The economical way to provide your family with a lot of filtered water safe for human consumption is by installing under sink water filter. The filtration method provides filtered water straight from the tap without taking up countertop space. There are different types of under sink water filters and each works differently. Here is a guide on how to choose under sink water filter that will suit you.
How to choose under sink water filter
There are a few features you should consider when buying an under sink water filter. These include:
Types
There are two different types of under-sink water filter
- convectional/ under sink water filter with dedicated faucet
- simple/ direct inline.
Both types use cartridges combined with other technologies to provide filtered water, but installation is different.
Simple/ direct inline under sink water filter
As the name suggests the inline under-sink water filter is installed directly into the water line right underneath the kitchen or bathroom sink without drilling the countertop or having an extra faucet on the countertop.
Installation is simple no drilling or separate faucet is required.
It is mounted directly into the main water line under the sink in your kitchen.
All the cold water that gets in your kitchen sink’s main water line is diverted through the filter to be filtered.
The simple system is installed in an already existing faucet. No drilling/no separate faucet is required.
Advantages of direct inline
- It doesn’t require a separate faucet for filtered water and unfiltered water.
- This type is easy to install you do not drill a hole for an extra faucet.
Disadvantages of the direct line
- It is connected to the kitchen sink’s main cold water pipe/line so a lot of water is filtered you will have to change the filter more often therefore maintenance can be expensive.
- If the water reaching the filter has high pressure it will overwork the filter and some water will pass through unfiltered.
Shop for the best inline under sink water filter
Under sink water filter with dedicated faucet
Under sink water filter with dedicated faucet is also known as conventional.
Its installation is complicated you require drilling and installing a separate faucet.
The system comes with a faucet that is installed on the countertop so requires drilling of the hole.
You need to divert the kitchen sink’s main cold water pipe/line to the filter using a connection.
When the water is filtered, it is sent to the separate faucet installed in the sink.
You will have two taps one for cold filtered water and the other one for cold unfiltered water.
This type will make your filter last longer because not all water that gets to your kitchen sink’s main cold water pipe/line is filtered.
In the conventional system, the pressure is reduced so all water that enters the system will get filtered.
Read the review for the best under sink water filter with a dedicated faucet
Disadvantages
- You require a sink that has two faucet holes if not drill an extra hole in the sink
- It reduces the water flow rate
- Requires plumbing for you to install the system.
- In the conventional system, the water pressure is low, therefore, you can wait for a few minutes before you get a full glass of filtered water.
Shop for the best conventional under sink water filter
| Name | Image | Contaminants | Replacement filter | Where to buy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apec |  | bad odor, colors, chlorine, taste, particles, dust, and rust Filter life: 1000 capacity | Amazon | |
| 2 | Culligan US-EZ |  | particulates class III, chloride and removes bad taste and odor Filter life:3000 gallons |  | Amazon |
| 3 | Aquasana |  | lead, mercury, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, chlorine taste, odor, particulates, cryptosporidium, asbestos, herbicides, detergents, pharmaceuticals, and other volatile organic chemicals Filter life: 800 gallons |  | Amazon |
| 4 | Doulton W9330958 SuperCarb Under Sink Filter System | 
" > | fine particulate matter, bacteria, cysts, turbidity, pathogenic bacteria, hydrogen sulfide, lead,chlorine, taste, odor and organic compounds. |  | Amazon |
| 5 | Whirlpool WHADUS5 |  | chlorine taste and odor, sediment, cysts, lead, and chemicals. Filter life: 6 months |  | Amazon |
| 6 | Frizzlife under sink water filter |  | lead, heavy metals, chlorine, chromium, mercury, rust, volatile organic compound, carcinogens, turbidity, odor and bad taste. |  | Amazon |
| 7 | Ecosoft 3 Stage Under Sink Water Purifier Filtration System  |  | chlorine taste and odor, salinity, lead, iron, manganese, tannins, dust, rust, and sediment |  | Amazon |
| 8 | Brondell H2O+ Coral UC300 |  | chlorine taste and odor, heavy metals (such as lead and mercury), industrial chemicals (like benzene), total dissolved solids, volatile organic chemicals |  | Amazon |
| 9 | iSpring US31 3-Stage Under Sink |  | dust, particles, dust, and dirt, cloudiness, chlorine taste, and odor |  | Amazon |
| 10 | Watts Premier WP500313 2-Stage Undercounter |  | simazine, atrazine, benzene, trihalomethanes (TTHM), lindane, xylenes, entamoeba cryptosporidium, giardia, chlorine taste, and odor |  | Amazon |
| 11 | 3M Aqua-Pure Under Sink Water Filtration System |  | particulate, rust, lead, VOCs, MTBE, parasitic protozoan cysts, chlorine taste, and odor. |  | Amazon |
| 12 | Watts WP2BVC Premier | Bacteria, Virus, & Cysts chlorine taste and odor | Amazon | ||
| 13 | Watts Premier 500320 with Ultraviolet |  | lead, cysts, particulate matter, chlorine taste, and odors | Amazon | |
| 14 | New Wave Enviro-30008 |  | chlorine, trihalomethanes, organic and inorganic arsenic, mercury, lead, pesticides, and herbicides. |  | Amazon |
Contaminants it removes
Under sink water filter has a combination of the filter with different technologies which each removes the specific contaminant such as
Bad Odor and taste
Since the system has a carbon-activated filter that helps remove chlorine odor and taste.
Also, an activated carbon filter removes organic, and inorganic chlorine, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, algae, and molds.
Removes heavy metal
The carbon filter combination removes heavy metals such as lead, mercury, chromium VI, and cadmium.
Particulate removal
The system has a polypropylene sediment filter that removes particles, dust, silt, and rust.
Reduce hard minerals (calcium and magnesium) that form scale on home appliances.
Not all systems are designed the same so make sure you purchase the system that filters contaminants present in your water.
You can use a water test kit to determine the contaminants present in the water.
Easy to install and maintain
Most of these systems are easy to install; they come with a DIY installation process that you can do alone at home without hiring a professional.
Since the system uses cartridges that require replacement after a period, the replacement should be smooth and straightforward.
Filtration Technology
Under sink water filter removes contaminants using different techniques such as
The reverse osmosis method uses a membrane. Contaminated water is forced to pass through the tiny pores of the membrane. The tiny pores only allow clean water to pass through and impurities are flushed into the drain. The method helps remove the total dissolved substance and heavy metals.
Find out the best systems that use the reverse osmosis method
Carbon filter
a carbon-activated filter that helps remove organic and inorganic chlorine, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, algae, molds, chlorine odor, and taste.
Ultrafiltration method
The ultrafiltration method uses a hollow fiber membrane to remove contaminants larger than 0.01 microns
Read a review for the Under sink ultrafiltration system
Under sink water System that uses ultrafiltration method
- Waterdrop 15UA-UF 0.01 ÎĽm Ultra Filtration Under Sink Water Filter
- Waterdrop 15UB-UF 0.01 ÎĽm Ultra Filtration Under Sink Water Filter System
- Waterdrop 17UA-UF 0.01 ÎĽm Ultra Filtration Under Sink Water Filter System
- Waterdrop TSU B 0.01ÎĽm Ultra-Filtration Under Sink Water Filter System
- Ultrafiltration Under Sink Water Filter System Waterdrop TSU-W
Alkaline under sink water filter
Some brands go up to six stages which include alkaline remineralization. The stage adds essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium, therefore making your water alkaline.
Read the review of the Alkaline under sink water filter
The system that alkalinizes the water
Wingsol Under Sink Water Filter -8K gallons
Check the system that has the most filtration technology because it will help save a lot of money and space.
Furthermore, the more filtration stages there are, the better the system will provide quality filtered water.
Filter life
Under sink water filters use cartridges to filter contaminants in the water.
The cartridge doesn’t last forever so requires to be replaced.
You should know how long the filter will last for it to be replaced.
Some brands need their filter to be replaced after filtering specific gallons or a few months, but this can be different due to some factors such as the quality of water and amount of water filtered.Â
You should follow the manufactures instruction on when to change the filter.
Some companies have a filter indicator to let them know when it needs to be replaced.
Water flow or pressure
As we said earlier if your water pressure is high and you are using a simple system some contaminants will escape and pass through unfiltered.
In the conventional system, the water pressure might be low, therefore, you can wait for a few minutes before you get a full glass of filtered water.
Know the flow rate of your system or water supply pressure before buying the filter.
Independent certification
Independent certification is the only way to guarantee your water system removes contaminants effectively and is made with quality material.
There are independent bodies such as NSF and WQA that test and approve most water systems.
Under sink water filter installation
I have prepared a list of websites to guide you step-by-step on how to install an under sink water filter.
This video might be a help too.
Under sink water filter is one of the best ways to make sure your family always has enough clean water for drinking regardless of the contaminant from the treatment plant or pipes.
We hope our guide on how to choose the best under sink water filter will help you find the right product for your home.
If there is a brand you want us to add to the list above, please let us know in the comment section below.
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