If you’re on a mission to find the best faucet water filter you’re in the right place!
Water is the substance of life. Humans are made up of at least 70% water, and we must drink lots of safe and delicious water each day to maintain optimum cell health and to hydrate our bodies. When you’re properly hydrated, your quality of life and peace of mind can be drastically improved.
While most places boast clean and safe water piped straight into homes and businesses, additives and harmful chemicals may seep into the makeup of the substance you drink the most. It’s important to your health to know what’s in your drinking water, and it’s equally imperative to have the cleanest, most pure water possible. This often means adding a water filter to your faucet or sink.
Many homes have a faucet-mounted water filter that sifts out potentially harmful additives, such as chlorine. While types of filters and quality will vary, drinking filtered water is usually much more tasteful than drinking straight from the tap. It can be difficult to detect that your neighborhood or local water supply tastes “off” until you’ve been drinking filtered water from a faucet-mounted filter for some time. But once you get used to the taste of clean, delicious water, you won’t ever want to revert back to drinking anything unfiltered.
Best Faucet Water Filters Picks and Reviews
1. Culligan FM-25 Faucet Mount Filter with Advanced Water Filtration
The Culligan might be the sleekest design of them all. No tools will be needed for you to begin using it, and it expertly filters out lead and other contaminants. And you’ve got an auto-off function that’s not standard with any other model.
Pros:
- Easy to install on almost any standard faucet.
- Filter lasts for an impressive 200 gallons or 2-3 months of use.
- The diverter tab is simple – meaning it’s easy to switch between filtered and unfiltered water.
- Expertly removes bad tastes and odors, as well as sediment, chlorine, lead, and many other contaminants.
- Plastic construction with chrome finish means no rusting parts.
Cons:
- This unit can accumulate sediment over time, making it necessary to clean the inside and outside of the system.
- Some odd-type and older faucets do require an adapter to install.
- Sometimes the stream flowing from the filtered water is unsteady.
- This product has been known, in rare instances, to produce a “plastic” taste to water that is filtered through its system.
Verdict:
This small faucet-mounted filtration system is compact enough to not be a bother when not in use. With a stylish chrome finish and 200 gallon filter, this product is a fantastic value for a low price. Easy to install and a smart purchase!
2. Kabter Healthy Faucet Water Filter System for Bathroom and Kitchen
The Kabter faucet-mounted system is known for its ability to get the chlorine smell out of tap water. Kabter faucet-mounted filters drastically improve the palpability of tap water. With a great design and sturdy construction, this filtering system comes highly recommended from industry testers and customers alike.
The best part about this faucet-mounted filter is that it doesn’t slow down the flow of your faucet’s outflow. For the most part, no adapter or special equipment is needed.
Pros:
- Greatly improved taste and purity of water. Especially known for reducing chemical smells and tastes in tap water.
- The filter lasts for an impressive 200 gallons of water, meaning you can usually get about 4-5 months of continual usage from your kitchen faucet.
- Sturdy plastic construction means no rusting parts.
- This system can be installed on faucets with outside, inner, and no threads. Almost any standard faucet will be able to support the installation of this product.
- Excellent customer service if you have questions, comments, or need a replacement unit.
Cons:
- This filtration system does not list lead as one of the water contaminants it eliminates.
- Instructions in English aren’t always clear. There are some errors in the installation guide due to poor translation.
- The unit’s fitting doesn’t always create a perfect seal on very old faucets in homes.
Verdict
The Kabter is a well-designed product that fits most standard faucets. With long filter life and an ability to purify water and improve taste, this is one of the most highly rated and reasonably priced units on the market. A great buy!
3. PUR PFM400H Horizontal Faucet Mount with 1 Mineral Clear Filter
This faucet-mounted filter is simple to install and looks streamlined and chic.
With a sensor monitor that’s battery operated, the unit also has a certified amount of contaminants you can count on it to remove. This includes 99% of lead, 96% of mercury, and 92% of certain standard pesticides. A more advanced version of this model comes with Bluetooth connectivity capabilities which allows you to track the performance and status of your water filter!
Pur’s replacement filters are known as the top of the line, easy to use, and they have excellent customer service.
Pros:
- The Pur is one of the more affordable units on the market.
- The design is modern in its look and mounts horizontally onto faucets.
- The patented filtration technology creates a crisp taste and pure, clean water filtered over a mineral core.
- This product is certified to remove over 99% of lead from drinking water. It also removes 96% of mercury and 92% of pesticides.
- This product has an easily accessed filter switch, so you can turn filtration on and off.
Cons:
- The battery in the filter is non-replaceable. You will not be able to read the filter indicator after the battery runs out.
- Some customers have complained that this model is bulkier than previous and similar models.
- If it’s not placed on the faucet exactly right, there can be some leakage.
Verdict:
The PUR filtration system is a great buy for the value. One of the most important and attractive features is the removal of 99% of lead, as well as more than 70 other contaminants.
4. DuPont WFFM100XCH Premier Faucet Mount Drinking Water Filter
This smart little filter system works perfectly! It takes only a few minutes to install and immediately begins filtering for crystal clear water. This company’s products are consistently reliable and an augment – not a hindrance – to living the good life.
Pros:
- The filter reduces sediment, chlorine, lead, and other contaminants.
- Small and sleek design creates an unintrusive look on your faucet.
- 60-day money back guarantees from the manufacturer, with a 5-year warranty.
- Replacement filters are inexpensive and are much less expensive than other brands.
Cons:
- 100-gallon filter is standard, but 200-gallon filter has more capacity and features a digital counter. The 100-gallon filter does not.
- Water flow from the faucet can be markedly diminished due to the filtration system.
Verdict:
A great value for the price, the DuPont water filter is small, compact, and gets the job done. This filtration system retails for less than other brands, and its replacement filters cost less as well. A good option for keeping the costs low!
5. PUR 3-Stage Advanced Faucet Water Filter
With long life filters providing 100 gallons of water prior to needing to be changed, this filter that’s compatible with standard faucets will remove over 70 contaminants. You will need to make sure your faucet has type “A” metal threads or buy an adapter. This filter system is sure to last several years with proper care.
Pros:
- This product features extremely simple one-click installation on almost all standard faucets.
- Also, features a built-in electronic filter life indicator for its 100-gallon filter.
- The 360-degree swivel feature means that this product will fit well into most sinks.
- This product is certified to remove 99% of lead, more than 90% of pesticides, and 96% of mercury, creating a crisp, clean filtered water.
- Excellent flow from your faucet; there is no risk of diminished water flow when the filter is activated.
- Simple and easy to switch between filtered and unfiltered water.
- 100-gallon filter will last for 2-3 months and filters water over a mineral core that removes over 70 types of contaminants in water, leaving it crystal clear and clean tasting.
Cons:
- Longevity is not supremely stellar – this product will degrade and break down after years of heavy use.
- Metal threads and plastic threads on a faucet can produce varied results during installation. May need to purchase an adapter for some faucet models.
- This product does not filter chlorine.
- This product will not work on handheld faucets.
- Plastic mount is not the most high-quality material.
Verdict:
This filtration system is good for light users of filtered water. Although it’s not designed to have many years of longevity, the quality for the price is excellent. It’s easy to install and replacement filters are simple to find, especially online. Recommended for single families or a small house!
What is a water filter?
Water filters can work in three basic ways, but ultimately, they have one common goal: removing impurities from a water supply. Use of a water filter will improve the safety and enhance the taste of water. Water filters undergo a rigorous testing process before they hit the market. Knowing what contaminants can be present in your tap water will help you select the right kind of water filter for your home.
Filters will have a physical barrier, a biological process, or a chemical process by which they clean and purify water. Water filters are used in virtually every capacity – for homes, gardens, swimming pools, crop irrigation in commercial farms, and public drinking water supplies. If there’s water involved, chances are there’s some sort of filter. Even fish tanks have to have water filters!
This is a buyer’s guide for faucet-mounted filters. Before making the case for using those water filters, let’s look at the four major types of water filters available for sale.
Different Types of Water Filters
Under Sink:
Known for its ability to filter large quantities of water, the under the sink filtration system requires quite a bit of space underneath your sink (presumably, in a cabinet). A DIY homeowner can install many under the sink filtration systems, but it’s always best to have a plumber look at things if at all possible.
Faucet-Mounted:
Perhaps the easiest type of water filter to install, a faucet-mounted filter is screwed onto the aerator on your faucet. You can usually do this without a trained professional. In fact, many people DIY their faucet-mounted filters. Faucet-mounted filters are easy to install, and they filter out a variety of substances and additives often found in tap water. Your water will typically taste much better and be purer after adding a faucet-mounted filter to your home.
Whole House:
If you need to decrease sediment and chlorine in a water supply, the whole house system is exactly what you’ll need. Only to be installed by professionals, your whole house will have purified and delicious water! This is the most complicated of the water filters to have installed, but it is sometimes necessary. The quality of your local water supply, pipes, and delivery method into the home will dictate how your whole house system is installed, and how it will ultimately work best to benefit the water needs in your home.
Pitchers:
Pitcher filters, or carafes, are probably the most readily available type of water filtration. The flow-through rate can be a little low and frustrating if you’re re-filling your pitcher on the go. The small pitcher size can’t always accommodate the water needs you have, but generally, the pitcher type of water filter is the simplest and most user-friendly design. These filters must also be replaced after some time and heavy use. Many homes will have pitchers of filtered water in the refrigerator. These are excellent additions to any home, but they are also somewhat annoying to continually refill. If you have a big family, you might need more than one pitcher if you want cold, filtered water all of the time!
The Case for the Faucet Mounted Filter
Pros:
The best reason for installation of a faucet-mounted filter on your sink at your home or business is that you can usually do it yourself with a little research and perhaps a bit of practice. First, you’ll unscrew the aerator on the end of your faucet. Unscrew from the threaded tip of your faucet, and place the faucet-mounted filter into place. Then, make sure you screw in your new faucet mounted filter appropriately. That’s it!
Another big plus of the faucet-mounted system is that you can switch between filtered and unfiltered water. Turning off the filtration system when you don’t need to use it will elongate the life of your filter. These water filters incorporate a physical barrier such as charcoal and must be replaced occasionally. Select a faucet-mounted filter that keeps track of the life and cleanliness of your internal filter. This will need to be changed in order to restart the life cycle.
Faucet Water Filter Pros: They’re very easy to install. The ability to switch the filter off when filtered water is not needed increases filter’s life.
Cons:
The most common complaint of those with faucet-mounted filters is that the filtered water suffers from a low and slow flow. The second most common complaint is that not all faucet-mounted filters are created equal – if you buy one for your home, please make sure it is compatible with your faucet size. This can be more difficult than you think!
Faucet-mounted filters don’t work for faucets that feature a pull-out sprayer. Make sure you’re ready to purchase your faucet-mounted filter before moving on the next section!
Faucet Water Filter Cons: The filtered water suffers from low pressure flow. Finding a filter that’s compatible with your faucet size may be challenging.
Conclusion
There are many types of water filtration systems, but none so convenient as the faucet-mounted sink filters. Although other filtering options will give you whole house filtering or a pitcher full of water, the faucet-mounted (especially those with on/off features) systems will work perfectly for your everyday needs.
While we know you have many options for faucet-mounted water filtration systems, the five reviewed above are among the best and most recommended on the market. The most important piece of your choice should be choosing a water filtration system that removes harmful impurities, making your water safer and more life-giving to drink. If you can improve the taste, that’s a bonus, too! Many of the reviewed items will provide improved water quality with drastically improved taste.
If you’re a DIY homeowner, most – if not all – of these water filtration systems can be installed by yourself. Additional instructions and how-to videos may be found online for most products. If you think you need to call in a professional to help you install or decide on a product, make sure that you are paying the lowest reasonable price, and that you place a premium on trust. Your water quality could depend on it!