Before you buy a water filter, there are a variety of factors to consider. The primary purpose of an under sink water filter is to provide water for drinking or for cooking. For that reason, it should be the purest and cleanest water in your house. If you are already using a whole house water filtration system, you could consider simply using a countertop water filter or a water filter pitcher instead of an under sink variety.
Under Sink Water Filter Buying Considerations
When comparing under sink water filters, you’ll want to judge them based on a few key factors, including:
Stages
In general, the more stages a water filter has, the more pure the water will be, as measured by Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Most filters are sediment filters of various sizes, measured by their ability to filter out contaminants, in microns.
Reverse Osmosis
Sometimes considered a special stage, a reverse osmosis membrane is the smallest micron water filter available in the market today. It produces the most pure water possible, next to using a water distiller at home.
Filter Life
A filter’s life is based on how much water flows through it over time, not by age. Consider how much water you plan to consume, based on your household size and needs. Filters that have a high degree of filtration also tend to need to be replaced more often.
Physical Size
Some under sink water filters are much larger than others, and depending on how much space is available under your sink, it may impact which filtration system is right for you. Some of the RO system with a storage tank will take up much more space than a single stage water filter, for example.