Best Countertop Water Filter
Having to decide what type of countertop filter you want is an almost impossible decision to make. There are so many concerns that crowd your mind like will it be a space-efficient design? Will it attach to my faucet? How much water does it clean? When should I replace the filters? Are they eco-friendly? And the most important question: will it clean tap water effectively?
Well, I have kept all of these questions in mind while choosing the 10 best countertop water filters that will surely make your life a whole lot easier.
Our Best Countertop Water Filter That Will Give You Clean Water Everyday
PRODUCT |
CAPACITY |
BEST FOR |
HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES |
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1500 gallons | Best Overall |
|
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1 gallon every 5.5 hour | Best High-End |
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750 gallons | Best Value |
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10000 gallons | Best Budget Pick |
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1. New Wave Enviro 10 Stage
Highlighted Features
- 10-stage filter system
- Space-saving design
- Environmentally friendly
- Filters 1500 gallons
- NSF-certified
New Wave Enviro Water Filter System removes the harmful contaminants that are found in tap water. It has a 10-stage filtering process through which it cleans the bacteria in the water. The filter cleans about 1500 gallons of water and you can change the filter after a year. This filter is great for a small family plus it is safe and easy to use and install as well.
Construction: It is constructed beautifully with a compact design. It has an off-white color, is made of plastic and the nozzle is chrome. It is environment-friendly as you don’t have to use bottled water daily and can use filtered tap water, saving the earth as well as saving yourself the money.
Function: The 10-stage water filtering system removes lead, trihalomethanes, organic arsenic & inorganic arsenic, mercury, chlorine, PCBs, and removes organic contaminants, pesticides & herbicides as well. Isn’t it great that such a small thing can work wonders and is saving you from a serious illness that can occur if you drink contaminated water? The filter installation is so easy that you can easily switch back and forth as needed like when you want tap water you can easily switch to it or if you want filtered water you can install it to get clean and safe water for drinking. It is mentioned that you can only attach this filter to the standard faucet and not any other faucets that are of different designs.
For installation, there are certain easy steps that you must follow to clean the water properly. First, you have to take out the filter from a foil bag and you must rinse it through with cold water. Secondly, you need to place the cartridge that comes with the filter and place it on top of the base so that the arrow on it is placed downwards. Thirdly, you have to remove the aerator or strainer from the faucet. When you have completed these steps you can turn the water on and pull the diverter valve so that the water goes through.
Cleaning and maintenance: The filter needs to be replaced after a year. If you don’t replace it in time it will greatly affect the taste of the water.
Pros
- Filters harmful contaminants
- Filters water quite efficiently
- 1500 gallons of water is filtered
- Is eco-friendly and saves space
- Easy to use and install
Cons
- Filter drips even if turned off
2. Megahome Water Distiller
Highlighted Features
- 304 stainless steel interior
- Automatic shut-off operation
- Filters 1 gallon in 5.5 hours
- Removes contaminants
- UL approved
Megahome distiller comes with a variety of features making it a great gadget to be used in any house. It has the capability to remove the contaminants in about 5.5 hours. It has a special feature that it turns off automatically if there is just half an inch of water left. Moreover, it is a UL-approved product. Let’s see what else this product has for us.
Construction: Megahome distiller is constructed with a heavy-duty metal with a baked enamel finish. This is only the exterior part of the body; the interior is made with 304 stainless steel and the exterior part doesn’t come in contact with the water which is a plus point. The other half in which the clean water is collected is made up of glass and it has a porcelain-lined nozzle.
Function: Megahome Countertop distiller removes not only the contaminants from the water but also the toxins that cloud the water. It cleans the water by bringing it up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit (boiling point) and then the liquid enters the stainless steel chamber where the water is cooled down. However, it cleans 1 gallon of water in 5.5 hours which is very efficient. Megahome comes with 6 high-quality charcoal filters that are optional to use. They are used when volatile organic compounds are present in the water like chlorine or any other toxins. So what these filters do is capture such toxins and remove them through the distillation process.
It has to be filled manually as it is not connected to any faucet. You just need to remove the lid and simply pour in the water, and then press the reset button so that it can start to filter the contaminated water. Moreover, it has an auto shut-off function that allows the machine to automatically turn off if there is just half an inch of water left at the bottom of the distiller. This gadget is UL-approved which is quite hard to get in the US with an electric appliance but this one has been approved on the basis of its long-lasting feature and safety.
Cleaning and maintenance: This gadget requires cleaning after every 30 gallons of water that it filters. Moreover, it comes with a cleaner in order to clean the boiling chamber with ease.
Pros
- Plastic doesn’t come in contact with water
- No pro work is needed for the installation
- Filters 1 gallon per 5.5 hours
- Cleans the contaminants efficiently
- Is a UL-approved product
Cons
- Runs on electricity
3. Apex Drinking Water Filter
Highlighted Features
- Alkaline water filter system
- Filters 750 gallons
- Easy installation
- Environmentally friendly
Apex filters out the commonly found contaminants in water and is capable of filtering 750 gallons of water. This filter is only attachable to a standard faucet, not any other designed faucet. This filter follows NSF and FDA guidelines so it provides water free of contaminants and makes sure it is safe for the family.
Construction: APEX countertop filter is made of BPA-free plastic which is also lead-free. It has a beautiful and clear design from which you can also see the filter. The nozzle is made of chrome. You can use it easily as the nozzle is upwards and not downwards like a spigot.
Function: APEX countertop filter can be installed easily without any professional help, as it is an easy do-it-yourself installation. For installation, you need to remove the aerator screen from your faucet so that you can screw on the collar of the APEX diverter valve. Do remember it cannot be installed on any designer faucets but only on the standard faucet.
It removes the contaminants that are found abundantly in tap water. It filters cryptosporidium and giardia cysts which lead to water-borne illnesses. The filter also filters chlorine, sediment, radon, and mercury through the carbon block which is present in the filter. APEX filters about 750 gallons and is huge on saving loads of money which anyone can spend on bottled water daily.
Cleaning and maintenance: APEX does not require cleaning that often but if the filter has filtered 750 gallons of water then you definitely need to replace it. The filtering efficiency will be compromised if you don’t replace it. Moreover, in the bigger picture, it is environmentally friendly as you won’t be using plastic water bottles on a daily basis for drinking clean water. With this filter, you will be saving the world from the plastic bottle pile-ups.
Pros
- Made of BPA-free and lead-free plastic
- Produces alkaline water
- Environmentally friendly
- Removes harmful contaminants
- Follows NSF and FDA guidelines
Cons
- Not attachable to designer faucets
4.Cleanwater4less Water Filtration System
Highlighted Features
- Stainless steel finish
- 5-stage filter system
- Easy installation
- No replacement needed
This filter can clean up to 10000 gallons and you don’t need any replacement for filters. It can easily fit onto the standard faucet. Moreover, no professional help is needed for installing the filter as you can do it yourself quite easily.
Construction: Cleanwater4less filter has a stainless steel finish and also a chrome faucet. Moreover, it is sealed from the top but you can connect it with a faucet for filtering the water.
Function: This filter has a 5-stage filter system that cleans or filters volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and also filters an unusual taste or odor that is present in the water. It filters 10000 gallons of water, a quantity that other filters do not. For installation, you can do it manually by attaching the tube to your standard faucet and it effectively filters the impurities that are found in the water.
Cleaning and maintenance: There is no need to clean this filter as it comes with a sealed top and the filters that are in this gadget are non-replaceable.
Pros
- Has a stainless steel finish with a chrome faucet
- Has a 5-stage filtering system
- Filters impurities effectively
- Easy to install
Cons
- Filters cannot be replaced
- Might compromise the taste of water after a certain period of use
5. Home Master Water Filtration System
Highlighted Features
- 3-stage filter system
- Long-reach chrome faucet
- Space-saving design
- Portable
Home Master Water Filtration System filters 93 percent of chlorine, fluoride, etc but it doesn’t remove the dissolved solids such as calcium or magnesium minerals. It works with the 3-stage filter to provide you with clean and fresh water free of all the impurities. With its space-saving design, it can be used whenever or wherever you want. As far as the portability is concerned, its compact size allows you to take it anywhere you want quite conveniently.
Construction: It has a beautiful construction of white plastic and it has a long-reach chrome faucet which allows you to use it conveniently without any discomfort.
Function: This filter has a 3-stage filter system that removes chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals like VOCs and TOCs which are found in tap water. Its compact design allows you to simply adjust this filter on top of your sink for convenient use. Moreover, its long reach faucet helps you fill your glass with complete ease. The filter can only be attached to the standard faucet as it can’t be attached to other designer faucets. For installation, you just have to adjust the faucet adapter to your standard faucet and it will filter the water in a couple of minutes.
Cleaning and maintenance: This filter has the capacity to filter 500 gallons of water and after that, you have to replace the filter, approximately after 3 months, as its filtering capability will most certainly be affected for the worse.
Pros
- Has a 3-stage filter system
- Has a compact yet portable design
- Has a space-saving design
- Has a long-reach chrome faucet
- Filters 500 gallons of water
Cons
- Only removes 93 percent of the chemicals
- Filter replacement after 3 months can be costly for some
6. APEC Water Systems RO-CTOP-C
Highlighted Features
- 4-stage filter system
- Removes 99% of harmful chemicals
- Has an aluminium case
- WQA certified
APEC filter system removes 99% of the harmful contaminants with its 4-stage filter system which other filters fail to provide. It is highly efficient in providing clean water with its reverse osmosis filtration system. You can install it without any inconvenience but it can only be installed or can fit on the standard faucet and not any other faucets.
Construction: It consists of 4 filters that can be changed easily if you want. These filters are covered with an aluminum case which gives an exemplary look to your topside sink.
Function: This filter is capable of filtering 3 gallons per hour and the flow rate of water is about 40-89 psi. Filters are made to last longer and have a high performance due to the reverse osmosis filtration system. For installation, you can easily connect it to your standard faucet to get clean water free of all impurities. It is portable and convenient to use and, moreover, is perfect for a small-sized family. This product has a WQA certification which ensures that this product provides fresh and clean water.
Cleaning and maintenance: The manufacturer doesn’t mention exactly when you need to replace the filters. But you will know when to change the filter even if there is no indicator device. The taste of the water will change and because of that, you will know that the filters need to be replaced.
Pros
- Filters are covered with aluminum case
- Has a 4-stage filter system
- 99% removal of all impurities
- Has WQA certification
- Portable and easy to install
Cons
- No indicator to know when to change the filters
- The flow rate of water is slow
7. Big Berkey Gravity-Fed
Highlighted Features
- Removes 99.9999% of bacteria
- Long-lasting filters
- Eco-friendly
- Test by NMCL
Big Berkey is capable of holding 2.25 gallons of water. It removes 99.9999% of the harmful substances, making the water free of all the impurities or bacteria that reside in the water. The filters are long-lasting which makes the gadget quite convenient. Moreover, this feature makes it eco-friendly.
Construction: Big Berky has a full construction of stainless steel; both upper and lower parts in which the water is collected. It has a spigot that is attached to the lower part of the Big Berky for you to use it conveniently.
Function: Big Berky has been tested by the NMCL for the contaminants found in water. It filters 6000 gallons of water, providing you fresh and clean liquid to drink. Moreover, it removes 99.9999% of harmful bacteria including the VOCs. In order to fill this filter, you have to do it manually by adding water from the top. And it filters the water in the lower part, making it easy for you to pour water into your glass through the spigot.
Cleaning and maintenance: The filters need to be replaced every 6 months otherwise your health might be compromised by a faulty filter that is not removing all the impurities from your tap water.
Pros
- Constructed with stainless
- steel removes 99.9999% of the harmful contaminants
- Has long-lasting filter life
- Is environment-friendly
Cons
- Takes a lot of space on the countertop
- Needs to be filled manually
8. Aquasana Drinking Water Filter
Highlighted Features
- Reduces up to 77 contaminants
- Reduction of heavy metals
- Reduction of organic chemicals
- NSF Certified
Aquasana countertop water filter is a countertop water filter that is NSF certified to remove a large number of contaminants. It has a Claryum filtration technology with a three-stage filtration system that helps to retain the beneficial minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Hence, with easy installation and maintenance, you get a healthier and better-tasting water free of contaminants and other impurities.
Construction: Aquasana filters are made of plastic. They are NSF-certified and have a Claryum three-stage filtration system. You just need to attach a diverter to your kitchen faucet to install this filter.
Function: These water filters work efficiently with multiple stages of filtration. There is an activated carbon filter to reduce organic contaminants and catalytic carbon to remove chlorine & chloramine. There is an ion-exchange process that removes heavy metals like lead and mercury. Finally, mechanical filtration with micron pores filters asbestos, cryptosporidium, and giardia. Moreover, with this effective filtration, you don’t have to worry about the contaminants leaching back into your water.
The beneficial minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which are good for your health, are retained during the process of filtration. So you get healthier water with good taste.
Cleaning and maintenance: You need to replace the filters every 6 months to maintain the efficiency of the filtration process.
Pros
- Reduces harmful contaminants
- Space-efficient
- Multiple-stage filtration
- No leaching back of contaminants
- Easy installation & maintenance
Cons
- The water flow rate is slow
9. Bawell Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine
Highlighted Features
- 2-stage internal filtration system
- Optional 3-stage external filtration
- Displays pH & ORP
- Makes alkaline and acidic water
Bawell water ionizer can ionize water to make it alkaline for drinking purposes and also acidic for cleaning purposes. It has a range of pH between 2.0 to 12.0. and an ORP of +600mV to -800mV that helps you get ionized water for yourself and your family. The installation is a breeze as the manufacturer provides a manual as well as a DVD for facilitating your installation process. Moreover, alkaline water provides a number of benefits which are quite good.
Construction: Bawell Platinum water ionizer has 2 internal filters that are labeled blue and green. There is an optional external filtration system as well that includes 3 filters. There are universal faucet adapters available with the product that help you connect the water ionizer to any faucet with an aerator in your house. This machine is compact, weighing only 12 pounds, which enables you to place it anywhere on the countertop.
The manufacturer provides a complete user manual along with a DVD video to help you get through the installation process without a hassle. This machine displays the pH and ORP of the water. It also has alkaline and acidic water settings that enable you to change the pH accordingly.
Function: The machine for alkaline water cannot be placed under the sink. You need to connect it to a faucet or a water line under your sink. You need a certain constant amount of pressure of about 20-pounds-per-square-inch to ionize the water. If the tap water or well water that you are using fluctuates and does not maintain constant pressure, then this machine won’t be suitable for ionizing the water.
Some people consider the stages of filtration to increase the quality of drinking water. This particular machine has a 2-stage internal filtration system and if there is a need of added filtration, there is a 3-stage external filtration as well. You can make acidic or alkaline water as per your needs.
Cleaning and maintenance: You need to change the filters once every year as recommended by the manufacturer. However, the machine has a 5000-liter life span and there is a life span meter on the front of the machine that displays the amount of water that has been filtered. It starts at 0 and goes to 5000 which would indicate that it’s time to replace the filters.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Multipurpose function of making water alkaline
- Displays the amount of water-filtered
- A proper installation guide provided
- Internal and external filtration
Cons
- The face dial font is small
10.ISpring CKC1C Water Filter
Highlighted Features
- 5-micron carbon block cartridge
- Removes 95% of chlorine
- See-through clear housing
- Leak-free installation
- KitchenFaction Rating
ISpring carbon block filters have a 5-micron carbon cartridge with a highly compact fabrication technology to provide efficient filtration. It removes 95% chlorine, odors, rust, and other contaminants. It is also very effective in removing organic compounds like pesticides and industrial chemicals.
Construction: There is a see-through clear housing that enables you to examine the filter without disassembling it and you also get to know when to change it. The CTO carbon filter is high-quality and the complete filtration set includes a plastic wrench, two faucet adapters, tubing and O-ring for a leak-free installation.
Function: There are a variety of color options available so you can choose one that goes best with your kitchen. Also, the design of the machine is compact so it is space-efficient and can be placed anywhere conveniently. The installation process is quite easy; you just need to unscrew the aerator, connect the diverter valve to the faucet and turn it in a perpendicular direction to get filtered water.
This filter is a multi-stage filter and removes different contaminants at different stages. At the initial stage, it removes germs, dust, rust, and other particles. Then it removes chlorine and volatile organic compounds like pesticides and herbicides. After that, it removes iron, atrazine, and asbestos. Finally, you get clean water with a balanced pH. In the end, it also has a filter to remove any remaining germs, dust, rust, or other particles.
Cleaning and maintenance: You can see the condition of the filter through the clear housing so you get to know quite easily when to change it. However, it has a one-year working life so you need to change the filter at least once every year.
Pros
- Sleek and elegant design
- Compact and space-efficient
- Multi-stage filtration
- Efficient removal of contaminants
- Easy installation
Cons
- The filtration process is slow
Things To Look For Before Buying!
There are many countertop filters available and each has a different capability to filter water.
So, the following are the things you should consider before buying a countertop water filter:
- How much water does it filter?
- How often should it be cleaned?
- Does it clean all the contaminants?
- Does it save space?
- Is it safe and easy to use?
- Is it eco-friendly?
Buying Guide
What Is A Countertop Water Filter?
A filter that you can easily install close to your sink is called a countertop water filter. It has a spout for easy pouring and it is also designed in such a way that it improves the quality of the water that you consume daily. It helps to remove the contaminants from your drinking water very efficiently– almost 90% of the contaminants are removed by all the models in the market.
You can not only drink safe and pure water from the countertop filter but you can also help in saving the environment as well from the plague of plastic bottles. Surely, a water filter will keep you away from the disposable plastic water bottles resulting in less usage of plastic and a healthier environment.
These countertop filters are not very large in size. In fact, they can easily be placed near your sinks without any difficulty. Moreover, these filters are portable so you can carry them wherever you want. You can also take them with you when you go on a picnic or for any recreational activity. These filters are not permanently installed, which is why they can be easily transported.
How Can The Installation Of A Countertop Water Filter Be Done?
The process of installing a countertop water filter is not very tedious. All you need is a wrench (which can also be of plastic in some cases). The process is as follows:
- Place the filter so that it is not only near the faucet but also does not hinder your movement while you are working.
- Unscrew the aerator from the faucet head.
- Screw the filter onto the faucet if the thread is outside the faucet. In case the thread is inside the faucet, you need to use an adapter for the connection. Make sure you do not screw the adapter too tight as it can be damaged unintentionally.
- Then, connect the diverter valve with the faucet. After that, when the water is run, it should flow out from the faucet.
- Turn the diverter valve so that the water starts flowing from the water filter.
Why Do You Need A Countertop Water Filter? Assessing The Pros And Cons:
Advantages of countertop water filters:
Countertop filters are space-efficient so they don’t take up much space. However, this quality does not affect its capacity to hold an ample amount of water and some filters can even hold up to 5 gallons. They can also be installed easily. If you get the ones with a faucet, you just have to attach it to your kitchen faucet and it is ready to use. They are efficient as well as they can remove most of the contaminants along with detestable taste and smells like that of chlorine, pesticides or pharmaceuticals.
The maintenance of these filters is also quite easy. You simply have to change the cartridges once their maximum capacity is reached. There are different features that help you determine when to change the cartridges. You can just tick the number of gallons of water used with the counter provided in some of the models. Also, some have a colour-coded system that warns you when to change the cartridges.
Most importantly, you get water that is beneficial for your health with minerals added back to it by remineralizing water. Some countertop filters have this feature where minerals like calcium and magnesium are added back to the water with a post-filter attachment. Therefore, the water that you are getting has the contaminants removed and the minerals added. Priming the filter cartridges of countertop water filters is also pretty easy. Some of the manufacturers provide complete instructions in the form of a manual and some through videos as well.
Disadvantages of countertop water filters:
The pros of any product are accompanied by certain cons too. The same is the case with these countertop water filters. They affect the decor of your kitchen and do not look as appealing as water filter pitchers. Moreover, in terms of efficiency, there are lots of filtering solutions that filter far more contaminants than countertop water filters. Another drawback is that they are really very slow. Some faucet water filters can have a faster filtration rate than the water filter pitchers but still, they are slower.
How Does A Countertop Water Filter Work?
The working of a countertop filter is quite complicated although it may seem simple at a glance. It also varies with different products as some water filters may use extra stages for their filtration process. Most commonly, the countertop water filter works in the following way:
- The first stage is that of mechanical filtration where the filter has 0.1 to 0.3-micron pores and the water is passed through it. At this point, contaminants such as rust, sediments, large bacteria and parasites, and other impurities are removed.
- The second stage deals with the water-softening process. Here, ion exchange takes place that removes calcium and magnesium to make the water soft. Also, toxins and heavy metals are removed.
- The third stage involves activated carbon filtration. This may be the most important stage of filtration where organic contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, disinfectants, and chlorine are removed from the water.
- The fourth stage is an optional one where alkalization takes place. Here, the use of infrared rays makes the water more alkaline by ionizing the acidic elements of water.
- The fifth stage is also an optional one where KDF filtration is done. Elements such as iron, mercury, lead, chlorine and hydrogen sulfide are neutralized and reduced by the KDF filter.
- The sixth stage, again an optional one, consists of a silver filter. Whatever bacteria, viruses, toxins, and heavy metals that are still left in water are removed with the help of a silver filter.
- The last stage of remineralization, though optional, is quite effective for your health. Here, a remineralization cartridge, that releases calcium and magnesium ions, makes the water healthier for you to drink.
Tap Water Is Contaminated And Can Lead To Cancer As Well
In order to kill your thirst, you quickly reach your tap and fill your glass to have a drink. But have you ever wondered if the water you’re drinking is clean and not harmful to your health? Well if you haven’t then here’s some important information that I found about the contaminants in tap water that can be dangerous to your health and can even lead to cancer as well. What you can do to avoid this is to install filters that can provide you with clean, contaminant-free water.
Lead Can Contaminate Tap Water!
Do you know what material the underground pipelines are made of? Well, if they are of lead and they haven’t been replaced in a long time then surely, particles by tiny particles, lead can get into the running water hence contaminating it. You need to be careful and take precautionary measures to avoid this contamination.
Do You Still Have Any Queries?
There are general queries that can be mind-boggling for some. So, to put your mind at ease and to help you get to know your countertop water filters, I have addressed a few questions that may be helpful in finding the right filter for your kitchen.
Can Chlorine Be Removed From The Tap Water With Countertop Water Filters?
Of course. A carbon water filter or a multi-stage water filter will help eliminate chlorine effectively. As a fitness and health expert, Mohit Sharma states on Quora that carbon filters effectively remove chlorine and bad odours.
Should Filtered Water Be Preferred Over Bottled Water?
You can choose filtered water over bottled one every time. As filtered water doesn’t have contaminants and, in most models, the minerals are also not removed which means the healthier choice is filtered water.
Can The Growth Of Bacteria Occur In A Faucet Water Filter?
Yes, the growth of bacteria does occur in a faucet filter as confirmed by a study conducted by Nancy Love that examined the growth of bacteria in activated carbon filters. It was published in the journal Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. You need to maintain your filters, replace filter cartridges regularly, and flush water for 20 seconds before turning on the filter and for another 5 to 10 seconds after turning on the filter.
How Will You Determine When To Change The Filter? Taste Or Water Flow Rate Can Be Helpful?
Surely not. You just need to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer on when to change the filters.
Is A Big Countertop Needed For A Countertop Water Filter?
Of course not! The latest countertop water filters are quite space-efficient and can be placed anywhere near your sink without becoming a hindrance in your workplace.
Can A Countertop Water Filter Be Connected To More Than One Faucet?
You can only connect one faucet at a time to a countertop water filter. However, the installation of these filters is quite easy so you can easily place them wherever you need to.
Conclusion
With this comprehensive review of the countertop water filters, I am pretty sure that you will be able to choose the most appropriate water filter for your kitchen. Go right ahead and transform your life by switching to a healthier drinking water option.
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