Rental-Friendly Water Filters | No Plumbing Required
If you are renting, leasing, or in a situation where you cannot drill into the bench or the cabinetry, you do not need to put up with chlorinated water. Bench-top and counter-top filters connect to your existing kitchen tap with a small diverter valve, and the whole setup takes about ten minutes. No plumber, no permanent changes, no bond risk.
What you get:
- Filtered water on demand — flick the diverter switch, water runs through the cartridge before reaching the spout.
- Six to twelve months per cartridge — the same carbon block cartridges that under-sink systems use.
- Comes with you when you move — twist the diverter off, screw your tap aerator back on, no trace.
The only real catch: bench-top sits visibly on the bench (a small unit, but visible), and the diverter restricts flow slightly compared to under-sink. For most kitchens neither is a deal-breaker.
How to choose
- Just want the chlorine taste gone? A single-stage carbon bench-top filter is enough. The smallest, cheapest, easiest-to-replace.
- Want better filtration? Multi-stage bench-top systems exist with sediment + carbon + KDF + alkaline stages. Bigger footprint, more cartridges to replace, but closer to under-sink performance.
- Travelling, caravanning, or short-term rental? Look at the smallest single-stage units. They pack easily and run on any threaded tap.
Check your tap thread before ordering. Most modern kitchen mixers are 22mm or 24mm thread; the included adapter rings handle the common sizes. Pull-out and pull-down spray taps usually do not work with bench-top diverters — if that is your kitchen, the only option is to switch the tap or wait until you move.
No-plumbing options
Bench Top Water Filter | 1 Stage | Carbon
$49.95 AUD
Bench Top Water Filter | 1 Stage | Sediment
$69.95 AUD
Bench Top Water Filter | 2 Stage | Sediment + Carbon
$69.95 AUD
Diverter Valve Adapter | Bench Top to Old Tap
$19.95 AUD
Diverter Valve | 1/4" | Bench Top Water Filters
$22.99 AUD
Diverter Valve | 1/4" | Bench Top
$27.95 AUD
Frequently asked questions
What does a bench-top filter actually do?
It connects to your kitchen tap with a small diverter valve and routes water through a cartridge before it reaches the spout. A switch on the diverter sends water either through the filter or straight from the tap — so you only filter when you need filtered water. The cartridge typically lasts six to twelve months.
Will it work with any kitchen tap?
Most threaded kitchen mixers, yes. Pull-out and pull-down spray taps are harder — the diverter sits where the aerator screws on, and many spray-style taps have proprietary fittings that the diverter cannot grip. Check your tap before ordering. Each product page lists fitting types and includes adapter rings for common tap thread sizes.
Can I take a bench-top filter when I move?
Yes — that is the main reason people buy them. Disconnect the diverter, twist your tap aerator back on, pack the unit. Five-minute removal, no holes drilled. The cartridge keeps its remaining capacity, so you do not lose anything in the move.
Is bench-top as good as under-sink?
For chlorine, taste, and odour — effectively the same. The cartridge does the same job either way. Under-sink runs faster (no diverter restriction) and looks tidier (no hose on the bench), but bench-top is far easier to install and to remove. If you cannot drill into the bench, bench-top is the only option.