Here is a summary and comparison of the different types of water
filters to help you decide what the best solution might be for you to
enjoy clean, pure water.

1) Pitcher Water Filters

Frequently seen in retail stores at higher prices than online,these
containers are filled at the tap and then usually placed in the
refridgerator to provide chilled water.One downside is the space issue
in your refriderator and while better than nothing at all, this
filtration system costs the most and is theleast efficient. Small,
disposable carbon filters are purchased and fixed on the top of the
pitcher. Due to their small size, the filtersneed to be changed as
often as a few weeks or a month. These filtersare usually limited
to volatile organic compounds, which affect taste,and bacteria can
easily get through.

2) Faucet Mount Water Filters

These simple to install water filters force the tap water through a
dense carbon block. The carbon has microscopic holes that trap
bacteria, chemicals and other harmful materials, and odors. Some of
these convenient faucet filters have an indicator to let you know when
to change the filter. There is a button or lever on the side of the
unit that you either turn or press to get the water flowing through the
carbon block. As the water is forced through the block it is constantly
filtered. They can be bulky and get in your way, and will need frequent
filter changes due to the small size. Also, the water flow may be
slower than the unfiltered flow, but the results are a clean, fresh and
safe glass of good-tasting water.


3) Counter Top Water Filters

These filters sit on the counter top and connect to the faucet with a
hose or hoses, have a button or lever to switch between filtered and
unfiltered water and usually have a cartridge that you change only once
or twice a year. They are high-performance systems and are easy to
install. They usually incorporate a high-density ceramic filter and a
very small diameter filter membrane which filters even smaller
particles, as well as carbon or carbon blocks to eliminate odors. If
you have the counter space, and you only want to filter your water at
one location for drinking and cooking this may be the choice for you.
They are much longer lasting than the faucet mount type and are also
portable. If you are renting, rather than owning your home this is a
good choice.


4) Shower Head Water Filters

A water filter purifier for your shower will remove the chlorine in
your water and usually give you softer skin and softer hair as a
result. Also, some investigations have found that by inhaling the
chlorine vapors that form in your shower every morning you are
ingesting up to 6,000 times more chlorine into your body than you
would get from drinking unfiltered water throughout the day. These
filters are easy to install and come in attractive finishes and have
a cartridge that can be replaced at various intervals.


5) Under Sink Water Filters

These filters are great because they are out of sight and can be much
more sofisticated in combining several different filtration methods to
insure the purest possible water. They do not take up much under-sink
space and they will filter all of the water to that faucet, eliminating
the need to select filtered or unfiltered water. You will also have
better water flow and water pressure than the countertop or faucet
filter. They attach easily and have a cartridge replacement system.
Filter capacity can range from 10,000 gallons to hundreds of thousands
of gallons, with the cartidges lasting at least a year or more in some
cases.


6) Bottleless Water Coolers

For an endless supply of hot or cold filtered water in your home or
office, a bottleless water cooler can be a great option. With an
internal filter system that can be customized with filters of various
types from five to nine steps to fit your needs, it will provide pure
water with out the hassle of scheduling, lifting and storing heavy
bottles. Most models are designed to attach directly to the plumbing
for a countinuous supply, but some have an internal resevoir that can
be filled and the unit can will roll to various locations on casters.
There are counter top models as well as floor models available.


7) Whole House Water Filters

A whole house system is great for people who want to filter the water
for all locations in your home including kitchen, multiple bathrooms
and the laundry. A whole house filter is great if you like convenience,
once installed you can forget them except to change a cartridge,
usuually once a year, though some can last up to three years.  These
systems are usually installed in a garage or basement, just where the
water enters the house and before the water heater. You will normally
want a plumber to install them. The most simple types are used for
removing rust, sediment, dirt and any odors and off tastes. However
more complex systems that combine multi-filtration, ionization, reverse
osmosis, or even softening will solve any water problem for ther entire
home including their drinking water.

8) Water Softeners

Water is hard when it contains minerals like magnesium and calcium.
You may see staining on your sinks, tubs, showers, and clothing. You
may also notice less lather from your shampoos and soaps and even a
feeling of film on your skin. All these are symptoms of the need for
softened water.
Also hard water causes a higher risk of lime scale deposits in
household water systems. Due to this lime scale build-up, pipes are
blocked and the efficiency of hot boilers and tanks is reduced. This
increases the cost of domestic water heating by about fifteen to twenty
percent.
Another negative effect of lime scale is that it has damaging effects
on household machinery, such as laundry machines.
Water softening means expanding the life span of household machine,
such as laundry machines, and the life span of pipelines. It also
contributes to the improved working, and longer lifespan of solar
heating systems, air conditioning units and many other water-based
applications
Water is softened or conditioned by replacing hard ions like magnesium
and calcium with softer sodium or potassium ions. Water softeners must
be regenerated regularly, renewing their ability to remove hardness
from water. Time-initiated or solid state softeners regenerate at a
fixed time when their softening capacity is predicted to be low.
Demand-initiated softeners regenerate automatically when they sense
their capacity is low.
Some types of anit-scale, ion exhange softeners may work if your water
is not too hard and these do not require the addition of sodium or
potasium to your water.

9) Commercial and Industrial Water Filters

These water filters are simply larger versions of the types of filters
you might use in your home and come in specialized designs for the
functions needed.
They are designed to remove any water contamination on very large
volumes of water and many times are custom designed for each customer.