A good water filter can improve the smell and taste of your tap water and even protect you from harmful contaminants such as fluoride, heavy metals, and chlorine by-products.
As with most things though, there are so many types of water filters that one can get quite confused and agitated trying to make a decision:
Carafe Water Filter – Some carafe water coolers are slow, prone to clogging, and can have a short filter life. Carafes are also fine for one or two people but definitely no good for a whole family.
Tap-Mounted Water Filter – A tap-mounted filter is easy to install and a good choice for filtering drinking and cooking water – some also allow for switching between filtered and unfiltered water. Unfortunately they also slow the water flow and don’t fit on all taps.
Countertop Water Filter – A Countertop filter allows you to filter large quantities of water without modifying the plumbing, and is less likely to clog, but can clutter a countertop.
Under-Sink Water Filter – An under-sink water filter can filter lots of water and is conveniently out of the way. Under-sink water filters may also require professional plumbing modifications, and drilling a hole for the dispenser through the sink or countertop.
Reverse-Osmosis Water Filter – A Reverse-Osmosis (RO) Water Filter can remove a wide range of contaminants, including dissolved solids but can be extremely slow and take up a lot of space. RO filters also create lots of waste water and need to be sanitised regularly and the membrane and filters must also be replaced regularly.
Refrigerator Water Filter – Fridge filters can reduce many of the same contaminants as a countertop or under-counter filter, but obviously only come in fridges with water-and-ice dispensers, so this would not do for a large family.
If you are looking for pure, contaminant-free drinking water, you are far better off investing in a mains water cooler with a good filter that can dispense chilled drinking water 24/7.
