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Water filters are extremely popular and are used for a variety of reasons such as improving the taste of the water that in most cases will be coming from your tap but can also be coming from other sources such as wells.
There are hundreds of different types of water filters out there that come in different prices as well as many different features to suit all the needs that consumers out there have, however, due to the sheer amount of options available out there it can be hard for someone who is not experienced to figure out which water filter is actually the best option for them to use but you should not worry because in this article we will tell you everything that you need to know.
In this best water filter, Reddit ranked and reviewed article, we are going to be using recommendations from the users of Reddit which is one of the world’s most popular forums out there in order to provide you genuinely the best water filter pitchers and faucets based on the feedback of real users on the internet.
Best Water Filters
- Most Durable — Big Berkey BX4X2 Countertop Water Filter System
- Best Taste — Brita Large 10 Cup Water Filter Pitcher
- Best Filtration — APEC Water Systems RO-90 Ultimate Series
- Most Affordable — PUR 11 Cup Ultimate Water Filtration Pitcher
- Easiest Installation — Culligan US 1 EZ-Change Undersink Drinking Water Filtration System
- Best Water Faucet — PUR FM-3700 Advanced Water Filter
Best Water Filter Reddit Ranked and Reviewed
Most Durable: Big Berkey BK4X2 Countertop Water Filter System
Berkley is a leading American company that specializes in creating water-based appliances as well as other miscellaneous products such as hand priming pumps.
The Big Berkey BK4X2 is the most expensive water filter on this list but it is highly recommended by users of the popular internet forum Reddit for being very durable and reliable which in the long term can save you a lot of money and even end up being cheaper than a lot of the other options on this list.
The filtration system is made using very high-quality stainless steel which prevents it from rusting and also makes sure that all the parts inside are actually protected from being damaged, this stainless steel case comes in parts that need to be assembled later meaning that it does not take a lot of space when being transported.
What is also great about filters used in the Big Berkey BK4X2 Counter Water Filter System is that you do not have to constantly buy new replacement filters every couple of months instead you can clean the filters for 10 minutes at least once every 12 months depending on the number of gallons of water that you filter.
Pros:
- Has the capacity to hold 2.25 gallons or 10.2 liters of water which allows you to filter the water beforehand and then use it a long time before needing to filter more water.
- Despite its big size it is very easy to put together thanks to a small number of parts to put together as well as a detailed guide that comes with the product and is also available for free online.
- Majority of this water filter pitcher using a type of stainless steel known as ‘High Grade 304’ which is one of the highest quality types of stainless steel and offers superb protection against rust and corrosion.
- Uses microfiltration technology that makes sure that even the smallest particles and contaminants will be mostly removed from the water you are going to use.
- One of the most durable water filtration systems out there which can save you a lot of money in the long term.
Cons:
- A big price tag that does not make it suitable for people who cannot afford it or are just looking to be more frugal with their finances.
- The Big Berkey BK4X2 Countertop Water Filter System is 53.3 cm tall and 21.6 cm in width which makes it a very big filtration appliance so it may be suitable for small or cluttered kitchens.
Our Thoughts:
Although it can be pricey at first it is one of the best water filter pitcher Reddit recommends due to its great durability with long term use clearly being kept in mind by the manufacturers of this product. Even though the initial cost is a lot more than the other products on this list you do not have to spend as much money on replacement filters.
Best Taste: Brita Large 10 Cup Water Filter Pitcher
The Brita Large 10 Cup Water Filter Pitcher is one of the best-selling water pitchers out there and is rated as the best water filter pitcher on Reddit based on the taste after the filtration system has been used according to users on the popular discussion website.
This product has a fairly simple design that consists of a pouring jug like appearance with a handle with a replaceable filter being fitted inside the water filter pitcher with the filter being recommended to be replaced every two to three months with the filter being able to process on average 40 gallons of water.
Furthermore, the Brita water filter pitcher brand is well known for coming in a wide variety of designs and colors that come in more neutral color choices such as white and black as well as more vibrant colors such as light blue and pink.
There is also an indicator built into this product that notifies you when the filter requires replacement which makes sure that you are always consuming water that is actually filtered as well as saving you money as it stops you from changing your filter before it has been fully used.
Pros:
- A very affordable water filter pitcher that literally anyone can afford, despite having a low price it is still a quality product.
- A light that notifies you when you need to change your filter ensures that you will always drink water that has been filtered.
- It does not take a lot of space in your kitchen.
- Ability to choose between many different designs in order to find the version that best suits your kitchen.
- Water that has been filtered using this device has a great taste that is the same or even better than many bottled water brands.
Cons:
- Apart from the initial amount of money that you will have to pay in order to put this Brita filtration system you will then also need to constantly buy filters.
- Made from plastic which makes it a lot less durable than some of the other alternatives on this list that are made from metal.
Our Thoughts:
If you have never owned your own water filter then this is a solid recommendation by Reddit, it is affordable, compact and also allows you to drink clean and great tasting water. Although the filter is recommended to be changed every two to three months if you don’t use the filter as often you can change it at much larger intervals.
Best Filtration: APEC Water Systems RO-90 Ultimate Series
The APEC Water Systems RO-90 is ideal for individuals that live in an area where you need to have state of the art filtration capabilities to make sure that the water you are using is not contaminated and thus dangerous to use.
This water filter is the best water filter Reddit users recommend based on its filtration capabilities, which can be put down to a special filtration process that is used by this appliance that is called ‘reverse osmosis’ that uses small cells in order really small contaminants such as ions and molecules from the water that traditional filters have trouble to remove.
What is also great about this device is that despite it being so good at filtering water and heavily recommended by Reddit users on various subreddits it is not actually the most expensive product on this list, with this APEC Water System currently costing around $100 less than the Big Berkey BK4X2.
Additionally, there is a faucet included with this product which allows you to attach the necessary tubing to the filter and have filtered water flowing through your taps.
Pros:
- Lifetime support is included with this product which ensures that if you ever have any questions or need replacement parts you can buy them as well as a two-year limited warranty.
- Includes a large capacity filter meaning that you do not have to constantly refill the reservoirs after just a couple of uses.
- The faucet and tubing included with this product are rated by the FDA as food-grade meaning that the water that passes through is safe to consume.
- One of the best solutions out there for cleaning water in order to make it safe to use.
- The customer service of the APEC company who are behind this product is widely praised online for their great service.
Cons:
- A bit more complicated to install than a lot of the other products on this list.
- Some users of this product have reported a sound being emitted by the product while it is in use.
Our Thoughts:
This is a good choice for serious water filtration tasks where you cannot risk your appliance not doing its job properly, furthermore, it is great for people who live in areas where there are high levels of contamination in the water as well as large families thanks to the large capacity of the filter.
Most Affordable: PUR 11 Cup Ultimate Water Filtration Pitcher
According to Reddit, the PUR 11 Cup Ultimate Water Filtration Pitcher is the most affordable option currently out there, with this assumption taking two factors into account which are the initial cost of the appliance as well as the re-occurring costs of buying the official PUR filters which are considerably cheaper than the official filters from other brands such as Brita.
Even though this PUR filtration product has a low price it is still very effective at doing its job of filtering water with PUR stating that over 70 contaminants can be filtered out from the water using the filtration pitcher with some of the contaminants including lead, chlorine, and carbon.
There are two different official PUR filters available for sale for filtration pitcher with the cheaper ones being the Basic which still provides filtration capabilities for over 70 contaminants and lasts much longer with that kind of filter is able to process up to 100 gallons of water.
And then, you have the Lead Reduction filter which is much more expensive and can only filter 40 gallons of water before requiring replacement, this filter is used for water where there are high levels of lead that need to be removed in order to make the water safe to drink.
Pros:
- Despite being a low-cost filter pitcher it has better filtration capabilities than many filtration systems that are higher in price.
- PUR is one of the most recommended brands of water filtration brands on Reddit thanks to the great value for money that their products offer.
- It comes with an LED light that is located on top of the lid of the pitcher that notifies you when your filter needs replacement.
- A simple design that anyone can quickly figure out to use without any problems.
- A two-year limited warranty is also included that ensures that if the product comes faulty you get a replacement.
Cons:
- It does not come in a wide variety of colors like some of the alternatives on this list.
- The cheap PUR water filtration pitchers have been noted to break quite easily.
Our Thoughts:
If money is one the major factor in deciding what water filter to buy for your home then the PUR 11 Cup Ultimate Water Filtration Pitcher may be the right option for you. This product should not be underestimated just because it is priced as the lower end of the scale as research shows that it can filter out all of the most common contaminants found in tap water.
Easiest Installation: Culligan US 1 EZ-Change Undersink Drinking Water Filtration System
This under sink drinking water filtration system by Culligan is one of the best faucet water filter Reddit users recommend in the DIY and other related forums on the platform, however, the main reason why the Culligan US 1 EZ-Change was recommended so much is because it is very quick and easy to install.
When you purchase this product you get a faucet, the tubing used to transport the water throughout the filtration system and also one filter to connect which will need to be replaced at regular intervals.
Additionally, there are other parts included such as a cover used to protect the filtration system and also obscure it to allow it to better fit into the room that it has been installed. Furthermore, there are a few tightening screws used to make sure that all the various parts stay in the intended places in order to prevent problems such as leakages.
For the installation of this water faucet system, there is no need for any external tools, instead, all you have to do is follow the instructions available on the back of the packaging of this product with the instructions being so straightforward that the majority of people out there can figure them out themselves.
Once you have assembled all the parts you can the tightening screws provided in order to lock and bing the piping to the faucet to stop it coming off and causing issues.
Pros:
- One filter cartridge can reportedly filter up to 3000 gallons of water or the equivalent of 12 months of average use before requiring replacement.
- A very small filtration system that can easily fit under the majority of sinks out there.
- Very quick and easy installation will save you a lot of time, effort and also money as you don’t have to call any professionals to install the system for you.
- The Culligan US 1 EZ-Change is able to filter class 3 particulates, chlorine and also reduce the odor and bad taste in the water it filters.
- Despite its low price this product is very well designed and it will fit in the majority of kitchen and bathroom designs.
- A lot of tutorials available on platforms such as YouTube that show you how to install this water filtration appliance.
Cons:
- There is no in-built indication on this product that tells when you need to replace the filter.
- Although the filtration is good it is not the best option out there compared to a lot of the other products in this review and comparison article.
Our Thoughts:
This is a great filtration system for people to use if they simply want to improve the taste and smell of the water as well as remove some of the contaminants that may be in the water.
It is a very beginner-friendly product that is straightforward to use and easy to install, however, it will not give you the need peace of mind if you require very reliable water filtration to prevent you from becoming sick.
Best Water Faucet: PUR FM-3700 Advanced Faucet Water Filter
Another product from the PUR company on this ‘Best Water Filter Reddit Ranked and Reviewed’ article, the PUR FM-3700 Advanced is the best faucet water filter Reddit users recommend due to a variety of reasons. The first one is that it is a very reliable filtration appliance from a well known and respected company in the industry,
It is very competitively priced at the lower range of the scale, with the product being able to filter out over 70 contaminants that have been tested by PUR.
Additionally, it is very easy to install with no need to attach tubing or a massive filtration system under the sink, instead you just this faucet water filter to the sink tap and that is all you have to do as the water flows from the top into the faucet filter where it is of course filtered and finally released for you to consume or use for purposes.
There is also an LED light on the side of the device that starts to flash once you need to change the filter inside the faucet add-on, this ensures that you can always drink water that has been filtered and also that you do not throw away filters that are yet not fully used.
Pros:
- It comes in a stainless steel design that will fit into the majority of taps out there and even if your tap is not stainless steel it is still a neutral water faucet that will not draw any attention to itself.
- No tools are required for the installation of this product which saves you a lot of time and money.
- A special level is built onto the PUR FM-3700 Advanced Faucet that allows you to switch between filtered and unfiltered water which is useful if you do not want to waste your water faucet filter to filter water that does not require any filtering.
- Can filter out an estimated 100 gallons of water before requiring a change in the filter.
- Manufactured by a company that has over 30 years of experience in this industry.
Cons:
- You can use only approved replacement filters from the PUR company which makes you dependent on the prices that they decide to charge.
Our Thoughts:
According to Reddit this is the best water faucet filter out of the hundreds out there that exist, without a doubt the PUR FM-3700 Advanced is a great option if you are currently shopping around for a water faucet as it is very simple to install and also use while not compromising on its filtration capabilities that remove all 70 major contaminants that are commonly found in water.
Best Water Filter Reddit Ranked & Reviewed Buyer’s Guide
Filtration Capabilities
The filtration capabilities are unsurprisingly one of the most important factors that you need to look out for when looking to buy a filter.
Of course, there are different reasons why someone will be in the market for a filter, for example, they may be trying to improve the taste or remove the nasty odor of the water they are using and consuming alternatively there are more serious reasons where you have to remove harmful contaminants such as lead and bacteria for example where there is no room for mistakes that can potentially your life and the life of others around you.
Therefore it purely depends on what your needs are, with the more expensive filter system offering on average much better filtration capabilities.
Speed of Filtration
Speed of filtration is something that is important when you happen to be filtering large quantities of water or water that is for some reason very dirty and may, therefore, require multiple runs through the filtration systems. As with the ‘filtration capabilities’ point above if you are looking for a better speed of filtration, the only real solution is to buy one of the more expensive and advanced options for sale.
The more expensive and advanced water filtration systems are first of all larger which allows them to naturally process more water at the same time another aspect that affects the speed of filtration is the type of filter incorporated in the filtration system with some filters being faster than others.
Water Capacity
This point may not seem very important, however water capacity can be extremely useful especially if you live in a household where there is high consumption of filtered water.
The higher the water tank in your filtration system the more filtered water you will be store and leave until needed, rather than having to constantly refill the tank or have to filter the water every time that you need it which is why faucet water filters are not a great option if water capacity is a must.
Some users may decide to pour the filtered water into other containers if their water filter does not have the required capacity however this is not recommended as some containers can contaminate the water if, for example, they happen to be rusty, dirty or start to break down like a lot of plastic bottles do after repeated use.
Size
Size of the entire machine dictates where you can store it, in majority of cases it is not a deal-breaker but it is still important to double-check that the water filter that you are trying to buy is actually going to fit in the location you are planning to place it in otherwise you may be in for a nasty surprise if you, for example, decide to place it in a constrained place such as under your sink.
Additionally, if it is really big in size it can take a lot of space on your countertop and can be a real eyesore that negatively affects the appearance of the entire room that it is located in.
Ease of Installation
You can’t deny that some filtration systems are more complicated than others, but this does not have to mean that they also have to be harder to install. Generally, there are some things that you need to look out for when considering if an appliance is going to be fairly straightforward to install, the first thing is whether you are going to need any or a lot of external tools and parts in order to carry out the installation.
Secondly, you can look at the various parts that are included with the product, generally, the more parts that there is the trickier it will be to assemble and finally you can, of course, check the online reviews to see what other customers think of the installation process.
Durability
Durability is a key attribute that you need to be looking for when choosing the best product from this best water filter Reddit ranked and reviewed article. The material is generally the most important aspect that decides on whether a product will be durable or not in the long term, the most durable water filters are made from metal or some kind of plastic.
It is also important to highlight that the durability does not just depend on the intended durability that the product was designed for but also how you use your product if you do not follow the instructions and use it in a way that damages it you should not expect your product to have a lot of durability,
Price & Value for Money
For the majority of people here, the price will ultimately be the deciding factor of whether they go ahead and buy a product.
It is good to take a look at the prices of competing products that are in the same category, for example comparing the more basic or casual products against each other and seeing which ones has the best features that are actually useful as the total number of features is not really important if you personally do not have any use for them.
Moreover, related to the point above, an interesting way of thinking about value for money is how many times are you going to be use something, so for example if you have a $30 water filter vs a $300 water filter if you use the $30 water filter only 100 times that is $0.3 per use while if you use the $300 water filter a total of 10,000 times that is $0.03 per use which means that the more expensive filter is actually better value for money.
Accounting for Filter Costs
Pretty much all water filtration systems require a disposable and replaceable filter in order to work properly which means that on top of the fixed fee that you paid in order to buy the filter in the first place you also need to think about the recurring costs of the filters. There are a couple of factors that affect this, the first is the type of filters that you are going to be using.
The generic or basic filters from the majority of manufacturers are able to filter 100 gallons of water before requiring replacement while the more advanced filters, for example, the PUR LeadReduction filter can only filter through 40 gallons of water before needing to be replaced.
Product Warranty
Finally, you have the product warranty which is apart from offering your protection is a way to see the confidence of the manufacturer in that their own product will not actually break down or that it will perform to the same standards as presented in the marketing material.
Furthermore, it is recommended to look out for product warranties that offer you lifetime support as this is very valuable and guarantees that if you ever have any miscellaneous questions or problems that you will be able to get in contact with the customer service team and get it all sorted out.
Filter Testing Certification
When you look at the labeling on water filter systems, they will often have the NSF as well as an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) logo on them.
The NSF works alongside the ANSI and the product manufacturers to help establish what consumers should expect from a good water filtration system.
Once these standards have been decided upon, tests are carried out by the approved partner, such as the WQA (Water Quality Association). Only when the tests have been carried out will the product receive the relevant certification that has met the standards set.
Standard 42, set by NSF and ANSI, is used to certify that the taste and odor of the water passing through systems with this certification has improved. It is the easiest of all the standards set and can easily be met using activated carbon. You will find that most water filter systems will come with this certification.
Any water filter system with a Standard 42 certification can capture particles in water that measure up to half a micron. Not only does this mean it will help remove sediment from the water but most microplastics as well.
For such certification to be attained, the water filter system will undergo three tests. Throughout these tests, the system’s performance must remain consistent according to how long the filter cartridge is meant to last.
Do You Need a Water Filter?
In the US, all public water supplies are tightly regulated by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) through the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The Safe Drinking Water Act helps to ensure that all water leaving water-treatment plants meet their very strict quality standards.
In addition to ensuring that any contaminants are removed from the water, this act also helps to make sure that contaminants are not able to infiltrate the system after leaving the water-treatment plant. Companies that provide water to your home must ensure that all pipes leading from their plants are kept in good working order.
Water supplied throughout the US to homes and businesses is considered to be safe.
However, if you want to find out what is in the water coming into your home after it has left the treatment plant, go online and search for your local water supplier’s consumer confidence report. This report is something that all suppliers of water must produce as mandated by the EPA.
Since there is a slight chance that water becomes contaminated after leaving the plant, you may want to consider getting the water coming into your home tested. You can either use a home test kit or arrange for a local water quality laboratory to carry out the test for you.
Another thing you need to be aware of is that if you live in an older house, then the risk of the water coming into your home being contaminated after leaving the treatment plant is higher. This is because homes built before 1986 tend to have plumbing fixtures made from lead.
FAQ
Why Should I Use a Water Filter?
There are many advantages to using a water filter, the biggest one is that it can remove dangerous particles in your water that can you feel ill.
Another advantage of using the water filter is that it makes the water a lot more pleasant to drink by removing nasty odors and tastes that may have been present due to contamination which can occur from the source of the water and also where it was transported.
How Often Do the Filters Need to Be Replaced in a Filtration System?
There is no straight answers to this as it depends first of all on the instructions set out by the manufacturer of the filters, generally, the majority of filters need to get replaced after two to three months of use however there are others that can last for a few months longer.
Apart from that it also depends on how often you use the filtration appliances in order to filter the water, even though it may say that you need to replace your filters every two to three months this does not mean that you actually have to if you for example only use the water filtration system once a week.
The majority of modern water filters now have a special light that turns on when it is time for you to replace your filter which makes life a whole lot easier.
Do Water Filters Require Professional Installation?
No majority of water filters do not require professional installation as they consist of very few parts and there are clear guides included with the product as well as other guides being available online.
If you happen not to be someone who like doing construction or getting your hands dirty you can get in contact and ask for assistance but it is not a requirement.
Do I Have to Use Official Filters From the Manufacturer of the Filtration System?
All manufacturers of filtration systems recommend that you use their official filters, they also purposely try to make their filters especially so they only fit in the intended machines however there are many knockoffs out there that can fit in your filtration system and seem to be doing the job but you need to be extremely careful as there is no proof that those filters actually work as intended.
How Do the Filters Actually Work?
The majority of filters for filtration machines out on the market made up of different layers tightly packed in a tube-like enclosure, once water passes through there the various layers will do their job by attracting the types of contaminants and sediments that they were made purposely to contain.
Summary
Reddit is a great place to gather the opinions and expertise of people all around the world, the six products that we have presented to you in this Best Water Filter Reddit Ranked and Reviewed article are very different to each other and there is no clear winner instead it is about figuring out what characteristics happen to be the most important to you.
Four out of the six products reviewed in this article are fairly cheap, these are the PUR FM-3700 Advanced Faucet Water Filter and the Culligan US 1 EZ-Change Undersink Drinking Water Filtration System which are both faucet water filters and then you have the PUR 11 Cup Ultimate Water Filtration Pitcher, and the Brita Large 10 Cup Water Filter Pitcher which on the other hand are water filter pitchers.
When comparing the two cheap faucet water filters there is a clear winner which is the PUR FM-3700 Advanced Faucet Water Filter which has all of the same features that the Culligan US 1 EZ-Change Undersink Drinking Water Filtration System has and a lot more.
For example, the PUR FM-3700 Advanced is able to filter out a total of 70 contaminants compared to the Culligan US 1 EZ-Change which makes no mention of the exact number that it can filter.
Additionally, although the Culligan US 1 EZ-Change is the best faucet water filter Reddit users claim to have the easiest installation but the PUR FM-3700 Advanced is also a water filtration system that is super quick and easy to install, with the PUR method arguably being better due to the filtration appliance being much lighter and can simply be attached to the faucet rather than having to insert a brand new faucet as you have to with the Culligan US 1 EZ-Change.
Next, we have the two cheapest water filter pitchers, the PUR 11 Cup Ultimate and the Brita Large 10 Cup, these two products are constantly compared. The PUR 11 Cup Ultimate has much better filtration than the Brita Large 10 Cup due to the product having research-backed evidence that shows it that it is able to filter out a total of 70 contaminants found in the water.
Furthermore, the filters of the PUR 11 Cup Ultimate are much cheaper than those of the Brita Large 10 Cup, however, it is also important to note that the filters for the Brita Large 10 Cup also last a lot longer and therefore present better value for money.
Finally, you have the Big Berkey BK4X2 Countertop Water Filter System which is the most expensive water filter presented in this entire article and the Apec Water Systems RO-90 Ultimate Series which comes in at a second place in the price category.
The Big Berk BK4X2 is a very sturdy machine with a large water capacity allowing you to filter up to seven gallons per hour that can then be stored inside for later use. However this durability and large capacity are not useful factors in majority of situations, which is why the Apex Water Systems RO-90 Ultimate comes out on top, it uses a process called ‘reverse osmosis’ in order to filter as many contaminants from the water as actually possible making it the better water filter at filtering which is why it comes out on top out of the two.
View a full list of our top picks for the best water filter!
Wayne is a water quality expert – The founder of Water Filter Data. He has a degree in microbiology and his field of expertise is drinking water. His goal is to allow for clean and healthy water for as many people as possible.