Best Faucet Water Filter – Reviews, Comparison And Advice

Contents

Are you sick of buying bottled water due to a terrible taste of your tap water at home? If yes, then buying a good faucet mounted water filter is probably the best option you should consider. Why? Well, faucet mounted water filters could indeed improve the taste of the water and could also protect you from harmful contaminants. Also, you can protect the planet from further damage by eliminating the biggest source of plastic contamination from your home. 

Sounds great, right? But how are you going to choose with all those options available on the market? Well, I was in the exact same situation - overwhelmed with choice and couldn't decide even if my life depended on it. So took it upon myself to personally test all the faucet filters on this list, get all the pros and cons of each product and help you make an informed choice. After spending a few weeks drinking water and testing filters, here are my findings:

Best Faucet Water Filters Compared

Products

Price

Weight

Score

Review

PUR Advanced Faucet Mounted Filter

1. PUR 3-Stage

$$

1.1 lbs

New Wave Enviro

2. New Wave Enviro

$$$

4 lbs

Culligan FM-25 - Runner Up

3 - Culligan FM-25

$$

1.4 lbs

DuPont Faucet Filter

4 - DuPont Electric

$$

0.75lbs

Instapure Budget

5. InstaPure F5BCC3P-1ES

$

11.2oz

Why trust us?

We spent a lot of time mounting, testing and drinking water to bring you the best possible faucet mounted water filters buying guide. It took us over a month to test each filter to see if any of them excels in filtering water and if any of them truly sucks. And yes, one of them does, badly, but we'll go over them individually to see what's what. 

Faucet Water Filter Reviews

To sum up our choices and make it easier for you to decide, let's sum up our findings and guide you towards what we think it is the best ones to buy, which are a good budget choices and what to avoid at all cost: 

PUR Advanced Faucet Mounted Filter
  • PUR 3 Stage Faucet Mount Filter - Best Overall
  • New Wave Enviro 10 Stage System 
  • Culligan FM25 - Best Water Filter Runner-Up
  • DuPont Electric Metered - Best For Chlorinated Water
  • InstaPure F5BCC3P-1ES - Best Budget Faucet Filter

Let's take a look at the most popular filters and system on the market, according to our honest opinion, and see which one excels where and why one of them falls short of our expectations:

1. PUR 3-Stage Advanced - Editor's Pick

Indeed a high-tech looking addition to your kitchen sink, this PUR 3-Stage Advanced Faucet Water Filter has been the first choice by many and for a reason too. 

It needs no tools to be installed; it’s simply attached by pressing it up until the “click” sound is heard. It is simple to use, and it provides a very cost-effective way to get immediate access to gallons of fresh and clean fresh and clean water. In addition, it removes almost 99% of lead and some other substances creating a great tasting water straight from the faucet.

PUR Advanced Faucet Mounted Filter

In terms of changing the filter, life is made a lot easier. It also features a handy electronic life indicator which shows when the filter needs changing. This water filter is also made from durable materials; it resists the damage from scuffs and bumps in the kitchen.

Pros

  • Very easy and simple installation
  • Perfectly fits wherever you want it
  • Electronic filter life indicator
  • Affordable
  • Enough for smaller households

Cons

  • It won’t work with pull down or pull out faucets
  • 100-gallon life cartridge might not suit all homes

2. New Wave Enviro 10 Stage

This one is indeed a great step up from your general idea about faucet filter as it really delivers in terms of purifying tap water. You will definitely get a seemingly endless supply of clean and tasty water direct from the device.

New wave Enviro 10 Stage Water Filter System is directly attached to the faucet. But, as an extra, the kit can be completely hidden under the sink and tucked away from prying eyes. 

New Wave Enviro

As for the capacity, the said water filter will provide 1500 gallons of sparkling fresh water prior to the need of changing the filter. It would be more than enough to last a family with four members beyond 12 months.

Pros

  • Easy to use and audible beeping

Cons

  • Heating element might stop working
  • Too heavy and difficult to store

3. Culligan FM-25 - Runner Up

If you’re in need of a water filter that will improve the taste of the tap water which won’t empty your pockets, then this one might be the best choice.

With this filter on board, you can be sure that the water will taste better and that the contaminants along with odor will be eliminated. In addition to all that, the installation of the device is very simple.

The Culligan FM-25 is quite compact, so it’s turned it on via a diverter tab. It could be installed within minutes with no tools required - it fits most taps too. 

Culligan FM-25 - Runner Up

The Culligan also eliminates or reduces a variety of contaminants effective, including sediment, cysts, lindane, and chlorine. Every cartridge would last 200 gallons approximately which you could use for almost two months.

Pros

  • Easy to use and install
  • Easy to switch off and on
  • Limited 2-year warranty
  • Removes different contaminants
  • Compact and sleek design
  • Inexpensive unit and cartridges
  • Heavy-duty metal fittings
  • It comes with adapters for varied thread patterns

Cons

  • No replacement indicator
  • Very low water pressure
  • Hard to replace cartridge

4. DuPont Electric - Best For
Chlorinated Water 

With the Dupont Electric Faucet filter you won’t have to guess does when it needs to be replaced and the cartridge restocked. In addition, you won’t waste any more money on those replacements that are not even needed - the DuPont electric product has a very convenient option - it tells you exactly the life left in it. 

It has a built-in digital meter which will tell you when it’s time to replace the cartridge so you can enjoy the fresh and filtered water carefree.

DuPont Faucet Filter

This water filter from DuPont comes in three distinct finishes so you could easily choose the one matching your kitchen color palette best. It could be installed easily even without tools - a simple screw-on your existing water faucet is needed. It will effectively remove numbers of contaminants. And also, your purchase is being protected by a warranty.

Pros

  • Consistent and reliable
  • Easy to install and use
  • Easy to read and built-in digital meter
  • Easy to read and built-in digital meter
  • It doesn’t leak
  • It features diverter switch
  • Attractive design
  • Affordable replacement cartridges

Cons

  • A bit expensive than other filters
  • Cheap plastic design
  • Chrome finish could chip over time

5. InstaPure - When On A Budget

The Instapure is a very affordable water filter that will suit most, if not any, household budget. But don't let the low price fool you - the InstaPure faucet water filter is a capable performer that manages to keep up even with the best of them at a fraction of the cost. 

In most kitchen faucets, this one installs easily without the need of any tools at all.

It’s set up in just a matter of minutes. It is a water filter that also effectively removes bad odors, lead, cysts, and chlorine providing delicious and safe water from the moment you turn on the faucet.

Instapure Budget

Along with the unit, you get a starter cartridge that is so easy to use, and you could also choose between filtered and unfiltered water, therefore, prolongs the cartridge’s life.

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Easy to use and install
  • Allows to choose between unfiltered and filtered modes
  • Various adapters to fit on most kitchen faucets
  • Filters out contaminants effectively

Cons

  • The non-stick coating could wear off
  • Awkward handle angle
  • It doesn’t have a locking lid
  • Quite low water pressure

So What Is A Faucet Mounted Water Filter? 

One of those long lines of appliances which serve to improve drinking experience is the faucet water filter. Some other appliances of this kind would include blenders and espresso machines.

A faucet water filter is mounted right to your faucet. Rather than using complex filtration systems or putting the water in the jug with a filter, with faucet mounted filter you can get clean and tasty water right from your tap.

In addition, it connects right to the faucet and works every single time the faucet is turned on. These are great options because it can be installed in seconds but won’t affect the functionality of the faucet. Along with that, it is also easy to use since you only need to turn on the faucet.

Are There Different Types Of Faucet Filters?

Once you want to make the taste of the water a lot better and also remove the impurities making it safer for consumption, the use of water faucet filter is a wise choice. If you plan on shopping for this kind of filter, you might notice that there are various numbers of sizes, brands, and designs in the market today.

In addition to that, you might also notice the two different kinds of this water filter and those are the following:

Traditional

These are the ones that are attached directly to the faucet and most commonly used in the kitchen. They are also the most common type, and they remove the impurities from the water at the same time while altering the taste for the better.

Flavored

If you prefer a bit of flavor to the water, you might try a filter which doesn’t only improve the taste of the water but will also add a kick to its flavor. These types would use flavor cartridges that will add fruity taste to the water. It would be like you are drinking flavored bottled water.

Pros And Cons Of Using A
Faucet Mounted Water Filter

There are numbers of benefits to the use of best faucet water filter. Those are the following:

Pros:

1. Cleaner Water: A water filter will remove the minerals that are present in the water and would give a cleaner and odorless water which is a lot more appealing to use and drink every single day.

2. Great savings: You can get liter after liter of clean water just for a one-off payment for the filter which can be used throughout the kitchen leading to great savings in the long run.

3. Convenience: A cleaner water that is also a lot more satisfying, you will more likely to drink and use it on a daily basis. Rather than replacing the bottles of water all the time, you can get glass after glass of water with little to no effort.

4. No more stains: With the use of filtered water you won’t stain the kitchenware. And stained items do not go unnoticed to most homeowners, and this would just remove such small headache with the use of water filter.

5. Stop filtering whenever you need: Once you want to disconnect the filter as well as its abilities, in most cases only a small button push is needed, and the water filter would turn itself off.

Cons:

On the other hand, there are also numbers of disadvantages or drawbacks that are associated with the use of faucet water filter. Some are the following:

1. Frequent Replacements: A water filter would need to be frequently replaced than other filtration systems. It would need changing about every three months, but these replacement filters are a bit cheaper anyway.

2. Slow Water Flow: There are some models that might give a slow water flow, so you need to choose the best one.

3. Ensuring Proper Fit: Prior to buying, you should check the specifications of a certain model ensuring that it would fit the faucet you have.

Those are the benefits and the drawbacks once you consider the use of water filter.

How To Choose Your Faucet Water Filter?

Once you start to shop for the best water faucet filter for your budget and needs, there are also certain factors that should be considered. They are as follows: 

1. Odor Or Taste

If your tap water has an unusual taste and strange odor, then you might need a water filter which will improve both the smell and the taste of the water.

2. Water Use

The amount of water needed to be filtered should be considered. If you use only a small amount every day, then it would be better for you to use a filtering pitcher. A counter-top or the under-counter filtering unit is needed for larger amounts of filtered water. But for the majority of people, a faucet mounted water filter is a great choice.

3. Contaminants

Since we don’t actually know what is in the water, the water filter should have the ability to remove the contaminants from the water. The National Drinking Water Database could help in determining the unwanted substances in the water. After that, you can compare the filters and choose the one that excels in the said role.

4. Style Or Finish

Being an extension of the water fixture, there is a high possibility that it won’t look natural in the kitchen. There are numbers of filters that are available in chrome, white, black, or the brushed aluminum finishes.

5. Filter Replacement Cost

Most of the filters should be replaced at least every 2 to 3 months, and they are particularly rated by a number of gallons of water that they could filter. Bear in mind that replacement filters costing the same as the entire unit might not be a great choice.

6. Last But Not Least - Price

And finally, most faucet water filters could be reasonable in price, but the price isn’t always associated with the filtering performance. Simply consider a great faucet water filter based on your budget and our filter reviews, of course! 

Bear in mind the above-mentioned factors once you plan to shop for the best water faucet filter for you to have a safe tap water as well.

How To Install Your Faucet Water Filter?

Before you buy your faucet water filter from the ones we have on review here, you should also learn how to install it. Follow these steps for safe and quick installation, but check out this video from PUR filters first:

Shut off the water supply. It would be the best that you shut off the water valves located under the sink just to be sure no water will come out if the faucet is turned off.

Step 1: Remove The Faucet Aerator

The threaded aerator is located on the end of the faucet which can be removed. Simply, wrap a cloth around it to protect the faucet then loosen it using a pipe wrench and spin it off by hand.

Step 2: Clean The Seal Or Threads

Clean the residue off from the threads which are at the end of the faucet right after the aerator has already been removed.

Step 3: Check If Adapter Is Needed

Check the parts and determine if there is a need for an adapter. Now, you have to take all the parts out from the package which the filter would come in and lay them on a cloth on the counter that is next to your kitchen sink. Also, you have to take a look at the sink faucet threads and identify the needed adapter piece.

Step 4: Install the Faucet Attachment Piece

There are instructions in the manual that would help you a lot. It will also tell you which piece you actually need to thread to the water faucet.

Step 4: Attach The Rest Of The Filter

And it’s time to attach the water filter bottle along with the enclosed filter into it to the part that you just threaded on the water faucet. Attach some other needed parts.

Step 5: Test If Everything Is Working

And finally, test, in order to make sure that there are no leaks and the water flow, is good.

Simply follow these steps when you purchase a new water filter. Still, the help of experts might as well be considered.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can water filter really improve the taste and quality of the water?

Yes, definitely! It will reduce specific toxic chemicals like herbicides and pesticides. It also reduces contaminants such as heavy metals.

2. Which water filter is best for hard water?

Any of the water filters must be sufficient for hard or soft water.

3. How long does a faucet filter cartridge last? 

As for achieving optimal filter effect, there is a need to replace the filter cartridge at least every 4 weeks. This useful lifespan would also depend on the quality as well as on the degree of hardness of the tap water.

4. Will there be a reduced water flow?

Filtered water would flow at a slower rate compared with the unfiltered water since the media restricts the water flow. This would help the filter in order to trap the unwanted contaminants.

Our Pick: 

PUR Advanced Faucet Mounted Filter

PUR Advanced

Our pick for 2019 is the PUR Advanced faucet mounter water filter. It is easy to use, offers best in class water filtration and it lasts quite a while before it needs cartridge replacement. Great price too, considering the competition! 

Though there are wide options in the market today and some of the best options are provided below, PUR 3-Stage Advanced Faucet Water Filter stands out from all of them. Why? Well, aside from being one of the best sellers of faucet water filters, there are numbers of reasons why it sits on top for me.

It has great features that every user might be looking for, and the ease of use and installation seems to stand out from the rest, which is why this water filter is the best choice for me.

The price of this item is also reasonable enough that many customers can afford to buy.

And the quality of filtered water is definitely guaranteed by this product.

Stop spending your money on bottled water rather enjoy your own fresh water right from your faucet with the use of the best faucet water filters. They are a convenient way to have clean drinking water right from the tap. Use this buying guide and reviews to come up with a wise and practical decision.

We will be happy to hear your thoughts on the topic. Please leave your comments below and hit like and share too! Happy reading!

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