don’t accidentally cause damage.
In particular, pay attention to the types of drill bits you’re using and the pressure required.
3. Mounting
Once you have a hole for your RO faucet, mounting it is pretty straightforward. Add the base plate and the rubber/metal washers to the faucet and slide it through the hole. At the other end, screw in the lock washer and nut. Finally, connect the faucet to your RO system.
Further Reading:
What Is an RO Faucet and How Does It Work?
A reverse osmosis faucet is a faucet specifically connected to a reverse osmosis system for dispensing filtered water. It allows you to directly dispense RO water without having to go through extra steps like filling a container.
While it may look like a regular faucet at a glance, a reverse osmosis faucet is specifically designed to work with RO systems available on the general market.
When you open an RO faucet, water is pumped out of the pressurized storage tank.
Air Gap vs. Non-Air Gap RO Faucets
Some reverse osmosis faucets feature an air gap as an additional safety measure to prevent contamination and damage to the RO system. As the name implies, this is just a gap in the plumbing that connects the faucet to the RO system. If your plumbing gets clogged and water starts backing up, your system will not get hit with dirty water.
If you have any questions about the ideal reverse osmosis faucet location please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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