Having access to premium filtered water at home comes with a host of benefits. Whether you want to enjoy great-tasting food and drink or are cutting back on bottled water to save money and reduce waste, water filter systems have a positive impact on people’s lives.
There are many types of water filters available for households, from simple jugs with filtration systems to larger filters built into your water supply. This blog breaks down everything you need to consider before deciding what option is best for you.
The Technology Behind Filter Systems
No matter what filter system you’re considering, the first thing to look at is the technology it uses to filter the water. Different filtration technologies yield different results, including the specific chemicals it is best for removing.
The most common types of water filter you’ll come across include:
- Activated Carbon: A charred coal or wood is treated to attract certain chemicals, such as chlorine.
- Ion Exchange: Used in water softeners to replace calcium and magnesium with sodium, but doesn’t work effectively against other chemicals.
- Ultraviolet: Kills bacteria and viruses in water but doesn’t filter other chemicals.
- Reverse Osmosis: Forces water through a membrane; very effective at removing multiple types of contaminants.
Different filtration technologies have different strengths. However, reverse osmosis (sometimes initialised as RO) is the most effective method for removing a high number of toxins and producing clean, pure water.
Many of the best water filtration systems will use a combination of all the filters mentioned above. However, at the other end of the scale, because RO relies upon water pressure, you won’t find it in budget water filter products like jugs.
Before buying an inexpensive product, do take care to ensure it delivers the level of filtration you want or need.
Comparing Different Filter Systems
Here is a rundown of the most common and popular water filter products, including how they tend to work, their effectiveness and potential costs.
Water Filter Jugs
Water filter jugs tend to be purpose-built jugs with specific filter cartridges – usually containing ions, carbon and mesh – through which the water must pass when filling up the jug.
Water filter jugs are a great way for people unsure about filtered water to try it for themselves. They are usually the cheapest option to start with and are very easy to use.
The main downsides of water filter jugs come with frequent use. Most jug filters need to be replaced after 100-150 litres of water has passed through, which can be passed in just a few weeks if a whole family wants to enjoy constant filtered water.
Because a jug’s filters tend to be the smallest option, the cost of constantly replacing them can soon make them an unviable option for those wanting long-term filtered water.
Countertop Water Filter Systems
A countertop water filter is a step beyond the water jug. These machines usually involve a refillable water container on the back, which passes water through a filtration system before reaching a dispenser.
Countertop water filters come in a whole host of shapes and sizes – some are little more than jugs and will use similar filter cartridges, whereas more expensive options can include premium RO filtration and plenty of additional features such as rapid boiling for making tea and coffee.
If you want to use a lot of filtered water, then countertop systems tend to be better than jugs. The downside is that quality countertop systems can be incredibly expensive due to the additional features. Also, with regular filter replacements still an issue, costs can quickly mount with these options.
Built-in Home Water Filters
Built-in water filtration systems are professionally installed into your home’s water supply. Unlike other options, this means you can enjoy filtered water directly from your taps without having to fill an external device first.
A built-in filter system can be hugely convenient for households that want to enjoy a lot of filtered water. Because the filter is stored out of sight (usually in a cupboard underneath the sink), it tends to come with a larger and more efficient filtration system, meaning purer water and less money spent long-term on filter replacements.
The main downside of a built-in filter is the upfront cost of installation, which tends to be more expensive than other options, although it can be cheaper than some of the most expensive countertop systems.
Which Water Filter is Best for Me?
The main things to consider when deciding upon a water filter system are as follows:
- Quality: How pure do you need your water?
- Budget: How much do you have to spend now, and how much do you want to pay for filters long-term?
- Use: How much filtered water will you need? Is it for personal use or for a whole family, for example?
Generally speaking, water filtering jugs are good for delivering clean drinking water but don’t match the purity of the other options. A jug is also unlikely to provide enough water for a whole family to use daily without it becoming tedious to refill each day and expensive to replace the filters.
For the other options, it mainly comes down to your budget and the expected amount of use. If you intend to use filtered water for everything, from your two litres of drinking water each day to cooking, teas and coffees, then built-in water filters are by far the most economical choice despite the upfront cost.
Some built-in water filters can operate for as long as a year without needing a filter replacement, making them much cheaper in the long term than other options such as countertops.
Kinetico’s built-in K5 Pure water filters use the highest quality reverse osmosis filtration system to deliver incredibly pure water on demand. With products and options to suit various budgets, take a look at our range today to discover the water filter system that’s right for you.
