Water filter vs grain mill - what would your priority be?

[nerdymom]

I want a grain mill, but we also really need a water filter. We are on city water and there is a lot of chlorine and fluoride in the water. But I also do a lot of baking and in the long run a grain mill will save us money, not to mention I could make sprouted flour, and all sorts of fun stuff.

What would your priority be? Probably the water filter, right?

We live in an apartment so we need a filter that is very portable and doesn't require any plumbing alterations. I want to remove the chlorine and fluoride, so I was thinking of the Doulton four stage filter, with the flouride/heavy metal specific filter. I was wondering if anyone out there has experience with this filter, and could tell me what you think of it. Can you get a good install with it? Does the water taste good? How often do you have to clean your filters? How often do you replace your filters?

If you use a different filter that meets the requirements of portability AND fluoride removal, please share your experiences.

Thanks.

[insahmniak]

We have a Berkey with a fluoride filter. Should have done it ages ago. I'd choose the water filter. We have a grain mill, too, but I'd give it up if I had to. The water filter gets used CONSTANTLY.

[broodymama]

Originally Posted by insahmniak

We have a Berkey with a fluoride filter.

Is the fluoride filter separate, or does the Berkey filter fluoride? I'm looking into getting a Berkey.

[insahmniak]

Berkey systems allow for various combinations of filtration. They typically come with carbon filters, and you have the option of adding fluoride filters to those carbon filters.

[kyndmamaof4]

I'd get the water filter. BTW, I've sprouted before, and just used the food processor to "grind" it. Since the outer hull is cracked, it isn't much strain on the FP. Depending what you're using the sprouts for, you may or may not need to dry them out beforehand.

[nerdymom]

Originally Posted by insahmniak

We have a Berkey with a fluoride filter. Should have done it ages ago. I'd choose the water filter. We have a grain mill, too, but I'd give it up if I had to. The water filter gets used CONSTANTLY.

Questions, which size do you have? Do you have to fill it often? How often do you need to clean/replace the filters? Does it take up a lot of space?

Originally Posted by kyndmamaof4

I'd get the water filter. BTW, I've sprouted before, and just used the food processor to "grind" it. Since the outer hull is cracked, it isn't much strain on the FP. Depending what you're using the sprouts for, you may or may not need to dry them out beforehand.

I don't think my fp could take it, but thanks for the tip. I will just keep saving my pennies, the water filter won't put us back as much as the grain mill would.

[changingseasons]

We got this RO water filter from Costco (so it was cheaper than this), and I love it. It's a 3-gallon tank, which is plenty for us (2 adults, 1 toddler- and I use that water for all my cooking and everything.) You definitely have to be vigilant about changing filters every 6 months though. We just hit about 7 months, and the filters were so clogged up that it would only fill up about 1/2 the tank every day so we were constantly running out of water. Luckily, UPS delivered my new filters yesterday. Oh- and filter costs- I just paid $65 (+shipping) for a year's worth of filters (2 are replaced every 6 months, 1 is every year. The 4th filter is good for 2-5 years and is about $100 I think.)

I just use my 10+ year old coffee grinder to do all my grains- not ideal (since the grinder can heat up the grains), but it works.

[nerdymom]

Originally Posted by changingseasons

We got this RO water filter from Costco (so it was cheaper than this), and I love it. It's a 3-gallon tank, which is plenty for us (2 adults, 1 toddler- and I use that water for all my cooking and everything.) You definitely have to be vigilant about changing filters every 6 months though. We just hit about 7 months, and the filters were so clogged up that it would only fill up about 1/2 the tank every day so we were constantly running out of water. Luckily, UPS delivered my new filters yesterday. Oh- and filter costs- I just paid $65 (+shipping) for a year's worth of filters (2 are replaced every 6 months, 1 is every year. The 4th filter is good for 2-5 years and is about $100 I think.)

I just use my 10+ year old coffee grinder to do all my grains- not ideal (since the grinder can heat up the grains), but it works.

Interesting, I think that is the most affordable reverse osmosis filter I have seen. Does it require modification of the plumbing or sink? I can't tell but it looks like the storage tank is under the sink, which would mean you probably have to cut a hole in the sink top, right?

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by nerdymom

Interesting, I think that is the most affordable reverse osmosis filter I have seen. Does it require modification of the plumbing or sink? I can't tell but it looks like the storage tank is under the sink, which would mean you probably have to cut a hole in the sink top, right?

Oh- your right. We already had a hole in our counter, so I forgot about that step. Some sinks have an extra hole that's just plugged (in case you want to add something like that)- any chance yours does? I'm not sure how else to work it in an apartment. That sucks.

[nerdymom]

Originally Posted by changingseasons

Oh- your right. We already had a hole in our counter, so I forgot about that step. Some sinks have an extra hole that's just plugged (in case you want to add something like that)- any chance yours does? I'm not sure how else to work it in an apartment. That sucks.

Yes, the apartment thing is making it a little more challenging. There isn't a hole in our current sink, and I need a filter that is very portable (hip hooray for the Coast Guard) yet doesn't take up a lot of counter space. Right now our kitchen is the size of a galley, and I am the counter space police. Poor DH!

[insahmniak]

We have the Big Berkey. Two adults and a six year old. We're home a lot and use the filtered water for cooking quite a bit. We fill it probably once every day or two, depending on how much heavy work we're doing. I actually like having a smaller one and filling it more often. The thought of drinking water that has been sitting still for a long period of time would bother me.

We bought the unit over a year ago and the filters are working fine. I think I read somewhere that you just have to scrub them when they get clogged and the water doesn't flow through fast enough. They shouldn't need to be replaced. So far so good on that one.

Really wish we had done it earlier, particularly when I'm at the sink filling a pitcher full of tap water to put into the filter and the tap water just reeks of chlorine. Who wants to drink that?! Clean water. High priority for me.

[nerdymom]

Originally Posted by insahmniak

We have the Big Berkey. Two adults and a six year old. We're home a lot and use the filtered water for cooking quite a bit. We fill it probably once every day or two, depending on how much heavy work we're doing. I actually like having a smaller one and filling it more often. The thought of drinking water that has been sitting still for a long period of time would bother me.

We bought the unit over a year ago and the filters are working fine. I think I read somewhere that you just have to scrub them when they get clogged and the water doesn't flow through fast enough. They shouldn't need to be replaced. So far so good on that one.

Really wish we had done it earlier, particularly when I'm at the sink filling a pitcher full of tap water to put into the filter and the tap water just reeks of chlorine. Who wants to drink that?! Clean water. High priority for me.

Thanks for the info. That sound like it would work for us, I'm not thrilled about using counter space for it, but it would be a worthy use.

[insahmniak]

Our counter space is really tight, too. I bought a small sturdy plant stand instead. Lower height for kids. Easy to access.

[nerdymom]

So smart! Ok good now I really have two solid options.

[tngirl11]

I personally could not live without my grain mill. I sprout my wheat and use it for everything that I bake, but I would also love to have a good water filter. I currently just use a Pur faucet filter and filters on my shower heads. I think they're pretty good, but I'm sure they don't take out everything like the really expensive ones!
Does anyone know about that Zero Water pitcher? I keep hearing it advertised. Does it really remove everything? If so, it would be a cheap option, although not as convenient of course.

[WuWei]

I'd go with the water filter. Water is life!

Have you tried Sue Gregg's blender batter recipes? You can do whole grain baking with a blender.
http://www.suegregg.com/recipes/brea...erwafflesA.htm


Pat

[nerdymom]

Oh wow, thanks for that link!!! Those look so easy and very good!

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by nerdymom

Oh wow, thanks for that link!!! Those look so easy and very good!

Yes! Easy and delicious!


Pat

[elleystar]

Before this thread, I thought I was doing great putting all our water through a big Brita tank on the counter.
Guess I'm wrong, huh?

[onetrumpeter]

yeeeeah. we definitely need to look into a water filter. I was all proud of myself throughout HS and college that my roommates wanted filtered (brita) water and I was just fine w/ the tap water. But it seems important enough that Sally Fallon mentions "filtered water" in every recipe that calls for water and this thread is also convincing. Thanks

nerdymom, let us know what you decide to go with! where is a good primer on water filtration? What is "reverse osmosis"? what is "osmosis?"! lol I remember that word from school. something about passing through a membrane?? saturation? ooooh my. off to google. thanks for a good, helpful thread!