Everyone has been talking about regular water filters lately, but have you heard of faucet water filters? They are especially popular amongst those who are big about aesthetics and they want to include something interesting that’s also easy to put up and install.
Because these are a pretty big topic, we’re going to talk about each important concept individually and we’ll also present you with some of the products that have been getting quite a lot of attention. In the end, we have to give you some important tips and tricks about handling a gadget like this if you’re going to buy one.
What is Actually a Faucet Water Filter?
Although they seem simple, to begin with, faucet water filters and the systems that power them are actually quite complex. The basics that we’ll teach you today is the difference between a regular filter and a faucet water filter.
A regular filter has to be installed under your cupboard or right next to your house’s water supply. There usually needs to be a lot of changes done and you sometimes have to sacrifice the aesthetics of your home for the end result to work the way it should. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to do that, we completely understand.
Kitchen faucets with water filters are the other way to go. Well, they don’t have to be in the kitchen only, but that’s what happens most of the time. These are installed with your regular faucets and some can be implemented with a faucet that comes in the pack.
It all depends on the product itself and how handy you are. So, long story short, a faucet water filter is just a normal-looking faucet that has a filtering system inside. Depending on the product itself, it can be either a filter for hard water, a hardcore filter that removes organic compounds as well, a filter that removes sediments only… It’s very important to read each label!
Best Faucet Water Filters
Culligan FM-15A Faucet Mount Filter
We’re beginning our list with an advanced filter that has a pretty nice price tag. The white finish gives the design a very minimalistic, but also sort of old-school touch. With this filter, you’re getting a 0.5 GPM flow rate and you can actually switch between the filtered water and the unfiltered one while the filter is mounted there. That means that you don’t have to use your filtered water for irrelevant things like washing the dishes.
The product is very easy to install and you don’t have to have any additional tools with it. You’ll get rid of bad taste, odor, lead, chlorine ad more! If you’re wondering about the filter’s lifetime, that’s pretty uncertain because you’re getting 200 gallons of use and we don’t know what your habits are like. A gallon a day, 200 days of use; two gallons a day, 100 days of use.
The filter is certified both by NSF and ANSI, standards 42 and 53. This is something you definitely want to look out for.
Feature | Info |
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Certified by the NSF | This faucet filter is tested and certified by the NSF internationally against ANSI Standard 42 and 53. |
Replacement Filter | Use with The FM-15RA Replacement Filter Cartridge to ensure your water is clean. Filters for 200 gallons or 2 months. |
Pros:
Cons:
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Engdenton Faucet Water Filter
The next product we’re taking a look at is not really the least pricey one, but the quality justifies that. It’s a stainless steel housing that doesn’t leak, won’t crack and is non-toxic. The filtering technique included is the activated carbon filter and it’s a good choice for those who want to get something that is also eco-friendly.
The flow is 0.5 gallons per minute and you can get 8 cups filled in a minute with that number. The biggest problem with this filter is that you need to check out the photos to see whether it will be compatible with your faucet or not.
The lifetime is a bit longer than a regular one, we’re looking at 320 gallons. This can last you anywhere from 2 to 6 months. The filter removes sediments like rust, dust and more, while also ensuring that there is no chlorine in your water.
Feature | Info |
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Improves Drink Flavor | Impurities such as dirt, chlorine, and various odors interfere your coffee flavor. |
Better-tasting cooking | A water filter can give you cleaner, better-tasting cooking. |
Pros:
Cons:
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PUR 3-Stage Horizontal Water Filtration
Next up we have a horizontal water filtration system which won’t be a favorite of many because of the way it looks. Although it really is very user-friendly with the led indicator and the extra shine that’s supposed to be appealing, it’s larger than your average filter.
With this filter, you’re getting 100 gallons of use, which is not that phenomenal, but the lifetime depends on your habits after all. It’s very easy to install this thing because it’s really a click-on type of installation, and you’ll know when to replace it because of the electronic filter life indicator.
Lead, mercury and chlorine are the things that are removed and those that you should maybe be careful about, but you cannot really expect other things like organic compounds to go away.
Feature | Info |
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Track Filter Life | Built-in Electronic Filter Life Indicator keeps track of your filter life. |
Durable | Conveniently provides up to 100 gallons (two to three months) of healthy clean water. |
Pros:
Cons:
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Culligan FM-25 Faucet Mount Filter
This product is pretty similar to the first one mentioned on the list, but it’s a sort of an upgrade. Again, we’re looking at a flow that equals to 0.5 GPM, we have a quick and easy way to switch between filtered and unfiltered water, and it’s a very simple installation process.
You’re getting rid of atrazine, chlorine, lindane, lead and more, but most importantly, no odor or taste will be present in your water anymore. The lifetime of this model is 200 gallons, which means that you have to do the rest of the math yourself: a gallon a day means 200 days, 5 gallons a day means 40 days.
The carbon block filter is more eco-friendly than regular sediment filters and it does a phenomenal job at removing the impurities: because of that, it has the NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 standards. Don’t worry about micro-organic compounds as well, since you’re getting rid of cysts, parasites and other pests like that.
Feature | Info |
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Replacement Filter | Use with The FM-25R Replacement Filter Cartridge to ensure your water is clean. Filters for 200 gallons or 2 months. |
Certified by the NSF | This faucet filter is tested and certified by the NSF internationally against ANSI Standard 42 and 53. |
Pros:
Cons:
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PUR FM-3700 Advanced Faucet Water Filter
Moving on, the next piece on the list is this PUR faucet that you have to be very careful about when you’re buying it. To begin with, you have to check your faucet and the filter, because there are not too many compatible matches.
The filter is pretty user-friendly and the LED indicator will let you know when the filter needs to be switched out, so you don’t need to make any calculations yourself, although you know that you’re getting 100 gallons of use either way.
The filter removes chlorine, lead, and mercury, and the PUR company has been around for years as a pretty trusty manufacturer. First the sediment is removed, then the lead and the microbial cysts. The natural minerals are preserved.
Feature | Info |
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Premium MineralClear Filter | Enjoy healthier, cleaner, crisp-tasting water straight from your faucet with our MineralClear Technology. |
Electronic Filter Indicator | Electronic filter indicator visibly indicates filter status and guarantees you will always have cleaner filtered drinking water from your tap. |
Pros:
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Brita Tap Water Filter System
The next water filter on the list is one of the budget-friendly ones and it’s therefore often chosen by the beginners. It’s supposed to remove 99% of lead, chlorine, benzene, and asbestos. You don’t have to pay attention to the lifetime of the filter, which equals 100 gallons, because the indicator light will flash and let you know when you need to remove the old one.
The installation is very easy, we’re looking at a one-click job that’s very easy to do. The filter itself has a nice chrome-like look to it and it should match most people’s kitchens, really. Make sure to check the pictures to see whether the filter fits your type of faucet.
Feature | Info |
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Reduces Lead | Water filter system filters out 60 contaminants such as 99% lead, chlorine (taste and odor), benzene and asbestos contaminants that may be found in tap water. |
Filter Change Reminder | A helpful status indicator lets you know when your filter is working and when it needs to be replaced with a 1-click filter replacement. |
Pros:
Cons:
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DuPont WFF100XCH Premier Faucet Water Filter
If you’re still looking at budget-friendly options, you should check out this filter. It’s a 100 gallons of a lifetime, but you’re getting a proper filtration system that removes the sediments like dirt, sand, and rust, as well as taste and texture. No worries about organic stuff either because cysts are gone as well.
Chlorine, benzene, asbestos, mercury, lead… This filter has it all removed! Besides filtering, it also serves as an antimicrobial environment that makes your life easier because you don’t need to think whether there will be any bacteria developing.
The installation is very simple as well, you only need to attach the filter to the faucet with the tools that have been provided in the pack.
Feature | Info |
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High performance filtration | High performance filtration and better tasting water in one convenient filter. |
Product protection | Micro ban Antimicrobial product protection built-in to cartridge housing and media for improved filter life. |
Pros:
Cons:
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Instapure F2 ESSENTIALS Tap Water Filtration System
If you’re wondering whether you should get one of the cheaper versions, but you don’t want to compromise quality, maybe the Instapure gadgets will be your favorite.
The chrome-like looks this faucet has will change the way you perceive your kitchen. Besides being pretty, the filter removes lead, cysts, VOC’s and chlorine as well. All of the percentages of effectivity are above 97%.
That earned an ANSI/NSF certificate as well, so you can be sure that the product really does some great things. It also gives you the choice to see whether you want to use filtered or unfiltered water at the moment, which can significantly increase your gadget’s lifetime.
The installation is pretty much DIY-like and it’s easy to replace the filter as well. You’re looking at 200 gallons of a lifetime, which is also a fantastic number. If you get the replacement filters in a pack, you can also save some cash.
Feature | Info |
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Maximum Reductions | Instapure filters provide up to three months of healthy, great-tasting water straight from your faucet. |
Highest Quality Coconut Carbon | Instapure filters utilize high quality coconut carbon that does not contain silver. |
Pros:
Cons:
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How Tap Faucet Water Filters Work
We can’t tell you what the best faucet water filter is because we don’t know anything about your needs and habits, but we can surely teach you how one of these works so you can check these out yourself.
There isn’t much high technology when it comes to these filters and they all work in the same way. The system is complex, but it’s not anything sci-fi like and that’s what allows the prices to keep it cool.
Did you consider using a Water Filter Pitcher, instead of the faucet water filter?
The usual way a filter works is: water comes from the water source, it enters all of these layers that have different properties and densities, filth gets trapped, pure water moves on. The most popular and the cheapest filters are sediment filters, while activated carbon and ionized filters usually cost a bit more and they do a bit better job.
The Benefits Of Faucet Water Filters
Let’s talk about the main benefits of having a faucet water filter. We’re going to list them and explain each one.
Saves cash
Having a filter will save you cash because buying filtered water can be really, really expensive, especially if you’re someone that doesn’t like to reuse the plastic for more than once. Let’s say that you get a water filter for 50$, which would be a longer-lasting one. That should be about 5 months of use for 50$. Now let’s say that you buy a $1 water bottle daily. That’s about 20$ per month, 100$ in 5 months. By buying your own reusable water bottle, you can drink your home water and save cash!
Easier to install than the other systems
These usually work great thanks to a „screw-on, screw-off“ type of a system. Because faucets themselves are not complex and you don’t actually have to deal with a lot of pipes and housings, the installations should not require any outside help.
Healthy drinking water
This is pretty obvious and it’s usually the biggest reason why people get faucet filters. If you’re drinking your home water, you may not only be ingesting metals and sediments, but also bacteria and viruses that do no good to anyone, especially kids and older people.
No bad smell
Sometimes we wash our dishes with our faucet water, in the case of not having a dishwasher. If your water is contaminated with chlorine, it wouldn’t be uncommon to find your dishes smelling like bleach. That’s certainly not something that you want for yourself.
Low maintenance
You have probably researched other types of filters as well and maybe it all seems too complicated for you. Don’t worry, faucet filters are literally the best thing ever when it comes to maintenance. You install them and you pretty much don’t have to touch, clean or fix anything until you’re replacing the filter with a new one.
Help the planet
With all of the attention on the use of plastic, we don’t even need to begin to tell you how hurtful it is that you’re buying so much plastic on the daily. A big thinks that many people should invest in are filters and water bottles made from steel or glass.
What Features to Look For in A Faucet Water Filter?
So, the most important things you need to look at will be listed in the next paragraphs. Make sure to take notes and check all of these out when you’re buying a new filter.
- Installation. Does the filter actually fit your faucet? Do you need to spend additional cash on a plumber? How many tools do you need and how fast can you replace the filter?
- What does it look like? Does it fit your kitchen/bathroom? Will it catch limescale or will you have to clean it all of the time?
- How long does it last? Is it a 100 gallons, 200 gallons or 300 gallons that we’re talking about? Make sure to compare the features in order to get the full picture
- User-friendly features. Is there a sticker related to the months of use? Is there a LED light that will signal you when you need to change the filter?
- What does it actually remove? Does it remove inorganic compounds only or is it effective with organic ones as well?
- Does the filter have any standards by the NSF/ANSI? This is direct proof of quality.
- Can you switch from filtered to unfiltered water? This may save you some big cash over time and that’s why you want to look into it.
- How does the price compare to the rest of the filters that you have seen? Don’t be fooled by the name of the manufacturer, check out all of the reviews and make sure to see whether there are re-occurring problems.
Faucet Water Filter Installation
Let’s go over the process of replacing or installing a faucet water filter. First, we want to put out a disclaimer: if you have never done any of these and you have no idea how plumbing works, calling someone for help can be a good idea. It doesn’t have to be a plumber, maybe just someone more experienced.
- Remove the aerator on the old faucet. You maybe won’t be able to do this without tools because it fits very snug on the filter.
- Screw the new aerator on.
- Put the new filter on top of it.
- Make sure to check out whether the filter already has a cartridge in or not. If not, put one in.
- Turn on the water and let it run for 5 minutes.
- Check if anything is leaking. We don’t want to have a mess later.
Faucet Water Filter Cleaning & Replacement
Having a good product means absolutely nothing if you’re not going to take proper care of it. It doesn’t matter how expensive or high-quality or fancy-schmancy it was, you need to clean it up every once in a while and replace the cartridge.
Take a look at the Best Countertop Water Filters as an alternative for the faucet water filter.
There is no deep cleaning that you need to do on the filter itself. Cleaning the faucet from the outside is all that you do, the filter itself is dirty all of the time because of the impurities. The bigger part of the job is making sure that you replace the filters on time. Because of that, it’s not a bad idea to track months.
How Often Do I Have To Change The Filter
This is a question that’s pretty tricky to answer because it depends on the way you use the filter and the filter itself. You usually have the number of gallons that can be filtered disclosed on the filter packaging, and the simple math is for you to do.
If you have 100 gallons and you do a gallon a day, you have 3 months of use. Use the analogy to track how long your filter will serve you. This is tricky for beginners, though, because they can barely approximate how much they use.
Does My Water Filter Remove Limescale?
Short answer, yes and no. Limescale is a side effect of hard water, water that has imbalanced ions. If you already have limescale and you just got a filter, the new filtered water won’t remove the limescale. However, you can significantly lower the amount of limescale that you have in the house by opting for a filter, because no new limescale will happen.
Summary
Now that you are perfectly informed about what water filters on faucets do and you know a bit about the way to install them, maintain them and the right things to look for, the only thing that’s left is to advise you to be patient in the process of shopping for one. We understand that you maybe want to get one as soon as possible, but make sure to check out online shops, to read the reviews and compare products.