Water Filters: the Best Alternatives to Bottled Water For Filtering Contaminants

Blogs & Articles

Water Filtration

Purification Systems

Water Filter Brands

Water Problems

Softening Systems

Water Filter Tips

Technologies

Disinfection Systems

No Bottled Water!

Site Info

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Water Filters Are the Best Alternatives to Bottled Water

Water filters come in different brands, types, and sizes. Major brands include Multi-Pure, Brita, Pur, Everpure, Crystal Quest, Pentair, Pentek, Culligan, OmniFilter,GE, and hundreds more. Some treatment systems are independently certified providing higher level of confidence to customers. Most brands come as countertop, undersink, pitcher, faucet mount, refrigerator, and whole house filter systems. You can also find shower filtration device that attach to bathroom showerhead.

Prices vary between brands, types, and models because some can filter more contaminants or produced more filtered water than the others. Because some brands go through independent testing and certification, they may price higher than non-certified systems.

Type of Water Filtering Systems

Portable or Water Bottle Filter
This type consists of a bottle with a filter insert. Good to carry to places (especially when traveling abroad) where drinking water quality is questionable.

Carafe/Pitcher filter/Pour-through
This type is best for filtering a few gallons of water. Water is poured into the pitcher and gravity forced water through filtration media and drip into the bottom of the carafe. They are easy to install; portable for use outdoors during picnics and barbeque. A money saving idea for budget conscious families! Brita, Pur, and GE are very well known makers of pitcher filters. Other companies like ZeroWater and Crystal Quests also make this type.

Filter replacement every month or two can be costly. Most can filter a few contaminants.

Faucet Mount Filter
This type is also best for filtering a limited gallon of water. They are easy to install. Some come with diverters allowing for filtering water to drink and using the unfiltered for dishes and hand washing. Better than bottled water. Also a money saving idea! Brita and Pur dominate this filtering type.

Filter replacement every month or two can be costly. Most can filter a few contaminants.

aqua dome water filter, best buy, multipure, multi-pure, countertop, over the top filter, above counter filter, nsf certified, best filter, affordable filter

Counter top Water Filter
Counter top or tabletop filter is one of the best water filtering options for apartment dwellers. The unit is placed on the kitchen table and connected by a tube to an existing standard faucet. This type can filter larger volumes of water than faucet mount and pitcher filters. No plumbing is required. Simply attach to a standard kitchen faucet.

Water distillers also come as countertop systems. Distillers heat water to the boiling point to remove almost all contaminants which can also include the essential minerals in water. All you get is pure but flat taste water.

The only disadvantage is that it’s not ideal for space-limited countertops. Prices vary a lot between brands. Most often the expensive brands can filter a wider variety of chemicals than the cheap brands.

Undersink
Some under sink are installed inline or plumbed-in to connect with the existing faucet. Others are plumbed into a separate faucet. These installations may require plumbers or DIY. Prices vary significantly between brands and models depending on sizes or quantities of filtered water. But most undersink filters can filter a large amount of water.

Under sink type can also be a reverse osmosis (RO) system. This type could cost more than the typical under sink filters because they need pre- and post- activated carbon filters along with the reverse osmosis membrane itself. RO systems can filter more chemicals including some cancer-causing chemicals and radioactive materials.

Undersink systems may not be an option for apartment or house renters because they require cutting into the plumbing systems which may not be allowed in rental agreements.

Shower Filter
This type is installed on the bathroom showerhead to remove chlorine that can cause dry scaly skin or itchiness after shower. Chlorine can also make hair become brittle and unmanageable. Installing a shower filter can effectively improve showering feelings.

Whole-House
All the types listed above allow you to filter water at the tap or at the kitchen faucet. A whole house filter allows you to filter water as it enters the house. Most are used to remove sediments, rust, and chlorine. This type can filter a really large amount of water and filter cartridges often last long—some as long as 5 years before replacement. Some are really expensive and some are cheap.

Water softeners or Ion exchangers are the other type of whole-house installations. They are use ion exchange to remove water hardness (calcium and magnesium) that can damage pipes and can result in expensive repairs.
The problem with whole house filter types is that they are not designed to remove some dangerous bacteria and some dissolved organics.

Check out water filters buying tips . . .

Other Related Filters Guide:

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE . . .

http://best.waterfilters-camping-water-purifier.com/?p=1699