If you want to install the best under-sink water filter, this following post is for you.
Here we will reveal everything about the top products available on the market.
Also, we will discuss the reasons why using this system is necessary for your fresh drinking water.
We’re sure that after reading this, you can easily make the right decision about the suitable model for your home.
7 Best Under Sink Water Filter System
1. Home Master TMAFC-ERP RO Water Filter System – Best Rated
If you need an efficient and durable filter together with a pure-water/waste-water ratio of 1:1, you should consider the Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian instantly.
Made in the USA with NSF standards, you?re guaranteed to get enough healthy and great-tasting drinking water. Also, this product gets a 5-year warranty if something goes wrong.
The package of this under-sink water filter includes an RO membrane, filters, a tank for pure water storage, a drain saddle, an adapter, fittings, and even a faucet.
All these things are necessary to give you alkaline-free water for the kitchen. And with a modular ?all-in-one? design, it prevents biofilms and microorganisms from building up, reducing the leaks.
The filters of the TMAFC-ERP system last longer than any traditional RO ones. That means you don?t need to replace it frequently, just once a year or every 2,000 gallons.
One more excellent point that we want to mention is the massive 7-stage filtration. The impure water will go through all the filters in the system.
Then it’s added calcium and magnesium minerals twice by the Full Contact Technology. That?s why you will get the most refreshing and refined drinking water.
Although its high price is a BIG problem for those with a limited budget, we?re sure it?s worth every penny.
And in case you still worry about installing this product, please STOP because it?s quite simple.
Make sure you follow the instructions carefully, and the installation process takes only about 50 minutes. But if you?re not sure of your ability, it?s okay to ask for the support of a plumber.
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PROS
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- Gives great-tasting drinking water
- Fast flow with the pump
- Low ratio of water waste
- Easy to install and change filters
- A full package with a faucet included
- Made in the USA
- Long warranty (5 years)
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CONS
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- A bit pricey compared to other products in this list
- Some dislike the loud noise from the pump
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2. Woder 10K-Gen3 Ultra High Capacity Direct Connect – Budget Pick
For the best taste of safe, pure water with the least high price, the Woder 10K-Gen3 is the excellent water filtration system at this time.
Thanks to Woder?s unique filtration technology, 99.99% of contaminants will be removed. Relying on that, you will get pure, safe water for your family, instead of bad tastes and odors.
As its name suggests, the filtration capacity is up to 10,000 gallons or a minimum of 3 years before replacing.
And remember to use only cold water, not warm water or well-water to ensure its durability.
Of course, installation is simple. As long as you get enough components and instructions, all will be done under 5 or 10 minutes.
When it comes to the flow rate, there are some complaints about its slowness. Although the manufacturer affirms that the water flow rate is 2 gpm, what you get is about 0.8 gpm.
Overall, the Woder 10K-Gen3 can give you clean and refreshing drinking water from the tap. With a reasonable price and lots of positive comments from users, you won?t go wrong if the budget is your top consideration.
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PROS
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- Water tastes great, no chlorine
- Durable filters
- No plumbing required
- Simple to install
- Affordable price
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CONS
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- Slow flow rate, not as expected
- Some find that it doesn?t last up to 3 years as advertised
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3. CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter ? Long Filter Life
One of the significant advantages of using the CuZn UC-200 is its long-lasting filters. This filtration capacity can hold up to 50,000 gallons.
That means once you?ve installed it, you can forget it for about five years. Another great thing is the easy installation process.
As you can see, this water filter doesn?t need an extra faucet since it connects directly to the sink?s cold-water line.
When buying this product, you, of course, get all the necessary parts. Additionally, the 3-stage filtration process is excellent with KDF-55 media, micro sediment membrane, and catalytic coconut shell carbon steps.
So, you can finally say goodbye to contaminants like lead, chlorine, herbicides, mercury, etc. (but not fluoride).
One thing to REMEMBER before buying it this unit is that it is larger than you expect. Its dimensions are 4.5 x 4.5 x 15 inches, so make sure to measure your cabinet first.
Aside from the above, the CuZn UC-200 offers an excellent warranty of 5 years. You can even send it back and get a refund with a 90-day satisfaction guarantee if feeling unsatisfied.
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PROS
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- Extremely durable filters
- Super easy to install
- Offers a good flow rate of 2 gpm
- Reduces bad tastes and smells
- Made in the US
- Great warranty
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CONS
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- A bit large, cannot fit all pipes
- Doesn?t remove fluoride
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4. APEC ROES-PH75 6-Stage Ultra Safe RO System – Best for Alkaline Water
APEC, or Advanced Purification Engineering Corp., is a leading manufacturer of reverse osmosis filter systems.
And if you?re finding an under-sink RO system that eliminates toxins from your water yet remains essential minerals, the ROES-PH75 6-Stage is what you need.
As its name suggests, this unit has 6 different stages to remove 99% of contaminants, bacteria as well as bad tastes and smells.
You also guaranteed to drink the water with a high amount of alkalinity thanks to the added pH+ re-mineralizing calcium filter in the sixth stage.
The next advantage of this product is the long-lasting filters. If the first three ones need to be replaced every 6 months, the remaining ones can last 2-3 years, even more, depending on the water source.
The next advantage of this product is the long-lasting filters. If the first three ones need to be replaced every 6 months, the remaining ones can last 2-3 years, even more, depending on the water source.
One factor you should consider is the high water waste amount. With a 1:3 ratio, the unit will need to get rid of 3 gallons of water to get 1 gallon of clean water.But the manufacturer explains that this number will give the best contaminant rejection ability.
Overall, there are still more great features about this filter that lots of people like.
By giving 75 gallons per day, it can always provide enough water for a busy family.
And if you worry about installation, we believe you can do it without any problem as long as you follow the guide carefully.
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PROS
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- Remove 99% of any contaminants
- Good tasting water from the tap
- Long-lasting filters
- Holds enough water for a large family
- Easy to install
- Made in the US
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CONS
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- Some complaints of the high wastewater ratio (3:1)
- A bit bulky
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5. APEC Water Systems RO-90 Ultra Safe RO System – Best RO System
The Ultimate RO-90 from APEC Water Systems can convert hard water into soft water, meaning this water filtration system can remove impure salts and 99% of harmful contaminants.
Equipped with a 5-stage ultra-pure system, this unit purifies water twice as quick as other models. It, of course, provides pure water with good taste for drinking, cooking and even making tea and coffee.
The super-effective APEC filters can get rid of barium, chlorine, chemicals, arsenic, heavy metals, and other contaminants.
It also ensures water purity when it goes through each stage. In addition to those features, these filters come with a long lifespan.
The first 3 ones can last over 12 months while the others can extend more than 3 years.
Although you don?t need to worry about the maintenance for a long time, be careful since you might meet some difficulties when replacing the membrane filter housing. Or you might have a high ratio (3:1) like the ROES-PH75 6-Stage.
Or you might have a high ratio (3:1) like the ROES-PH75 6-Stage. Having been tested and guaranteed by the NSF and certified by WOA gold seal, this filter system provides ultra-safe water purification results.
Not only does it keep you and your family healthy but also offers enough pure water all year round with less or no maintenance stress.
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PROS
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- Excellent built quality with amazing filters
- Clean drinking water with great tastes
- Quiet system
- Nice faucet included
- Easy to set up (yet some claim that the guide should be in detail)
- Minimal maintenance for the filters
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CONS
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- A bit hard to replace the membrane filter
- The water-waste ratio is still high to some users
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6. iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage Superb Taste RO System ? Best Value
If what you need is a high capacity filter system like the ROES-PH75 6-Stage yet on a budget, why don?t you take a look at the iSpring RCC7AK 6-stage?
The 6-stage filtration system consists of 3 pre-filters (sediment and two carbon filters). The next stage is to remove contaminants and let only water molecules pass through while the upcoming filter will polish it.
The final stage will restore the alkaline balance to the water before going through the tap. Depending on the quality of water, you might replace the filters a little sooner or later.
The most exciting thing is that you can view the sediments removed to know when to replace it.
Although there are 98% of the components and tools needed for installation inside the box, this process is complicated. Besides, you need to adjust hoses carefully before making the connections, or leaking might happen. Since this unit needs about 1-3 hours to fill up the tank with purified water, it?s not always available. And this may make some users annoyed.
All in all, the RCC7AK 6-stage from iSpring guarantees you?re drinking the best-tasting and purest water.
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PROS
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- Offers purified alkaline water with a good value
- Great tasting water
- Effectively removes 99% of contaminants
- Durable filters, low maintenance for a long time
- WQA certified
- Automatic shut off after filling up the tank
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CONS
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- Install carefully or might cause leaks
- Need to wait until the tank is filled before using
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7. APEC WFS-1000 Super Capacity 3 Stage Under-Sink Water Filter System – Basic Filtration
The last under-sink water filter system in our list is the APEC WFS-1000. It uses a 3-stage filtration process to get rid of chlorine, particles, odors, tastes, dust, and other chemicals.
However, most necessary minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium are kept in the water to give you daily nutritional intake. They make the water taste good as well.
How about the replacement?
These are made in the US and last up to 1 year before needing to be replaced. Be careful that this might vary depending on the quality of water and how much they are used.
For fluoride and heavy metals or TDS removal, you should consider another model because this unit cannot deal with them.
Unlike other water filters that require some extra parts, this one includes all the equipment you need. It even has pre-drilled holes so that you can mount on the wall effortlessly.
Is there anything else?
Well, the APEC WFS-1000 comes with JG good-grade tubing (FDA certified) and a 100% lead-free chrome faucet. And it?s indeed a beautiful faucet that adds a touch of class and style to your kitchen.
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PROS
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- Well-built
- Simple to install, yet directions can be a bit confusing at first
- Great filtration for a reasonable price
- Removes tastes and smells well
- Stainless-steel faucet, not the plastic
- Excellent flow rate
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CONS
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- Not designed for TDS removal
- Not suitable for the contaminated water
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Benefits of Under-sink Water Filter
No matter which type you choose, these under-sink water filters offer lots of significant advantages to your household.
So, it?s not surprising why they have become popular in recent years. Here are what an under-counter water filter can bring to you.
a) Improve The Water
The chlorine and fluoride are often found within small doses in tap water. And depending on your living place, the tap water may have an unpleasant smell or taste.
So, getting a high-quality under-sink water filter will help you fix all these and make you drink more water instead of drinking less.
b) Make Water Safe and Healthier to Drink
Aside from giving great tastes, this filter can eliminate lots of hazardous?contaminants and chemicals from tap water. Also, it adds healthy minerals to improve the quality of your drinking water.
c) Enhance The Physical Growth of Kids
If you have children, the most important thing is to keep a high-quality source of drinking water.
As you might know, unhealthy drinking water will prevent the development of your kids?and create some unnecessary diseases. Bad tastes might make them drink less than what their bodies need.
d) Require no Extra Space
As you know, the under-sink water filters are designed to be placed underneath the countertop. So, if you want to save space, they are the best choice.
e) Easy to Install and Maintain
To some people, establishing an under-counter water filter is too complicated. But it is not. Although it is trickier than setting up a countertop water filter, it requires no plumbing experience.
Importantly, maintaining these filters is simpler than that of the countertop ones. All you need to do is to kneel and replace the cartridge under the sink instead of doing this on top of the counter.
In the upcoming part, we will guide you through the installation and maintenance of this filter system.
f) A Wide Range of Different Models
As mentioned above, there are three main types of under-sink water filters. However, depending on the brands, you can search for a variety of models.
There are filters with only one basic cartridge while some come with different ones. Some systems cannot only filter the water but also improve its quality by adding essential minerals.
g) Cost-efficiently
The amount of money an under-sink water filter is going to save you from spending on bottled water is unimaginable.
Also, it?s more effective than other kinds of water filters such as freezer filters or faucet filters, though it depends on the quality of the brand and model.
Understanding The Under-sink Water Filter System
After reading about all 7 top products above, could you make your own choice instantly?
Perhaps YES or NO, right?
But since you’re here, we want to give you the best information so you can buy the best product. Now, let’s discuss something about this efficient system!
How many types of under-sink water filter and how each works? As its name suggests, an under-counter water filter is designed to sit under the kitchen counter/sink.
And in terms of purification system placement, this system offers the most convenient locations possible and allows you to maintain the water quality.
There are three different kinds including simple under-sink filter, conventional under-sink filter, and reverse osmosis filter. Here we will explain each type to help you understand better.
a) Simple Under-sink Water Filters
The term ‘simple’ mainly comes from how this system is installed, instead of how it works.
It will process water from the cold-water line. Then the water will be diverted into a regular faucet. That means no extra one is needed.
When filtering a lot of water, it will have a shorter span and need replacements more often. Since it only requires a simple connection to work, it?s easy to install among three types of filters.
And that?s why the single under-sink filters are becoming popular, especially among individuals and families in rent houses or apartments.
b) Conventional Under-sink Water Filters
A conventional filter will be attached to the cold-water line, letting the filtered water go through and get out from a separate faucet.
Remember that only the water that reaches the filter will be purified, and the hot and cold water entering the regular faucet will no.
Since this system requires an extra faucet for filtered water, it’s a bit tricky to install.
Make sure you have an additional hole available on the countertop/sink for the faucet. However, this type of filter will last longer compared to the simple one.
c) Reverse Osmosis Filters
This filter system uses the reverse osmosis (RO) process to get rid of contaminants from the water.
Then the pure water will be distributed through a faucet (often a separate one), and the water with the contaminant will be removed or used for non-drinking purposes.
Since the RO membrane is large, it?s often accompanied by different layers of pre-filters to guarantee large pollutants and sediments are drained away from the water.
And this makes the?RO filter systems?one of the most effective non-electronic systems for purifying water. But please REMEMBER that they are a little pricey and hard to install.
Under-sink Vs. Countertop Water Filters
If you are still considering which one to buy between them, follow us now to find the answer.
First of all, both water filter systems are described as large filtration devices as compared to showerhead or faucet filters.
With high capacity and improved filtration technology, they can purify water to a drinkable level pretty well. Also, they sometimes come with some similar features.
For instance, you can find the RO process in both types. So, to give you a more unobstructed view of both units, here are some advantages and disadvantages that you should not miss.
Under-sink Water Filters
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PROS
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- A bit pricey compared to other products in this list
- Some dislike the loud noise from the pump
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CONS
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- Much bigger than the countertop filters
- Difficult to install
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Countertop Water Filters
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PROS
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- Easy to set up, some don?t even need an installation
- Small, don?t occupy much space
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CONS
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- Take longer to filter the water
- Unstylish, not suitable for modern kitchens
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Do you think that an under-counter system is important?
If your answer is YES, continue with us to find out some necessary factors before ORDERING one for your home.
Under-sink Water Filter Buying Guides
When it comes to purchasing a water filter to install underneath your kitchen counter, you will have many options.
When looking for a suitable unit, here is what you should notice carefully.
a) Water Waste: Pure Water Ratio
If what you are looking for is an RO filter, make sure to opt for a low waste vs. pure water ratio.
Some traditional RO filters waste a vast amount of water for every gallon of purified water. If the ratio is as high as 5:1, this results in an ascending water bill.
However, modern RO filters have addressed this issue. Thanks to new technologies and additional pumps to increase the water pressure, the ratio is often 3:1 or 1:1.
b) Water Flow Rate
When doing their job, the water filters restrict the water flow. Since some might influence the water flow more than the others, it?s vital to check out the rate before choosing.
Usually, a standard kitchen faucet with no filter provides around 2.0gpm. Meanwhile, the lowest flow rate of an under-sink water filter is about 0.2gpm.
So, it?s best to get the water filter that delivers no more than 0.5 gallons of filtered per minute.
c) Operating Water Pressure
Similar to the water flow rate, the operating water pressure is essential as well in case your house doesn?t have a good source of water.
The simple under-sink water filter often provides better water pressure than the conventional ones.
But the drawback is that the water will spend less time in the filter, allowing contaminants to go through it easily. This will be a BIG issue if your water source is highly contaminated.
d) Filter Stages
As measured by Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), the more stages a water filter system has, the higher the quality of water it offers.
Most of the filters are sediment ones of different sizes, calculated by their capacity to filter out contaminants. But the disadvantage is that the more stages it has, the larger the system and the higher cost for maintenance are.
e) Reverse Osmosis
Considering another stage, particularly a reverse osmosis membrane, is an excellent idea. It?s because this small micron water filter adds necessary minerals to give you the pure water possible.
f) Filter Life
The life of the filter is often decided by how much water goes through it over time, not by age.
So, try to consider how much water you?re going to use, depending on your household size and demands. The filters with a high degree of filtration tend to be replaced more often.
g) Cartridge Durability
While some under-sink water filter systems need new filters every 6 months, some only need to be replaced once every 3 or even 5 years.
What does it mean?
Most of the cartridges operate in the same way. And if a cartridge can filter more water, it?s better built. So, the cartridges that last longer and filter the water more effectively are often made with high-quality parts.
But please be aware that although a cartridge might be advertised to last a particular period, it might not reach that. The reason is the quality of the water.
h) Certifications
When buying a filter system for your house, you need to search for the?NSF and WQA certifications?to ensure certain standards of effectiveness.
The models with these certificates have been proven to be able to get rid of contaminants very well and have high-quality water filters and other parts.
REMEMBER that the best water filter systems will be certified by the NSF or WQA.
i) Physical Size
Some under-counter water filters are much bigger than you?d think. Depending on how much space is available under the sink, it might influence which filtration system is suitable.
If your sink has unlimited space, everything will be simple. But if it?s not, you should choose carefully. Additionally, remember that some RO systems often come with a storage tank that might occupy more space.
j) Installation
If you install this system by yourself, you will save a lot of money by not calling a plumber. And the good news is that most of the products in our review are simple to set up.
In case a system includes a dedicated faucet instead of featuring an in-line design, the installation can be a bit hard, yet not too much.
You need to drill an additional hole somewhere in the counter if the kitchen sink doesn?t have a spare one. Using the dedicated faucet means you don’t need to purify all the water you use.
Only water for being used directly from the tap will be filtered. And this helps to save your time and money in the long run. Most importantly, the filter will last longer.
Ways To Install An Under-sink Water Filter
It?s time to learn how to install an under-counter water filter for your home! And the first thing we want to affirm is that the process is not as difficult as you?d think.
The level of difficulty only depends on which type of system you?ve bought. But before starting, you need to prepare some necessary tools.
- Adjustable wrench
- Screwdriver
- Utility knife
- Teflon tape
- ? drill bit and variable speed drink (for dedicated faucet)
The next thing to do is determining the cold-water line. Never choose the warm-water one because it will damage the filter.
How to Install a Direct Connect System?
- Switch off the cold-water supply under the kitchen sink and disconnect the main faucet at the same time.
- Attach the inlet hose of your assembled system to the water source valve and the outlet hose to the faucet. Use some wraps of Teflon tape if necessary.
- Check and tighten any fitting with a wrench.
- Continue securing the water filter with screws.
- Open the cold-water line and examine for leaks.
- Flush the filter before using as per manufacturer instructions.
How to Install The Under-sink Water Filter with a Dedicated Faucet?
- Repeat the first step as above.
- Then start installing a T-valve onto the cold-water line. But remember that you need to use an extra adapter. If required, you should apply some wraps of Teflon tape.
- Start drilling a hole for the additional faucet if necessary and then mount it.
- After that, connect the inlet hose of your assembled system to the cold-water line and the outlet hose to the new faucet.
- Of course, you must tighten any fitting with a wrench and secure the system with screws.
- Turn on the cold-water line and check for any leaks.
- And don?t forget to flush the filters as per instructions before using.
In case you?re still not sure how to do it, it?s okay to watch some videos on YouTube.
Additionally, some manufacturers show their installation videos on their websites to guide you.
