It’s not uncommon to hear someone say, “My tap water tastes gross.” This is the same reason that people purchase gallons and gallons of bottled purified water. Others invest in Brita water filter pitchers, an easy solution if it weren’t for buying new filters at the end of every month. While tap water in some regions is worse than others, odors and bad tastes can be attributed to many different contaminants. If you suspect your water has been contaminated, it’s time to get a water test kit and invest in a water filtration system.
Two of the most popular forms of home filtration include water filter pitchers and under sink water filters. While both provide purified, healthy drinking water, both of them filter water differently and we’ve found there are some significant advantages to Undersink water filtration.
In this guide, we look at the benefits of water filter pitchers and under sink water filtration to see which one provides the most purified result and value for your home.
Do Water Filter Pitchers Purify as well as Other Water Filters?
Water filter pitchers also known as filtering pitchers can provide as many as 25 cups of filtered water. These filters typically look like a normal pitcher with a handle and spout, but at the top is a filter life indicator and a filter column with a carbon filter installed in the center.
You’ll have to fill up the water pitcher yourself, and if it’s the first time using one, you’ll need to run water through the filter several times to get rid of excess carbon particles floating in your water. Once ready, water filter pitchers keep filtered water cold in your fridge.
So, Are Water Filter Pitchers Better?
In some ways, there is more convenience and accessibility for water filter pitchers, but over time, you may realize that you’re not removing as many contaminants as an under sink water filter. In addition, these filters don’t last as long.
These filtered pitchers typically only have one filter cartridge, which is an activated carbon cartridge. They don’t have any other filtration steps, such as a sediment filter, reverse osmosis membrane, or a water softener stage.
For that reason, water filter pitchers are best for those who may have poor drinking water with a bad odor and wants a fast, affordable solution. In the long-term, there are considerably more costs for water filter pitchers, as these typically go through one filter in 30 to 60 days, requiring you to replace them with another specialized $20 to $40 filter cartridge specific for your pitcher brand.
For example, Brita filtered pitchers cost between $20 and $50 for larger capacities, and their filters cost between $6 and $20, depending on the type of filter you require. That’s about $50 to $100 per year on water filters.
Are Under Sink Water Filters Worth It?
While under sink water filters seem like a higher investment, that’s because it’s a comprehensive water filter system with multiple stages of filtration and typically 98% or higher purification. Under sink water filters fit underneath your kitchen sink and provide clean water.
Why Under Sink Filtration is Preferred
These water filters are capable of removing almost all water contaminants, especially if they include a reverse osmosis (RO) filtration stage. In addition, they are actually more convenient than pitchers because you don’t have to manually fill the pitcher and wait for it to filter, then wait for water to cool down in the fridge.
Instead, you have flowing water directly from your kitchen sink that is filtered and purified. These systems typically fit into the corner of your kitchen sink cabinet and have a second faucet installed that dispenses clean water on demand.
It’s important to purchase a high-quality product like an Waterdrop under sink water filter. These provide excellent purification with multiple filtration stages, including activated carbon filtration, pre-filter for sediment, reverse osmosis membrane, and even remineralization to put nutrients back into your filtered water.
Under Sink Filtration for Well Water Homes
Well water homes have significant challenges when it comes to water quality. Through groundwater contamination and other problems, under sink water filters for wells typically have one more stage. The UV filtration stage is added to remove more bacteria and viruses that can contaminate well water, particularly in rural areas.
Which Costs More: Water Filter Pitchers or Under Sink Filters
While the initial investment for a water pitcher is under $100, you’ll spend hundreds more in replacement filters over the lifetime of the pitcher. It’s also pretty inconvenient and requires you to manually fill the pitcher. Many consumers also don’t use water in pitchers for cooking or other household uses. It’s only for drinking.
Under sink water filtration has greater long-term value, but the initial investment ranges between $50 and $500+ depending on the number of filters and stages included with the system. However, these filters typically don’t need to be replaced as often as water filter pitchers, and you can access this purified water on demand for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.