How Does An Undersink Water Filter Work and How Do You Find a High Quality Product?

An undersink water filter works much the way a countertop point-of-use unit works, except it is hidden away underneath for those who don't wish to have the filtration system showing. These units are usually very easy to install, usually less than a half hour, and can effectively remove most harmful contaminants from your home's water.

According to most undersink water filter reviews, the most effective, and cost-efficient systems are multi-stage units with a combination of filtration methods, including ion exchange, carbon and sub-micron filtration. This ensures that the unit will remove lead, chlorine, volatile organic chemicals, parasites and other toxins from the water, yielding clean, pure drinking water for your family.

There is certainly a growing demand for whole house and undersink water filter systems these days as more and more research points to the damaging effects of toxic chemicals present in our water. Even in the best areas, studies show there are over 2100 cancer-causing contaminants in our water, with new chemicals finding their way into the system each and every day.

The reason for this is that most municipal water facilities use old, rudimentary filtration methods which are unable to work nearly as effectively as some of the better undersink water filters. Also, government regulations only set maximum levels for a few dozen chemicals...there are no standards for the majority of toxins in the water.

So you can see why the water in your home is not nearly as clean and pure as it should be, and why an undersink water filter system makes sense. Not only can the better systems remove harmful chemicals and micro-organisms, but they leave in the healthful trace elements that give water its therapeutic benefits. So essentially, these filters take out only the bad stuff, while leaving essential magnesium, calcium and potassium behind.

How To Find The Best Undersink Water Filter

There are many different products on the market and many different filtration methods. Some are definitely better than others, but from our undersink water filter reviews we were able to determine which are the best overall buys for your home.

You want to find the unit that removes the most harmful chemicals and other toxins from the water. You can find this information on the Performance Data Sheet, which lists everything that is filtered out and in what quantities. This will give you a good idea of the product's capabilities.

Many states have very strict guidelines when it comes to whole house and undersink water filter system performance. They review all of a manufacturer's claims, product information, filtration methods and other company criteria. The strictest guidelines are issued by the California Department of Health. If you find an undersink water filter with California Certification, you can be sure that filter of the highest quality.

Other than the performance data and certification, which should give you a good sense of what you're getting, go with a reputable manufacturer that has been in the business for a while. Also, look for some kind of guarantee of performance, so if the product doesn't do what it says it does you can return it. Every good company has some kind of satisfaction guarantee.

If you want to be sure your family is drinking safe, pure, clean water, look into a countertop or undersink water filter for your home...you'll be glad you did!

Martin Spencer is a health researcher who has been studying water filtration for over 25 years. He is a regular contributor to Water Filtration Guide, a site dedicated to various methods of treating and purifying water. Read our undersink water filter reviews on our site.