
5 Best Water Filters
By Dan DeBaunShare
Introduction
Access to clean, safe drinking water is vital for our health and survival, yet we are constantly exposed to all manner of harmful contaminants in our drinking water, even when it has been treated. Consequently, many health-conscious consumers are opting to filter their drinking water using water filters for home use. The best water filters are able to remove a wide range of contaminants commonly found in drinking water, including pathogens, heavy metals and toxic chemicals that can potentially have long-term health impacts. We review five of the best water filters for home use below.
Tips for Selecting the Best Water Filter for Home Use
How to choose the best water filter?
In order to choose the best water filter to meet your needs, you first need to have a clear understanding of your water quality issues so you know exactly what contaminants need to be removed. If your water smells or tastes bad or is discolored, you will no doubt already suspect that there are some nasty contaminants present that are responsible for making your water unpalatable and/or uninviting. But there may be sinister elements lurking (such as lead, PFAS or pesticides, for example) that are not so easy to detect. There may also be contaminants present that may be harmless to human health, but which discolor the water or stain plumbing fixtures and/clothing, or which make your water hard. In order to choose the best water filter for your circumstances it is important to identify what contaminants are present in your water.
There are several ways for you to find out what's in your drinking water. If your drinking water is supplied by a public water system you can analyze your annual drinking water report (Consumer Confidence Report) that will come with your water utility bill. This information is also available on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website. If your town/area is not listed or you obtain your water from a private well, then the best way to determine the quality of your drinking water is to send a sample of your water to a EPA-certified laboratory for testing. Knowing what contaminants you are dealing with will help you narrow down your selection and enable you to select a water filter that is capable of removing the contaminants in question.
What are the advantages/benefits of water filters?
Water filters offer several benefits:
- They reduce our exposure to undesirable contaminants — their most obvious benefit is that they remove harmful pathogens and toxins that could potentially damage our health.
- They improve the taste of water by removing contaminants such as chlorine — typically used in the disinfection process — that give water a chemical taste. As a result, filtered water is not only safer to drink, but tastes great! This encourages us to drink more water, which keeps us hydrated, flushes toxins from the body and promotes good overall health and wellbeing.
- Water filters provide access to clean, safe drinking water at a fraction of the cost of purchasing bottled water.
- They are also a much more environmentally-friendly alternative to bottled water as they don't add a stream of plastic waste in the form of plastic bottles to the environment.
- Besides the cost savings and environmental benefits, water filters also provide safer drinking water compared to bottled water, which has been found to not necessarily be as pure as its made out to be, often containing contaminants such as bisphenol A (BPA) andmicroplastics that are harmful to our health.
- Some water filters for home use are portable, allowing the user to purify water in a wide range of locations and environments, which is especially useful for outdoor enthusiasts and travelers visiting places where water quality may be particularly suspect.
Things to consider when choosing a water filter
There are several things you need to take into account when choosing a water filter, including:
- Filtration capabilities — ideally you should aim for a water filter that is capable of removing a wide range of common drinking water contaminants, but at the bare minimum it should be able to remove any contaminants that routinely occur in your drinking water supply (as identified by your water quality report or lab report), preferably without stripping the water of minerals that are beneficial to your family's health. Read through the fine print to identify exactly which contaminants the water filter is capable of removing, and to what level.
- Independent Certifications — Genuine certifications by NSF International, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and/or the Water Quality Association (WQA) (as opposed to dubious marketing copy that claim the product filters to NSF/ANSI/WQA standards) that verify the water filter is capable of removing the contaminants the manufacturers claim it can.
- Storage capacity, water output and filtering efficiency — How many people will your water filter be catering for — if you have a large family, you will need to invest in a larger system in order to meet the water demands of all the individuals in your family.
- Design type — There are several different types of water filters designed for home use. Are you wanting a whole house water filter that will filter all the water entering your home, including water that is used for cooking, bathing and showering or rather a point-of-use system that is primarily designed to filter drinking water? Are you wanting an under-counter or counter-top system? Would you prefer a system that is plumbed in, a water filter that attaches to your faucet or a portable water filter. Or would you prefer one of the smaller pitcher water filters that you can pop in the refrigerator.
- Mechanical or gravity fed operation — Would you prefer an electrically-powered mechanical water filter or a gravity fed system, bearing in mind that while gravity fed water filters tend to filter water slower, they offer greater flexibility in terms of where they can be used as they do not require a power source in order for them to work. This makes them the perfect choice for off-grid living and for emergency situations such as natural disasters.
- Durability — Are you looking for a cheap, lightweight system or are you willing to invest more in a durable water filter that will provide you with safe drinking water well into the future.
- Affordability — While the initial outlay required to purchase a good quality water filter system can be a deal-breaker for those on a tight budget, before opting for a cheaper water filter you need to consider the cost of replacement filters and how often these need to be replaced in order to keep the system functioning optimally. When you take these expenses into account, you will find that cheaper water filters often tend to cost far more in the long run. So do your homework before you part with your hard-earned cash.
- Warranty — Does the manufacturer of the water filter system you have in mind offer a warranty on any manufacturing or workmanship defects the system may have. You don't want to invest a small fortune on a high-end water filter only to find it has a manufacturing flaw or workmanship defect and there are no comebacks once it leaves the factory.
Best Gravity Fed/Countertop Water Filter
The Big Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter is our top pick in both the Best Gravity Fed and Countertop water filter categories. The Big Berkey comes standard with a set of 2 Black Berkey purification filter elements which can purify up to 3.5 gallons of water per hour. Black Berkey purification elements have been independently certified by State and EPA accredited laboratories to remove a wide range of hazardous contaminants, including pathogenic bacteria and viruses, chlorine, chloramines, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, lead, PFOA, organic and inorganic compounds to levels that exceed EPA 7 ANSI/NSF 53 protocols.
Pros
- Additional Black Berkey purification elements can be added to top chamber to increase flow (purification) rate to 7 gallons per hour
- Up to 4 PF-2 fluoride/arsenic filter elements can be added to lower chamber to remove these contaminants
- 2 re-cleanable and self-sterilizing Black Berkey purification elements will filter 6000 gallons of water before needing to be replaced (however, the lifespan of the PF-2 fluoride/arsenic filters is shorter at 1000 gallons)
- Long filter life makes this system economical over the long-term
- Large 2.1 gallon (8.5 liter) storage capacity makes it ideal for a family of 1-4 (larger and smaller systems are available)
- Aesthetic, durable polished steel design
- Portable, gravity fed system that can be used anywhere
- Manufacturer offers a 6 month warranty for defects in materials and workmanship and a 2 year pro-rated warranty (6-month intervals) on the Black Berkey purification elements.
- Extended lifetime warranty on stainless steel chambers and hardware available if system is purchased from an authorized dealer
Cons
- The Big Berkey fitted with 2 Black Berkey purification elements typically takes around 1-2 hours to process 2.25 gallons of water, which may be a bit slow for those lacking in patience. However, this can be speeded up by adding an additional set of Black Berkey purification elements to the upper chamber.
Best Whole House Water Filter
The Aquasana Whole House Water Filter System will filter all the water entering your home, giving you clean water at every faucet. This is a good option if your water is of very poor quality and you are wanting to filter water used in the bathroom as well as your drinking water. It softens water and reduces chlorine, pesticides, herbicides, rust, silt, sediment, industrial solvents, lead, mercury and other water soluble metals.
Pros
- Can filter 1 million gallons of water before the system will need to be replaced (recommended that filters are changed every 3 months)
- Easy maintenance
- Optional upgrade for UV and/or well water treatment
- 10-year limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship in manufacturing
Cons
- Expensive
- Whole-house systems that remove chlorine may facilitate the growth of harmful microbes in all the pipes in your home
- The warranty is voided if the product is used with parts that are not genuine Aquasana parts, including but is not limited to: replacement filters, faucets, and diverter valves
- Does not remove many contaminants to high degrees due to the high speed at which the water passes through the filter media, limiting this high filtration rate capability
Best Whole House Water Filter for Well Water
The Home Master Whole House 3-Stage Water Filter is an affordable whole house filter for well water that will remove contaminants that are typically present in well water such as algae, large and fine sediments, as well as minerals and heavy metals such as iron that give water a bad taste or smell. This is a good option to install as a pre-filter before treating water further with a drinking water filter (or water softener).
Pros
- Easy to install
- Removes sediments, including iron
- Improves taste and smell of water
- Does not reduce water pressure significantly
- Manufacturer offers a 2 year limited warranty on parts
Cons
- Does not reduce pathogens
- Not effective on chlorinated city water, water containing iron bacteria, or acidic water <7ph
Best Portable Water Filter
The Travel Berkey Water Filter, the baby brother of the Big Berkey above is a great option if you are wanting a compact water filter that can cater for up to three people but won't take up too much space in your suitcase or vehicle (the smaller GoBerkey kit is a good alternative for hikers as it can be slipped into a backpack, offering ultra portability for those on the go, but is more limited with regards to its output).
Pros
- Compact, yet robust, polished steel design
- Portable, gravity fed system that can be used anywhere
- 5 gallon (5.7 liter) storage capacity provides purified water for up to 3 people
- Can purify treated water and raw water when visiting far-flung places
- 2 PF-2 fluoride/arsenic filter elements can be added to lower chamber to remove these contaminants (optional)
- 2 re-cleanable and self-sterilizing Black Berkey purification elements will filter 6000 gallons of water before needing to be replaced (however, the lifespan of the PF-2 fluoride/arsenic filters is shorter at 1000 gallons)
- Long filter life makes this system economical over the long-term
- Manufacturer offers a 6 month warranty for defects in materials and workmanship and a 2 year pro-rata warranty (6-month intervals) on the Black Berkey purification elements.
- Extended lifetime warranty on stainless steel chambers and hardware available if system is purchased from an authorized dealer
Cons
- Takes about an hour to process 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) of water
Best Water Filter Pitcher
The Zero 10-Cup Ready-Pour Pitcher is our pick for the best water filter pitcher due to its 5-stage water filtration and easy to pour design (smaller 6-cup and larger 23-cup and 40-cup versions also available). It can remove chlorine, pesticides and herbicides, and 99.6% of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) such as minerals, salts, fluoride, metals including lead, chemicals, fluoride and runoff that pollutes your drinking water. This is a cheap, handy option to remove common contaminants that make water taste or smell bad, as well as harmful contaminants such as lead.
Pros
- Spigot below the handle for easy dispensing of water
- 5-stage water filtration
- NSF certified to remove lead and chromium
- Comes with a free TDS water quality meter
- Small footprint
- Can be stored in refrigerator
- BPA-free
- Manufacturer offers a limited 90-day warranty on pitcher and TDS meter (30-day warranty on filter cartridges)
Cons
- Water with a high TDS content may need to have filter cartridges replaced more often, which can be expensive and unsustainable over the long-term.
- Filters and stores low volumes of water compared to other larger systems
- Does not remove many contaminants that are present in every day water - considered limited compared to other water filters on the market, and also does not remove viruses.
Best of the Best
When it comes to delivering clean, safe water, the above water filters are the best in their class. However, the Big Berkey stands out as the clear winner and is in our opinion, the best water filter of them all for several reasons. Firstly, it is extremely efficient at removing a wide range of contaminants and has been independently certified to remove hazardous contaminants such as lead, bacteria and viruses, pesticides and other harmful chemicals, and more. It does not require a power source to operate and is fully portable, so can be used anywhere, yet is large enough to cater for up to four people comfortably. It is the only system (other than its baby brother, the Travel Berkey) that offers an extended lifetime warranty on stainless steel chambers and hardware when purchased from an authorize dealer. And finally, when one looks at the overall purchase and maintenance costs, it is extremely economical and sustainable, and offers great value for money. So if you are looking for a top quality water filter that offers the best bang for your buck, berkey water is your best bet.
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Dan DeBaun
Dan DeBaun is the owner and operator of Big Berkey Water Filters. Prior to Berkey, Dan was an asset manager for a major telecommunications company. He graduated from Rutgers with an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering, followed by an MBA in finance from Rutgers as well. Dan enjoys biohacking, exercising, meditation, beach life, and spending time with family and friends.
~ The Owner of Big Berkey Water Filters
What to do since the Black Berky water filters are not sold at the need of this year?
Hi Sharon -
We currently have them in stock and available on our site.
Thanks
Dan