As water has got a pivotal role to play in our lives, the search for a best water filter and arriving at a conclusion is a significant task. This decision is very vital whenever you are doubtful about the quality of water you are drinking, looking for a more sustainable option than plastic bottled water as well as trying to replace an existing filter. There are a variety of options available in the marketplace and on online platforms but you need to know and understand your needs first while looking out for a best water filter most suited to your requirements.
In another article, we have already guided you regarding the factors to consider before bringing home a water purifier. A number of factors influence this choice such as water quality in your area, price attached with the system and the extent of removal of contaminants depending upon the filtration capacity of a specific filter. In this article, we are further going to explore the different water filters you can have in your homes to purify water by looking at their benefits as well as at the ease of installation.
Each one of us is concerned about its drinking water quality as water on its journey i.e. from water sources to our tap water pick up a lot of harmful contaminants even though the municipality try to remove as maximum as they can. Old and worn out water pipes, aging faucets, pesticides, hot weather, largely cause the water to become contaminated rendering it impure and unhealthy. Once the water reaches to our homes it is then in our control to get its quality checked. Another factor that becomes a reason to search for a best water filter is its bad taste. If water doesn’t taste good it is likely going to affect our intake of water.
Water filters Availability
We are in the business of water filtration from past 15 years so over the years many advancements in technology are ongoing. Once technology obsoletes the other due to cost effectiveness and efficiency. Many of these water purification systems have been designed to remove different kind of contaminants so each is serving different purposes. Nowadays due to this technological integration, many best water filters are using a combination of different technologies to cater maximum benefits to consumers. There is a wide variety of systems available in market based on capacity, designs and water filtration media. We will discuss here the more popular units and the ones which people are still using due to budget constraint irrespective of the fact that new and more advanced technologies have taken their place.
Let’s discuss some of the common water filters one by one based on their benefits, purification method as well as procedure to install.
- Pitcher filters
- Sediment filters
- Faucet filters
- Fridge Filters
- Counter top Filters
- Under the sink filters
- Water Softeners
- KDF filters
- UV filters
- Whole House Water filters
- Pitcher filters
Installation
These filters are just like handheld jug and need no installation. They are compact and space efficient drinking water filters as these filtration pitchers occupy just some space in your refrigerator.
Filtration media
They work on the activated carbon media where carbon particles tend to filter impurities from water.
Benefits
The carbon particles in these pitchers remove chlorine, chloramines and eliminate pesticides, hydrogen sulfide, nitrates etc. but they fail to purify water from microorganisms, many inorganic chemicals and heavy metals. They are mainly helpful in removing the bad taste of water and smell of chlorine. These kind of water filters are useful where water is not much polluted and you just need to enhance the taste of water by removing the bad smell and taste. Pitcher filters are an inexpensive option but they do not remove everything and secondly they just filter a limited quantity of water and need to be refilled again for drinking purpose.
- Sediment filters
Installation
Sediment filters as the name suggests filter dust particles sand, sediments upto 5 microns from the water. These filters are usually installed under the sink as a single cartridge filter and are quite convenient to install.
Filtration media
The filtration media in these filters is polypropylene which is usually a membrane and it filters solid particles present in the water.
Benefits
This is a basic filter but it cannot be regarded as a best water filter. It is sold alone as well as this is a pre filter in many filtration systems where it is used in combination with other purification methods. Areas where dust and sand is the only issue in the water then sediment filter is very effective. It is less expensive and readily available. It is mainly recommended for cooking purposes, washing and cleaning purposes. Sometimes it is used in combination with a water softener.
- Faucet filters
Installation
Faucet filters perform filtration directly on the tap water. They are usually attached or mounted on the point of use and then you get filtered water directly from the tap they are attached with. Shower filters you see are a typical example of faucet filters. These are quite small and are easy to install within no time.
Filtration media
This filtration is usually carbon based and also contains KDF media which is usually in the form of resins.
Benefits
Faucet filters are very effective in removing the bad taste and smell of water. Some filters also come with polypropylene membrane and filter sand, dust and rust. They make water softer to some extent but pesticides and heavy metals do not come under their scope. Secondly they need replacement more often as they do not have much capacity due to their size.
- Fridge Filters
Installation
A fridge filter or inbuilt fridge dispenser comes by default within a refrigerator. This basic filtration is very popular nowadays in modern refrigerators, water dispensers and ice makers as well.
Filtration media
A fridge filter also uses carbon based filtration. Carbon filtration adsorbs all chlorine and filter out the smell of chlorine hence enhancing the taste and drinkability of water. This filter also removes harmful pesticides and other chemicals. But it does not purify water from all kinds of chemicals and contaminants.
Benefits
This is very cost effective as it comes as an added feature when you buy either a fridge or dispenser. But you can have it free only when you purchase a new fridge but the filter needs to be changed on a periodical basis as suggested by the company. This filter removes chlorine, chloramines, harmful pesticides and other chemicals. But it does not guarantee pure water free from all kinds of chemicals and contaminants.
- Counter top Filters
Installation
A counter top system is a compact, beautifully designed box that houses the filtration system. They are designed aesthetically to be on your kitchen countertop. Nowadays kitchen counter top filters are sold as water dispensers serving both the purposes – supply of hot and cold water that is usually filtered at least to some basic filtration standards. These systems are attached with the kitchen faucet and perform filtration on the kitchen tap. Water dispensers sold in the market also come these days with some inbuilt basic filtration procedure.
Filtration media
These filters use a combination of filtration media. Usually a PP filter, carbon filter and carbon block filter works together to remove sand, dust, chlorine, rust enhancing the aroma of water and eliminating and bad odour. Some counter top filters may contain a reverse osmosis membrane.
Benefits
Counter top filters are good in removing many harmful chemical but you can’t say that they can make water 99.9% pure because they usually don’t contain a reverse osmosis membrane.
- Under the sink filters
Installation
Under the sink filtration units are usually installed under the kitchen sink as they are installed in the cold water pipe line. They need some time to install as a separate faucet is placed in the sink to get filtered water. Sometimes people make a direct connection of the drinking water filter with the water dispenser supply. Usually the companies from where you buy under the sink filters provide free installation when you purchase a filter system.
Filtration media
These filters use a combination of filtration methods. Some under the sink filters just use sediment, carbon and post carbon filtration media. But nowadays many of these under the sink filters come with a reverse osmosis membrane. Hence you can say water passes through multiple stages of filtration in these filters. Reverse osmosis membrane filters the water upto 0.0001micron and hence purify it once from everything. A remineralistaion tube is added in the system to add back all the essential minerals.
Benefits
This reverse osmosis under the sink filters are highly in demand especially after covid hit the earth. Theses purifiers filter all kinds of dangerous and harmful contaminants from water. Hence they are mostly recommended for drinking water filtration.
- Water Softeners
Installation
Water softeners are designed for protection against lime scale build up for the whole house as well as household appliances that are installed to the water mains. These softeners are tend to be installed at the point of entry of water in the house and their installation take some pre-arrangements and it is time taking.
Filtration media
Water softeners work on the phenomenon of ion exchange where hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium are replaced with softer ions present in the softener resin usually sodium or potassium ions.
Benefits
Softener eliminates water hardness (Calcium and Magnesium) which badly affects the performance and longevity of household appliances as well as energy consumption. Softener prevents hard water from scale build-up in plumbing and water-using appliances leading to a restricted flow of water in your dishwasher, washing machine and shower head. It saves energy consumption as well as more energy is needed to heat hard water scale. But it is quite expensive and secondly it does not remove harmful contaminants from water. It can be installed in combination with a basic water filter to get more benefits.
- KDF filters
Installation
KDF(Kinetic degradation flux) filters gets installed in minutes, easily attaching at the wall or to your existing tap or shower head. KDF filter cartridge is very easy to replace; installation and filter cartridge replacement instructions are usually provided by the seller.
Filtration Media
KDF filters are usually sold in the market as shower filters. These filters use the technology of oxidation reduction. KDF media is used along with carbon based filters as an additional filtration stage.
Benefits
They extend the life of the granular activated carbon and carbon block in the system by removing chlorine and hydrogen sulfide. KDF beads attach to chlorine, iron, calcium carbonate and convert them into harmless components by changing their composition which are then easily backwashed from the filter. They also limit the growth of bacteria, fungus and algae in the filters carrying them.
- UV filters
Installation
Ultraviolet filters are usually sold as an additional feature in other water purification systems such as in under the sink filters and in whole house filters. They sterilize the water against bio-invaders.
Filtration Media
The purification technology used in an ultraviolet sterilizer is based on an ultraviolet rays emitting lamp. It sterilizes the non-wanted microscopic organisms in the water by exposing them to a certain defined germicidal wavelength. This wavelength destroys the protein coating of the bacteria and viruses hence restricting their multiplication and reproduction. Within seconds, UV light kills 99% of germs making them inactive.
Benefits
UV filter remove harmful germs efficiently from the contaminated water but it is not usually installed separately. It usually comes as an additional stage in the water purifiers; alone it will only remove unwanted bio-life but the other contaminants will stay as it is in the water. Secondly, its performance gets affected due to power cut off as it only operates in the presence of electricity. Another drawback is that the light emitting diode needs yearly replacement and it is quite expensive. Rather than UV an anti-bacterial tube is added in the filtration system as a replacement of UV.
- Whole House filters
Installation
These filters are designed to filter the water of whole house rather than just drinking water. Whole house filters safeguard the whole villa. They are installed at the point of entry of water in the house and by pass is added to turn off the filter. Their installation consumes some time but they are installed usually free of cost by water filtration companies.
Filtration Media
These whole house purifiers work on GAC(Granular Activated Carbon) or UDF(Ultra Fine Depth) filtration technique. These filters are usually 3 stage filters consisting of sediment, powdered carbon and carbon block. UV sterilizers are also added as an extra stage in whole house filters.
Benefits
They provide filtered water supply for the whole house and are ideal for cleaning, washing and bathing purposes. They remove suspended particles in the water, chlorine, VOC’s, and other harmful pesticides but they need space and are more costly as they protect home appliances from scale build up. For drinking purpose usually reverse osmosis filters are considered best water filters and are highly recommended.
Conclusion
There is no ultimate single name for a best water filter. One can be best for you but not for others as it is a more subjective decision. A lot of factors can help you decide that which filter you can opt for and which is best suited to your needs. More budget is required to go for a whole house water filter but it provides filtered water to whole house. Remineralised reverse osmosis filters are more effective in removing everything from water than just GAC filters. You need to choose between the technologies prevalent in the market for filtration. Cost benefit analysis as well as the water quality in your home can assist you in arriving at a final decision. You can give us a call to our company representative and a visit can be arranged free of cost for you to suggest optimal solutions according to your circumstances. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you can’t decide on your own what filter to have for your place and get your free water quality test done by Safe Water Technology.
2) Comparing Whole House Water Filters: Which One is Right for You?
Human beings have been born naturally with the water as their major body constituent. In their divine creation, water has played a significant role. Every organ of the body contains a huge portion of this charismatic liquid. Its presence in the human body is not useless in fact it performs abundant functions than any other body material. Purity and cleanliness of water is directly linked to the greater immunity and proper functioning of our body. Human practices have put our earth more vulnerable to pollution. Pollution has not left even water behind and it needs at least some basic filtration before consumption.
Whole house water filters have been devised to provide a shield to your whole family from a large number of contaminants. This whole house water filter filters out water of your whole house and you get filtered water supply from every tap you turn on. They are designed to enhance the water quality reaching to you and your household appliances that utilize water such as washing machines, dishwashers, shower taps etc. A whole house water filter is usually bigger in size due to its increased capacity in comparison to a drinking water filter. It is connected at the pointy of entry and then every water outlet is supplied with the filtered water. It enhances the experience of bathing by supplying clean water. The life of dishwasher, washing machine and household water pipelines increases due to protection against lime scale and blockages.
Difference between whole house and drinking water filters
Before going into further detail and discussion, a vivid line needs to be drawn between whole house filters and drinking water filters. The ultimate difference between a whole house water filter and a drinking water filter is of purpose though both perform the purification techniques on water. Drinking water filters are targeted to provide pure water only for drinking purpose whereas a whole house water filter provides treated water supply to every outlet. There are 3 primary differences between a whole house water filter and a drinking water filter.
- Filtration Media
- Output capacity
- Tank based vs Cartridge based.
- Filtration Media
Generally, drinking water systems work on the principle of reverse osmosis purification method. But not all drinking water filters are RO based some people are fine to go with the GAC/UDF based systems. In other words, these home water purifiers use carbon as a filtration media. In areas where water is pretty clean GAC filters are recommended for drinking purpose as well but they do not ensure that water is perfectly pure and clean. Whole house water filters are only carbon based. Reverse osmosis membrane remove everything from water to purify it. Its filtration capacity is .0001 microns while on the other hand the filtration capacity of a granular activated carbon is .3 microns so you can see the difference.
- Output capacity
Another difference between a drinking water system and a whole house water filter is of water supply in the form of output. Under the sink drinking water filters usually have an output capacity of 75 gallons per day which is enough for a single family on the basis of average consumption of a family daily. Commercial ROs have a capacity of 200 to 400 gallons per day. In comparison to a drinking filter a whole house water filter has a capacity of 100, 000 gallons per day. A whole house water filter is not meant to fulfill the need only for drinking water but it has to make sure an uninterrupted output supply for bathing, dishwashing, cleaning, washing and cooking as well.
- Tank based vs Cartridge based.
Reverse osmosis systems that are mainly recommended for drinking water need a separate storage tank where pure water is stored as it takes some time for the water to get filtered through reverse osmosis membrane and then it is remineralised. Usually this filtration is done in a number of stages ranging from 6 to 8. Water is not instantly available for drinking as the system is turned on. It performs the backwash as well so water also gets wasted. The storage requirement as well as water wastage become a drawback in case of a whole house filters. These are the reason that a whole house water filter doesn’t use reverse osmosis membrane. Whole house water filters are normally cartridge based. No separate tank is required for the installation of a whole house water purifier. Water is readily available from all water outlets without any waiting time.
Whenever you want to make a decision regarding the installation of a whole house filter you need to be careful while arriving at a final choice. A whole house water filter offers safe water for whole house so it needs more investment at the same time. Another factor is that its installation also requires certain changes and adjustments to the point of entry. For some time, the villa water supply is cut down during installation. The important factors that you can consider while purchasing a mainline water purifier are as under
- The budget available to you.
- The type of impurities you wish to remove
- Approval from landlord/community in some cases
- Working of a whole house water filter
Comparison of Whole House Water Filters
- Whole house triple water filter
- Whole house water filter with a softener
- Whole house water filter with a UV
- Whole house triple water filter
A whole house triple water filter usually performs filtration in 3 stages. It has three in house cartridges namely polypropylene, granular activated carbon and carbon block. The treated water tastes better with no odour. So this means that your dishes and beverages will taste better. It eliminates the need for a separate shower filter in each bathroom. There are less skin allergies and skin issues with no flaky or itchy skin. You can enjoy a more enhanced shower experience.
Key Benefits
In the Kitchen
- Bad odour is reduced from your sink faucets.
- Your silverware and glassware are cleaner and shinier.
- Kitchen sink fixtures, your dishwasher, coffee maker, icemaker and all other water using appliances are protected from sediment and sand blockage.
- Cleaning of kitchen surfaces require less effort
- Cost of cleaning products reduces.
In the Bath
- Less need for a replaceable cartridge shower head filter.
- Restores rich lathering of soaps and shampoos.
In the Laundry
- Reduced amount of soap needed to clean your laundry.
- Fabrics are also cleaner and smooth.
- Protects your washing machine from suspended particles damage.
For Washing
- Less scratches on the car surface while washing
Tiles maintain their lust and shine
Drawbacks
- Not recommended for drinking purpose as it does not remove micro-organisms and certain toxins.
- There is no mineralization tube.
- Hard minerals are not fully removed.
- Installation takes time and once whole house water supply is cut for some hours.
- Whole house water filter with a water softener
Whole house triple water filter is installed along with a water softener in order to increase its efficiency. Water softener plus whole house three stage filter together make your premises’s water pure, healthy, and softer. Water Softener reduces the content of unwanted minerals and salt content from the water adding an upgrade to the key benefits offered by a whole house filter.
Key Benefits
In the Kitchen
- Bad odour removal from your faucets.
- Your silverware and glassware are cleaner and shinier with a softener.
- Kitchen sink fixtures, your dishwasher, coffee maker, icemaker and all other water using appliances do not turn white due to hard minerals deposit.
- A water heater protected by a water softening system will also reduce the yearly energy cost of that appliance by 22% to 29%.
- Cleaning of kitchen surfaces require even more less effort with softener.
- Cost of cleaning items is reduced.
In the Bath
- No need for a replaceable cartridge shower head filter.
- Restores rich lathering of soaps and shampoos, thus together reducing their usage and costs of these products by 75%.
- Less hard water residue on your skin and hair. Your hair and skin feel softer, cleaner and smoother.
In the Laundry
- More lather and less soap needed to clean your laundry.
- Fabrics are also cleaner and smooth. Fabrics last longer and stay white without the dingy gray caused by impure water.
- Protects your washing machine from suspended particles as well as damage from salts deposit.
For Washing
- No white deposits on the car surface after washing.
- Tiles do not turn white due to lime scale deposits.
- Protects your washing machine from hard water damage.
Drawbacks
- Not recommended for drinking purpose as it does not remove micro-organisms and certain toxins.
- The whole package becomes quite expensive and need a huge investment.
- Salts need to be replaced periodically for softener for regeneration.
- More space is needed to install both softener and whole house water filter.
- It is time consuming as well and trained professionals are required to do the task.
- Whole house water filter with a UV
UV integration with a whole house triple water filter safeguard your facility from impure water from the point the water enters your location. After the whole house water filter removes dirt, rust, sediments, chlorine, VOCs, pesticides and heavy metals UV light emitting lamp attack microorganisms and render it safe for drinking purpose as well. Addition of a UV sterilizer to a whole house filtration system further prepares it to act as a defense shield to all disease-causing germs.
Key Benefits:
In the Kitchen
- Bad odour is reduced from your sink faucets along with disinfection.
- Your silverware and glassware are cleaner and shinier.
- Limit bacterial growth on kitchen surfaces.
- Kitchen sink fixtures, your dishwasher, coffee maker, icemaker and all other water using appliances are protected from sediment and sand blockage.
- Cleaning of kitchen surfaces require less effort.
- No separate drinking water system is required.
In the Bath
- Less need for a replaceable cartridge shower head filter.
- Restores rich lathering of soaps and shampoos.
- Germs free water making safe for kids bathing as kids sometimes may drink it.
In the Laundry
- Reduced amount of soap needed to clean your laundry.
- Fabrics are also cleaner and smooth.
- Disinfect your laundry by inhibiting bacterial growth.
For Washing
- Bacterial free water for wash services.
- Less scratches on the car surface while washing.
- Tiles maintain their lust and shine.
Drawbacks
- Need a lot of money to be invested.
- UV lamp replacement after every six months is necessary.
- UV lamp is quite expensive.
- UV lamp needs electricity to operate. With power cut off no safety against germs can be ensured.
- Many complaints come in the system along with an added UV.
- Installation is time consuming as well and trained professionals are required to do the task.
Whole house water filter has got lots of benefits but they come on a cost. Different options discussed above can help you decide which whole house filter is more suitable to your needs depending upon your budget.