What is a Faucet Water Filter?

Many people have turned to drinking bottled water as opposed to tap water. This is not surprising given that municipal tap water often contains contaminants and chemicals that at the very least makes the water unpalatable and at its worst can sometimes make you sick. However, is bottled water really the healthier option? The truth is manufacturers of bottled water are not as strictly regulated as most municipal water sources so the level of contaminants in bottled water can be comparable if not worse than the water coming out of your kitchen faucet. So, what is the solution to finding clean, purified water? The answer is the faucet water filter.

Faucet water filters are simply water purification systems that are designed to be installed into most standard sized kitchen faucets. While the level of filtration varies from system to system, most faucet water filters will adequately filter out contaminants in your water such as chlorine, lead and other heavy metals. Most experts agree that the best faucet water filters are those that filter the water using ion exchanges in conjunction with active carbon filters. Unlike other methods, such as reverse osmosis and point of use distillation, using carbon filters is really the only method that removes all of the contaminants from your drinking water while leaving the essential minerals our bodies need.

Installation of a faucet water filter is easy and straightforward. To install, simply unscrew the aerator on your existing kitchen faucet and then screw in your new faucet water filter. While typically more expensive than a pitcher filter, faucet water filters are still reasonably priced and less expensive than an under the sink filtration system. Faucet water filters also have an advantage over pitcher filters in that they purify the water straight out of the tap and therefore do not require continuous refilling.

To keep a faucet water filter operating at maximum efficiency it is important to change the filter cartridges as needed. While most filtration systems have a gauge that will indicate exactly when a filter cartridge needs to replaced, expect to change the filter on your faucet water filter every three months or so. This may vary depending on how often it is used.

Most faucet water filters also have an on and off switch. This allows you to purify the water you consume but not necessarily the water with which you wash your dishes. This is a nice feature, as it will save you wear and tear on your filter cartridges.

If you're not sure whether you need a faucet water filter, there are several different test kits you can buy at your local hardware store that will test the level of contaminants in your drinking water.