Do you like drinking crystal clear filtered water but don’t live right next a to a mountain creek? Well, my friend, sounds like you need a water filter!

You want the one that suits your needs best but don’t know which one to get? Should you get the best water filter or the cheapest one? You came to the right place! I will tell you everything you need to know about water filters!

When Do You Need A Water Filter?

Eating clean is important. So is drinking clean! And I wasn’t kidding with living next to a mountain creek either. Because even if you live next to one chances are, you still need a water filter. Yes, our world is that polluted. Or better yet: would you take any chances knowing you don’t actually have to?

There are two ways you can figure out whether you need a water filter:

1. Get your tap water tested. You can actually buy a water tester kit from Home Depot.
2. If you live in a city in any first world country and your tap water is drinkable (or so you think) you probably still need a water filter. 😀

I know the second method is not at all accurate and will not reveal the actual impurity levels in your water but it is funny, right?

Seriously, it is not just where you live but there are a multitude of variables that factor into your water quality. Like how old the pipes are that bring you the water. In the US, houses built before 1986 may contain lead pipes which, as we already know now, are bad news for your health. The  quality of your tap water also depends on how effectively the water reclaiming system works in your area. You can actually find all the “dirty” details regarding this in your municipality’s mandatory Consumer Confidence Reports which is a water quality summary that’s released each year by July 1st.

Water filters are also categorized by their filtering capability. The standard they use is the one of the trusted NSF.

How To Find The Right Water Filter

Before buying a water filter make sure you know what it is you wish to remove from your water and how the filter you intend to buy stacks up based on the NSF Standard.
For example: “NSF Standard 42” means that it only does an aesthetic filtering by removing chlorine. This will make your water smell and taste a lot better but it still will not remove heavy metals or other, chemical or biological impurities, like bacterias or parasites. For that, you would need something a bit stronger like a filter that has passed the “NSF Standard 53” certification. Now, a filter like this is still not perfect because it still leaves trace amounts of prescription drugs and pesticides in your water. If you want those gone too, you will need an NSF Standard 401-certified filter.
Do you already have a water filter and you are just curious whether it does what it supposed to do? Search for it on NSF!

In my humble opinion, let’s split the water filters in three main tiers based on the impurity level in your water:

Impurity Level: LOW

If the impurity level of your water is relatively low, I recommend something simple, like the Brita pitcher.

In most cases, an 8-10 cup pitcher will suffice. Pitchers are great because they contain enough fresh, filtered water for 1-4 people. They are also smartly designed to fit snugly in your fridge door.
This pitcher will only set you back by a measly $27 and you get your first filter too!
You will need to change the filter about once every 2 months or 6 times a year which will not set you back by too much: $38 per year for 6 filters!
Cheaper than bottled water right?

Another  classic pitcher is ZeroWater’s 8 Cup Pitcher. It comes with an indicator stick that will help you establish a baseline of TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) in your tap water before and after filtering. With it you can keep track of the efficiency of your filter.It is one of my personal favorites. And not just because of its low price.
It only costs $24.73 but the filters can get a bit pricey. Nevertheless, they are worth every penny.

Impurity Level: MEDIUM

When your water is far from clean but also not too dirty I recommend getting something a little more than just a pitcher. Like the PUR Advanced Faucet Water Filter.

This bad boy here is certified to remove over 70 contaminants, including 99% of Lead, 92% of pesticides, 96% of Mercury!
Also, it has MineralClear inside which filters water over natural minerals for a crisp, refreshing taste. Yumm!
One more thing: this filter does not remove fluoride, which is great if you are on the pro-fluoride side on the fluoride debate!
The filter is capable of filtering about 100 gallons of water and only need to be changed every 3 months.
All in all, a faucet-mounted filter is not just a lot cooler looking but also a lot more practical than a pitcher.
Its cost is also very cool: only $26.40.
And you can get 3 replacement filters for only $25.49!

Impurity Level: HIGH

If your tap water is really high in contaminants and you need something more heavy duty why not try the APEC 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis Filter?

It fits neatly under your sink so it is technically out of sight, out of mind! So is your tap water problem!
As long as this baby serves you, your tap water will be stripped of all chlorine, arsenic, lead, fluoride, and 1000+ more contaminants, even bacteria and virus!
I think it is more than a bargain considering you will only pay under $199 for it!

Of course, there are a lot more expensive water filters out there. Are they that much better? Honestly, I have no idea. But why you would buy them if these can do a great job for a low price?