Is your home drinking water safe? To avoid illnesses, knowing what's in your drinking water is vital. With this, you can find the appropriate treatment units, such as filters, Reverse Osmosis filters etc., that remove different contaminants. The best faucet water filter system in your home is one way to improve water quality and address these concerns.
While 71% of Americans drink tap water, 55% of this number admit to being concerned about the contaminants that might be in their water. In addition, 42% admit that they don't treat or filter drinking water.
What is a Faucet Filtration System?
A faucet water filter is a tap water filtration unit installed on any compatible tap, including the faucet in your kitchen.
Most faucet mount water filters provide basic filtration. This means they'll make water safer for drinking if the water supply doesn't contain too many complex contaminants.
What Are the Benefits of Using A Faucet Mount Filter?
Faucet filtration of domestic water systems comes with many benefits, including:
- Fresh and safer drinking water
- Tap water is safer than most bottled water
- Immediate clean water
- You can use the small lever at the bottom to switch between filtered and unfiltered water whenever needed
- More affordable compared to constantly purchasing bottled water
- A faucet water system is quite convenient and compact
- Lowers plastic waste
Besides these, there are many more benefits that a faucet mount filter brings to your home.
How Do Faucet Water Filtration Systems Work?
After the faucet water filter installation and the tap is open, water flows through the tap filter, which contains a filter cartridge inside.
The filter cartridge may contain one or more different types of filtration media. Filtration media include granular activated carbon, Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF), ion exchange resin, etc. Different filter media target different water contaminants:
- Most filter media can remove chlorine, suspended particles, and sediments
- The activated carbon filtration process can be used to remove chemicals
- Ion exchange filter media remove or render contaminants harmless
- Kinetic Degradation Fluxion uses copper-zinc granules in a redox (reduction/oxidation) reaction to reduce heavy metals, hydrogen sulfide components, and chlorine
The water flows through either filter media in the filter housing and leaves the system all fresh and clean.
Best Faucet Water Filter for Your Home
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1. PUR PLUS Faucet Mount Water Filtration System
- FAUCET WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM – Enjoy refreshing, filtered...
- REDUCES 70 CONTAMINANTSȽ – This PUR PLUS drinking water...
- EASY TO ATTACH – The faucet mount water filter is easy to...
- COMPATIBLE DOES NOT MEAN COMPARABLE – Genuine PUR faucet...
- #1 SELLING BRAND IN FAUCET FILTRATION** – Contaminants can...
Image credit: PUR
PUR is known to produce one of the best faucet water filters on the market and the PUR PLUS faucet mount filter is no different.
It gave me the option to use two different replacement filters: PUR basic and PUR MineralClear. Unlike other filters, both use ion exchange and carbon filter media, which makes this product the best in my opinion.
This combo has been tested and is NSF-certified (42, 53, and 401 standards) to effectively reduce more than 70 contaminants from your drinking water. So, I was sure of my safety in every gulp.
To put that into perspective, Standard-42 only reduces the chlorine taste/odor and any larger particles. Standard-53 deals with fatal contaminants such as lead, VOCs, asbestos, etc. Standard-401 filters out emerging chemicals like BPA.
Common contaminants on this list include chlorine, asbestos, cysts, lead, mercury, total trihalomethanes (TTHM), different volatile organic compounds (VOCs), etc. Other uncommon contaminants include pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and herbicides.
In short, PUR's faucet filters gave me the best chance to efficiently and conveniently stay safe with great-tasting filtered drinking water from my kitchen faucet. PUR offers a safer option to people with a water supply system that's heavily contaminated. So, if you have concerns about your supply, this product will suit your needs.
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2. Brita Basic Water Filter System
- This complete Brita faucet water filter attaches to your standard...
- Get great-tasting water without the waste; by switching to Brita,...
- The space efficient design attaches directly to your faucet to...
- Reduce 99% of lead, chlorine (taste and odor), asbestos,...
- Replace your faucet mount water filter every 100 gallons or...
Image credit: Brita
The Brita basic faucet water filter comes in a white plastic housing ideal for rust and corrosion resistance. This filter gave us filtered water at a flow rate of 0.5 GPM. It has an activated carbon filter cartridge with a filter capacity of 100 gallons of water which runs approximately for 4 months. This duration is sufficient to ensure we do not worry about constant clean water supply.
The activated carbon cartridge in the Brita faucet water filter effectively removes chlorine and lead, which improves the odor, taste, and water quality. But, of course, our filter is no good if we're not going to replace it regularly. For this reason, it comes with a green light indicator to alert us when the cartridge needs replacement.
It is handy that the filter fits well onto standard kitchen faucets, which is what we have. Unfortunately, is incompatible with pull-out or spray-style faucets. Nevertheless, this water filter doesn't require any tools for assembly or installation, which reduced our setup time.
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3. Culligan FM-25 Faucet-Mount Advanced Water Filtration System
- Provide your family with visibly clean, great-tasting water for...
- FEATURES: Reduces atrazine, chlorine, lindane, lead, particulates...
- COMPATIBILITY: Includes adapters for all standard sink nozzles...
- FILTER LIFE: Up to 2 months or 200 gallons, depending on usage...
- CERTIFICATION: Tested and certified by IAPMO against ANSI...
Image credit: Culligan
The Culligan FM-25 faucet filter comes in a sleek chrome-plated finish ideal for any kitchen aesthetic theme. After all, we needed something that could fit our modern kitchen layout. Plus, the stainless steel assured us of its durability.
It has 0.5 GPM on its flow rate and a 200 gallons filter capacity cartridge. This runs for 2 months, depending on your water quality and usage. For our house, this was sufficient time for regular usage, since the water quality in our area is pretty standard.
The cartridge contains a carbon block that effectively reduces chlorine, atrazine, lead, turbidity, lindane, and bad water taste, easing our main concerns. In addition, it has a simple installation process while being easy for anyone in our household to use. Unlike other faucet-mounted water filters, the Culligan FM-25 faucet water filter is compatible with most faucets besides the drop-down faucet, ensuring we could cover our outlets.
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4. Waterdrop WD-FC-06 Faucet Filter
- High-efficiency filtration: The system can effectively reduce up...
- 320G longer life and stable flow rate: The faucet water filter...
- Food-grade 304 stainless steel and 360° rotating: The countertop...
- Multiple applications and easy installation: The faucet water...
- ⭐Note: This system DOES NOT lower TDS value due to the benefit...
Image credit: Waterdrop
The Waterdrop WD-FC-06 comes in stainless steel construction, ideal for durability and aesthetics of our modern kitchen. It also combines the use of an activated carbon filter block and a mineralization filter media for a more effective and balanced water pH filtration. This ensures we have more effective filtration and better tasting water.
The carbon block on this faucet-mounted filter effectively removes a wide range (60+) of water contaminants, including lead and many other heavy metals. However, both filters are only standard-42 NSF-certified for 94% chlorine reduction on average. So, it is lower on our list because it is less comprehensive than the other options we need for our household.
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5. Invigorated Water pH PURIFY Multi-Stage Faucet and Tap Water Filter
- 8-STAGE FAUCET WATER FILTER FOR FILTERED WATER: Enjoy filtered...
- IONIZES WATER AND IMPROVES TASTE & SMELL: Made with our...
- EASY TO INSTALL WITH THREE SWITCH POSITIONS: With a 6-month...
- TESTED FOR HIGH QUALITY & SAFETY: Made from the best quality...
- 100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE, BUY WITH CONFIDENCE: We are committed...
Image credit: pH Purify
The pH PURIFY multi-stage faucet filter is the best tap filter for homes with alkaline water, like ours. It has 8 different filtration stages, which remove fluoride, chloramine, chlorine, limescale, heavy metals, bad taste/odors, etc. So, most of our concerns were covered with this option.
As a plus for us, unlike many faucet mount filters, it's also built to improve the water pH level and mineral content. The pH PURIFY multi-stage filter also increases the water's Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP). This is commonly associated with high energy levels and improved hydration in water, ensuring we had better-tasting water.
Additionally, it contains a proprietary PH006 cartridge with a blend of filtration materials. For instance, the outer shell is made from a diatom ceramic, while the PP layer is used to filter out chemicals, silt, sand, and rust. So, our water was clean of sediments and any harmful chemicals.
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6. Engdenton Stainless-Steel Faucet Water Filter
- High quality food grade 304 stainless steel housing,...
- The most advanced Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) filtration...
- Speedy water flow: 0.5GPM filtered water, 8 cups (8.5oz/cup) of...
- ★ONLY suitable for standard faucet. Please study the PHOTOS to...
- If you need technique support or return, please contact us via...
Image credit: Engdenton
The Engdenton stainless-steel faucet water filter has a quality, durable and sturdy construction, which fit right into our modern kitchen. As opposed to other faucet-mounted filters that use flimsy plastic, the Engdenton faucet water filter greatly stands out because it uses steel, making it more durable. So, we were not worried about accidentally bumping and damaging it while doing the dishes.
If all you need is basic filtration, you should consider the Engdenton faucet water filter, especially if you're primarily concerned about bad-tasting unfiltered water. So, it is not higher on our list because we want more safety nets in water filtration.
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7. Home Master Mini Plus Sinktop Faucet Filter
- Performs like a full-sized countertop filter, priced like a...
- Mini filter big purifier
- Easy DIY install 750 gallon replaceable filter
- Stout 1 micron Absolute Carbon block with lead specific media,...
- BPA free made in USA
Image credit: Home Master
The Home Master faucet water filter is ideal for homes with lead-contaminated water lines because it removes up to 99% of lead from water, which is a staple in our household supply. This filter is also built to remove cryptosporidium/ giardia cysts, chlorine, herbicides, industrial runoff, and sediments. Consequently, our water was safer to drink.
The filter uses a carbon cartridge with long life that lasts up to 1 year, which would be 750 gallons of water on average, depending on usage. So, it caters to our moderate household use sufficiently.
The filter is also built to improve water taste and remove odor. It has its flow rate at 0.5 GPM, which ensures anyone in the house can grab a cupful of safe water hassle-free.
It has two long tubes running from the sink to the Home Master filter and back to the sink to give you a more low-profile usage that's not sticking out on the kitchen sink. So, we did not have to worry about it disrupting our ideal kitchen decor. Additionally, it's built using plastic that's corrosion resistant, ensuring it serves us for a long time to come.
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8. DuPont WFFM100XCH Premier Faucet Mount Drinking Water Filter
- High performance filtration and better tasting water in one...
- Includes filter which reduces sediment, chlorine, cysts, linden,...
- Improves the taste, odor and clarity of your water
- Micro ban Antimicrobial product protection built-in to cartridge...
- Easily attaches to standard kitchen faucets
Image credit: DuPont
The DuPont faucet-mount filter uses an activated carbon cartridge to filter out common contaminants such as benzene, sediments, chlorine, mercury, asbestos, and lead. Hence, it addresses most of our dirty water concerns. Besides making the water much safer, removing these contaminants is also one way to improve water taste, odor, and clarity for a refreshing gulp every time.
The cartridge can last for up to 3 months with a filter capacity of 100 gallons before it needs replacing, which is enough capacity for our household's moderate use. The DuPont faucet water filter is constructed using rust and corrosion-resistant plastic, ensuring we did not have to contend with durability concerns. However, it has a chrome-like exterior that blends quite well with most kitchen aesthetics, like our modern layout.
It has a tool-free installation with a maximum 0.5 GPM flow rate, so we could set it up quickly and use it immediately. Like many faucet systems, it only works with standard kitchen faucets, ideal for our home's water outlets. Unfortunately, it doesn't connect to drop-down faucets or sprayer faucets.
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9. PUR PFM150W Faucet Filtration System
- FAUCET WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM – Enjoy refreshing, filtered...
- REDUCES 70 CONTAMINANTSȽ – This PUR PLUS drinking water...
- EASY TO ATTACH – The faucet mount water filter is easy to...
- COMPATIBLE DOES NOT MEAN COMPARABLE – Genuine PUR faucet...
- #1 SELLING BRAND IN FAUCET FILTRATION** – Contaminants can...
Image credit: PUR
The PUR PFM150W filtration system is an ideal option for households with a relatively clean water system. It can remove nearly 70 water contaminants that leach into well/groundwater, including industrial and agricultural runoff. Although this is not characteristic of our supply, the reliability of this product puts it on our list.
It uses the activated carbon filter to remove mercury, lead, and pesticides from your drinking water, making it safer for your home. Since the lead aspect is particularly useful for us, this filter came in handy.
This filter cartridge has a filter capacity of 100 gallons of water and can run for at least 3 months, ensuring we have sufficient and safe drinking water. PUR recommends replacing the cartridge even if it hasn't filtered 100 gallons to prevent bacteria from building up, so we had to focus on the duration and capacity of use. This plastic filter comes with a 0.5 GPM flow rate, which catered to our moderate household use sufficiently.
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What Factors to Consider as You Choose the Best Faucet Water Filter?
A) Water Supply Contaminants
Tap water may contain many contaminants, including pesticides, organic compounds, chemical runoffs, microorganisms, harmful heavy metals, lead, mercury, etc. You can start by finding out what contaminants are in your house supply by using the National Drinking Water Database (NDWD). With this information, you can purchase the appropriate faucet mount water filter.
B) Construction Material
Faucet water filters are primarily constructed using stainless steel or BPA plastic with different finishes.
Faucet water filters made of plastic are generally inexpensive and resistant to rusting and corrosion. Some thick, plastic faucet water filters offer a more sturdy and durable option. However, the average plastic filter will need frequent replacements compared to the stainless steel counterparts. The stainless steel construction offers more resilience.
Stainless steel filters cost relatively more initially but last longer and tend to do a better job, with fewer leaks. These filters can also blend in with the kitchen faucet and sink to match the aesthetics.
C) Filter Flow Rate
The flow rate, in this case, is defined as the rate at which a set volume of water flows through the filter system within a set period. It's measured in Gallons per minute (GPM). The best home water filters should filter many gallons of water per minute.
These filters are best used for drinking and kitchen use since most dishwashers and showers can consume up to 5 GPM. However, small domestic faucet water filters have a 0.5 GPM flow rate, with very few exceptions. So, they might not meet some of the high water pressure demands. Most faucet water filters have a set flow rate of 0.5 GPM. This is roughly enough to fill up eight standard water glasses in one minute
D) Water Usage and Filter Life
The filter life indicates the amount of time the filter will function with regular usage. This is usually indicated on the product information column or the manufacturer's website. After this period and depending on the usage, the filter will probably become less effective and filter very little.
The filter life of one filter can be significantly different from that of another. But generally, filters with a long filter life are best. The filter life is also directly tied to usage. For instance, every time you leave the faucet running, not only does it waste water, but it also reduces the system's filter life.
This means that you'll need to replace the filter cartridge regularly. A better way would be to only use the filter for cooking or drinking water. This will help extend your filter life and save you money.
E) Filtration Cartridge
After a period of usage, the filter starts to lose its efficiency, but this only means you need to replace the cartridge, not the entire faucet-mounted filter. Most filtration system manufacturers also produce their replacement filter cartridges, so it'd be easy to find a compatible option.
The lifespan of these cartridges is measured by the number of gallons they filter. Depending on the product, this can range from 100-1,000 gallons of water. A longer lifespan is generally better.
Some manufacturers also offer period recommendations for cartridge replacement which range from 1 to 3 months. This means you won't need to measure the amount of water flowing through your filter.
F) Useful Extra Features
Besides the basic filter components, another factor you'll need to consider is whether it has any useful extra features. These features include the size of the filter, the filter replacement indicator/sensor, etc.,
H) Installation Process
Most faucet-mount attachments are generally easy to install and don't need any tools. Some manufacturers also offer multiple sizes and options for the best fit, so you won't struggle.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Faucet Water Filters
1. Do faucet filters work better than pitcher filters?
Pitchers and faucet filters have the same filtration capability, so the difference comes down to a few key differentiating features. Faucet filters are attached to the faucet for an unlimited filtered water supply; however, pitchers will need regular filling in the filtration process.
2. Which filtration system is most effective in removing most contaminants?
A reverse osmosis system is generally the most effective process. Some filters have multiple filtration stages, and the reverse osmosis process at the final stage to successfully remove 99% of water contaminants. These include chlorine, pesticides, heavy metals, and herbicides.
3. Can you connect a faucet water filter to the fridge?
The faucet water filter is not designed to be connected to the fridge. However, particular water purifier systems can be directly connected to the fridge, depending on the type of fridge and water purifier.
In Closing
A faucet water filter conveniently gives you clean water for home use without relying on bottled water, portable filters, or large filtration systems. Most of the filter systems we've discussed are quite easy to install and are compatible with domestic standard faucets.
They use carbon filters to effectively reduce tap water contaminants, odor, and chemicals.
Different picks have different replacement timelines, but each should last you for at least 2 months without needing a replacement. However, most filtration systems will require replacement filters that are purchased separately.
Each filter discussed has a sleek design to match different kitchen aesthetic themes.
Seriously considering the filter options and factors discussed in this review will put you far ahead in safeguarding your health by checking water quality. Good luck.
