Water Filter Types

This summary will help you to consider the different options, based on your filtration needs, budget and lifestyle preferences.

Water filter pitchers and dispensers are the least expensive and easiest to use of all the water filter types. Pitchers usually hold between six to twelve cups of water, while the larger dispensers hold up to eighteen cups and have a spigot for easy pouring.

The way this water filter type works is that you simply pour water into the upper portion of the container and gravity pulls the water through the filter into the receptacle below. The pitcher or dispenser of purified water is then stored in the refrigerator.

The main disadvantages of this filter type is that (1) it usually takes five to ten minutes to produce drinking water, (2) it only filters a limited amount of water at a time and (3) the filters need to be changed frequently.

Countertop filters are good for filtering large amounts of water without having to change the plumbing. They are easy to install and are less likely to clog than pitcher filters and faucet mounted filters.

Manufacturers offer tap water filters in a wide range of prices, depending on the water purification method and other technologies used.

One of the disadvantages of countertop filters is that they don’t always fit well with certain types of faucets. A trip to the hardware store for additional fittings may be necessary in some cases.

In addition, some people find that the countertop filters are not aesthetic and can clutter the countertop.

However, some of the best drinking water filters on the market are countertop filters. So I guess it depends on your priority—aesthetics or health.

These filters are fairly easy to use and to install. The aerator on the faucet is removed and the filter is then attached directly to the faucet.

Faucet mounted filters are convenient to use for most households and can produce a large amount of filtered water. Most have a valve so that you can switch between filtered and unfiltered water.

Another significant advantage of this filter type is that they often use multi-stage filters that are highly effective at removing water contaminants.

From researching consumer reviews, we found that some people complained about problems with clogging, leaking or breaking with these water filter types.

In addition, the filter usually slows the flow of water and cannot be used on all types of faucets without adaptors.

This water filter type is great for filtering a lot of water without cluttering the countertop or sink faucet area. So the aesthetic aspect (of an invisible filter) is an advantage for some folks.

The under-sink or under-counter filter is usually installed by a plumber or other professional into an existing water pipe. It can either be hooked up to the existing sink faucet or by installing an additional faucet.

Another advantage of this type of filter is that the replacement filters usually last months longer than most faucet-mounted filters.

A few of the disadvantages of this type of water filter are: (1) they are usually more expensive, (2) they take up cabinet space and (3) they require plumbing modifications.

In the past, we consistently found that refrigerator filters produced bad tasting water and that they were fairly ineffective at filtering water contaminants.

However, some of the newer refrigerator models provide filters with a combination of water purification methods and have had good customer reviews.

Many people like refrigerator filters because of their convenience and additional perk of producing ice cubes made from filtered water.

The whole house, or point-of-entry, filter is the most convenient of all the water filter types because the filters are installed directly into the main water line. They filter all the water in the house, including in the kitchen and bathrooms, removing bad odors and taste.

Most whole-house filters are effective for filtering sediment, rust and chlorine. Most of the whole-house filters are not as effective as counter top or under sink filters for producing clean drinking water.

In addition, many whole-house water filter systems utilize reverse osmosis technology, which removes health-promoting minerals from drinking water.

However, there are a few whole-house systems that are excellent and provide clean, safe drinking water for all household uses, including drinking and cooking.

Whole-house filters are typically the most expensive and require professional installation. However, the filters are only changed every 3 to 7 years, compared to every 6 to 12 months for the other types of water filters.

Portable filters come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are designed to be used by travelers, campers, hikers and anyone else who enjoys the outdoors or traveling. They are a great choice when potable water is hard to get.

Portable filters use any type of natural source or tap water. They generally use carbon filtration or a combination of water purification methods, which effectively filter the most worrisome water contaminants.

Even though this site is primarily about drinking water, we’ve also reviewed shower filters because we consider them to be one of the most important water filter types. Studies show we take in just as many chemicals from showering as we do from drinking unfiltered tap water.

Shower filters reduce the amount of chlorine and other chemicals we absorb from tap water through our skin and by inhaling the chemical gases that are emitted when the water is heated.

The highest quality shower filters can remove up to 99% of chlorine and reduce levels of other chemicals, as well as lead and iron oxide.

When using a shower filter, people usually notice their skin and hair feel much softer. Most shower filters are easy to install and they typically use carbon filtration as the primary method.

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