What Is The Best Whole House Water Filter For My Home?
Contents
- Types Of Filter
- Water Pitcher Filters
- Refrigerator Water Filters
- Water Filter Faucets
- Under Sink Water Filters
- Brands
- Brita
- PUR
- Top 10 Products
- Apec Water Systems
- PUR 18 Cup Dispenser With One Filter
- Brita 10 Cup Everyday BPA Free Water Pitcher
- Woder 10K-GenII Ultra High Capacity Direct Connect Water Filtration System
- Lifestraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier
- Watts WH-LD Premier Whole House Filter System
- Berkey BK4X2-BB Big Berkey Stainless Steel Water Filtration System
- CleanWater4Less Countertop Water Filtration System
- New Wave Enviro 10 Stage Water Filter System
- PUR PFM400H Chrome Horizontal Faucet Mount With 1 Mineral Clear Filter
- Buying Guide
- Conclusion
- Sources
Filtering the water that comes into your home is of the utmost importance, whether done for personal preference or because of unclean water that poses a threat to you and your family’s health.
With recent controversies over the safety of drinking water in the US, people are especially concerned about their drinking water.
The CDC suggests testing your water first, then choosing a filter certified to reduce the germs or chemicals you're concerned about. If your water is already safe, you may not need a filter at all.
There are many different options for water filters for your home that come with a variety of different features. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, finding the right one can be understandably overwhelming.
Fortunately, you aren’t alone in your search for the best whole house water filter. With our home water filtration system reviews, learning about different products and what’s best for your home, finding a product that you like should be a simple task.
One thing to know up front: a true whole-house (point-of-entry) system treats all the water entering your home. Most products below are point-of-use filters that treat water at one tap or in one container. We've included both because many people compare them.
Types Of Filter
Before you can find the best home water purifier for you, you should know what types of products are available. Each type can filter your water very well for some contaminants, but none removes everything, so check what each one is certified to reduce.
Being educated on filtration types is the first step to finding yours, whether that’s one of these methods or a combination.
Water Pitcher Filters
A filtered water pitcher is probably the simplest way to filter water for your home. These filters come in several sizes with the average holding about a gallon of water.
These pitchers come with a filter that will need to be changed every few months and most have a sticker on the side to help you keep track of when to replace it, so your water is as clean as possible.
These are a good option for apartments and dorm rooms as well as they don’t take up too much space and don’t require any modifications.
Refrigerator Water Filters
These filters usually come with a side-by-side fridge and freezer combo and can’t be installed later without extensive work.
While built in, these filters do need to be changed about every six months, maybe sooner in certain circumstances.
They fit neatly into the fridge, but they only filter the water from the dispenser and ice maker, so they aren't whole-house filters.
The only downside to this type of filter is that if you don’t have a fridge with this feature then you can’t easily get one installed, making this type of filter relatively expensive.
Water Filter Faucets
These filters are usually simple. Some filters are built into faucets, but there are easier options available as well. If you can’t make a permanent adjustment to your sink, such as switching out the faucet, there are models that simply screw on to your current faucet.
These faucet filters are a simple and easy way to provide filtered water to your home without having to constantly refill a separate filter such as a pitcher.
It’s important to remember to change the filter though. This doesn’t work like a pitcher does, and the filter will need to be changed more often.
Under Sink Water Filters
Under sink water filters are considered by some to be the best house water filter system but by some to be too bulky. While it does take up a fair amount of space, these systems are made to fit neatly in the cabinet underneath the sink. If you don’t mind giving up some cabinet space then it can be an alternative to more obvious filters.
Under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) systems remove a wide range of contaminants, and the CDC lists RO among the options that remove parasites, bacteria and viruses.
The trade-off is that RO units send some water down the drain and can be harder to install. However, their filters don't need to be changed as often as some other systems.
Brands
A look at home water filtration reviews would be a little hard to comprehend without knowing what brands are best. So, to help you out, we’ve added information about some of the best brands available to you to aid your decision.
Brita
Brita is best known for pitcher filters that improve taste and reduce some metals. It also promotes its filters as a way to cut plastic bottle waste.
PUR
PUR began as part of a company called Recovery Engineering and is now one of the best-known filter brands. It uses activated carbon and ion exchange in its filters, and aims to offer affordable home filter systems.
Top 10 Products
Apec Water Systems
The APEC system is an under-sink reverse osmosis system, so it treats water at one tap rather than the whole house. APEC says it reduces contaminants such as arsenic, chlorine, lead, fluoride and heavy metals; check its certifications for the ones you care about.
The storage tank is compact enough for most standard kitchen cabinets, but measure first.
The system also uses a lead-free faucet and food-grade tubing to cut down on internal contamination.
PUR 18 Cup Dispenser With One Filter
This dispenser-style filter uses activated carbon. It's a point-of-use filter, not a whole-house system.
PUR says it reduces mercury, some pharmaceuticals, and chlorine taste and odor while leaving fluoride in your water.
A single filter in this system will last roughly two months of regular use, which provides approximately 40 gallons of water.
The dispenser fits in most refrigerators.
The pitcher also features a comfort grip handle as well as a pour spout cover to prevent accidental contamination.
Brita 10 Cup Everyday BPA Free Water Pitcher
Next on our list is another pitcher filter this time made by Brita.
The filter holds about 10 cups of water and is easy to use and a good size to hold plenty of water while being easily stored in a fridge.
The filter on this system needs to be changed about every two months or 40 gallons. There’s a sticker on the side of the pitcher to help you remember when to change it.
This filter promises to reduce the presence of copper, cadmium, and mercury impurities in the water and provide fresher, cleaner tasting water.
The pitcher is also BPA free, so there shouldn’t be any issue with chemicals in the plastic.
Woder 10K-GenII Ultra High Capacity Direct Connect Water Filtration System
This is an under-sink system that doesn’t take up quite as much space as a traditional under-sink model. Another plus of this system is easy installation as well as an internal valve that automatically blocks water when the filter is being changed so it won’t leak.
Woder says it reduces many contaminants while leaving minerals in. Its rated capacity is 10,000 gallons, so the filter can last a long time depending on your use.
Lifestraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier
This water purifier is unique and presents itself as a gravity filter, so as you pour water in, it’s purified as it goes through.
LifeStraw rates it for long-term use by a family.
LifeStraw says it removes bacteria, viruses and parasites. It's built mainly for germs, so check what it's certified for before relying on it for chemicals like lead.
This product was made with the idea that it could be used in the home but it would also be a valuable addition to any emergency kit.
Watts WH-LD Premier Whole House Filter System
This is the only true whole-house system on our list. It's good for your plumbing, because it filters out larger particles that can damage pipes and clog carbon filters.
The system can be used without the aid of a second, as the filtered water is free of sediment, dirt, rust, and suspended particles but this filter works best as a way to protect another filter that’s focused on filtering smaller particles.
Check its pressure rating against your home's water pressure before you buy.
Berkey BK4X2-BB Big Berkey Stainless Steel Water Filtration System
This type of filter is a countertop water filter, very similar to but slightly larger than a pitcher filter.
It holds a couple of gallons and filters water by gravity.
The filter is also an attractive, high grade stainless steel, so it won’t be an eyesore sitting on your kitchen counter.
Berkey makes broad claims about what it removes. Check whether the filters carry independent NSF/ANSI certification for the contaminants you care about before relying on those claims.
Thanks to its large capacity and portability, this filter can continue to be used in the event of an emergency if needed.
CleanWater4Less Countertop Water Filtration System
This is another countertop water filter. The black and stainless steel exterior has a sleek modern look that will look good in almost any kitchen.
The system comes with a hose to attach to your faucet so it’s easy to fill the counter-top instrument up.
The maker has claimed the filter rarely needs changing, but every filter needs replacing eventually. Follow the manufacturer's schedule, since an old filter stops working well.
New Wave Enviro 10 Stage Water Filter System
This water filter attaches directly to your faucet, although the company does make a conversion kit sold separately if you’d prefer an under sink model.
The maker says it reduces chlorine, trihalomethanes (disinfection byproducts), odors and heavy metals, while leaving in minerals such as magnesium, potassium and fluoride.
PUR PFM400H Chrome Horizontal Faucet Mount With 1 Mineral Clear Filter
This final product is a filter that easily attaches to your sink faucet with no extra modifications. PUR says it's certified to reduce over 70 different harmful contaminants, including lead, mercury and some pesticides.
One filter will clean 100 gallons of water, which should last roughly two or three months.
The system also has a leak proof connector and improved grip, so there should be no problem with the system staying in place. This system is also relatively small, so it won’t take up any extra space.
Buying Guide
While our whole house water filter comparisons help, there’s a lot to keep in mind when searching for the best whole house water filter.
The first important thing to consider is probably what kind of filter is best for your home, whether you would like something that hooks directly up to your sink or a refillable option such as a pitcher or countertop option.
Once you make that decision, the easy part comes in comparing the pros and cons of each system. This can come in the form of comparing pressure levels, the amount of water held, how long between filter changes, etc.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read our whole house water filter reviews, you’re ready to choose your water filter.
Test your water first, check NSF certification, and replace filters on schedule. With that, finding a filter that works for your home should be a breeze.
Sources
- About Choosing Home Water Filters, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
