Best Faucet Water Filters

Never used a faucet water filter before? Don’t worry! This comprehensive buying guide will explain the main features of several faucet water filter models and how they can benefit you and your family. Let’s start with our favorite product.

The Best Faucet Water Filters

Engdenton Faucet Water Filter

This faucet water filter is made with premium quality food grade 304 stainless steel housing. It’s crack-proof, durable, and won’t leak, which means that it’s money well spent as it will last you a long time.Using the most advanced (ACF) Activated Carbon Fiber filtration technology, this faucet water filter system removes dirt, rust, and sand. All the while, inhibiting bacterial growth and massively improving the taste of your drinking water.It boasts speedy water flow, filtering 8 cups of 0.5GPM clean filtered water per minute. It’s easy to install quickly, with no extra tools needed.Also, concerning its shelf life, Engdenton promises a maximum of 320 gallons, or six months (based on 8.5oz/cup,27 cups/day).

Pros

• Benefitting from the ACF technology and specialist filter design, the water flow of this filter can reach 3L/min initially. This is much faster than many competitors’ filtration speeds.
• Impurities such as chlorine, dirt, and various odors interfere with your coffee or tea flavor. Using this ACF faucet water filter guarantees maximum filtration, bringing out the best taste in your favorite beverages.
• Enjoy cleaner, better tasting cooking as your wash salads and vegetables with the purest water available in the comfort of your kitchen.

Cons

• This product is ONLY suitable for standard faucet models.
• There have been a couple of reviews that have claimed that filter housing leaked from the start of using this product. However, this can be rectified if returned within the first 30 days from the day of purchase.

Waterdrop 320-Gallon

Every long-lasting faucet filter provides 320 gallons of clean water. That equates to three months of typical usage, and it’s double the amount of time that most faucet filters last.The upgraded filtration technology used in this product helps to remove fluoride, lead, and other contaminants. This equates to safer, fresher water for you and your nearest and dearest.

This product also uses fast and effective ACF material, meaning that an average of four 16.9oz water bottles can be filled each minute.The innovative addition of a switch that allows homeowners to choose between regular tap water and quality filtered water helps to prolong the life and service of the filter.

Pros

• Satisfaction guarantee, with a 30-day money-back promise and a limited one-year warranty against defects in quality and materials.
• This filtered water faucet uses leak-proof technology and can easily be attached to your drain using the adapters provided.
• This filter will replace up to 2000 plastic bottles of water — what a fantastic way to protect the environment and save your money.

Cons

• Works with standard faucets. It does not fit pull-out, hand-held, spray style faucets, or faucets with sensors. Please verify if this product suits your plumbing before purchase per the detailed instructions provided in the product pictures.
• Many reviewers of this product have complained of leaks that have appeared early on due to the size of their tap, or over time through wear and tear.

DuPont WFFM100XCH Premier

Out of all of the options presented today, this faucet water filter is the least expensive. It’s high on our list because the prices low but its ability to filter water is very effective. It’s also very easy to install, can filter 100 gallons of water at capacity, and the filters themselves only need to be changed every two months or so.

Not only is it very effective, but it also can eliminate contaminants from the water right away. The certification states that this model can remove contaminants including chlorine, microorganisms, cysts, sediment, and bacteria. It also helps improve the taste of the water and gets rid of foul odors too.

Pros

• The price is right. For an inexpensive water filter for your faucet, it has great water production, and it’s also very effective, and the cost is low which is also amazing. Most people think you need to spend top dollar to get an effective water filter, but this one proves that nothing could be further from the truth.

Cons

• The instruction manual is incomplete. Teflon tape is needed to complete installation of the product and it even comes with it. Yet there is no mention of this tape in the instruction manual whatsoever. If you install it without using Teflon tape, your faucet is going to leak.

Brita On Tap System

If your water is only mildly polluted and doesn’t contain too many contaminants, you’ll prefer this model as an excellent solution. It’s very easy to install, and you can put it right on your tap.

A big advantage of this faucet water filter is that it produces a solid water flow when in use, unlike many other filters that slow down water flow.

They also have an easy replacement system. If the light is green, you’re still in good shape. If the light turns yellow, it’s almost time to change the filter.

And if the light turns red, you know that it’s time to remove the old filter and put in a new one.

Pros

• Fast water flow means getting your drinking water quicker than the slower models. When compared to the competition, the quick water flow is a big advantage that puts it a step above the rest.

Cons

• The water sensor tends to die out fast. Customers in the past have complained that the green, yellow, and red lights die much too quickly.

Kabter Healthy

The Kabter is very efficient, which is the reason why it made our list. It fully utilizes an activated carbon charcoal filter which makes it possible to eliminate lots of contaminants from the drinking water. It will reduce the levels of chlorine, lead, cysts, mercury, and sediment.

It also contains a particle filter called KGF55 that can remove bacteria, mold, fungi, scale, and lime from the drinking water. This is very important and makes your water heck of a lot safer.

A big advantage of this filter is its durable, sturdy, and made very solidly. Some of the competitors are very cheap, made of crappy plastic, and tend to fall apart because they are much too flimsy. On the flipside, this model is BPA free and made out of food-grade ABS plastic.

Longevity is a second huge advantage. The filter can clean up 200 gallons of water before being changed. So you only need to change it every 4 to 5 months at the most and even better, they are very quick and easy to replace.

Pros

• Use on both hot and cold water.

Cons

• The instruction manual leaves a lot to be desired. They could have taken more time and used greater care when writing it.

PUR 3-Stage Advanced

The PUR is another incredibly popular water filter that many people seem to enjoy.

It does its job and can filter streaming water quickly, which makes the low price point even more attractive.

For starters, we like this device a lot because it’s very effective. It’s capable of removing as many as 70 contaminants or more which makes it incredibly efficient. 

It’s certified and can remove 96% of the Mercury in your water supply, 99% of the lead in the water, and 92% of pesticide contaminants from your drinking water.

The installation process is simple. It’s very easy to connect it to your faucet and even easier to take out the filters and replace them which will only take you a few minutes. Lastly, it’s going to last you for quite some time because they made it with the best materials.

Pros

• The price is truly great value. It creates clean water and removes many contaminants.

Cons

• Customers have complained about the plastic housing breaking. Even though it looks very sturdy, this housing can break if you aren’t careful when replacing.

InstaPure F2BCT3P-1ES

InstaPure is a great choice because it’s an excellent value, all of the installation parts come with the product, and it works on just about every kitchen faucet type.

It has a slick chrome finish which makes it look stunning, and it’s a good option to blend in with your other fixtures.

One reason to buy this model is that it’s quite easy to use. You can turn it on and off in an instant.

Installation is also very easy with this model. Mounting right on your faucet is simple. And when it’s time to replace the filters, you will not have to spend an arm and a leg because they are very inexpensive. They need to be changed roughly every three months, and you aren’t going to spend a fortune to accomplish this task.

Pros

• Very durable and made with excellent materials.

Cons

• Can’t use with hot water.

Culligan FM-25

Our final water filter from Culligan is a fan favorite. And after using it ourselves, we can tell you point blank that the great reviews it’s recefuived over the years are certainly more than justified.

Installation is really easy with this model. And it gives you the ability to quickly turn the filter on and off because at times you’ll want your sink to provide unfiltered water.

The incredibly long warranty period is one reason to consider this product. Believe it or not, they actually offer a two-year warranty. The only reason we can think of is that they truly believe in their product and they are willing to stand by its effectiveness.

Another reason to appreciate this filter is that it’s made with two different available finishes. Depending on the appliances and fixtures in your home, you have the option to choose the best finish to match your current decor.

Pros

• The filtered water it produces tastes incredible.

Cons

• Changing the filters on this model can be quite difficult.

How Do Faucet Water Filters Work?

This type of water filter typically uses a filter cartridge.

This cartridge is made up of multiple components that work in unison to eliminate contaminants from your drinking water. 

Each model is going to have different variations on their cartridge, but for the most part, the components will be similar and basically work the same way.

• Removing chemicals – the filtration process makes it possible to remove chemicals from drinking water. They employ activated carbon filters to get rid of chemical contaminants including chlorine, chloramine, and other chemicals. The carbon filter is incapable of getting rid of heavy metals, calcium, and magnesium so keep that in mind. But it will be able to filter things like nitrites, nitrates, mercury, and lead and even make the water taste and smell much better.
• Removing sediment – The cartridge will contain a nonwoven screen that it has wrapped around it to get rid of small particles like sand, dirt, debris, and rust.
• A block of activated carbon – Since this carbon maintains a porous surface, the nooks and crannies can pull out contaminants and remove them from the water supply through adsorption. Once the porous surface is filled up with contaminants, the filter will no longer be useful, and you’ll need to replace it at this point. Even better, occasionally they’ll add silver to the filter which is capable of killing bacteria and fungi that the carbon filter might not be able to eliminate.

Benefits

• It’s easy to install – just connect it to your tap
• Microorganism blocker – Can block specific microorganisms including Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Drinking these microorganisms could seriously harm your health.
• Eliminates foul odors and tastes – if your faucet water has weird smells coming from it when the water tastes bad, this filter can get rid of the nasty taste and make the water smell normal again too.
• No longer need to buy plastic water bottles – not only are you going to save money but you’ll also protect the environment by using less plastic water bottles that do not biodegrade.
• Nitrate and nitrate free water – remove nitrites and nitrates from the water. You’ll often find these chemicals in insecticides and pesticides, and they occasionally do leak into source water.
• Chlorine elimination – no matter which faucet filter you choose, they are all designed to remove chlorine from municipal water supplies. Drinking chlorine is not good for your health, and in the past, it has even been linked to certain diseases.
• Heavy metals blocker – diminish the number of heavy metals present in your water source. Heavy metals exist in pipes, contaminated soil, and even directly in the water supply and they can find their way into your home if you do not take measures to filter them.
• Drink healthy water – obviously, the whole point is to filter out the impurities. Drinking clean filtered water protects the body from diseases, infections, and can significantly improve health. Also, water filters provide healthy and clean water for cooking as well as washing food during preparation for lunch or dinner.
• The friendly option for the environment – they do not require electricity, and they leave no carbon footprint. Plus, you’ll avoid using plastic bottles and plastic containers that are harmful to the environment. It uses up a ton of energy to transport the water all over the world. Staggeringly, 80% of bottled water ends up in landfills, and these bottles can take centuries to decompose into the earth again. According to onegreenplanet.org, it takes an estimated 17 million barrels of oil a year to produce the plastic bottles in which the water is stored and sold.
• Cost – It’s much cheaper than constantly buying water from the store.  

Buying Guide

Not all faucet water filters were created equally. The best faucet water filters have better features than others, and some just aren’t as good as their competitors.

Features to Look For

• Lifespan – some filters are going to last much longer than others, so the lifespan should be taken into consideration. This might not seem like a huge deal now, but you’ll be able to save money over the long run if the filter lasts five months as opposed to two months. So keep this in mind when making your choice.
• Swiveling – certain water filters can swivel 360°. When washing the dishes, not having the ability to swivel could become a major pain in the butt and this is especially true if you’re trying to clean trays, larger pots, and big pans. The swiveling action will prevent this problem from ever happening.
• The sensor – the wide majority of water filters for faucets are very low maintenance. But one thing to keep in mind is you regularly need to change the filters. Having the ability to know precisely when they need to be changed is a wonderful option. Certain brands provide a sensor to let you know exactly when your filter is ready to be changed. So if this seems important to you – and it is – you should consider buying a brand that has a sensor as well.
• More than one finish – depending on the decor of your kitchen, you may want to choose the color and finish of your water filter. Some models provide multiple finishes to choose from. This is always nice to have as an option because you can find the ideal finish to match perfectly with your existing fixtures and appliances. The right filter will fit smoothly with your current kitchen decor.

Installation

Believe it or not, it may seem nearly impossible to get specific installation instructions for water filters because of the different brands and manufacturers available to purchase from. But it’s quite easy to explain the installation process no matter which model you happen to buy.

Before the installation actually begins, you need to have an adjustable wrench on hand as well as Teflon tape. Without them, you will not be able to complete the installation properly, and if you leave out the Teflon tape, your water filter is going to leak.

The best faucet water filter already provides all of the parts needed for proper installation. But on the other hand, there are a few that do not give you all of the parts required and many even forget to add the Teflon tape, although you can find it in certain models as well.

To install, please use the following instructions:

• Remove the aerator on your faucet. It’s possible that it is screwed on quite tightly, so you need to have an adjustable wrench available to twist it off just in case you cannot do it by hand.
• Take the aerator and place it on top of the inserts inside the box. Choose the right insert that fits your faucet.
• Next, screw the newly combined insert aerator on to the faucet.
• Fourth, the filter can now be mounted onto the insert aerator.
• Fifth, it’s time to insert the cartridge into the filter.
• Sixth, turn your water on. Let the water run for a minimum of 10 minutes. Afterward you can taste the water to test it out. This step lets it activate.
• Lastly, look at your filter and make sure there aren’t any leaks. If you see the filter is leaking, remove it and add additional Teflon tape to stop the problem dead in its tracks.

Cleaning and Replacement

Depending on the make and model of your faucet water filter, replacing the cartridge may be different than our instructions. Although, for the wide majority, it’s very easy to change the filter itself and it will only take you a matter of minutes to complete the project.

If your water filter has a change sensor, you should pay close attention to the indicator lights and swap out the old filter for a new one at the appropriate time.

If there is no sensor present, it’s up to you to keep track of when the faucet water filter should be changed. Make a point to write the date down on your calendar to know when you installed the new filter so you can change it at the appropriate time.

For the most part, your faucet water filter will have a capacity indicator on it. The majority of them last roughly 100 gallons, 200 gallons, and sometimes even more. But this might not mean anything if you do not know how many gallons of water you’ve used.

The average household in America drinks two gallons of water per person daily. So, a quick way to get a rough estimate is to take the number of people in your home and multiply it by two. So if two people live in your home, you’re consuming four gallons of drinking water each day. 

If your filter has a 200-gallon capacity, you’ll need to change it every 50 days, give or take a week or two depending on your consumption.

If your filter shows signs of limescale deposits, you should take a rag, soak it in lime or lemon juice or even vinegar, and thoroughly clean the filter off. These substances combined with water should have no trouble removing the unwanted limescale.

FAQ

• How should I get rid of old faucet water filters? They are recyclable. Contact the manufacturer to get a return shipping label if you don’t already have one. But some of them will already send you the return shipping label with the filter, so keep it so you can recycle it later on.
• How often should I change my water filter? If the filter has an indicator light, you should follow the instructions on the sensor. If not, do your best to calculate the amount of water used by your household and come up with an estimate based on the capacity of your filter.
• Can my model remove limescale? For the most part, they do not remove limescale. They aren’t capable of removing magnesium or calcium from the water, so keep this in mind.

Final Thoughts

The great thing about faucet water filters today is they do a great job, and they do remove a wide range of contaminants from the water supply. Some filters are designed with better technology, and some can remove a wide range of contaminants, including 70 different possible pollutants.

When choosing the best faucet water filter for you, find one that is capable of filtering known contaminants in your own water supply. So test your water before purchasing your filter to determine which option is best suited for your home and family.

We recommend choosing the Engdenton . It’s high-quality, uses world-class technology; it’s affordable and attractive. It uses high-quality materials and has been said to have incredible water pressure output in comparison to similar products on the market. Quite simply, it’s a welcome addition to your kitchen faucet that will improve the quality of water for you and your family for many years to come. We always say you get out of your body what you put into your body, so why opt for contaminated water when you could purify it directly from the tap?