How To Choose The Right Filter For Your Water Quality & Budget

As a functional medicine practitioner, I frequently get asked about how to clean up water sources at home. Here's my advice on how to do so quickly and effectively, based on your needs and budget:

Once you know what's in your tap water, you can choose the right filter for your needs.

There are four main categories: carbon filters (which come in a few different forms), reverse osmosis, UV, and distillation. Let's break down the pros and cons of each:

Carbon filters remove fewer contaminants than reverse osmosis filters, but they are cheaper. These include a faucet water filter, a pitcher water filter, an under-sink water filter, and a countertop water filter.

There are several ways you use carbon filters. Let's briefly go over the strengths and weaknesses of each.

These filters attach directly to the end of your faucet, hence the name.

Inexpensive and easy to install. Attach to your faucet and voilà.

They don't fit all faucets and can slow down flow, which can be annoying. Faucet filters typically require you to change filters more often than other carbon filter options.

Under $30.

These are pitchers with an activated carbon filter that can be filled up and poured from.

Inexpensive and no installation needed.

Some models can pour slowly and filters can clog. They also require more frequent filter changes.

Under $70.

These are mounted underneath your kitchen sink and attached to your water line.

Unlike other models, these don't take up counter or fridge space. They typically require fewer filter changes. Overall, they are more convenient than carafe or faucet filters—but they can be pricey.

They require installation, some professionally.

$60 to $500

These filters sit on your counter and connect directly to your faucet.

These are less likely to clog and slow down pour rate. They require less frequent filter changes than the carafe or faucet options.

They don't fit all faucets and take up counter space.

$80 to $1,000.

This filtration process uses your water pressure to push water through a semi-permeable membrane that blocks particles.

All the chemicals and heavy metal that carbon filters remove and additional ones that they may miss.

Reverse-osmosis filters are overall more effective at removing pollutants and are a good choice for someone whose tap water contains contaminants of concern, like PFAS.

They can be slow and require more upkeep. Reverse osmosis also notoriously wastes water and use up more energy. (You can look for units that have permeate pumps that decrease water waste.)

$99 to $2,000.

This system uses UV light to filter your water.

They don't 'remove' things—they only disinfect the water.

Ultraviolet light units disinfect water, killing bacteria and microorganisms.

They do not remove chemicals and heavy metals. These are best used in conjunction with a carbon or reverse-osmosis filtration system.

$100 to $1,000.

This filtration approach heats water enough to vaporize it and then condenses the steam back into water.

Distillation removes heavy metals, fluoride, and bacteria, viruses and chemicals that have a higher boiling point than water.

Distillers generally use a lot of electricity and require regular cleaning and maintenance. Distillation also cannot remove chlorine and other chemicals that do not have a higher boiling point than water.

$100 to $1,000.

Whatever filter you go with, I recommend choosing one that is verified by these National Science Foundation (NSF) standards:

So whether baths or showers are your thing, Rainshow'r Shower Filter and Crystal Ball Bath Dechlorinator are two great options to decrease chlorine levels.

If recent reports are any indication, we still have a long way to go before every person in America has access to clean, high-quality drinking water. Thankfully, there are many types of technologies that can help you take things into your own hands and filter your water at home. Choose the right one for your needs and budget and drink (and shower!) a little easier.