Water Filter Pitcher vs Faucet Filters: Which to Choose?

It’s pretty common to hear someone say that they can’t stand the taste of city water. Not all tap water is equal, and some taste better than others. More importantly, some tap water still contains¹ trace amounts of contaminants that you’d probably prefer not to consume. Some of them can even have nasty consequences if ingested in too great of quantities. Of course, water filtration can be pretty expensive, which is why many people opt for smaller systems that are more cost-effective.

Two of the most popular types of affordable water filtration systems are water filter pitchers and faucet filters. While they both provide pure, healthy drinking water that’s free of unwanted substances, they each have positives and drawbacks. Let’s compare them and determine which one is best for what situation.

Water Filter Pitchers

If you want cold water, your best bet is to put water in a pitcher and keep it in the fridge. A filtering pitcher just takes it a step further by purifying the water that you put in it. One of the advantages of a water filter pitcher is that since it fits in the fridge, your drinking water is always cold and refreshing. On the downside, the pitcher has a limited capacity and can only hold a few cups of water at a time. However, some pitchers are designed to stay in the fridge and feature a push-button release nozzle. These pitchers can sometimes hold as much as 23 cups of filtered water to provide as much clean drinking water as you need. That said, they’re a bit more difficult to fill so you’ll probably use each pitcher full until it’s empty. With a normal style pitcher that has a handle and a pour spout, you can easily top off the water after each time you use it so that you always have the maximum capacity prepared. The most you’ll be able to hold is about 6-10 cups though, so you’ll still always be limited.

Faucet Filters

Faucet filters solve the problem of limited capacity that filter pitchers have to face. These filters screw directly onto your sink faucet. When you flip a switch, the water flow is diverted to run through the filter and produce clean, filtered water. Since it’s attached to the sink, it will supply you with any quantity of water you need. Of course, the water will be whatever temperature your tap water normally is, so if you want a more refreshing drinking experience, you’ll have to add ice or chill the water before you drink it. While these filters do tend to be pretty convenient overall, they’re also pretty cumbersome and can become a bit of a nuisance on your faucet. This is especially true if you wash dishes in the sink. The added size of the filter can make it difficult to position your faucet where you need and seems to get in the way more than you’d expect.

• See also: 6 Best Glass Water Filter Pitchers

What are the Similarities Between these Filters?

Although they do have some differences, these two types of water filters have far more in common. They’re both equally effective at removing unwanted impurities from your water. In fact, the same brands will generally offer filters of each type, giving you the same filtration abilities in both models. The filters in both types also tend to have the same average lifespan of about 2-3 months before they need to be replaced. Both types of filters generally include some type of filter indicator light that will warn you when the filter is approaching the end of its useful life. They’re priced pretty similarly as well, though it’s possible to find filter pitchers at a lower price.

Which Should You Choose?

With so many similarities between these two types of water filters, the choice really comes down to two things. First, how much filtered water do you need at any given time? Second, would you prefer your water to be cold when you get it? If you need lots of filtered water and don’t want to be hindered by the small capacity of a pitcher, then the faucet filter is the best decision. On the other hand, if you only need a few cups of filtered water at a time and you’d prefer it to be cold and refreshing when you pour it, a water filter pitcher is the better decision. If you want the absolute cheapest method for filtering your water, then a pitcher filter is a better choice. However, if you want the most convenient and quickest way to have filtered water, a faucet filter will provide all the clean water you need immediately.

Conclusion

Water filtration systems have become much more affordable in recent years, making it possible for everyone to have clean and pure drinking water in their homes. Two of the most affordable and effective filter systems are water filter pitchers and faucet filters. They both remove contaminants to provide you with delicious and healthy drinking water. Faucet filters provide an endless supply of room temperature water right from your tap. Filter pitchers can hold several cups of purified water, which can be kept cold in the fridge for drinking. Whether you want convenience or cold water, both of these are viable systems that make it affordable and easy to get healthy and great-tasting drinking water in the comfort of your home.