Drinking Water Systems: Physical Size Considerations when Shopping for Water Filters

Drinking water filters for your family can be purchased in various designs. Each design has good points and weak points, so picking a water filter system to fit your home, your requirements, and your available space is a good first step in the buying process.

Faucet Mounted Water Filters

Faucet mounted water filters are installed on the end of your kitchen faucet and use a valve so water does not have to be filtered all the time. Faucet mounted water filters cannot filter the water very well, since only a tiny water filtration cartridge can be used. In addition, the filter cartridge is often limited to granular activated carbon (GAC).

In almost all cases, a two stage countertop water filter system with carbon block resin filtration is better than anything small enough to mount on your faucet.

Refrigerator Water Filtration

Refrigerator water filtration systems are specifically designed to mount on the back of a refrigerator to filter your drinking water along with the ice dispensed.

A water filter for your fridge saves your drinking water from contaminants which make their way into soft drinks via your built in ice maker. If you don't do any cooking, purifying the water and ice dispensed from your plumbed fridge will be the only thing you need. Refrigerator water filters are the same as ice maker water filters, it is just a question of the appliance to which they are connected.

Filtered Water Coolers

water coolers with built in filtration are not exclusively for use in the office anymore. Most moms encourage their kids to drink more water and fewer soft drinks, and are really happy when a water cooler allows the children can get refills without going to the high traffic area near the fridge.

A well designed water cooler with built in filtration provides hot or cold water as needed, so water coolers are useful all year long. And best of all, you get pure drinking water without the heavy bottles or weekly deliveries.

Water Filter Pitchers

Pitcher water filters force water through filtration media via gravity. Filters of this type are not recommended as it is not possible to use dense filter cartridges, like ceramic, since there is low pressure, with only the force of gravity, rather than municipal water pressure. These types of filters also tend to be the slowest way to make pure water and don't offer options for ultra-filtration media.

Portable Water Filtration

For people on the move, water filters that are portable are a great thing to have. Portable filters range from water filtration sports bottles to single canister countertop water filters.

Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

Reverse osmosis is not fast, so a water tank is needed to hold enough pure drinking water for peak usage times. If your kitchen does not have plenty of extra space under the counter a water filter using reverse osmosis is not a good choice. Also, keep in mind that reverse osmosis filtration is no longer the best water filtration method.

Water Filters Designed for the Countertop

Water filters designed for the counter top can be quickly installed without plumbing experience, making them the perfect choice for apartments or when a permanent installation is not desired. Also, you don't need a hole in your kitchen sink or counter top to install a counter top filter. Best of all, a small counter top water filter occupies no more counter space than a large mug.

A water filter for your counter top is the best choice when your under the counter space is at a premium.

Water Filters to Install Under Your Sink

An under sink water filtration system frees up existing countertop workspace and gives you a built-in setup. Because under the Sink Water Filters are put in a hidden location, under your sink, they can be big, and consequently provide the best water. A multiple stage under sink water filter furnishes first-class water for you and your family, with a very minor space usage under the sink.

This water filter design is also called under counter water filters, because under the sink is not the only place they can be installed.

Despite the many choices, you should be able to select a drinking water filter system that works best in your home. Most of your choice is dependent on the extra space available in your home and whether you want pure water at the kitchen sink, the refrigerator, or elsewhere from a water cooler.