Would a filter at the tap is suitable to bring you pure water, or should you install a water filter system for the whole house? Would activate carbon filter work, or is UV treatment a better option? It’s hard to find an accurate answer.
The method of water filtration and type of water filter you use should be determined based on several measures. Factors to take into concern include the biochemical properties of the water, the specs, and material of the pipe, your preferences, your budget, among other things. All of those vary from home to home.
This blog aims at introducing to you the most popular types of residential water filters. Following that is the common methods used in water purification and filtration. The advantages and disadvantages of each type and each method will also be explained, so you will have a better opinion of what would be best for your house.
We highly recommend you to read the types of water filters for the home Buying Guide at the end of the blog to get in-depth knowledge about water filters.
Types of Water Purifiers and Filters for Domestic use:
The most commonly seen water filters in American homes.
1. Water filter pitcher
Water filter pitcher is one of the common popular types of water filters, thanks to its low cost and portability. A water filter container typically has two parts. At the core of the upper half is a filter filled frequently with activated carbon, where you will drain water in to be treated. The water filtered will drop down to the lower part of the container, and you can pour it out from there.
Due to their limited capacity, water filter containers are mainly used to purify tap water for cooking and drinking. They’re also a convenient and safe way to get clean and pure water when you’re outdoors, on a camping trip, for example.
Pros:
- Reasonable Water filter
- remove lots of chemicals and minerals in the water
- Easy to use and portable
- TDS Controller
Cons:
- Slow Confined capacity
Pros
Cons
- Reasonable Water filter
- remove lots of chemicals and minerals in the water
- Easy to use and portable
- TDS Controller
- Slow Confined capacity
2. Faucet Filter
This is a small machine you install right on your tap. It eliminates the contaminants in the water right before it comes out, leaving you with clean water for cooking and washing.
Faucet water filters are generally reasonable, making them a favorite choice in households. They’re best at improving the taste and the smell of tap water in areas where the water is relatively already clean and safe.
Pros:
- Convenient, no need to constantly fill water
- Easy to install
Cons:
- Slows the flow down significantly
- May not work with low faucet
Pros
Cons
- Convenient, no need to constantly fill water
- Easy to install
- Slows the flow down significantly
- May not work with low faucet
3. Showerhead Filter
Similar to faucet filter, this is a machine you install on your shower head to water filter for your shower.
Filters for the shower are recommended for areas where the water contains a rich amount of fluoride and chlorine, which are known to cause dryness and irritations to individuals with sensitive skin. Several users reported they feel reduced hair loss and smoother skin after the filter is installed in their bathroom.
Pros:
- Reasonable Water filter
- Removes simple contaminants, improves hair and skin
- Easy to use and portable
Cons:
- Slow Confined capacity
Pros
Cons
- Reasonable Water filter
- Removes simple contaminants, improves hair and skin
- Easy to use and portable
- Slow Confined capacity
4. Whole House Water Filters System
Whole house water filter systems are normally seen in households where tap water is not an option. They’re typically fixed right at the water tank, connecting to the main pipe, filtering the water before it is distributed to several areas in the house.
Pros:
- The large system effectively removes several contaminants
- Saves money on clean water in the long term
- Filters water directly at the main pipe. No want to find filters for many taps/sources in the house
Cons:
- Expensive
- Needs professional installation
Pros
Cons
- The large system effectively removes several contaminants
- Saves money on clean water in the long term
- Filters water directly at the main pipe. No want to find filters for many taps/sources in the house
- Expensive
- Needs professional installation
5. Countertop water filter
It is a slightly better choice when you need to purify your tap water without having to keep emptying and filling a jug. They are small machines connected to the tap, filtering water as you turn the tap on.
Countertop water filters are small. However, they still do take up some space on your countertop and are thus less preferred at households with a small/narrow countertop.
Pros:
- Reasonable Water filter
- More filtration than faucet filter
- Easy to use and portable
Cons:
- Takes countertop space
Pros
Cons
- Reasonable Water filter
- More filtration than faucet filter
- Easy to use and portable
- Takes countertop space
6. Under Sink Water Filter
This water filter is typically a water filtration system installed under the sink in your kitchen. It removes germs, bacteria, and pollutants, making the water safer to use.
Pros:
- Can filter more various kinds of contaminants
- Usually hidden under the sink, not visible
Cons:
- Costly
- Difficult to installation
Pros
Cons
- Can filter more various kinds of contaminants
- Usually hidden under the sink, not visible
- Costly
- Difficult to installation
How water filters work: Common Methods of Water Purification
Most of the time, a water purification system is a combination of two or more methods and materials. Each method has its pros and cons.
1. Filter with activated carbon
Activated charcoal, or Activated carbon, is a form of carbon that has been treated to maximize the no. of pores on them. When it is applied to treat a liquid, the pollutant particles are caught inside these pores.
Thanks to its extensive activated carbon, adsorption surface, is very widely employed in removing extracting chlorine or organic compounds from water. You can find this element in most pitcher filters and filter particles in larger household filtration systems.
Pros:
- Useful in removing sediment, chlorine, and improving the smell and the taste of the treated water.
- Does not need the power to work
- Reasonable product
Cons:
- Cannot remove salts, minerals, and dissolved inorganic compounds.
Pros
Cons
- Useful in removing sediment, chlorine, and improving the smell and the taste of the treated water.
- Does not need the power to work
- Reasonable product
- Cannot remove salts, minerals, and dissolved inorganic compounds.
2. Activated alumina-water filter
This water filter is made of aluminum oxide, the same substance as ruby and sapphire without the coloring impurities.
It’s designed to remove fluoride, arsenic, and selenium from drinking water. With several pores on its surface, the alumina can reduce up to 99% of fluoride concentrations in the normal fluoridated water.
Pros:
- Highly effective in the removal of arsenic, selenium, and fluoride
- effective cost
Cons:
- aluminum to the water
Pros
Cons
- Highly effective in the removal of arsenic, selenium, and fluoride
- effective cost
- aluminum to the water
3. Reverse Osmosis purifier
The reverse osmosis water purifier requires electricity to operate. It kills and removes almost all germs and bacteria from the water. RO purifier needs to have a specific amount of water pressure for which additional power is required. RO water purifier removes dissolved salts in water.
Typically large as a whole system with pre-filters, post-filters, and reverse osmosis membranes, RO filters are often quite a big investment. However, thanks to their high effectiveness in eliminating heavy metals and various harmful bacteria, they are a favorite choice among health-conscious households, especially the more affordable under-sink, and countertop filters.
Pros:
- Highly effective in removing parasites, pollutants, and viruses
- Doesn’t require electricity
Cons:
- Waste of water (the only ⅓ to ¼ of the water is purified, the rest is wasted)
- Requires high water pressure
Pros
Cons
- Highly effective in removing parasites, pollutants, and viruses
- Doesn’t require electricity
- Waste of water (the only ⅓ to ¼ of the water is purified, the rest is wasted)
- Requires high water pressure
4. Ceramic filter
It is made of ceramic, which has a lot of small pores on it. As water runs through the purifier, anything larger than the pore capacity is kept outside.
Ceramic filters are sometimes treated with silver to kill bacteria and prevent mold and algae in the water.
Pros:
- Reasonable Water fliter
- Simple to use and set up
- Doesn’t require power
- Effective in reducing protozoa and bacteria
Cons:
- Not effective against infections
- Slow process
Pros
Cons
- Reasonable Water fliter
- Simple to use and set up
- Doesn’t require power
- Effective in reducing protozoa and bacteria
- Not effective against infections
- Slow process
5. Ultraviolet water purifier
UV water purifying systems use the light of high frequency to illuminate water through a glass element. As water passes through the part, all living micro-organisms in it are killed.
Pros:
- Reasonable Water filter
- Kills viruses, parasites, and bacterias
Cons:
- Needs energy to operate
- Doesn’t remove non-living contaminants (fluoride or minerals)
Pros
Cons
- Reasonable Water filter
- Kills viruses, parasites, and bacterias
- Needs energy to operate
- Doesn’t remove non-living contaminants (fluoride or minerals)
6. Water distillation
Distillation is a process of water purifying with very high efficiency. During this process, water is heated into steam, which is then chilled down to the form of liquid and is gathered in a clean jar.
Pros:
- Improves the taste and smell of the treated water
- Removes and kills bacteria.
- No replacement needed
Cons:
- It takes long hours to produce a small amount of pure water.
- Requires power to work
Pros
Cons
- Improves the taste and smell of the treated water
- Removes and kills bacteria.
- No replacement needed
- It takes long hours to produce a small amount of pure water.
- Requires power to work
Final Thoughts
We have researched multiple websites before coming up with this list. Go ahead and buy the water filter in India based on your requirements. Please share your buying experience in the comments below, also do not hesitate to ask us if you have any doubts about the purchase.
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