Water filters help purify and provide clean drinking water.
There are thousands of various water filters available in the market – some affordable while some expensive.
In this guide, we’ll explain to you the different types of water filters, when you will need them, and list out 6 of the best water filters that you can buy today.
The best water filters
Now that we’ve provided you some essential information on water purifiers, here are our recommendations for some of the best water filters in 2020.
1. iSpring RCC7 High Capacity Reverse Osmosis Water Filter
The iSpring RCC7 is an RO filter (Reverse Osmosis) that is to be fit directly under a sink. Ideally, you can place it below your kitchen sink. The water supply to your kitchen sink will first pass through the filter, and clean, drinkable water will emerge from your tap.
Key Features
- 5 stage filtration, with three different pre-filters, one RO filter, and a GAC filter.
- Package includes all the parts and a manual needed for self-installation
- The capacity of 75 gallons/day1-year warranty with a money-back guarantee
- Leak proof and noise-free system
Pros
- Reduces TDS level and hardness of water
- Very easy to install
- Customer support is helpful and responsive
- Contains extra storage tank
- Removes harmful metals such as lead, arsenic, etc. from water
Cons
- It is expensive, as most RO filters are
- Only one-third of the water supply is purified, rest is wasted.
2. CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter
The UC-200 is a faucet type filter and works similar to gravity filters. You’ll have to install this filter directly on your tap and water from the tap will be purified as it passes through the filter.
Key Features
- 3 layers of filtration – a micro sediment layer, a coconut shell + activated carbon layers, and a KDF-55 layer.
- The KDF-55 layer filters bacteria and chemicals to some extent.
- Has a lifetime of almost 5 years
- One filter can purify up to 50,000 gallons of water before needing replacement.
- It comes with 5 years of warranty.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Filters solid particles as well as germs, salts, and chemicals
- Excellent customer service from manufacturers
Cons
- Not very cheap
- Can’t lower the TDS level of water, and doesn’t reduce the hardness of water.
3. Frizzlife Under Sink Water Filter System
Frizzlife water filter is also an efficient water purifying system that fits right under your kitchen sink. It has many useful features which we’ve listed below:
Key Features
- The two-stage compound filter removes lead and heavy metals too
- It contains a replaceable filtering cartridge inside. One cartridge can purify up to 1600 gallons of water before needing replacement.
- It has an auto shut-down mechanism so you don’t have to manually turn off the water supply when replacing the filter.
- It can be installed in a few minutes; a video installation guide is also available.
Pros
- The filter’s a one-time buy as the only cartridge needs replacement
- Reasonable price
- Removes heavy metals like lead and other chemicals efficiently
- Improves the taste and odor of water
Cons
- The filter needs replacement every 8 months, or at least once a year
- Not very efficient for filtering bacterial and biological impurities.
4. Nakii Water Filter Pitcher
The Nakii water filter pitcher is different from most conventional filter systems. It is a jar mounted with a filtering layer on top. It’s a great alternative for people who want cheaper and simpler filtering options.
Key Features
- Uses advanced activated carbon filter
- Can filter a total of 150 gallons of water
- Made of FDA-approved materials
- Has a flow rate of 1.3 liters/minute
- Tested and approved by the Water Quality Association (WQA)
Pros
- Simple and convenient design
- Cheap and affordable price
- Has 1.8 liters storage capacity
- Provides fast filtration
Cons
- Doesn’t offer a high level of filtration
- Not suitable for water with high TDS.
5. LEVOIT Water Filter Pitcher
Similar to the previous product, this LEVOIT filter is also a pitcher style water purifier.
Key Features
- 5 stages of filtration
- Filtration speed is adjustable
- Provides 2.5 liters of storage capacity
- One filter can purify 40 gallons of water
- Package contains one replacement filter
Pros
- Has larger storage size compared to other pitcher filters
- Can change the filtering speed as per requirement
- Doesn’t require electricity
- It also filters chlorine, lead, and other chemicals to some extent.
Cons
- Low protection from biological impurities
- The filter must be replaced about every 2 months.
6. Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher
Our final product in this list is also a pitcher filter with efficient purification. It has many advanced features which are mentioned below.
Key Features
- 5 layer filters that are 2-micron wide
- Contains an extra lead and fluorine filter
- Comes with a lifetime guarantee and free replacement
- One filter can purify 150 gallons of water
- Made of recyclable, FDA-approved materials
Pros
- Affordable price
- Does not filter essential minerals in the water
- Will be replaced for free is the filter is damaged
- Effective for removing lead, copper, fluorine and other heavy metals
- Impressive customer service
Cons
- Filtration speed reduces with time
- Not suitable for TDS of more than 500 ppm.
Factors to consider before purchasing a water filter
Before you buy a water filter, you need to know which one is right for you. There are different types of water filters, and they come with varying features and storage capacities. Here is some important information on water purifiers that will help you in choosing the best water filter.
Water quality and TDS levels
The first thing you need to consider is the quality of water in your home. The purity of water is measured in terms of TDS – Total Dissolved Solids. It is a measure of how much solids and impurities are present in the water.
Water with TDS levels below 300 ppm (parts per million) is considered to be highly pure. But even TDS levels up to 600ppm is safe for consumption. In extreme cases where pure water is very hard to access, humans can even drink water with TDS levels up to 1000 ppm, but only if it’s a temporary measure.
Thanks to technology, measuring the TDS levels of your home’s water is easy these days. You can buy a TDS measuring device and test it on your tap water; it’s just as easy as measuring temperature with a thermometer.
TDS will also give you a basic idea about the hardness of the water. Hard water usually has TDS levels above 500 ppm. Only soft water is good for drinking as hard water contains harmful metals and elements.
Types of water filters
Once you know the TDS level of your water supply, you also need to know about the different types of water purifiers. We have explained the most common types below.
Membrane Filters
Membrane filters are the most basic type of filters. They are not very common and don’t offer a high level of purity. They use a filtering membrane, which blocks solid and undissolved impurities.
Gravity Filters or UF (Ultra Filtration)
Gravity filters are also similar to membrane filters but a bit more efficient. They use activated carbon filters and can efficiently remove all undissolved impurities, and even filters salts and chlorine to some extent.
Both membrane and Gravity Filters are suitable only for water with low TDS levels, as they do not protect from dissolved particles and microorganisms.
UV (Ultra Violet) Filters
UV filters use Ultra Violet rays on the water which penetrates the microorganisms present in the water. It can effectively remove biological impurities such as germs, bacteria, and viruses. However, they can’t filter solid particles and chemicals.
UV filters usually have an extra UF layer to remove the undissolved impurities. Such UV+UF filters are best for TDS levels below 300 ppm, and acceptable for TDS up to 500 ppm.
Electro Adsorption Technology (EAT)
EAT filters are one of the most efficient techniques of purifying water. It offers all-round protection by filtering bacteria, germs, solid particles, as well as diluted impurities and chemicals. There are a total of 5 different layers used to EAT technology. The only downside of this type of filter is that it is not fit for TDS levels above 500 ppm.
RO (Reverse Osmosis) Filters
RO filters are just as efficient as EAT filters and purify the water from all types of impurities – solid, biological, salts, and chemicals. On top of that, it even reduces the TDS levels of extremely impure water. That is why it’s the best choice for water with more than 500 ppm of TDS.
The drawback of RO filters is that they produce a lot of wastewater. Almost 50% of the input water is wasted in RO filters. But for TDS of more than 500 ppm, RO filter is the only appropriate choice.
Other considerations
- Electric vs. non-electric options: UF or gravity filters work without electricity, whereas RO, UV, and EAT filters require a power supply to function. So keep in mind that such filters require constant electricity and also add up to your utility bill.
- Storage capacity: Not all filters have a storage tank. So if you have a large family, you’ll need a filter with enough storage space for purified water. Also, if you have an electric filter but you often face power cuts, then you’d want those filters to have some extra storage compartment. That way, you can still get pure water even when there is a blackout.
Conclusion
Drinking water is essential for life, but drinking contaminated water can invite several health problems and diseases. That is why you should be highly alert and avoid any sort of negligence when buying a water purification system.
We suggest that you take your time to read all the important info on water filters, as we’ve mentioned in this guide.
And we hope that you can find a suitable water filter for your household from the product recommendations we have given.
Never compromise on the quality of water filters just to save some money. An expensive filter may pinch your pocket at first, but it will prove to be beneficial in terms of health and money in the future.
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