Depending on where you live, sometimes the tap water can be pretty undrinkable. Whether it’s a bad taste, weird smell, or discoloration, many people opt for bottled water.
This can get really expensive in the long term, and it’s not environmentally friendly to say the least. Thankfully, there’s a better option. That option is a faucet mounted water filter.
These filters can be installed right onto the faucet itself. They filter the water instantly once you open the faucet, so you have pure filtered water whenever you need it.
It’s so much more convenient and faster than a water filtration pitcher, which does the same thing but just a lot slower.
In our list, you will find some of the best options available on the market when it comes to faucet mounted water filters.
Most faucet water filters are pretty small and not intrusive to your kitchen.
They’re also really quick and easy to install, and they don’t require any replacement of the faucet itself, it just fits right onto the preexisting faucet.
This makes it a perfect option for those who rent houses or apartments and can’t do any construction work or renovation to their living space.
Contents
Why Get A Faucet Water Filter?
So why do you need a filter for your faucet? Let’s look into some of the main reasons why you should invest in one of the faucet mounted water filters on our list.
Safe, Great Tasting Water
A faucet water filter will remove numerous contaminants from your water that could otherwise make it foul tasting or even dangerous to drink.
Depending on where you live, the water could be heavily chlorinated, and it could be abundant in harmful heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic.
Some water filters have inbuilt materials to increase the pH of the water to make it more alkaline. This can be beneficial if you live in an area with acidic tap water.
The bottom line is that a faucet water filter ensures that the water you’re getting from your kitchen or bathroom sink is safe and tastes fresh, crisp, and clean every single time.
Reduce Plastic Waste
Reduce the amount of single-use plastics you use by investing in an inexpensive adapter for your faucet rather than buying bottled water.
Additionally, bottled water isn’t just bad for the environment but it can take a toll on your wallet in the long run.
With a faucet water filter, you can get bottled-quality water right from your own home for the fraction of the cost.
Filtered Water On Tap
Pitcher filters are just as effective at removing any contaminants from tap water, but they take a long time to refill and filter the water.
It can take at least a few minutes to just make a few cups of filtered tap water. A faucet water filter, on the other hand, provides filtered tap water instantaneously.
If you need to make a lot of filtered water every day for drinking, cooking, washing etc. you would be much better off with a faucet water filter rather than a pitcher filter.
However, it’s worth noting that a faucet water filter does not provide sufficient filtration if the water in your area has heavy pollutants, dangerous contaminants, or heavy chlorination, then you should look into purchasing an under sink or countertop filter that has a bigger capacity and a stronger filtration system.
It’s also important to mention that faucet water filters won’t be compatible with all kinds of faucets. Some modern pull-down styles of faucets won’t be able to fit a faucet mounted water filter on them.
All that being said, if you need an inexpensive, quick, easy, and portable option for water filtration, then a faucet mounted water filter is a great choice.
Best Faucet Water Filter
| Top Picks | Features | |
|---|---|---|
1. Waterdrop 320 Gallon Water Faucet |
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2.WINGSOL Faucet Filter  |
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3. PUR FM-3333B Faucet Mount Water Filter |
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4. Culligan FM-15A Faucet Mount Filter |
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5. Brita Basic Faucet Water Filter |
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Waterdrop 320 Gallon Water Faucet
Waterdrop are one of the newer companies featured on our list, but their products have the level of quality that is expected from a seasoned water filtration brand.
With its sleek, modern design, the Waterdrop faucet water filter wouldn’t look out of place in even the most modern kitchen.
The Waterdrop faucet filter sits vertically upon the faucet, saving you valuable space around the sink for washing dishes and filling your water bottle.
It is designed so that the faucet sits between the filter cartridge and the filter leverage. This sturdy design minimizes the pressure upon the cartridge as you turn the lever.
The filtration cartridge within the Waterdrop features a five-step filtration system. There are stainless steel meshes that are placed before and after the filters, along with cotton layers for the removal of smaller particles.
In addition, the filter cartridge contains activated carbon for the removal of organic compounds as well as chlorine. This carbon filter allows for great tasting water on demand.
The Waterdrop’s filter has a high capacity as a single cartridge can filter up to 320 gallons of tap water. That makes it one of the highest capacity filters on our list.
However, this filter does not have an indicator that tells you when the filter cartridge needs to be replaced.
Waterdrop faucet filters are also have NSF 42 and NSF 372 certification, meaning they help to reduce chlorine and lead levels.
- Sleek design
- Large 320-gallon capacity
- Strong carbon filter for sediment and chlorine
- No indicator to replace the filter
WINGSOL Faucet Filter
This very inexpensive faucet water filter does not disappoint when it comes to the quality of the filtration.
With NSF 42 and 53 certification, this compact device really delivers great tasting and pure filtered water. It’s designed to significantly reduce heavy metals such as lead, chlorine, and mercury by up to 99.6%, while also enhancing the taste of your water and infusing it with alkaline and mineral elements.
The WINGSOL Faucet Filter features a sturdy stainless steel housing, blending well with chrome faucets.
You’ll appreciate the high flow rate of 2L per minute coupled with a 360° swivel design that enables water output in any direction you wish.
Featuring an inbuilt antimicrobial product within the filter’s housing, you can rest assured that this filter will not get germs or bacteria building up inside it over long term use.
The WINGSOL faucet water filter is designed to sit vertically next to the head of the faucet.
With a 220 gallon capacity filter included with the unit, you can easily get 2 to 3 months of use from it before replacing the filter.
- Multi-functional 5-in-1 feature
- Durable lead-free 304 stainless steel design
- Easy installation with no tools required
- Can’t reduce Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
- Periodic filter replacements needed
PUR FM-3333B Faucet Mount Water Filter
The PUR faucet mounted water filter features a sleek vertical design that can effectively remove up to 70 different contaminants from tap water in an instant.
The vertical design of the PUR water filter is preferred by many as it maximizes the amount of space around the sink, making it easier to wash dishes and such.
It also has a sleek white finish that looks very modern. The housing is made from a high quality plastic.
The PUR features a filter system that consists of two stages. The first of which removes any sediment, heavy metals, and chlorine and the second stage introduces healthy minerals back into the water.
This filtration system is guaranteed to remove 99% of lead, 92% of certain pesticides, and 96% of mercury.
The PUR comes with a filter cartridge that has a capacity of 100 gallons. This should last approximately 3 months of consistent use before the cartridge will need to be replaced.
This unit features an indicator light that lets the user know when the filter cartridge needs to be replaced. This indicator light is battery operated, but the battery cannot be replaced.
This battery should last approximately 3 years, after which the indicator light will no longer operate and the entire unit will need to be replaced (or the user will have to remember when to replace the filter cartridge!)
- Certified to remove 99% of lead
- Easy to install
- Filter cartridge replacement indicator light
- Space saving vertical design
- Relatively low filter capacity (100 gallons)
Culligan FM-15A Faucet Mount Filter
Culligan is a trusted name in water filtration, and their FM series is a popular choice for many people. This filtration device is NSF certified, and it is constructed from a lightweight plastic.
It features 2 connectors that come with the unit, and it can be installed easily on any standard style of faucet. Installation is very quick and easy, and it doesn’t require any special tools to do so.
If any of the components for the unit develops a fault or starts leaking, Culligan will happily replace any of the components such as the connectors.
The filtration system within the Culligan faucet mounted filter is certified by NSF against ANSI STandard 42 and 53.
This means that the filter effectively removes contaminants that can be harmful to health, and it can greatly improve the taste, clarity, and odor of the tap water.
It is also able to effectively filter out pollutants such as asbestos, lead, chlorine and VOCs.
The Culligan comes with a filter cartridge that has a capacity of 200 gallons before it will need replacing. This means that you will be able to get up to 3 or 4 months of use from a single filter cartridge.
There is no light to indicate when the cartridge needs to be replaced, so it’s a good idea to write down when you replace the filter cartridge and arrange when you should replace it.
- Effectively removes VOCs, lead, and chlorine
- Greatly improves odor, clarity, and taste of water
- Easy to install
- Compaxct design
- Slow flow rate
Brita Basic Faucet Water Filter
Brita is a big name in the world of water purification and filtration. Their “Basic” faucet water filtration system lives up to the positive reputation that the brand has garnered over the years.
With its plain white plastic design, it isn’t too visually striking, but it certainly has a sleek design.
The plastic enclosure of the Brita Basic is resistant to rust and corrosion. It uses an activated carbon filtration system with a flow rate of approximately 0.5 GPM.
The filter cartridge has a capacity of 100 gallons, which should last from 3 to 4 months of consistent use.
This unit is very easy to install, and it doesn’t require any special tools. It is compatible with most styles of standard kitchen faucets, although it cannot be installed onto a pull-out style faucet.
The activated carbon filter can effectively remove chlorine and lead from the tap water, greatly improving the smell, taste, and the clarity of the water.
The unit also has an indicator light to let the user know when the filter cartridge needs to be replaced.
- Effectively removes lead, mercury, chlorine, and choramines
- Easy to install
- Sleek design and finish
- Inexpensive plastic construction
- Not compatible with pull-out style faucets
Buyers’ Guide
There are a few different things you should be aware of before deciding upon which faucet water filter is the right one for you.
These include the material from which the housing is made, in addition to the type of filter cartridges they use.
Also, you should be aware of the installation requirements of the unit, and if they match to the shape and overall design of your kitchen faucet.
Water Contaminants
Depending on where you live, tap water can be full of contaminants such as pesticides, microorganisms, chemicals, organic compounds, heavy metals and even pharmaceuticals.
The level of drinking water contamination varies by community, so it’s important to research into your own water supply through the Environmental Working Group’s National Drinking Water Database.
Some of the chemicals and contaminants that may be affecting your drinking water include:
- Chlorine and chloramine
- Fluoride
- Lead
- Agricultural chemicals
- Industrial chemicals
Type Of Filtration System
The type of filtration system used in your faucet water filter will determine the level of filtration, Some types are more effective than others.
Reverse osmosis filters are the most effective and are able to remove up to 99% of contaminants.
They cannot be attached to a faucet, however, and carbon filters are used for most commonly used for faucet mounted filters. Active carbon is what you should be looking for in a good faucet water filter.
Material
Most faucet-mounted water filters have either a stainless steel or a plastic enclosure. A lot of manufacturers also offer different finishes, such as a plastic enclosure with a chrome finish.
A stainless steel is recommended for its durability. Plastic faucet water filters are less expensive, and they are less prone to leakage.
A stainless steel filter matches the look of your kitchen sink more than a plastic one.
Flow Rate
The flow rate means how much water can pass through the filter per minute. This is measured in gallons per minute.
Most faucet mounted water filters have a flow rate of around 0.5 GPM. Some may be slower than others, depending on the design and the type of filtration.
Filter Usage And Lifespan
The filter cartridges in faucet mounted water filters have to be replaced every once in a while. Depending on the amount of usage, a filter will last approximately 3 to 4 months before it starts becoming less effective.
Most replacement cartridges will have a capacity of 100 to 200 gallons. It’s a good idea to replace the filter to keep the faucet mounted water filter working effectively.
Filter Change Sensor
Some faucet mounted water filters have a light that indicates when the filter cartridge needs replacing. This is a handy feature to have to remind you to replace your filter cartridges every few months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tap Water Really Need To Be Filtered?
It’s up to you whether you filter your tap water, but if you live in an area where the water is heavily chlorinated or has a bad taste and clarity, then a water filter is a good idea.
Do Pitcher Water Filters Work Better Than Faucet Mounted Water Filters?
Pitcher water filters and faucet mounted water filters do function in largely the same way, but faucet mounted filters are a convenient way to filter water for cooking, cleaning, or drinking.
What Type Of Filter Removes The Most Contaminants?
Reverse osmosis is generally the most effective method of filtering water.
