Under-sink water filters have become quite common in households today. Why? It’s because they are low-maintenance yet effective. If you don’t have an under-sink filter yet, there’s a big chance you’re pouring hazardous chemicals and creatures into your body every time you help yourself to a glass of water from your kitchen tap.
An old pipeline can easily contaminate your water, but an under-sink filter can just as easily take care of this issue. Besides, after the filter is fitted, you can go months without changing it. There are three most common types of under-sink filters. Here, we break down these types and explain which is best for you.
Under-Sink Water Filter Explained
Under-sink water filters are positioned directly where you need clean water, for example, at your kitchen or bathroom faucets. You can also have them wherever you have an appliance from which you constantly require clean, filtered water. People sometimes call them in-line filters because they connect directly to your waterline.
Alternatives to an under-sink installation include a water pitcher and countertop filters. However, considering how encouraging under sink water filter reviews are, it’s no surprise that people tend to favor these filters more, especially because of their convenience and ease of maintenance.
3 Types of Under-sink Water Filters
1. Reverse Osmosis (RO)
This system’s job is to remove impurities from the water supply by allowing filtered water to be delivered through a different faucet. The device forces water through tiny pores that only water molecules may pass through.
As such, it removes over 1,000 pollutants, including chlorine, heavy metals, fluoride, pesticides, and germs. This filter tends to take up a lot of cabinet space and can be quite hard to install.
2. Ultrafiltration (UF)
What an ultrafiltration system uses to keep dirt and debris out of the water is something called a “hollow fiber membrane“. This system won’t remove as many pollutants as a RO system. However, the good thing about this filter is that it will maintain vital minerals that are usually lost in RO systems because of their tight pores.
Another advantage here is that ultrafiltration systems are simple to set up, mostly because you can use them with an existing faucet. The filter, however, may need to be changed more regularly than RO systems because it is attached to the main faucet.
3. Carbon Filters
When it comes to filtration, a carbon filter is the most basic option, yet it is still highly efficient. You will find this type of filter in a wide range of systems, from basic water pitchers to complex multi-level systems. As water passes through the filter, activated carbon will chemically react with pollutants, thereby eliminating them.
Because the effectiveness of a carbon filter varies, it is important that when buying a carbon filter, you should look for the product’s level of filtration. Also, try to find out what contaminants the filter will remove.
Which Under-Sink Water Filter Is Best?
The best under-sink water filter for removing contaminants from tap water is a RO system paired with a carbon filter. Carbon filtration is very effective in reducing the taste and odor of chlorine. It’s also excellent at catching big particles.
Reverse osmosis, on the other hand, can remove nearly everything from your water, but it works best if the larger particles are removed first to avoid membrane fouling.
As for ultrafiltration systems, they are mostly used by those who want to keep minerals in their water while still removing minute pollutants. Also, because it wastes less water to the drain, some prefer a UF system over a RO system.
