Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains the many options available for filtering drinking water. (See below for a shopping list and steps.)
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Pointofuse filters, including pitcherstyle, spoutstyle, Reverse Osmosis under sink filters, and wholehouse filters with disposable cartridges are available at home centers and hardware stores. The wholehouse filter that automatically cleans itself is the Braukmann filter, manufactured by Honeywell and available at specialty plumbing supply stores. The large, canisterstyle filter that is filled with different materials based on your local water quality is a solution installed by Culligan.

Cost:
$10 and up
Time:
5 minutes to 5 hours, depending on the filtration system
Difficulty:
Easy to Difficult. Depending on the filtration system

Shopping List for How to Choose a Water Filter:
Pitcherstyle water filter [https://amzn.to/2Ls4Kxc]
Faucetmounted water filter [https://amzn.to/2NXQxtH]
Undersink water filter [https://amzn.to/2ZUdDJ5]
Undersink reverseosmosis water filter [https://amzn.to/2O1PRDB]
Wholehouse water filter [https://amzn.to/2NV4jxf]
Sediment filter [https://amzn.to/34FDkvB]

Steps for How to Choose a Water Filter:
1. The simplest way to filter tap water is with a pitcherstyle water filter, which has a granulated carbon filter that improves taste and odor, and removes some chlorine and sediment.
2. Faucetmounted filters have a switch that diverts tap water through a granulated carbon filter. Turn on the switch for filtered drinking water; flip it off when washing dishes.
3. For greater water filtration convenience and capacity, install an undersink, dualfilter system that has its own gooseneck faucet.
4. For optimum pointofuse filtration, consider a reverseosmosis system. Water passes through a series of three filters, resulting in extremely clean, pure drinking water.
5. Wholehouse water filters are installed near the water main and are ideal for delivering clean, filtered water to every faucet throughout the entire house.
6. There are a variety of filters available to remove a wide range of impurities.
7. Sediment filters contain a stainlesssteel prescreen filter and backflush system that automatically cleans the filter.
8. For the highest level of water filtration, first have your tap water tested, then call in a watertreatment specialist to install a wholehouse filtration system designed specifically to treat your water.

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How to Choose a Water Filter | Ask This Old House
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