Embarking on a journey to find cleaner, tastier water? We've done the legwork for you. We purchased today's leading water filters and evaluated their performance in side-by-side comparison testing. We put each filter through the wringer, handing out awards to the best performers. We created toxic, heavily polluted water samples, filtered them, and sent them to a specialized water quality lab for thorough analysis. This allowed us to truly pit these products against each other. Continue reading to discover our precise testing and scoring methods. Alternatively, head on over to our Water Filter Review to see which ones came out on top!
Contaminant Removal
Our testing process begins with the crucial aspect of contaminant removal. We evaluate this in two ways: 1) by seeing how well each product filters out standard contaminants in normal Tahoe tap, and 2) by pushing each product to its limits with a worst-case scenario, artificially spiked water sample. To create this “dirty water” stock, we dissolve specific amounts of chlorine, lead, copper, iron, PFAS, microplastics, fluoride, and sulfate in water, allowing us to compare all products under identical conditions.
Before testing, each water filter receives a thorough flush to remove any manufacturing residue and condition the filter media. Then we independently run the standard tap and dirty water stock through the filter and send the output to the water pros at Tap Score for precise laboratory measurements. We also send them samples of the pre-filtered water to determine exactly how effective each filter is at removing a broad range of contaminants. Given its importance, this metric accounts for a significant 75% of the total score.
Taste
The next aspect we test is the taste of the filtered water. This evaluation involves filtering water from a garden hose and conducting a blind taste test with our team of water connoisseurs. Each tester rates the water on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being poor and 5 excellent. They also take note of any aromas, bitterness, metallic notes, or lingering aftertastes. We then average these scores to get an in-house taste score.
But taste can be strongly influenced by the unique chemistry of your local tap water. So, we also crowdsource thousands of Amazon reviews and compare them with our own findings to paint a more complete picture. Given taste's subjective nature, this metric accounts for 15% of the total score.
Setup, Daily Use, and Upkeep Costs
The final aspect we evaluate is setup, daily use, and upkeep costs. This area is crucial as it directly impacts the user experience. We assess factors such as installation difficulty and setup time, as well as how convenient the filter is to use day-to-day. Having clean water flow fast straight from your tap is much easier than refilling a slow-drip, compact pitcher multiple times a day. We also consider the maintenance costs and complexity of filter changes, as well as the amount of wastewater each reverse osmosis system generates.
A water filter might excel in removing contaminants and improving taste, but if it's challenging to install or maintain, it could deter potential users. Therefore, we allocate 10% of the total score to this category to ensure a well-rounded evaluation.
Conclusion
Our comprehensive testing process is designed to provide a holistic view of each product's performance. By focusing on contaminant removal, taste, cost, and the overall user experience, we ensure that our reviews are thorough, accurate, and, most importantly, useful for consumers making informed decisions. For more information on how each product performed in the above tests, head on over to our comprehensive water filter review. Alternatively, you can check out our Buying Advice guide to learn which type of water filter will work best in your home.