The 5 Best Faucet Water Filter Reviews for 2018
If your family needs more than a few gallons of filtered water a day you’ll need to be thinking about something more than a standalone carafe type filter. The best faucet water filter fits directly onto your tap, is installed quickly and easily, and once in place, provides continual filtered water for months. It’s much more economical, you don’t have to maintain it very much, and it gives you the clean water you and your family need.
There are a wide variety of brands and models available, each offering protection from a different range of chemicals, minerals, and additives and sometimes it is hard to know which is the best for your needs. There are lots of things that goes on in our water supply and even our kitchen sink that isn’t always healthy for us to be drinking from that nobody knows about. This guide will help you understand some of the issues to consider and discuss some of the top performing faucet filters in 2018 with our unbiased faucet water filter reviews.
Faucet Water Filter Buying Guide
One step up from the carafe type filter, the faucet filter offers a number of advantages. Firstly, water is filtered on demand and so it never stands and is always fresh. Secondly, with a faucet filter, because water is filtered on demand, you can have as much as you want – subject to the filter cartridge.
Speaking of filters, when you consider buying a faucet filter you need to be aware of the type of filter used as this will determine exactly what is removed and how much water can be filtered before the cartridge needs to be changed.
Carbon Filters
If you are currently using a carafe type filter – the ones that have cartridges that you replace every so often then you are already using a carbon filter. Carbon is a porous material and allows water to be absorbed and pass through it. As the water passes through, the carbon absorbs a number of impurities.
These rudimentary filters are nevertheless effective at removing a wide range of chemical and mineral products you would prefer not to drink. A key consideration with a carbon filter is how frequently it will need to be changed – look out for the capacity of the filter for an idea.
Reverse Osmosis Filters
Reverse osmosis filters (watersoftenercritic.com/reverse-osmosis-reviews) are usually installed in faucet filters alongside more conventional carbon filtering. They feature an ultra-fine membrane. Water is passed, under pressure, through the membrane which literally squeezes out more contaminants than carbon alone.
The membrane is generally made of acetate and does require changing periodically so these filters will need carbon filter changes – and then a further change for the membrane which is usually every two to three years.
Under Counter Filters
Some faucet filters, often the better ones, are quite bulky. They can sometimes be installed alongside a faucet but may take up too much valuable worktop space in the kitchen. Some faucet filters are designed to stand alone on a sink top or be installed underneath the sink, out of the way. These filters are ideal where space is at a premium yet there is a need for higher volumes of filtered water.
Cartridge Changes
Most faucet filters have straightforward maintenance requirements. The most onerous task is usually changing a filter. Cartridges have a capacity that is often rated in gallons but as most people will not be able to measure water consumption, the manufacturer will generally specify a frequency for cartridge changes. Look out for faucet filters that feature a gauge to measure the number of gallons filtered. This means that you can time the changes to the cartridge more accurately.
The Best Water Faucet Filter Reviews for 2018
By now you should have a good understanding of what makes the best faucet filter, so now its time to show you the top 5 models available to you. Consider the following models:
New Wave Enviro
10 Stage Water Filter System
Filter Capacity: 1500 gallons
1 Year Warranty
DuPont
Electric Metered 200-Gallon Deluxe
Filter Capacity: 200 gallons
4 Year Warranty
Culligan
FM-15A Advanced Faucet Filter Kit
Filter Capacity: 200 gallons
2 Year Warranty
Culligan
FM-25 Faucet Mounted Filter
Filter Capacity: 200 gallons
2 Year Warranty
PUR
FM-3700B Water Filtration System
Filter Capacity: 100 gallons
3 Year Warranty
NOTE: You can click the buttons in the table to go directly to Amazon and check the products out or scroll down to see reviews and information about each product
1. New Wave Enviro 10 Stage Water Filter System
- Filter Capacity: 1,500 gallons before replacing the filter
- Filter Capacity: Warranty: 30 day satisfaction guarantee and a full one year manufacturer’s warranty – what’s not to like?
- Removes: Ready for this….Chlorine and chloramines, herbicides, pesticides, trihalomethanes, microorganisms, heavy metals, organic arsenic, PCBs, asbestos and many more
4.5 out of 5
Possibly a step up from the generally held idea of a faucet filter, it does deliver when it comes to purifying your tap water. Get a seemingly endless supply of crisp tasting water direct from this device. The filter attaches directly to your faucet but for a little extra, a kit is available to hide it away under your sink.
In terms of capacity, these water filters will provide you with 1,500 gallons of fresh water before you need to change the filter. That’s more than enough to last a family of four beyond 12 months.
PROS
- Ten separate stages in the filtration process
- Easily replaced filter cartridge
- Inert beneficial minerals such as fouride, magnesium and potassium are not removed
- Each filter delivers 1,500 gallons of water
CONS
- Takes up sink space – it’s 12 x 5.4 x 4.6 inches
- Doesn’t supply water to the entire house
Best suited for: Families looking for unrestricted supplies of sparkling fresh tap water really should look closely at the New Wave Enviro 10 Stage Water Filter System. Gallon after gallon of sweet fresh tasting tap water that really does seem to sparkle in the glass as it’s had so many nasties removed.
2. DuPont Electric Metered 200-Gallon Deluxe Faucet Mount
Quick Facts:
- Filter Capacity: 200 gallons
- Warranty: 4 years – you’ll find that hard to beat
- Removes: Chlorine, cycts, lindane, benzine, mercury, lead and asbestos as well – you shudder just typing them!
4 out of 5
You get a real touch of 21st century looking technology with the DuPont WFFM350XCH. There is a clear, easy to read electronic display that shows exactly how much water has been cleaned by the filter which is perfect for showing when it needs a cartridge change.
Add to that, the clean snappy looks coming from the chrome finish and you’ve got a faucet water filter worth having.
Gallons of better taste water as a result of the filtration that removes sediments, chlorine, and cysts amongst many. The cartridge is also cleverly designed to provide anti-microbial protection so that it lasts much longer.
You can further prolong the life of the cartridge by using the water flow selector to choose between filtered and unfiltered water.
PROS
- Simple install – only needs one pair of pliers
- Easy filter replacement – simply remove the cover, take out the filter and insert a new one
CONS
- 200 gallon capacity for filter may be a bit limited for many families
- Display not always clear in bright light
Best suited for: If you want a simple to install and even simpler to operate water filter, this has to be the one to look closely at. It’s also worthy of its stripes for the sheer volume of water borns that it removes, gallon after gallon. On top of all that, if you’re looking for something that has a stylish edge, this one is fit for you.
3. Culligan FM-15A Advanced Faucet Filter Kit
Quick Facts:
- Filter Capacity: 200 gallons
- Warranty: Two year manufacturer’s warranty
- Removes: Bad taste and odour, aesthetic chlorine taste, sediment, lead, turbidity, lindaner
4 out of 5
The Culligan FM-15A fits directly onto existing faucets in your kitchen. It comes with two aerator adaptors that attach it to most popular consumer faucets. It can also be fitted to align to the left or right of the faucet.
Once in place each replicable filter provides 200 gallons of clear sparkling water that is clear of a long list of undesirable bits and pieces including sediment, chlorine taste, bad taste and odour and lead.
The filter has a cartridge that is good for 200 gallons of water. Changing it really couldn’t be easier, you simply turn the faucet off, unscrew the old cartridge underneath the housing and the old filter will simply fall out.
The new one then fits neatly into the filter and can be tightened to hold it in place – simple!
PROS
- Great pricing
- Easy to fit new cartridge – no tools needed
- Cartridges last for up to two months or 200 gallons of water
CONS
- Does not fit with kitchen pull-out or pull down faucet designs
- May require aerator for some rarer types of faucet.
Best suited for: If you are looking for a no-nonsense way to do away with bottle after bottle of shop bought mineral water, then the Culligan FM-15A is just what you are looking for. For the current price, it provides you with a continuous source of sparkling fresh mineral and deposit free water. If you’re also averse to fiddling around with tools every time you want to change the cartridge, then this is a device that will fit the bill for you.
4. Culligan FM-25 Faucet Mounted Filter
Quick Facts:
- Filter Capacity: 200 gallons
- Warranty: Two years manufacturer’s warranty
- Removes: Bad taste and odour, aesthetic chlorine taste, sediment, lead, turbidity, lindaner
4 out of 5
The Culligan FM-25 features identical specifications as the FM-15 except it is finished in shiny chrome. It fits neatly onto your existing faucets without any modification and comes with two adaptors that will fit it to most commonly found faucets.
The design means that you can fit to either the right or left side of the tap, whichever is best for your kitchen layout.
After installation, sit back and enjoy 200 gallons of fresh clear water that is free from a long list of unpleasantness that includes sediment, chlorine taste, lead, and odour.
Each cartridge has a working lifespan of 200 gallons of water but it is easy to change the cartridge. You simply turn the faucet off; unscrew the cartridge at the bottom using the clever fluting designed just for this.
Once unscrewed, the cartridge will just drop out and a new one can be inserted and tightened up.
PROS
- Very competitively priced
- No tools needed to change filter cartridge
- Long lasting cartridges – up to two months or 200 gallons
CONS
- Will not fit on pull down or pull out faucets
- Does not fit all faucets – some may require adaptors
Best suited for: The chrome finish on this faucet filter will be one of the factors that point to choosing this model. So, for families who are looking for an easy way to avoid the need to buy large quantities of mineral water at great price, all with an eye for the design and styling in the kitchen, then the FM-25 is the one for you.
5. PUR Plus #FM-3700B Water Filtration System
Quick Facts:
- Filter Capacity: 100 gallons
- Warranty: 3 years
- Removes: Lead, mercury and chlorine for starters
3.5 out of 5
In stylish, sleek black, the PUR Plus #FM-200B is a high tech looking addition to any kitchen sink. User installable (it needs no tools, just click it into place), a very cost effective way of getting immediate access to gallons of fresh clean drinking and cooking water.
Removing 99% of lead and other touch pharmaceuticals, it delivers great tasting water, straight from your faucet.
Life is made easy when it comes to needing to change the filter. The #FM-200B sports a handy electronic life indicator that shows when the filter needs changing. It is also made from durable materials so that its sleek looks resist the damage you see from bumps and scuffs in any kitchen.
PROS
- Simple installation – just a single click is all it needs
- 360 degree swivel means it fits where ever you want it on your faucet
- Electronic filter life indicator
CONS
- 100 gallon life on cartridge may not suit all homes
- Won’t work with pull out or pull down faucets
Best suited for: Affordability is the name of the game with the PUR Plus #FM-2000B so it’s perfect if you are looking for clean drinking water on a budget. You get to save more money as well because you don’t need to hire a plumber to install it. A single click is all it needs. Even though the cartridge only has a 100 gallon life, this is still enough for smaller households.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are faucet water filters better than water filter pitchers?
Yes, faucet water filters are much better than water filter pitchers for a number of reasons. First off, they eliminate many more pollutants than their pitcher counterparts. Secondly, they allow you to filter much more water in a shorter timeframe than pitchers. Furthermore, their replacement filters last much longer compared to a typical water pitcher filter, which requires changing ever so often. Still, a water filter pitcher is a good alternative in case you can’t afford to install a full-fledged faucet filter.
Can I filter bathroom sink water?
Yes, you can also install faucet water softeners on your bathroom’s faucet. The installation process remains basically unchanged except for the location in which you’ll install it. Read the instructions carefully and call an expert if you’re not sure on how to proceed further.
What are the downsides of a faucet water filter?
Yes, the downside is that your water flow might be greatly affected. You’ll have slower running water coming from the faucet on which you have installed the filter. Moreover, the filter can take up some space beneath the sink or even on the faucet itself depending on the type. However, the benefits far outweigh the downsides, and if you can’t afford a whole house water filter, then a faucet filter is the next best thing.
What is the difference between sieving from filtering?
In sieving, particles that are too big to pass through the holes of the sieve are retained (see particle size distribution). In filtration, a multilayer lattice retains those particles that are unable to follow the tortuous channels of the filter. You could say that sieving is similar to reverse osmosis, which you can find out more about by reading through our previous articles. Both have their downsides and upsides, but either one is good for protecting your health.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it: the 5 most highly rated and therefore, the best faucet water filter reviews of 2018. Our personal favourite is the New Wave 10 stage water filter system as it requires you to change the filter hardly ever, yet will remove 99% of most contaminants and provide you with clean water for years to come. By now you should know what are the best faucet filters in the market. It’s time to go out, choose your faucet water filter and enjoy clean water for you and your famiy. Good luck!
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