Why you should replace Water Bottles with Water Filters
In 2015, US families bought over 50 billion water bottles because most people don't think about using water Filters. Many people spend money on water bottles instead of using water filters. Although water bottles seem cheap, in the long run using one of the best water filters is more affordable. Using water filters also reduces the amount of plastics in our landfills.
Research has shown that some water bottles can still contain foreign contaminants (such as BPA) which can have a negative health effects.
Even more alarming - a staggering 25% of bottled water produced may not go through the full filtration process.
In this case, it is no better than tap water.
Most people have no clue where to start when buying water filters - there are so many different categories.
So we are going to discuss the best water filters. We start with the 5 types of Water Filtration that are available on the market and why you should stop using water bottles.
1 – Water Pitcher Filters
Water filter pitchers work by filling a small tank at the top of the pitcher with tap water. The water slowly drips into the bottom tank through a filter. Typical filters last around 2 months.
*Please note – no Water Pitcher Filters can remove fluoride. It is better to choose a reverse osmosis water filter if you are worried about fluoride.
We have an entire post with a detailed look at choices for the best water filter pitcher comparison.
MAVEA - Our pick for the best Water Pitcher Filter?
The MAVEA 1018903 is one of the leading brands when it comes to Water Pitcher Filters. This water filter uses silver to prevent any foreign bacteria from entering the water. It comes with a “smart meter” which can measure water volume and notify you when the filter needs to be replaced.
Benefits
- Very Affordable
- No installation - no plumbing
- Uses BPA-free plastic
- Filters can last for up to 6 months
- Easy to maintain
- Fresh tasting water
Customer Ratings
Many customers have compared MAVEA to “Brita Everyday”. MAVEA is certified to remove a lot more impurities than Brita. It is easy to refill and for the price is definitely worth the investment. 65% of customers have rated this product 5-stars.
Price
At around $30, the MAVEA is affordable and the filters are made to last 6 months. This is a bargain with its 9-glass water capacity.
2 – Faucet Filters
Faucet water filters attach to the water tap in the kitchen. They normally have a way to select whether the water coming out of the faucet is filtered or not. These filters last about 2 months as well.
*Please note – no Faucet Filters can remove fluoride. It is better to choose a reverse osmosis filter if you are worried about fluoride.
We have an entire post with a detailed look at choices for the best faucet water filter comparison.
Pur - Our pick for the best faucet water filter
PUR Faucet filter is the best-rated filter on Amazon. It is made to remove 70+ foreign contaminants from the water we drink every day.
It comes with an electronic filter life reader so you will be able to check when the filter needs to be replaced. PUR is a combination faucet filter and carbon filter.
Benefits
- Affordable
- Easy Installation
- Filters can last for up to 2-3 months
- 360 swivel to fit in most sinks
Customer Ratings
40% of customers have rated this product 5-star. This is because of the filter life in most cases. If you don’t mind upgrading your filter every 2-3 months then a PUR filter can save a lot of money.
Price
At $30 (reduced from $39.99), this product is extremely affordable in comparison to the price of water bottles.
It is certified to remove 70+ contaminants (including more than 95% of lead and mercury) which is much better than bottled water.
3 – Carbon Filters
Carbon filters are generally found on the water line going to the ice maker in typical refrigerators. They are the best water filter if you are looking for small size and the ability to tuck it out-of-sight. Carbon filters are also the second stage of an RO water filter assembly.
Nahla Pure - our pick for the best Carbon Filter
Nahla Pure is the best carbon filter to purchase. It filters the kitchen sink water. It can be easily installed under the kitchen sink with normal household tools.
This filter is installed directly to the standard 3/8" cold water line.
Benefits
- Affordable
- Filters can last up to 6 months or more
- Fresh tasting water
Customer Ratings
Again, the rating for this product is 81% 5-star on Amazon. Customers have argued that the carbon filter is the game-changer for this filter. It removes the chlorine taste better than any other filter. There are a number of complaints about the filter having the wrong parts.
Price
$80
4 – Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
Reverse Osmosis (or RO filters) are extremely good at removing most impurities. RO systems usually are 3 or 4 stages with each stage a filter with smaller holes for catching impurities. The last stage is a RO filter. Since there are a number of stages, RO water filter systems are more expensive as a result.
We have an entire post with a detailed look at choices for the best reverse osmosis system comparison.
If you'd like to learn more about RO water filters, try looking at our "how does reverse osmosis work" webpage.
APEC - Our pick for the best RO Filter
APEC is the leading brand for RO filters. They use a 4-stage filtration process.
Stage 1: Sediment Filter: Entry water is filtered through a polypropylene filter to remove any dust or rust. This stage filters out the larger particles from the water.
Stage 2: Carbon Filter. A carbon filter block removes harmful chemicals in tap water and removes the chlorine which can damage the R.O. filter.
Stage 3: Reverse Osmosis. The reverse osmosis membrane removes 99% of the foreign bacteria and other impurities such as arsenic, lead and fluoride.
Stage 4: Carbon Filter. In the last stage, the coconut carbon filter removes any remaining bad odor and taste.
Benefits
- Reverse Osmosis filters remove 99% of foreign contaminants in the water we drink.
- “Ultra-fresh taste” from purified water
- Filters can last for up to 12 months
- Easy to maintain
Customer Ratings
On Amazon, 92% of people have given APEC 5 stars, which is rare on any product. This definitely shows that this product has a large customer following. Customer reviews show that this filter can last a year if well cleaned and looked after.
Price:
At around $300 (reduced from $450.00), it isn’t the cheapest water filter – especially compared to some of the other types of filters. You are paying this premium price because of the quality of the filtration and the 90 gallons per day flow.
A 50 gallon per day APEC Reverse Osmosis filter is also available for a lower price from Amazon (the RO5DX).
The filter lasts for a full 12 months – which is incredible in comparison to some filters that breakdown quickly.
It is also easy to maintain and still works out a lot cheaper than water bottles – an average family spends $346 per year on bottled water.
5 – Distilled Water
Water distillers work by boiling the water, capturing the pure steam, and cooling and condensing it. The impurities are left behind while the steam condenses into purified water - like rain.
MegaHome Countertop - Our pick for the best Distilled Water System
The best water distiller to buy would be “MegaHome Countertop Water Distiller” as shown by the large number of positive reviews.
It distills 1 gallon every 6 hours which is why this isn't a more popular choice for water purification.
Benefits
- Stainless steel and glass lined
- Easy to maintain
- 1 Gallon
- Removes 99.6% of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) with its distillation process
Customer Ratings
There is a 78% 5-star rating on Amazon, which is pretty good. There are a lot of happy customers.
Most complaints are about the taste. Weird tasting water is a common complaint about distilled water. Adding in “good” minerals may help add good taste but that defeats the purpose.
Price
MegaHome charges $220 for their distiller which is on the pricey side. It is more expensive than Water Pitchers and Faucet Filters but claims to remove more contaminants (TDS).
Our Recommendation
Out of all the types of water filters, we would recommend Reverse Osmosis water filter systems as the best water filter to invest in.
Not only are nearly 100% of customers happy but it also is a long-term investment. The product lasts a lot longer than other filters and is easy to maintain.
- It can be installed underneath the sink.
- Can filter a large amount of water per day (50 to 90 gallons per day)
- RO Filtering removes the worst contaminants.
Reverse Osmosis Filters are popular due to the incredible filtering qualities. They have been proven to remove a lot more contaminants than any other water filter.
APEC’s purer, tastier filtered water will definitely save you money in the long run when compared to water bottles.
It is definitely worth scrapping water bottles and investing in water filters.
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