Do Faucet Water Filters Work? (Do Not Miss the Details)

In the olden days, access to drinking water was difficult. That is one of the reasons people settled down near rivers. But that changed with the arrival of faucets. The first traces of faucets go back to 1700 B.C. However, a lot has changed from then in terms of water pollution, the addition of heavy metal contaminants, etc.

Sure, faucets still give you quick access to water. But is using just faucets enough? You would want to also filter water. However, you might wonder if these filters actually work, or are they more or less a marketing gimmick? Therefore, you should know more about this before investing in faucets with water filters.

Do Faucet Filters Work?

Yes, they do. Several reports indicate that faucet filters remove many impurities from water. Thus, installing faucet filters is a good idea. However, you should not expect complete removal of contaminants as this may not be feasible.

How Do Faucet Water Filters Function?

Faucet filters dynamically filter water when it flows through it. When the water flows, it initially goes through a screen near the filter. This screen filters the first impurities like dirt particles. Once the initial screening is done, the water now goes through a more detailed filtration.

For this, it goes through a material made of carbon and zeolite. Carbon is a great material for filtration. It is first extracted from a source and then ground to make carbon in a usable form for this process. The material for such extraction could be bituminous coal or peat. However, experts can also extract carbon from coconut shells.

As these shells are sustainable, experts use them extensively. The other two sources of carbon are exhaustible. Hence, using them too much would mean exerting more pressure on the limited resources of the Earth. Once they extract the carbon, they heat it anaerobically at 1000 degrees. This is to remove all the contaminants from the source material.

Once the experts achieve the desired level of purity, they heat it to 1600 degrees. This causes the carbon to crack at a granular level. It is with the help of these cracks that carbon cleanses your water. So, when your water flows through the carbon, it adsorbs all the impurities.

As opposed to absorbing, the carbon only attracts them on the surface. It holds these impurities to itself so that you get purer water. In addition to this, it can catalyze the mechanism with which the chemical compositions of some contaminants change. So, if the water flows slowly through the carbon layer, it will remove many chemicals.

After the carbon part, the water goes to the zeolite. It is an exceptional absorbent of impurities. As proof of this fact, you should know that engineers used it in building structures like dams more than 2500 years ago. It has a porous 3D structure which helps in trapping all the dirt and even some microorganisms.

Are Faucet Filters Effective?

Yes, faucet filters are effective as long as you use treated water. They make your water smell better. Also, they improve the taste of your water. They do this by removing additional impurities from water. These include rust, zinc, and algae. These impurities give the water a metallic taste. Once faucet filters remove these contaminants, the water does not only tastes better but is also safer to consume.

However, you should remember that these only filter water. It is completely different from purifying water. Thus, if you filter untreated water, you would not get the results you desire. Instead, you should treat the water if it is highly polluted. After that, you can filter it to remove chemicals like chlorine.

Is It Worth Filtering Tap Water?

It is essential to consume 2 or 3 liters of water to maintain your health. You might also know that water naturally contains minerals that contribute to a healthy body. For example, fluoride is vital to prevent cavities in your teeth, and copper works as an antioxidant.

However, this does not mean that you consume these minerals indefinitely. Experts recommend a certain optimum quantity of these. More than this amount can be dangerous for you and not the other way round. This is where the problem with tap water comes into play.

Tap water contains much more than recommended amounts of four minerals, namely, calcium, copper, sodium, and magnesium. In addition to this, tap water also comes with the following problems:

• Chlorine: Treated water contains chlorine and drinking this can increase the risk of certain types of cancers.

• Lead: Unfiltered water may contain lead. In fact, a study estimated that 25% of houses in Europe have a lead pipe. High exposure to lead is toxic to the body.

• Microplastics: A study held in all the continents of the world revealed that unfiltered water contains high amounts of microplastics. While experts are still studying and trying to understand the impact this has on humans, it does not take much to know that they would not be positive. What remains to be seen is the intensity of this impact.

Owing to all the issues with tap water, it is not only worthwhile but also imperative to filter the water before consumption. However, it may not completely solve the problem of microplastics. In addition to this, changing the cartridge of filters in faucets is vital. This ensures that the filtration process continues effectively.

Do Under Sink Water Filters Work?

Yes, under sink water filters indeed work. They provide water that is free from many impurities thus making it safe to consume. Under-sink water filters can be installed easily under your kitchen sink, and it is completely out of view. Thereby it saves your kitchen space.

The filter fetches the water through an adjustable elastic pipe. Therefore, it directly enters your cold-water line under the sink. Then the water leaves the filter through a separate elastic tube. Hence, the purified water is delivered to you through the filter’s own attached faucet that is fixed on top of your sink.

Best Faucet Water Filter

Name	Benefits	Drawbacks
PUR FM – 3700 Advanced faucet water filter	It can remove 99% of lead, chlorine, and 70 other pollutants. It is easy to install. Environmental friendly. It can be agreeable with most of the taps.	The capacity of this filter is only 100 gallons. Well-water cannot be filtered. It might hinder the natural performance of your sink.
Invigorated water 8541997845 faucet water filter	It can clean alkaline water and can also be used for many purposes. This does not impact your sink function anymore. It can be installed effortlessly. The filter can be changed easily also it has a long shelf life.	No major drawback to this filter. The only complication is that it occupies a lot of space in your worktop.
Engdenton faucet water filter	Designed with high-quality food-grade stainless steel. It can bend up to 360 degrees so that you can handle it at your convenience.	It is more costly than others. Alternate cartridges for this filter were rare to find.

Best Under Sink Water Filters

Under-sink water filters have unique characteristics. They can vary in their look, filter quality, and price. To help you out, here are some recommendations for you to choose the best under sink filters:

Name	Benefits	Drawbacks
Aquasana AQ-5200	It is more affordable than others. This is the first filter having PFOS certification. It is widely available in the market.	Rare complaints would arise in prolonged usage like an unstable faucet and damaged filter housings. Water flow may be less than promoted.
Aquasana AQ-5300	The capacity of the filter is high. Also, it has a huge flow rate. Simple to install. It can remove up to 99% of contaminants.	This one is a bit more expensive than the others. Though, the price is worth it for its purpose.
Aquasana claryum Direct connect	It is easy to install your filter. It can attach immediately to your existing faucets. Also, it has a Long-lasting filter.	Low flow can be seen over continuous use.

Conclusion

Filters are thus essential to ensure that the water is safe to drink. Additionally, you now know how faucet filters work and hence you would be able to pick the best one for your home. However, if you notice any change in taste or smell even with the filter, get it checked out by an expert.