There are a slew of chemicals and pollutants present in your tap water, which is why it’s important to filter your drinking water. In fact, according to a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group there are over 300 pollutants in U.S. tap water. Unfortunately, your refrigerator may not have an in-fridge filter. If this applies to you, don’t worry! There are a variety of water filters to fit your filtering needs.
Pitcher Water Filters
You’re probably the most familiar with this type of water filter. In fact, you’ve probably even owned or used one in the past. Some of the common brands are Brita, ZeroWater, Mavea, PUR and Tupperware. Pitcher water filters don’t have much up-front cost compared to other filter types, but require replacement filters and frequent refilling. If you have a large family, then this option may not be a good choice for you.
These types of filters mainly improve water taste, but don’t necessarily excel at removing heavy metals, Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) or fluoride from your water. Pitcher water filters are a great option if you’re mainly worried about the taste of your water and want to start filtering your drinking water right away.
Check out our water pitcher filters here.
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
This type of water filter system typically fits under your kitchen sink. Reverse osmosis uses your home’s water pressure to push tap water through a semi-porous membrane that only allows water to pass through. Contaminants and impurities such as fluoride, arsenic and heavy metals are flushed down the drain rather than being collected in the filter. Unfortunately, naturally occurring minerals such as calcium are also removed from your drinking water. If your water supply is cut off, then the reverse osmosis system won’t work. These systems remove large amounts of contaminants from your drinking water and are easily hidden out of sight, which is great if you lack countertop space. Another bonus is reverse osmosis systems don’t consume energy since they run off your water pressure. Check out our reverse osmosis water filters here.
Solid Block Carbon Filters
You may not be familiar with this type of water filter, but it’s quite effective at removing unwanted contaminants from your water. The best part is naturally occurring trace minerals aren’t removed, which is great because they’re necessary for good health. Systems using solid block carbon filters are typically gravity based. The great thing about these types of water filtering systems is they can safely filter any type of water into drinking water. Some of the types of water that solid block carbon filters are able to filter include pond water and rain water. Of course, these types of water typically aren’t ideal for filtering since they shorten the lifespan of water filters. Berkey is a common manufacturer of these types of water filters.
Whole House Filter
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to remove rust, sediment and chlorine from your home’s water, then this may be just the filter you need. Another bonus is the longevity of the filters, which can be a definite money saver. On the down side, most whole house filters aren’t meant to remove some of the heavier hitting contaminants such as cysts, heavy metals and VOCs. Whole house filters are great if you want an all-encompassing approach to filtering water. These systems works by filtering the water at a central entry point before it enters your home’s plumbing and is sent to showers, faucets and appliances (i.e. washing machine, ice maker and washing machine). Check out our whole house filters here.
*NOTE: This type of filter is also referred to as point of entry.
Faucet Mounted Filters
Last, but not least, are faucet mounted filters. These basically work the same as pitcher water filters, but you don’t have to worry about lack of counter or refrigerator space. Faucet mounted filters are easy to install, plus they’re great for filtering your drinking and cooking water. When you use this type of filtering system you’re able to choose whether you want your water to be filtered or unfiltered. The main drawback to these types of filters is they can slow down your water flow and might not fit on your faucet.
What type of water filter do you use in your home? Tell us in the comments!
