The 4 Best Under-Sink Water Filters of 2022

Installing an under-sink water filter is a fast, convenient and cost-effective way to deliver safe, great-tasting water to your tap. And the upgrade might be a lot more important than you realize: While the U.S. has some of the safest drinking water in the world, it’s far from perfect. Lead-tainted tap water is an ongoing concern, and not just in places like Flint, Michigan.

As many as 10 million American households connect to water through lead pipes and service lines, which is why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of strengthening its lead and copper regulations. Then there’s the issue of PFAS (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). A hot topic at GH’s 2021 Raise the Green Bar Sustainability Summit, these so-called forever chemicals — used in the manufacturing of some consumer products as well as firefighting foam — are contaminating ground water supplies at an alarming rate, to the point where the EPA released a health advisory.

What are the benefits of an under-sink water filter?

But even if your home’s tap water is contaminant-free, it still might have a funny taste since chlorine is used by public water systems to kill disease-causing germs, like Salmonella and Campylobacter. That’s why the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute test all types of water filtration products, from simple water filter pitchers to elaborate whole-house solutions. And while those options have their place in the market, our pros say under-sink water filters are the best fit for most households.

As the name implies, under-sink water filters are installed in the cabinet under the kitchen sink; the dispenser typically sits next to your main kitchen faucet. Our engineers find that the best under-sink water filters do an excellent job of removing contaminants without clogging. And they do so discreetly. “Under-sink water filters take up a bit of cabinet space, but they don’t clutter the sink deck the way countertop filters do, and they’re not clunky like faucet-mounted filters,” says Rachel Rothman, chief engineer at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees our water filter reviews.

How we test under-sink water filters

To narrow the list of contenders, our experts considered only water filters certified by NSF International, the organization that develops public health standards and certification programs for the industry. Over the years, we have reviewed scores of data points, for example checking which NSF standard the filters are certified for (some standards cover only lead, like NSF 372, while others also include agricultural and industrial toxins, like NSF 401). As part of our hands-on tests, our engineers considered such factors as flow rate and how easy it is to install and replace the filter. “We also took into consideration a brand’s track record and reliability, drawing on decades of water filter testing in our homes and labs,” says Rothman.

Based on all that testing and analysis, here are the best under-sink water filters you can buy:

What are the different types of water filters?

Most home water filters are point-of-use, meaning they’re designed to filter water from a single tap. This article focuses on under-sink filters, which come with a faucet-like dispenser; our experts like them for their combination of performance and clean, space-efficient design. Other types include:

✔️ Carafe-style water filters: An inexpensive, simple option, these pitchers have an on-board filter that water passes through. They’re fine for small volumes, but they’re not the best choice if you use filtered water for cooking as well as drinking or have several household members.

✔️ Refrigerator water filters: If your fridge has a water dispenser, chances are it has a filter, too, usually located at the top of the unit, though some manufacturers hide them behind a trim plate at the bottom. A word of warning: There are a lot of counterfeit refrigerator filters for sale online, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, and the shoddy design means they could cause more harm than good. Make sure any replacement you buy is at least certified to NSF Standard 42, which ensures the filter’s physical components won’t leach contaminants into your water, and that it is a permissible filter as per the manufacturer.

✔️ Countertop water filters: With this option, the filter sits on the countertop and connects directly to your faucet. That means you don’t have to modify your plumbing, for easy installation. But these filters clutter the sink deck, and they don’t work with pull-down faucets.

✔️ Faucet-mounted water filters: In this set up, the filter screws directly onto your faucet. Most let you toggle between filtered and unfiltered water. While set up is extremely easy, they’re clunky looking, and they also don’t work with pull-down faucets.

✔️ Whole-house water filters: These are installed at the home’s main water line where they’re designed to capture sediment and other large particulates, which are common with well water. Our experts recommend installing a second point-of-use filter to remove smaller contaminants.Advertisement – Continue Reading Belowhttps://00fa7207a46040d17b94c38981f4bb20.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.htmlhttps://00fa7207a46040d17b94c38981f4bb20.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.htmlWhat are reverse osmosis water filters?

Most household filters work by passing water through an active material, like carbon or charcoal, which removes impurities through a chemical process. Reverse osmosis (RO), by comparison, captures contaminants by pushing pressurized water through a semi-permeable membrane. The process is extremely effective.

The downside is that RO systems are usually expensive and can waste a lot of water, plus they require a large storage tank, so they can’t be installed under the sink. But the technology continues to innovate, including smaller, tankless design, like the Waterdrop version in our list. Even so, before investing in an RO water filter, our experts recommend testing your water to determine if a conventional filter will provide enough protection.How can you find out what’s in your drinking water?

If you get your water from your city, you should receive an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) telling you what contaminants were detected in your municipal water supply in the past year. That’s useful information, but harmful stuff can still get into your water after if it leaves the utility, including from lead pipes in your home, if it was built before 1986. There are also the 13 million U.S. households on private wells, which don’t receive a CCR. That’s why it’s a good idea to test your water regularly.

DIY kits, including those from GH Seal Holder Safe Home, are affordable and easy to use; Safe Home’s kit designed for city water costs $30, while the private-well version sells for $35. “You need to know what’s in your water,” says Chris Myers, president of Environmental Laboratories, which manufacturers the kits. “That way you can laser focus on a water filter that will remove what you need it to remove.”How are under-sink water filters installed?

While every system is unique, most come with a filter housing that gets mounted to an inside wall of your sink cabinet. One end of the filter ties into your cold-water line via a flexible connection. A second connection goes from the other end of the filter to the dispenser, which sits on your sink deck.

Installing the dispenser is often the trickiest part, since it involves drilling a hole in the countertop. Capable DIYers should be able to handle the project, but it might be worth calling in a plumber if you’re less experienced, especially if your water line needs to be modified.