Even though we are mostly used to drink and cook with tap water in the U.S., it doesn’t mean it is the best option. Tap water can come with bacterias, lead, and harmful contaminants as a whole. Not only that, there can be impurities in your water, such as rust particles, for instance. Not only are those bad for your health, but they also damage the taste of the water. The good thing is that the best water filters on the market can help you with that.
We know that there is filtered water you can get in the supermarket in bottles and that they seem like an easy, cheap alternative at first. But, we promise you, a water filter will change your life. You won’t have to worry about constantly refilling your bottled water supply, and you will save a lot of money in the long run. Plus, water filters are the most sustainable option.
There are also a whole lot of different kinds of water filters available on the market. You can find faucet attachments, under-the-sink filters, pitcher filters, whole-house filtration systems, and more. What changes between them is what they remove from the water and how. That way, the first thing you need to do before getting the best water filters for you is understanding what you need them for.
To help you make this journey easier, we gathered the best water filters available on Amazon. Our list counts with five different types of filters, and they are all NFS certified, which is a health and safety standard testing company. That is important because you want to be sure this filter will actually remove all the impurities from your water so you can keep yourself and your family safe.
What to look for in the best water filters
Besides understanding what you need your water filter for and the safety regards when choosing which one to buy, there are also other topics to be taken into consideration to make sure you choose the best water filters to fit your personal needs. Here are some of them:
- Purpose
There are two main purposes as to why you might need a water filter while in the U.S. The most current reason people get one is that they want to improve the water’s taste and quality. For that, the filter will need to remove standard tiny particulars of rust and minerals. Along with that, people can wish to protect their pipes since the hard water with a high percentage of minerals, for instance, can damage the pipes.
The other main reason for the need for a water filter is to remove actual hard contaminants from the water. Maybe you live in an area where it’s unsafe to drink water, or industries or other sources are contaminating your water supply with manufactured chemicals. You could also have old pipes or have a well as your water supply source. That way, getting a filter that will remove lead and bacterias, or actual particles of sand.
To check what your water supply is so you can choose which kind of filter to buy, just check the annual water reports of your city. Besides that, make sure to check the state of your home pipes. Not only will the best water filters improve the quality of your water, they will also make it more enjoyable to drink, encouraging hydration.
- Cost
You can find water filters from a price lower than $20 to whole systems that will cost you thousands of dollars. Again, it really depends on what you are going to need the filter for. If you get a small, individual filter for personal use, there are thousands of very affordable, efficient options out there. But, make sure you check for the NSF certifications and the maintenance process, such as how often you are going to need to replace the filter. Sometimes, getting a more expensive one that will last longer is a better deal.
- Independent Certifications
The only way you can be sure your water filter is working and actually removing all the impurities from your water is through certification. As we explained before, you should check for certifications from NFS, American National Standards Institute (ANSI), or Water Quality Association (WQA).
Again, it’s really important that you know what you are going to need your water filter for since each certification body verifies something different. NFS, for instance, checks for the removal of chlorine and another one for lead. In one way or another, the more certifications your filter has, the more contaminants it will be able to remove.
- Capacity
After checking the purpose of your purchase and guaranteeing safety, you need to understand what is your household’s water consumption. That way, you can know the ideal water filter capacity for your needs. There are many affordable options of the best water filters, but those usually have a lower capacity.
A small pitcher can be a great choice for a dorm or a singles apartment. On the other hand, faucet attachments or under-sink filters are the best options if you have a large family. That’s because if you plan on using the filtered water for drinking and cooking, you would need to refill the pitcher many times a day. Even though it isn’t a hard task, it can be annoying having to do it all the time, and you might give up and just go back to tap water.
- Replacement Filters
Every filtration system comes with a different kind of filter. The filters are the most important part of the system, obviously. So, make sure you check the main maintenance needs of the filter you are choosing. How often do they need to be replaced? Is it easy to find a refill for it? How much do they cost? All that will define how your routine with your water filtration system will be after the purchase.
Best Water Filters: Maintenance
As we explained before, the purchase of a water filtration system goes beyond choosing a water filter and installing it in your house. The filters will eventually stop properly filtrating your water. There is a lot of maintenance involved to make sure your system is always working at its best.
Filters come with a predicted lifespan that can be a few months up to a few years. The NSF certification ensures that the filter is actually effective for as long as its listed lifespan says. In any way, a way to know if your filter isn’t properly working anymore is that the water flow can get thinner and slower.
The Best Water Filters on Amazon
Now you understand why having a water filtration filter is so important, and learned how to choose the best one for your needs and with guaranteed quality. You also know how to keep your filter functioning properly and how to maintain it. Now, it’s time to go shopping!
We gathered the best water filters available on Amazon to help you choose the one that fits your house the best. Once you choose which one to buy, you can purchase through this article! All you have to do is click the product’s link.
The most expensive one on our list, the iSpring RCC7 is also the most complete option here. Being an under-sink model, this system comes with three pre-filters, including a PP sediment, a carbon block, and a carbon KDF. With those features, this filter performs a five-stage reverse-osmosis process that is capable of removing, according to the brand, 99.9 percent of harmful content from your water. That will include mostly chlorine and lead that could be found on your municipal water supply or in your well water.
This is one of the best-sellers on Amazon because of its high efficiency and quality. Not only does it remove almost all chlorine and lead from the water, but the system is capable of removing 95 percent of the salt, which sets it apart. What happens is that, after going through the three pre-filters and the reverse-osmosis one, the water flows through a fine carbon GEC filter. The last one delivers the final polish that makes the clear water come out of your faucet.
The filters need to be changed every year. You can find the iSpring RCC7 on Amazon for $190.
Still on the pricier side, the Apex MR-1050 is a countertop filter, being easier to install than an under-sink one. You can either leave it on your countertop or attach it to your kitchen faucet since it works with most standard ones. Plus, it is very lightweight and has a clean, simple design that will work well with any kitchen aesthetic.
As the name says, this model is an alkaline filter, which means it adds all the healthy minerals that get lost on the tubing back into your water. Those minerals include potassium, calcium, and magnesium, all really good for your health, helping with your immune system support and detoxification. Besides all that, this filter balances the pH of your water, making it less acid, which is also great for your health.
The replacement of the filter can be a little expensive, but it is also durable. The Apex is capable of successfully filtering 750 gallons of water. That is equivalent to around six to eight months of water consumed in a family of four.
You can find it on Amazon for $81.
One of the most affordable options on our list, the Brita SAFF-100 is an excellent choice if you have a low budget and have a smaller family. This filter is a faucet attachment model, which means you can easily attach it to any standard kitchen faucet. It isn’t as efficient as an under-sink filter, for instance, but it is easier to install and maintain.
The Brita SAFF-100 filter will reduce 60 contaminants of your water. As we said, it is less than what a five-stage system can do, but on the other hand, this model can also remove, according to the brand, 99.9 percent of all chlorine, lead, benzene, and all the other harmful contaminants commonly found in tap water.
The filters last up to 100 gallons, which is equivalent to about four months of water consummation. You can find it on Amazon for $19.99.
If you are looking for an affordable, compact, easy-to-handle filter, the ZeroWater Pitcher might be the perfect choice for you. For only $25 on Amazon, this pitcher comes with a five-stage water filtration system, which sets it apart from the filters in this price range. This filter will remove all heavy metals from your water, including lead and chromium, plus any sediment that might be present. Not only that, but the ZeroWater also comes with a water-quality meter, which is great because it allows you to measure the cleanness of the water after it is filtered.
As the name says, the filter holds up to 8 cups of water, that way you will be able to have clean, purified water on hand at all times. The five-stage filter pitcher is NFS certified and can remove 99.6 percent of total dissolved solids from your water.
With a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, the Brita Ultra Max is a compact dispenser filter. The good thing about this model is that there is no installation necessary and it won’t take up much space in your kitchen or fridge.
The container is 14.5 inches deep and only 5 inches wide, having a very slim design. With that dimension, it can fit around 18 cups of water and still not take up much space. Inside the container, there is a filter, certified by NFS and ANSI, that keeps the water clean and ready to consume. According to the brand, the filter will last up to six months with average use. But, it comes with a filter-change reminder that will let you know when it’s time to get a new one.
You can find it on Amazon for $42.
