Checkout. Although similar to traditional filtration faucets, air gap faucets are exclusively used with under sink reverse osmosis units. 99 $36.99 $36.99 An air gap's under-sink piping resembles an upside-down "Y." They are never used with filters because the air gap is not needed. The air gap faucet itself requires, therefore, three tubes rather than one — one is for the upward drain water, one is for the downward drain water, and a third is for the unit's product water, which you drink. Plumbing Codes: Considered non-compliant for some city/county plumbing codes. The RO faucet with air-gap is a step up from the standard non-air gap unit. Please type in your e-mail to receive our newsletter, It's your faucet, so point it the way you want it. Air gap faucets dispense water just like standard non-air gap faucets, but have an air gap built into the base of the faucet. The purpose of the air gap is to assure that no water from a stopped-up sink drain can possibly be forced or siphoned backward into your reverse osmosis unit via its drain connection. The purpose of the air gap faucet is not only to deliver drinking water from the RO unit, as all faucets do, but also to provide an “air gap” for the RO unit’s drain system. Installation of an air gap faucet requires a couple of additional steps. This also means a more complicated installation. Air gap faucets are used with undersink reverse osmosis units. Air gap faucets were designed to prevent backflow into your reverse osmosis unit by incorporating a "backflow prevention" method called an "air gap". Lower Cost: Non-air gap systems are generally is less expensive than air gap systems. This is also a very quiet installation. Please check with the manufacturer of the filtration system for more information. Hi violet898, Thank you for your question. RO Tank Not Filling Up. Again, this air-gap faucet design came about so that in the event of a sink drain being clogged and backed up, the air gap installed in the RO discharge line would pull a small amount of air rather than the dirty water back into the RO unit. We’ve innovated a custom line of water filtration faucets designed to fit the character of any modern home, with three finish (Antique Bronze, Brushed Nickel, and Polished Chrome) options across both classic and contemporary styled fixtures. With an air gap faucet, the drain line water from the RO membrane is routed up to the bottom of the faucet where it drops into a non-pressurized trough and then flows by gravity down to the sink drain. RO Faucet Here you will find our list of the top-rated Reverse osmosis faucets [air gap, non-air gap] that we picked for the US & CA markets in 2021. All RO systems send some water to the drain. Once the spout is installed, it can swivel a full 360 degrees. Air Gap vs. Non-Air Gap Faucets for Reverse Osmosis, Quick-Change No-Mess Replacement Filters Under Sink, Stardardized Design for Customization and Cheaper Operation. Remove the 1/4" waste water line out of the reverse osmosis system from the base of the faucet and attach it to the 1/4" drain saddle. This is called a “point of use” (POU) water filtration system and can also connect to your fridge and ice machine. You also need to find out whether you need an Air-Gap or Non-Air-Gap faucet. Step 2 - Open the RO Faucet and allow water to drain from the tank until it is completely empty. Prepare and Position the Tank Before putting the RO tank into position under the sink, install the tank connector. Remove the 1/4" waste water line out of the reverse osmosis system from the base of the faucet and attach it to the 1/4" drain saddle. You can do it yourself in less than 2 hours. Shop Faucets Now: When it comes to RO faucets, there are a variety of styles and finishes to choose from whether you select an air gap or a non-air gap faucet. Less tubing/hoses: A non-air gap unit simply has one water line that goes up to the faucet. If you have a reverse osmosis unit, you may or may not want an air gap faucet. Sitemap. There are many different makes and models of RO systems, but most install under the kitchen sink. If you have a filter, not a reverse osmosis unit, there is no drain connection and you do not want an air gap faucet. This means that it must have a wider base and will require a larger hole in the sink for installation. The faucet itself has a small hole in its body so that water can flow out onto the sink or countertop should the drain tube become clogged. This water falls into the "air gap" trough and then flows down to the sink drain. Another frequent complaint of air gap faucet users is noisy performance. I'm installing an AquaSuite faucet onto a Whirlpool, air-gap, reverse osmosis system, anyone done this successfully? Keep in mind that an air gap faucet uses 1/4" tubing from the system to the faucet and 3/8" tubing from the faucet to the drain. Air Gap faucet treats drinking water right before it reaches the single tap, providing high-quality, clean drinking water with every pour. Do not install the check valve close to the drain saddle. Note that if you hear "hissing" noises, you should immediately call your local water treatment professional as there may be a problem with water pressure, the air gap, or a leak. ... Cut the brine line about 12" from the RO system and install the check valve. Standard reverse osmosis faucets have the drain line water from the reverse osmosis membrane empty directly into the sink drain. Clogging: Small tubing and trough on the air-gap system can cause sediment clogging resulting in water backing up into sink or counter tops. It must remain open and free of debris. Is It Possible To Switch Faucets For A Reverse Osmosis System? Air gap faucets are used with undersink reverse osmosis units. Can I Install a Reverse Osmosis System Myself? Air-gap Faucet replacement or upgrade for Water Filter and Reverse Osmosis Systems. This process requires that the air gap faucet have three tubes rather than one (one for the upward drain water, a second for the downward drain water, and the third for the unit's product water, which you drink). View Cart Remove the 3/8' drain line from the air gap faucet and discard. Next, from the underside of the sink, thread the following parts onto the stem in the following order: The large chrome washer with a cutout. This is not an infrequent occurrence, since the drain water is not pressure-driven and even a small piece of food or other debris lodged in the inlet of the drain connection can stop up the line and allow the reverse osmosis unit's drain water to flow out onto the countertop. Water drops past the hole into the 3/8" waste line. To convert, simply take the 1/4" tubing from the system directly to the drain, but may need to find a fitting to reduce the connection from 3/8" to 1/4" to fit the drain line tube now coming directly from the system. Get it as soon as Fri, Feb 5. On our Black & White reverse osmosis units, our own brand, we install a check valve in the drain line that prevents back flow. Malida Lead Free Food Grade Water Sink Faucet, RO Single Lever Water Filter or Water Filtration Faucet,Water Purifiers Reverse Osmosis Systems Faucet, Non air Gap Standard Faucet,Chrome. The water then flows in the non-pressurized trough to the other side of the faucet stem where it falls into a hole and drops by force of gravity into a 3/8" flexible tube which drops it into the under sink drain pipe. Remove the 1/4" waste water line out of the reverse osmosis system from the base of the faucet and attach it to the 1/4" drain saddle. The water then flows to the other side of the faucet stem, where it falls into a hole and drops by force of gravity into a 3/8" flexible tube, to the drain pipe. The Pure Water Occasional. Potential Damage: Chance that if the drain backs up, the RO system could be damaged or the membrane contaminated. Plumbing codes in many areas require the use of an air gap faucet with reverse osmosis units. Air gap faucets have their advantages and disadvantages. The air gap acts as a safety feature, ensuring that water doesn't enter back through the osmosis membrane if, for example, the sink drain plugs. The air gap system accomplishes this by routing the unit's drain water upward through a 1/4" flexible tube to a small trough built into the base of the faucet. The hole is part of the air gap device. Generally, Reverse Osmosis systems come standard with an air gap faucet but many manufacturers will also offer the non-air gap option. A non-air gap faucet only has the drinking water line connected to it. Inside this hole, waste water goes into the top and out through the bottom.