The market for home water filtration is large and constantly growing, no doubt due to the desire of many discerning consumers to improve the quality of their daily drinking water. Studies have shown that it's easy to get sick from contaminated tap water, and that bottled water is not necessarily better quality than what you get from the tap. So the average homeowner has the option of installing a home water filtration system to improve the quality of their drinking water.

But which filtration system will work best for you? Let's review the pros and cons of each major type of filter to help you make your choice.

The easiest water filter to use is also the most portable: it is the carafe or water jug. Their design is extremely simple: just pour the water in and let it filter out the impurities for you. This type of simple water filter is especially suitable for people who live in apartments and cannot install a 4396841 water filter permanently. They are also a good choice for homeowners who don't want to have to install anything, or change the look of their taps. The disadvantages of these units are that the filters must be replaced frequently and it is the slowest method of filtration available.

Faucet-mounted filtration systems attach to the end of your faucet and allow you to choose between tap water and filtered water by simply turning a lever. They are also great choices for apartment dwellers who are allowed to change their taps, and for homeowners who don't want to bother installing filtration equipment. They are very inexpensive and work much faster than water pitcher filters. The average person can install one in no time and with very little difficulty. They also use cartridge filters that need to be replaced frequently, sometimes every month or so.

Under-sink water filters are among the most expensive options in this area, and they provide excellent water filtration results. They are not suitable for most apartment dwellers due to the need for installation, and homeowners should consider the cost of installation by a qualified technician before making their final purchase. The filter cartridges supplied with these units are very effective and long-lasting, with many only needing to be replaced about every six months.

Whole-house water filtration systems do pretty much what their name implies: they filter the water in your entire house at once without having to be installed on every faucet. The obvious advantage is that you get filtered water at every faucet in the house simultaneously, and the filter cartridges used for these units also last a long time, up to about six months. However, the installation of this type of water filtration system is more complex than other filtration systems and usually requires the services of a plumber for proper installation.

Reverse osmosis water filtration systems have been very popular with homeowners in the past because they do a superior job of filtering out even the smallest pollutants, including arsenic. However, to get 1 gal. of filtered water, a reverse osmosis filter must use and waste 5 gal. of tap water. They can also be quite cumbersome filters once installed, so many consumers opt for one of the first four water filtration systems mentioned instead.

There are many ways to get filtered water these days, and the filtration system you choose is entirely up to you. However, before you buy a water filtration system, check the cost of replacement cartridges. Sometimes the cost of cartridges can increase significantly over a very short period of time.