Household water should meet the highest purification standards. If you don’t have a filter on your home sinks, your water might not be as clean as you think. Read about the best under-the-sink water filters to understand why they’re so important and which option could be the best fit for your space.
Benefits of Using a Sink Water Filter
If you haven’t used a water filter on your sink before, you might wonder why you would benefit from one. Check out a few crucial reasons people start using filtration systems to see if one could upgrade your quality of life.
You Could Purify Your Well Water
Many homeowners depend on private wells for water. An underground aquifer might naturally remove some contaminants, but well water routinely includes microorganisms, chemicals and metals, depending on your location. Sink filtration systems can remove those health threats.
You could target specific contaminants by choosing a filter that catches whichever impurities are most typical in your region. Contact your local water filtration plant to find out more about what’s common in the water where you live.
Your City Water Might Need Extra Purification
Municipal water plants put public drinking water through rigorous testing and filtration methods. They make it safe to drink, but the liquid travels through miles of pipes that contain any kind of bacterial growth within them. An in-home filter removes these pipe contaminants.
Your Water May Taste Better
Filtration systems use different methods to make water safe to drink. Your city’s water plant might use one that gives your water a slightly unpleasant taste. If you’d prefer your tap water have a different flavor, a sink filtration system could make your water both clean and tasty.
Best Under-the-Sink Water Filters for Your Home
Compare the best under-the-sink water filters to give your household the cleanest, most delicious water. Once you note their filtration methods and notable features, you’ll know which options you’re ready to try at home.
1. Multipure’s Aquaversa
The Multipure Aquaversa is another leading option for under-the-sink water filtration systems. The carbon blocks within each filter can handle up to 750 gallons of water, maximizing your use between replacements. After installing the Aquaversa with the included hardware, your filter will remove bacteria, viruses, forever chemicals and pesticides, among other contaminants.
| Notable Features of Multipure’s Aquaversa Filter | How This Product Filters Water |
| This filter works with any water line and includes a capacity monitor light so you know when to replace your filter.Optional faucets are available if you want to upgrade your hardware.The single-hose diverter kit is easy to install. | The Aquaversa passes water through an activated carbon block filter made with the latest technologies in chemisorption, catalysis, physisorption and mechanical filtration. |
2. Aquasana’s Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow
Aquasana has a three-part filter that removes up to 78 contaminants from any sink. The Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow removes microplastics, asbestos, lead and more by sending tap water through a pre-filter before it reaches stages that include activated carbon and a sub-micron mechanical filter. It only takes a few minutes to attach it to your sink’s main water line with the included parts.
| Notable Features of Aquasana’s Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Filter | How This Product Filters Water |
| It passes water through three filters instead of one.You don’t need to disconnect any hoses to replace the filters.It comes with a one-year limited warranty and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. | Stage One: Water passes through a micron pre-filter to remove things like silt and sediment. Stage Two: A Claryum filter uses activated carbon to eliminate microplastics, herbicides and more. Stage Three: A second Claryum filter removes remaining contaminants while allowing healthy minerals to pass through. |
3. Waterdrop’s 6-Stage Under-Sink Ultrafiltration System
Anyone who wants a more complex water filter should look into Waterdrop’s 6-Stage Under-Sink Ultrafiltration System. It’s a three-canister unit with two filter methods in each segment. Once you hook it up to your main water line beneath your desired sink, you’ll have 30 days to see if it’s the best fit for your home.
| Notable Features of Waterdrop’s 6-Stage Filter | How This Product Filters Water |
| The six separate filter mechanisms provide extra peace of mind if you have particularly contaminated water.The stainless steel parts are corrosion-proof.This filter uses anti-burst engineering to withstand cracks during temperature fluctuations. | Stage One: Water passes through a non-woven fabric and PP cotton filter and separates from larger particles. Stage Two: A PP cotton and UF membrane filter catches more microscopic contaminants. Stage Three: A non-woven fabric and carbon block filter eliminates whatever remains in your water without removing any minerals |
4. Hydroviv’s Under-Sink Water Filter
People love the Under-Sink Water Filter from Hydroviv for multiple reasons. It only takes 15 minutes to install and there’s an optional subscription service for automatic filter replacements.
The seven-stage system is all within one compartment, too. It removes chloramines, arsenic and more with standard 3/8th inch hardware. Mention the type of water system you rely on — city or well water — to get a filter optimized for your water’s needs.
| Notable Features of Hydroviv’s Under-Sink Filter | How This Product Filters Water |
| It uses your water source’s specific data to create a filter that’s best for your water’s contaminants.It installs in less than 15 minutes.This filter’s performance led to appearances on Shark Tank, The New York Times, CNBC and more. | The Hydroviv filter moves water through two pre-filters and a solid block filter with five personalized types of filtration media, such as activated carbons and ion exchange filters. The medias your filter will use depends on the optimization related to your water’s source and regional contaminants. |
5. Culligan E-Z-4 Change Sink Filter
If the idea of taking your sink apart makes you nervous, the Culligan E-Z-4 Change Sink Filter could be a good fit. It uses a twist-on cap to add the filter underneath any sink with the included quick-connect fittings.
Once it starts removing contaminants, you’ll notice your tap’s taste and odor improve. Each filter lasts for 500 gallons of use or an average of six months.
| Notable Features of Culligan’s E-Z-4 Filter | How This Product Filters Water |
| The filter removes microscopic contaminants like mercury, cryptosporidium and giardia.The E-Z filter comes in three versions that filter different amounts of water throughout their lifetime.The EZ-4 filters last up to six months or through 500 gallons of water use. | Culligan’s offering passes water through carbon filters that naturally purify drinking water, remove foul odors and eliminate bad flavors. |
6. A.O. Smith Advanced Direct Connect Single-Stage Filter
The Advanced Direct Connect Single-Stage Filter from A.O. Smith is one of the sleekest and best under-the-sink water filters. It tackles microplastics, heavy metals, pesticides and more with its Claryum filter.
Larger households will appreciate its ability to withstand 784 gallons of water per filter before needing replacement. It can also pass a gallon and a half through the filter per minute, which means it can keep up with the average house’s water pressure.
| Notable Features of A.O Smith’s Advanced Direct Filter | How This Product Filters Water |
| The single filter tackles 78 possible contaminants like lead, microplastics and more.A.O. Smith uses the Claryum filters in many leading water filter products.The six-month filter life span maximizes your long-term savings. | A.O. Smith’s Advanced Direct Claryum filter uses activated carbon to purify microscopic particles, viruses and bacteria without removing any helpful minerals that make drinking water support your health. |
Tips for Installing and Maintaining Your Filter System
Once you’ve chosen a filtration system, make it last with a few preventive measures. You’ll get the most out of your money once you know how to help your filter stand the test of time.
Follow the Product’s Packaging Carefully
Every filter attaches to sinks slightly differently. Follow the instructions, including any notes about cleaning before use. You might need to soak the filter or rinse it under water for a specific length of time to wash out things like carbon dust. It depends on the filtering process your system uses.
Create Replacement Reminders
Even the best under-the-sink water filters need replacing. The packaging will indicate how often to renew your system based on your average water usage. You can estimate that by checking your current sink faucet brands and models.
See how many gallons of water each faucet allows per minute, then calculate that number by the number of minutes you use the faucet during a typical day. Multiply your daily water usage by days or weeks to see when you’ll reach the maximum gallons your filter system can handle.
Inspect Your Filter Once a Week
It’s easy to forget about something when it’s out of sight. Check your under-the-sink filter once a week, like when you open the same cabinet to retrieve your dishwasher detergent or countertop spray. If there aren’t any leaks, you’ll know it’s safe to continue using.
Support Your Health With Cleaner Water
After looking through the best under-the-sink water filters, you likely have a better idea of which option is best for your home. Whether you attach a filter to your kitchen or bathroom sink, you’ll get cleaner water that’s tastier, safer to cook with and better to use for sanitation purposes.
