Pitcher Water Filters

Pitcher water filters are probably the most popular style, and are the least expensive options for small quantities of filtered water. You pour water into the top portion of the jug, and it flows through a filter into the main canister. Check with each manufacturer to see what contaminants are removed with each filter product.

1. Brita Pitchers

Brita has a large line of jugs and pitchers, in many shapes and sizes. Their newest models have an electronic indicator to let you know when to change the filter.

2. Pur 8-Cup Pitcher

Pur carries two sizes of pitchers, and one counter-top dispenser for larger volumes of water. Their filters have a built-in guage to measure how much life is left in them.

3. Clear2o Filter Pitcher

The Clear2o filter pitcher fills and filters much faster than the regular pitcher filters, because you attach it directly to your faucet and fill it under pressure. Much quicker than letting the water slowly drip through the filter.

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Buy Water Filters

There are different kinds of water filtering systems out there, and you should think about what your needs are before deciding on the type of filters you should get. Primarily, how much water will you need to filter.

Pitcher Filters

These are great for the occasional need for filtered water. Add water to the top portion of the jug, and the water flows through an internal filter into the main canister. Sometimes it can take several minutes for the water to filter through.

• Brita Pitchers
• Pur Ultimate Pitchers
• Culligan Designer Filter Pitcher

Faucet Mounted Filters

Faucet mounted filters allow you to filter water straight from the tap, and many models can divert the water from the filter so you don't waste your filter when you just want regular water (for doing dishes perhaps). The filters are pretty small, though.

• Pur Ultimate Faucet Mounts
• Brita On Tap Faucet Filters
• Omni Faucet Mount Water Filter

Under the Sink Filters

These systems are similar to the faucet-mounted ones, in that they only service a single sink in your house. But, they install under the sink, and usually come with a dedicated faucet or tap. The filters are usually larger and will last longer than the first two types.

• Everpure Water Filters
• Omni Undersink Water Filters
• Pur Plus Undersink

Whole House Filters

These filters systems are installed at the water source for your house, and provide filtered water throughout the house. You would likely only need a unit like this if your water is very poor, and you want filtration for all uses, not just drinking and cooking. Once you get to this size of system, you can establish much more elaborate filtering or water softening.

• Culligan Whole House Filters
• Doulton Whole House Systems

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Hard Water

Unless it's frozen, it's not easy to picture water as being hard. Yet it's a term used frequently to describe the quality of one's tap water. So what is it?

Water is such an extremely versatile liquid and one the reasons for this is that water can dissolve many different substances. And that includes the many minerals underground that water come into contact with before it is pumped from the ground. The most common minerals found in hard water are calcium and magnesium.

Rainwater has no minerals in it, and so is naturally a very soft water. Water drawn from a well is likely to have hardness problems because the water is drawn directly from the earth with no processing. Many residents of rural areas have water softening systems. People who use regular 'city water' have had their water already processed (which typically includes softening, as well as the addition of chlorine and fluoride).

Unless it's really hard, you can't really notice any difference in taste and it won't cause your body any harm. Though the water itself may not have any adverse flavour, the minerals can effect your coffee or your tea. Coffee can develop a bitter undertone when brewed with hard water, and delicate green teas can end up with a completely flavour altogether.

There are several other negative effects that come from hard water, one being that soap and detergent won't foam up which can make washing difficult. Another related problem is that the insides of your coffee maker, espresso machine or tea kettle will get a crusty buildup on minerals on the insides. These deposits are called 'mineral scale' and can be a pain to clean.

If you have hard water and find that it's causing your coffee or tea to be distasteful, you may want to switch to bottled water for your brewing. Or get a water softening unit.

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