Chilled water at home

[coriolis]

Hello, I'm looking for alternatives to have a constant source of chilled water, before summer increases my consumption. Right now, I have to admit that I'm on a 40/60 split of Brita/Bottled, obviously due to convenience, but I try not to use too much bottled water. I try to keep a jar full of filtered water in the fridge, but we recently bought a new energy efficient fridge, which happen to be smaller then my last fridge (I don't know how that happened :facepalm:, hell not even an ice/chilled water feature that could of easily eliminated this issue in the first place). So no more fridge space for a large jug.


So what are some alternatives? Green and cheap are good.


Oh, and I know tap water is an alternative, but the family has always told me to boil then filter the water though Brita. I've gotten mixed feedback as well. If it helps, I live in Markham, right at the border to Scarborough/GTA.

[jayt90]

Can the fridge make ice cubes? I bought three trays at Dollarama and have a supply of ice cubes available for the Brita which stays on the counter.

[shannn]

Either ice cube trays from Dollarama or I just put my Brita filter into the fridge.

[Poulet]

Water distributor with those big 18 l plastic jugs.

[craftsman]

First off, if you want to save money, get rid of that Brita and install an under the sink water filter. There was a long discussion thread on the topic where I posted a comparison in prices between a basic under the sink filter and a Brita.

Use the filtered water to make the boiled water. Once cool, fill those ice cube trays or container.

[wszeto28]

Water cooler? Like the ones most workplaces have

[Keelie]

As others have said, water cooler. I have one and fill the jugs with tap water, we have good filtered water where I live, but I want it chilled and I dont want to be filliing a jug for the fridge all the time.

[ur_funneh]

Here's my thoughts about water coolers.

They have a storage compartment which can only handle a certain amount, then it starts to refill itself when it reaches a certain level and that takes time to cool aswell. Don't forget when the level reaches its level and it starts to refill, the left cooled water gets mixed in with the room temperature water.

So my point being is, the water cooler can only store as much as 1-2LT, you are better off chilling a 2L water bottle in the fridge and the water will never reach below chilled.


Also, as someone else mentioned... Cant you skip the brita filter process and go straight into boiling?? Not sure why you need to pass it through a filter if the boiling part eliminates the filter part.

[Keelie]

Here's my thoughts about water coolers.

They have a storage compartment which can only handle a certain amount, then it starts to refill itself when it reaches a certain level and that takes time to cool aswell. Don't forget when the level reaches its level and it starts to refill, the left cooled water gets mixed in with the room temperature water.

So my point being is, the water cooler can only store as much as 1-2LT, you are better off chilling a 2L water bottle in the fridge and the water will never reach below chilled.

I drink a good amount of water, especially in the hotter months, and the water in the cooler is always chilled. I dont recall there ever being a time it wasnt.

[Astin]

I'm very confused.

Under sink filtration + pitcher + fridge.

Or under sink filtration + ice cubes.

Even then, the filtration is an option that is totally unnecessary for drinking purposes in the GTA.

People have been chilling water for decades now.

[bargainista!]

There is NOTHING wrong with the tap water in Markham. It is perfectly safe to drink it right out of the tap. The only reason to boil water (that I know of) is to kill bacteria. Your water is chlorinated and perfectly safe to drink.

A Brita filter will "soften" the water and remove some of the taste that is caused by chlorinating the water. I use a Brita filter because I think it makes the water taste better.

Have you checked out the "slim profile" Brita jugs? they shouldn't take up much space in your fridge.

[coriolis]

Thanks all, for all comments.

I know that tap water is fine, but its not just for me, and my mum is very anal about consuming tap water. Hell, even our puppy drinks Brita'd and boiled water, she gets mad if I give him regular tap water :facepalm:

We've looked into 'under the sink' alternatives, but our house is very old, getting one of those system installed gets quite pricey since we would need to demolish part of the kitchen and renovate it. Granted, we do need a kitchen renovation, but money is sparse at the moment.


Anyways, I've since re-organized the whole fridge with stackable bins that have horizontal doors, and I've since fitted a 1L jug of water. It'll be fine....for now I suppose.

[sandikosh]

Thanks all, for all comments.

I know that tap water is fine, but its not just for me, and my mum is very anal about consuming tap water. Hell, even our puppy drinks Brita'd and boiled water, she gets mad if I give him regular tap water :facepalm:

We've looked into 'under the sink' alternatives, but our house is very old, getting one of those system installed gets quite pricey since we would need to demolish part of the kitchen and renovate it. Granted, we do need a kitchen renovation, but money is sparse at the moment.


Anyways, I've since re-organized the whole fridge with stackable bins that have horizontal doors, and I've since fitted a 1L jug of water. It'll be fine....for now I suppose.

Does your mom boil and "brita" water before showering? Does she do it when she is brushing her teeth? Does she do it before she use it to prepare food? How about washing dishes? Society have been brainwashed into thinking that tap water is not good. If taste is an issue, just mix it with kool aid.

[coriolis]

Does your mom boil and "brita" water before showering? Does she do it when she is brushing her teeth? Does she do it before she use it to prepare food? How about washing dishes? Society have been brainwashed into thinking that tap water is not good. If taste is an issue, just mix it with kool aid.



Fair enough :confused: Yes to preparing food though, not sure about the others heh.

I completely understand where you're getting at, I've always used tap water (at the least, used a Brita filter), never had a problem with it, doubt we'll ever, our bodies probably generate enough anti-bodies to protect itself.

Though trying to tell an older Asian lady about whats good (and not good) for them is a losing battle, science vs tradition.

[BongoBong]

Do you have room in a freezer? I fill a 1L bottle 1/4 of the way and freeze it, then just fill up with water, let it chill and either drink straight from or pour into a glass.

[qmelley]

Ice box! Only thing can keep drinks cold for a couple of hours without using electricity