Use of Water Purifier in Rental House
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Having access to healthy and clean water directly from your home tap is a great comfort. But for students, young professionals or families living in a rented apartment, making permanent changes in the kitchen is often a source of great stress. The prospect of the landlord deducting a deposit leaves many people carrying heavy carboys and increasing the use of plastic. However, contrary to popular belief, using a water purifier in a rented house is an extremely easy, damage-free and portable process when the right techniques and practical solutions are known. In this guide, we will examine step by step how you as a tenant can have healthy drinking water without jeopardising your deposit.
Does a Water Purifier for Tenants Make Sense?
Today, the damage caused by plastic waste to the environment and the increasing cost of packaged water are leading individuals to alternative water solutions. According to 2023 data, per capita packaged water consumption in Turkey reached 127 litres, indicating a serious dependency on disposable plastics. At this point, having a treatment device for tenants is both environmentally friendly and budget-friendly in the long term.
With the growing interest in water purification technologies in particular, around 69% of consumers are switching to advanced purification technologies such as Reverse Osmosis (RO) and UV systems. The size of the Turkish market alone attests to this shift; the Turkish water purifiers market is expected to reach USD 479.88 million by 2030, up from USD 379.48 million in 2024. More comprehensive economic reports on this data can be found in the Mordor Intelligence Turkey Water Purifier Market Report. In short, even if you are a tenant, using a purifier is no longer a luxury, but a rational need.
Damage Free Water Purifier Installation in Rental House
The biggest fear of tenants about installing a purifier is the drilling of the kitchen counter or sink. "If the landlord sees this hole when leaving the house, will it cause a problem?" the concern is quite common. However, thanks to today's modern devices and practical solutions applied by technical services, this situation has ceased to be a problem.
Blind Plug and Liquid Soap Dispenser Solution in Under Counter Models
If you opt for a standard under-counter model, a small hole has to be drilled in the kitchen sink (usually in the stainless steel sink part) to install the slim and stylish purifier tap. The real miracle for the tenant comes when it's time to move out. When you move out, you dismantle your purifier tap and use a stainless chrome "blind plug", which is sold very cheaply in hardware stores, to close the small hole.
When a blind plug is installed, the sink looks aesthetically pleasing and flawless, as if it were a fabricated design. Alternatively, you can leave the homeowner with an extra accessory in their kitchen by installing a built-in liquid soap dispenser where the hole is. In this way, no damage record will occur. You can browse under-counter water treatment options to examine the models suitable for your needs.
[Media that can be added here: A practical before/after photo showing how a hole in a kitchen sink was camouflaged with a blind plug and a built-in liquid soap dispenser].
Countertop and Tap Mounted Options
If your landlord has strict and rigid rules about drilling into the worktop or sink, you may want to consider a zero-drilling alternative. Simple filters that attach directly to the end of your existing kitchen tap, or systems that stand on the worktop and connect to the mains via a hose, are excellent tenant purifier alternatives.
These devices take minutes to install and you can literally unplug and take them with you when moving. You can find a model suitable for your living space by visiting the countertop water treatment category for devices that display an aesthetic stance on the counter and do not require drilling.
Step by Step Guide: How to Move a Water Purifier to a New Home?
When the time comes to move out of your rental apartment, it is entirely up to you to safely take your device to your new home. Water purifier transport can be done even without calling a technical service if a few basic plumbing rules are followed.
1. Preparation and Safety
The first step is always to ensure safety. Switch off the main water valve under the kitchen worktop. Then open the tap of your purifier to drain the pressurised water remaining in the system and wait for the water to completely shut off. This will prevent pressurised water from spraying around when disconnecting the connections.
2. Disconnection of Connections
The system usually has three or four main coloured hoses: Mains water inlet, waste water outlet, hose to the clean water tap and tank connection. Carefully unscrew the quick fittings for these hoses. A great practical solution is to take a photo of them with your mobile phone before dismantling so that you don't forget which hose goes where.
3. Tank Emptying and Protection
The water tanks in RO systems can be heavy and fragile during transport. Open the valve of the tank and drain the water completely into the sink. Wrap the emptied water tank tightly with bubble wrap (patpat) to protect it against possible impacts. Crushing the tank during transport may damage the pressure diaphragm inside.
4. Condition of Filters
The biggest mistake made during transport is to leave the filter ports open. Air intake of the filters may cause the membrane and carbon structure inside them to dry out, and even worse, it may cause bacterial growth during transport. To prevent this, insert small blind plugs into the hose inlets you dismantle or close the inlets tightly with cling film to prevent contact with air.
Things to Consider When Installing a New Home
You have successfully moved your equipment to your new home. However, there are some environmental and infrastructural factors that you should pay attention to before switching on the system.
Water Pressure Control and Pump Usage
The mains water pressure (Water Pressure) of your new building directly affects the efficiency of the device. If the water pressure is below 40 psi, the Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane has difficulty pushing the water and the treatment process becomes inefficient. In such a case, you may need to add a booster pump to the system. Also, keep in mind that during the winter months, the passage through the semi-permeable membrane slows down due to the increased density of cold water and the water production is naturally prolonged.
First Use and Hygiene Steps
After making the connections completely, open the valve. Instead of using the system immediately, let the water drain for 10-15 minutes to remove possible carbon dust and air from the newly connected filters. When the water is clear and flavour balanced, your device is ready to produce healthy water.
Water Purifier Rental and Subscription Systems
If the cost of buying a new device from scratch is too high or if you plan to move in 1-2 years, the water treatment subscription system, which has spread rapidly in Turkey in recent years, is for you. Approximately 47% of households globally prefer rental models to avoid high initial costs and benefit from the advantages of regular maintenance.
Free Installation and Periodic Maintenance Advantages
With subscription systems, the device is delivered to your home and installed free of charge for a small monthly payment. Services such as semi-annual or annual filter changes, maintenance of the device and even free transport to your new home when you move are usually included in this package. You can see a comparison of the two methods in the table below:
| Comparison Criteria | Purchase Model | Rental (Subscription) Model |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | High (One-time device cost) | Very Low (Fixed monthly fee only) |
| Filter Change Fee | User owned | Usually included in the monthly fee |
| Transport (Transport) | User's responsibility | Usually the free service of the company |
| Maintenance Responsibility | User / Paid Service | Under company guarantee |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
We have compiled below the questions that tenants are most curious about the process of using the purifier and the technical and scientific answers to these questions.
Can the tenant install purification?
Yes, tenants can easily have a water purifier installed in their kitchen. In the case of under-counter models, the small hole for a slim tap can be completely covered with a chrome "blind plug" or a stylish liquid soap dispenser, which can be bought for a few lira when moving house. This does not permanently damage the sink and does not lead to loss of deposit. Tenants who do not want a hole at all can easily choose models that are mounted on the tap or stand on the countertop.
How many minutes does it take to fill an 8 litre water treatment tank?
Under ideal conditions, an 8 litre water treatment tank will fill up in about 40 to 60 minutes. However, this time is not certain; It varies according to the pressure of the water coming from the network, the temperature of the water (production slows down because the water is cold and dense in winter) and the total dissolved solids (TDS) ratio in the water. Since this period will be much longer in installations where the pressure drops below 40 psi, the use of a pump is essential.
How many litres of water is used to treat 1 litre of water?
Conventional domestic Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems wash out the contaminants in the filter as waste water to prevent clogging of the membrane; therefore, to produce 1 litre of clean water, an average of 3 to 4 litres of water is sent to the sewer as waste (waste-to-water ratio). However, by adding a hydraulic "permeate pump" to the system, which does not require electricity, water efficiency can be increased by 85% and the waste-to-water ratio can be reduced to 1:1.
| System Type | Clean Water Production | Waste Water Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional Reverse Osmosis (RO) | 1 Litre | 3 - 4 Litres Waste |
| Permeate Pumped RO | 1 Litre | 1 - 2 Litre Waste |
And you don't have to waste this wastewater; it is not toxic, it is just tap water that is concentrated in minerals. You can save this water and use it for non-potable purposes, such as mopping floors, watering flowers or using it in the toilet bowl. For information on protecting clean drinking water and wastewater standards, see EPA's Ground and Drinking Water resources.
How do household water purifiers work?
Modern household water purifiers usually work with a 5-stage Reverse Osmosis (RO) filtration logic. In the first stage, the sediment filter retains large physical particles such as sand and rust. Then activated carbon filters absorb chlorine and bad odour in the water. In the third stage, the water is pressurised and passed through an RO membrane with microscopic pores to remove heavy metals and chemicals. In the final stage, flavouring post-carbon or alkaline filters come into play, restoring the minerals the water needs and adjusting the pH balance. You can read more about how safe water quality standards are determined on the WHO Water Safety and Quality page.
