Wirecutter supports readers. When you make a purchase through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission. learn more.
We also made Aquasana Claryum Direct Connect a good choice-it is easy to install and can provide high water flow to existing faucets.
Anyone who drinks more than a few gallons of drinking water a day may like to use an under-tank filtration system like Aquasana AQ-5200. If you prefer (or need) filtered water, this can be supplied continuously from a separate faucet as needed. We recommend Aquasana AQ-5200 because its certification is the best of all the systems we have found.
Aquasana AQ-5200 has obtained the most pollutant certification, is widely available, affordable and compact. It is the first under-tank water filtration system we are looking for.
Aquasana AQ-5200 has passed ANSI/NSF certification and can eliminate almost 77 different pollutants, including lead, mercury, volatile organic compounds, drugs, and other materials that are rarely captured by competitors. It is one of the very few filters certified for PFOA and PFOS. These compounds are involved in the manufacture of non-stick materials. In February 2019, it received a health consultation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The cost of replacing a set of filters is approximately US$60, or US$120 per year according to the six-month replacement period recommended by Aquasana. Moreover, the system is only larger than a few cans of soda and does not take up a lot of valuable space under the sink. This widely used system uses high-quality metal hardware, and its taps come in a variety of finishes.
The AO Smith AO-US-200 is the same as the Aquasana AQ-5200 in terms of certification, specifications and dimensions. It is unique to Lowe's and therefore is not so widely available.
AO Smith AO-US-200 is identical to Aquasana AQ-5200 in every important aspect. (This is because AO Smith acquired Aquasana in 2016.) It has the same excellent certification, all-metal hardware, and compact form factor, but because it is only sold at Lowe's, it is not so widely available, and it has only one type of faucet Surface treatment: brushed nickel. If this suits your style, we recommend shopping between the two models at a price: one or the other is often discounted. Filter replacement costs are similar: about $60 for a set, or $120 per year for the six-month cycle recommended by AO Smith.
AQ-5300+ has the same excellent certification, but with higher flow rate and filtration capacity, it is suitable for households with large water consumption, but the cost is higher and it takes up more space under the sink.
Aquasana AQ-5300+ maximum flow has the same 77 ANSI/NSF certifications as our other preferred products, but offers higher flow (0.72 and 0.5 gallons per minute) and filter capacity (800 and 500 gallons). This makes it the first choice for families who need a lot of filtered water and want to use it as soon as possible. It also adds a sediment pre-filter, which is not available in the AQ-5200; this may extend the higher flow rate of the pollutant filter in sediment-rich households. In other words, the AQ-5300+ model (equipped with a three-liter bottle filter) is much larger than the AQ-5200 and AO Smith AO-US-200, but the recommended filter life is the same, which is six months. And its upfront cost and the cost of replacing the filter are higher (about 80 US dollars for a set or 160 US dollars a year). Therefore, weigh its benefits and higher costs.
Claryum Direct Connect can be installed without drilling and delivers up to 1.5 gallons of filtered water per minute through your existing faucet.
*At the time of publication, the price was $100.
Aquasana's Claryum Direct Connect connects directly to your existing faucet, making it a particularly attractive option for renters (they may be prohibited from changing their location) and those who cannot install a separate filter faucet. It doesn't even have to be installed on the wall of the sink cabinet-it can simply lie on its side. It offers the same 77 ANSI/NSF certifications as our other Aquasana and AO Smith picks, and can provide up to 1.5 gallons of filtered water per minute, more than other products. The rated capacity of the filter is 784 gallons, or approximately six months of use. But it does not have a sediment pre-filter, so if you have sediment problems, it is not a good choice because it will clog. And it's very large—20½ x 4½ inches—so if your sink cabinet is small or crowded, it may not be suitable.
Aquasana AQ-5200 has obtained the most pollutant certification, is widely available, affordable and compact. It is the first under-tank water filtration system we are looking for.
The AO Smith AO-US-200 is the same as the Aquasana AQ-5200 in terms of certification, specifications and dimensions. It is unique to Lowe's and therefore is not so widely available.
AQ-5300+ has the same excellent certification, but with higher flow rate and filtration capacity, it is suitable for households with large water consumption, but the cost is higher and it takes up more space under the sink.
Claryum Direct Connect can be installed without drilling and delivers up to 1.5 gallons of filtered water per minute through your existing faucet.
*At the time of publication, the price was $100.
I have been testing water filters for Wirecutter since 2016. In my report, I had a detailed conversation with the filter certification organization to understand how their testing was conducted, and delved into their public database to confirm that the manufacturer’s statement was supported for certification testing. I also talked with representatives of several water filter manufacturers, including Aquasana/AO Smith, Filtrete, Brita, and Pur, to ask them what they said. I have personally experienced all of our options, because overall livability, durability and user-friendliness are very important for a device that you use multiple times a day. Former NOAA scientist John Holecek researched and wrote an early Wirecutter water filter guide, conducted his own tests, commissioned further independent tests, and taught me a lot of what I know. My work is built on his foundation.
Unfortunately, there is no uniform answer to whether a water filter is needed. In the United States, public water supply is regulated by the EPA in accordance with the Clean Water Act, and water leaving public water treatment plants must meet strict quality standards. But not all potential pollutants are regulated. Similarly, pollutants can enter the water after leaving the treatment plant by infiltrating into or leaching from leaking pipelines (PDF). Water treatment done (or neglected) at the factory can exacerbate leaching in downstream pipelines—as happened in Flint, Michigan.
To accurately understand the ingredients in the water when the supplier leaves the factory, you can usually find the Consumer Confidence Report of the local supplier’s EPA on the Internet; if not, all public water suppliers must provide you with them according to your requirements CCR. However, due to potential downstream pollution, the only way to determine the composition of your water is to ask a local water quality laboratory for testing.
Based on experience: the older your house or community, the greater the risk of downstream pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stated that "houses built before 1986 are more likely to use lead pipes, fixtures, and solder"-once common old materials that did not meet current specifications. Age also increases the likelihood of groundwater contamination left by the pre-regulated industry, which can be a risk, especially when combined with degradation associated with aging underground pipelines.
If your family drinks more than two gallons or three gallons of drinking water a day, then an under-sink filter may be better than a tank filter. The system under the sink provides filtered drinking water on demand, without waiting for the completion of the filtration process, just like a water tank. "On-demand" filtration also means that the under-sink system can provide enough water for cooking-for example, you can fill a pot with filtered water to cook pasta, but you will never refill the pot repeatedly for this.
Compared with sink filters, under sink filters tend to have a larger capacity and longer service life-usually hundreds of gallons and six months or more, while most sink filters are 40 gallons And two months. And because the filters under the sink use water pressure instead of gravity to push water through the filter, their filters can be denser, so they can remove a wider range of potential contaminants.
The downside is that they are more expensive than pitcher filters, and the absolute value and average time to replace the filters are also more expensive. The system also takes up space in the sink cabinet that could otherwise be used for storage.
Installing the filter under the sink requires basic plumbing and hardware installation, but this job is simple only if your sink already has a separate tap hole. If not, you need to knock out the location of a built-in faucet (you can see the raised disc on the steel sink, or the mark on the synthetic stone sink). If the percussion hole is missing, you need to drill a hole in the sink. If your sink is installed at the bottom, you also need to drill a hole on the countertop. If you currently have a soap dispenser, an air gap in a dishwasher, or a hand-held sprayer on the sink, you can remove it and install it there.
These water filters, kettles and water dispensers are certified to remove contaminants and improve household drinking water.
This guide is about a specific type of under-sink filter: those that use a cartridge filter and send the filtered water to a separate tap. These are the most popular under-sink filters. They take up very little space and are usually easy to install and maintain. They use adsorbent materials—usually activated carbon and ion exchange resins, like water tank filters—to bind and neutralize contaminants. We are not talking about filters, reverse osmosis systems, or other water tanks or dispensers installed on taps.
To ensure that we only recommend trustworthy filters, we have always insisted that our selection has passed industry standard certification: ANSI/NSF. The American National Standards Institute and NSF International are private non-profit organizations that work with the EPA, industry representatives, and other experts to establish strict quality standards and testing protocols for thousands of products, including water filters. The two main certification laboratories for water purifiers are NSF International itself and the Water Quality Association (WQA). Both are fully accredited by ANSI and the Canadian Standards Council in North America, can be tested for ANSI/NSF certification, and both must comply with exactly the same test standards and protocols. The filter can only meet the certification standards after it has far exceeded its expected life. Use prepared "challenging" samples, which are much more contaminated than most tap water.
In this guide, we focus on filters that have chlorine, lead, and VOC (a.k.a. volatile organic compound) certifications.
Chlorine certification (under ANSI/Standard 42) is important because chlorine is usually the main culprit for "bad taste" tap water. But it is also almost a small tool: almost all types of water filters have passed its certification.
Lead certification is difficult to achieve because it means reducing lead-rich solutions by more than 99%.
VOC certification is also challenging because it means that the filter can actually remove more than 50 organic compounds, including many common biocides and industrial precursors. Not all under-sink filters have these two certifications, so by focusing on filters that have obtained these two certifications, we have identified those filters with significantly superior performance.
We narrowed our search further and selected filters that were additionally certified according to the relatively new ANSI/NSF Standard 401, which covers emerging contaminants such as drugs that are increasingly found in American waters. Similarly, not all filters have 401 certification, so the filters that have it (and lead and VOC certification) are a very selective group.
In this strict subset, we then look for those with a minimum capacity of 500 gallons. This corresponds to a filter life of approximately six months under heavy use (2¾ gallons per day). For most households, the filtered water drunk every day is sufficient for drinking and cooking. (The manufacturer provides a recommended filter replacement schedule, usually in months rather than gallons; we follow these recommendations in our evaluations and cost calculations. We recommend always using the original manufacturer’s replacement instead of a third-party filter. )
Finally, we weighed the upfront cost of the entire system and the ongoing cost of replacing the filter. We have not set a lower or upper price limit, but our research shows that although the upfront cost ranges from US$100 to US$1,250, and the filter cost ranges from US$60 to nearly US$300, these differences are not significantly superior. The more expensive model in the specifications. We found several under-sink filters that cost well under US$200, while providing excellent certification and longevity. These became our finalists. In addition, we are also looking for:
During the research, we occasionally encountered catastrophic leak reports from the owner of the water filter under the sink. Since the filter is connected to the cold water inlet pipe through a pipe, if the connector or hose is broken, the water will escape until the shut-off valve is closed-which means that it may take hours or even days for you to discover the problem, which will give you Water damage with serious consequences. This is not common, but you need to weigh the risks when considering buying a filter under the sink. If you have purchased it, please follow the installation instructions carefully, taking care not to cross the connector threads, and then slowly turn on the water to check for leaks.
The reverse osmosis or R/O filter originally used the same type of cartridge filter as we selected here, but added a secondary reverse osmosis filtration mechanism: a fine-pored membrane that allows water to pass through but filters out dissolved minerals. Substances and other substances.
We may discuss R/O filters in depth in future guides. Here, we flatly rejected them. Compared with adsorption filters, they provide limited functional advantages; they generate a lot of waste water (usually 4 gallons of wasted "flush" water per gallon of filtration), while adsorption filters do not; they take up space It is much larger because, unlike adsorption filters, they use 1 gallon or 2 gallon tanks to store filtered water; they are much slower than adsorption filters under the sink.
In the past few years, we have conducted laboratory tests on water filters. The main conclusion we have drawn from the tests is that ANSI/NSF certification is a reliable measure of filter performance. Given the extreme rigor of certification testing, this is not surprising. Since then, we have relied on ANSI/NSF certification instead of our own limited testing to select our competitors.
In 2018, we tested the popular Big Berkey water filtration system, which is not ANSI/NSF certified, but claims to have been extensively tested in accordance with ANSI/NSF standards. That experience further consolidated our insistence on true ANSI/NSF certification and our distrust of the "ANSI/NSF tested" statement.
Since then, including 2019, our tests have focused on real-world usability and various practical features and shortcomings that will become apparent when you use these products.
Aquasana AQ-5200 has obtained the most pollutant certification, is widely available, affordable and compact. It is the first under-tank water filtration system we are looking for.
Our choice is Aquasana AQ-5200, also known as Aquasana Claryum Dual-Stage. So far, its most important feature is that its filter has obtained the best ANSI/NSF certification among our competitors, including chlorine, chloramine, lead, mercury, VOC, a variety of "emerging pollutants", and perfluorooctanoic acid and Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. In addition, its faucet and plumbing hardware are made of solid metal, which is superior to the plastics used by some other manufacturers. And this system is also very compact. Finally, the Aquasana AQ-5200 is one of the most valuable products we found in the filter under the sink. The prepaid cost of the entire system (filter, housing, faucet and hardware) is usually about $140, a set of two The prepaid fee is $60. Replace the filter. This is less than many competitors with weaker certifications.
Aquasana AQ-5200 has passed ANSI/NSF certification (PDF) and can handle 77 pollutants. Together with the same certified Aquasana AQ-5300+ and AO Smith AO-US-200, this makes AQ-5200 the most powerful certification system of our choice. (AO Smith acquired Aquasana in 2016 and adopted most of its technology; AO Smith has no plans to phase out the Aquasana series.) In contrast, the excellent Pur Pitcher Filter with Lead Reduction is certified at 23.
These certifications include chlorine, which is used to kill pathogens in municipal water supplies and is the main cause of "smelling" tap water; lead, which can be leached from old pipes and pipe solder; mercury; live Cryptosporidium and Giardia , Two potential pathogens; chloramine is a persistent chloramine disinfectant, which is increasingly used in filtration plants in the southern United States, where pure chlorine will rapidly degrade in warm water. Aquasana AQ-5200 has also passed the certification of 15 "emerging pollutants", which are increasingly common in public water supply systems, including bisphenol A, ibuprofen, and estrone (an estrogen used for contraception) ; For PFOA and PFOS, fluorine-based compounds used to make non-stick substances, they received an EPA health advisory in February 2019. (At the time of consultation, only three manufacturers of this type of filter have obtained PFOA/S certification, which makes this particularly noteworthy.) It has also passed VOC certification. This means that it can effectively remove more than 50 different organic compounds, including many pesticides and industrial precursors.
In addition to activated carbon and ion exchange resins (most if not all) under-tank filters are common, Aquasana also uses two additional filtration technologies to obtain certification. For chloramines, it adds catalytic carbon, which is a A more porous form of activated carbon produced by treating carbon with high-temperature gas. For Cryptosporidium and Giardia, Aquasana makes filters by reducing the pore size to 0.5 microns, which is enough to physically capture them.
The excellent certification of the Aquasana AQ-5200 filter is the main reason we chose it. But its design and materials also make it unique. The faucet is made of solid metal, as is the T-shaped fixture that connects the filter to the pipe. Some competitors use plastic for one or two of them, reducing costs, but increasing the risk of thread cross-threading and installation errors. AQ-5200 uses compression fittings to ensure a tight and safe seal between your pipe and the plastic pipe that carries water to the filter and faucet; some competitors use simple push-in fittings, which are not very safe. The AQ-5200 faucet is available in three finishes (brushed nickel, polished chrome and oiled bronze), and some competitors have no choice.
We also like the compact form factor of the AQ-5200 system. It uses a pair of filters, each of which is a bit larger than a soda can; some other filters, including the Aquasana AQ-5300+ below, are all liter bottles in size. After installing the filter on the mounting bracket, the dimensions of AQ-5200 are 9 inches high, 8 inches wide, and 4 inches deep; Aquasana AQ-5300+ is 13 x 12 x 4 inches. This means that the AQ-5200 occupies a much smaller space in the sink cabinet, can be installed in a narrow space that cannot be accommodated by a larger system, and leaves more space for storage under the sink. You need approximately 11 inches of vertical space (measured down from the top of the enclosure) to allow the filter to be replaced, and approximately 9 inches of unobstructed horizontal space along the cabinet wall to install the enclosure.
The AQ-5200 has a very good rating as a water filter, with 4.5 stars out of more than 800 reviews on the Aquasana website (out of five stars), and 4.5 stars out of nearly 500 reviews on Home Depot.
Finally, the current price of Aquasana AQ-5200 complete system is about 140 US dollars (usually close to 100 US dollars), the price of a replacement filter is 60 US dollars (six months replacement cycle, 120 US dollars per year), Aquasana AQ-5200 It is one of the most cost-effective products among our competitors, hundreds of dollars cheaper than some less widely certified models. The device includes a timer that will start beeping when you need to change the filter, but we recommend that you also set a repeat calendar reminder on your phone. (You are unlikely to miss it.)
Compared to some competitors, the Aquasana AQ-5200 has a lower maximum flow rate (0.5 gpm vs. 0.72 or more) and a lower capacity (500 gallons vs. 750 or more). This is a direct result of its physically small filter. In general, we believe that these small shortcomings are offset by its compactness. If you know you want higher flow and capacity, Aquasana AQ-5300+ is rated at 0.72 gpm and 800 gallons, but with the same six-month filter replacement schedule, Aquasana Claryum Direct Connect can flow up to 1.5 gpm And rated to 784 gallons and six months.
The instruction manual of the AQ-5200 system is a bit sloppy, and there are several parts that are not shown on the parts list or chart. Nothing will trip most owners. Fundamentally, all you do is connect a few pipes to the water supply system and the faucet. These parts will more or less explain themselves. (The unlisted decorative stainless steel gasket is an exception: it is placed first on the faucet, then the thin rubber gasket.) To be fair, many manuals for under-sink filters have sloppy problems, according to the comments we encountered in them To judge our research. But we hope to see the manual corrected in the future. At the same time, here is a video from Aquasana on how to install AQ-5200.
As mentioned above in How We Choose, the water filter under the sink, including the AQ-5200, will occasionally experience catastrophic failures. If the problem is not quickly discovered and resolved, it will cause serious water damage. Be especially careful when installing, do not let the connectors cross-thread and the hose connection is firm, and then slowly reopen the water so that you can spot and correct the leak before it becomes a disaster.
Like all our choices, Aquasana AQ-5200 comes with its own independent faucet, which may not match your style. You can also install a separate faucet of your choice, as long as the faucet connection is ⅜ inches. But you need to match its flow to Aquasana's 0.5 gpm, because the filter certification is related to the flow. Please note that using your own faucet technically means that your system is no longer ANSI/NSF certified.
If you suspect that your water is rich in sediments (the rusty orange hue is a clue; the same is true of past experience with any type of filter, including pitchers, which were clogged before its expected lifespan), you may want to check out other Similar to Aquasana AQ-5300, it adds a sediment pre-filter.
The AO Smith AO-US-200 is the same as the Aquasana AQ-5200 in terms of certification, specifications and dimensions. It is unique to Lowe's and therefore is not so widely available.
AO Smith AO-US-200, sold as a two-stage carbon block for clean water filters under the sink water filtration system. It has the same functions and every important aspect as the preferred Aquasana AQ-5200. It has the same 77 ANS/NSF certification (PDF) and the same compact size, filtration technology, all-metal construction, compression fittings, 0.5 gpm flow and 500 gallon capacity. It is also usually pre-sold and a set of replacement filters at roughly the same price. None of this is suspicious: AO Smith acquired Aquasana in 2016 and, as the representative of AO Smith told us, is "utilizing" Aquasana's expertise and has no plans to phase out the Aquasana brand.
The difference between the AO Smith filter and the Aquasana AQ-5200 is only in two aspects. First of all, it is unique to Lowe's. Secondly, its faucet has only brushed nickel finishes, while the AQ-5200 faucet is available in brushed nickel, polished chrome and oil bronze versions. If brushed nickel is suitable for your decoration, we suggest you shop around. Sales can significantly reduce the price of one type relative to another. As Lowe's exclusive product, AO Smith has fewer reviews, but the feedback so far is reliable.
As for the flaws, the AO Smith manual is as sloppy as the Aquasana 5200 manual. Our AO Smith is equipped with a 6-foot-long plastic tube; it should have two 3-foot lengths, just like the AQ-5200. The tube is easy to cut in half (we tested it with scissors, kitchen scissors and wire cutters), but the owner does not have to take this step by himself.
AQ-5300+ has the same excellent certification, but with higher flow rate and filtration capacity, it is suitable for households with large water consumption, but the cost is higher and it takes up more space under the sink.
With the same certification as Aquasana AQ-5200 and AO Smith AO-US-200, but with higher flow rate and larger capacity, Aquasana 5300+ Max Flow is the choice for people who need a large amount of filtered water and want to filter quickly. But it is a physically larger system (see comparison photos below), and requires more upfront costs and replacement of three filters.
The maximum flow rate of Aquasana AQ-5300+ has passed ANSI/NSF certification and can remove the same 77 pollutants (PDF) as 5200 and AO Smith filters, including chlorine, chloramines, lead, mercury, VOC, PFOA and PFOS. AQ-5300+ Max Flow adds a pre-filter to capture rust and sediment that may be present in the water supply to help prevent clogging of the contaminant filter; AQ-5200 and AO Smith filters lack this function.
AQ-5300+ Max Flow uses the same all-metal hardware as the Aquasana AQ-5200 and AO Smith filters. Like AQ-5200, the faucet has three finishes: brushed nickel, chrome and oil-rubbed bronze. AQ-5300+ Max Flow Having the same safety compression joints helps prevent leakage.
The AQ-5300+ Max Flow transports water faster than the AQ-5200 and AO Smith filters: it is rated at 0.72 gpm and 0.5. Its filter has a higher capacity, 800 and 500 gallons respectively. But this does not extend the recommended service life of the filters: they have the same rated service life of six months. The price of a set of substitutes is about US$80, while the price of a set of substitutes is US$60, which means an increase of about US$40 per year. The upfront price of the AW-5300+ Max Flow is more expensive, about $150 (although it is usually sold at a lower price).
The AQ-5300+ Max Flow has been well-reviewed, scoring 4.6 stars out of more than 900 reviews on Home Depot (out of five stars), and 4.6 stars out of nearly 1,500 reviews on the Aquasana website.
But the AQ-5300+ Max Flow is physically much larger than the AQ-5200 and AO Smith filters, measuring 13 x 12 x 4 inches and 9 x 8 x 4 inches, respectively. It will take up more space in your cabinet under the sink, and if your cabinet is particularly small or cramped, it may not be suitable at all. You need approximately 15 inches of vertical space (measured down) from the top of the enclosure to allow the filter to be replaced, and approximately 13 inches of unobstructed horizontal cabinet walls to screw the enclosure into place.
Another note: AW-5300+ Max Flow is equipped with a "performance indicator device" (PID). This means that it measures the actual amount of water passing through the device, and the AQ-5200 and AO Smith filters have simple timers. PID also has Bluetooth enabled, so it can alert your phone or laptop when the filter needs to be replaced. We still recommend that you set a calendar reminder on your phone because you are more likely to see the reminder without worrying about PID failure or low battery.
Claryum Direct Connect can be installed without drilling and delivers up to 1.5 gallons of filtered water per minute through your existing faucet.
*At the time of publication, the price was $100.
Aquasana Claryum Direct Connect is an under-sink filter, especially suitable for renters and those who do not have a separate installation hole to install a filter tap. That's because it connects directly to the cold water line and delivers the filtered water to the main faucet-you don't need to drill holes or change your space in other ways. This design also makes Claryum Direct Connect easier to install than our other options, which require a separate faucet and require you to install the filter on the side wall of the sink cabinet. In contrast, Claryum Direct Connect can simply be placed on the cabinet floor (although if you prefer to fix it horizontally or vertically, it comes with mounting brackets).
Claryum Direct Connect has the same excellent ANSI/NSF certification as the other products we selected from Aquasana and AO Smith. (The latter is Lowe's exclusive Aquasana brand-AO Smith, which is exactly the same as Claryum Direct Connect, is AO Smith Clean Water Main Filter.) It reduces lead, mercury, PFOA/PFOS and some drugs, a total of 77 pollutants. Filter With a rated capacity of 784 gallons, or approximately 6 months of normal usage, Aquasana claims a flow rate of up to 1.5 gallons per minute-three times the flow rate of the preferred Aquasana AQ-5200 and twice the flow rate of the AQ-5300+.
In our initial test, we measured zero change in the flow of a household faucet after installing Claryum Direct Connect: it delivers 1.25 gallons of water per minute, the same as before. However, after unrelated pipeline repairs were carried out elsewhere in the multi-unit building, a large amount of sediment entered the pipeline, the filter was blocked, and the flow rate dropped to only 0.5 gpm. If you know or suspect that you have a sediment problem, Aquasana recommends our upgrade option, AQ-5300+, because unlike Claryum Direct Connect, it has a sediment pre-filter.
Installing Claryum Direct Connect is very simple. All you need to do is close the cold water inlet valve, unscrew the existing connector connected to the sink pipe, and screw in the provided adapter. Two lengths of tubing (also included) connect the filter to the adapter using a simple compression ring. You can place the filter on the floor of the sink cabinet or install it on the bracket provided by Aquasana. We were able to complete this work in about 10 minutes; the only tool you need is an adjustable wrench, and if you choose a stand, you need a screwdriver.
However, please note that this filter is much larger than our other 20.5 inches long and 4.5 inches wide. You need to leave 3 inches of extra space below or beside it to remove the used filter and put it in New filter. So measure it before buying.
Since Claryum Direct Connect is connected to the main faucet, every time the cold water is turned on, a bit of filter life will be consumed. The high capacity of the filter makes it less worrying than other methods, but we can imagine people changing the water consumption in order to maximize the life of the filter. ("You definitely won't pre-wash these dishes right now," joked Harry Sawyers, the editor of this guide.) Of course, you also get instant, free-flowing filtered water and easy installation convenience, which we think is a fair trade-off. When the filter needs to be replaced, the old filter is unscrewed and the new filter is screwed in place. The whole process takes less than one minute.
Aquasana Claryum Direct Connect reviews are generally very positive-there is a common source of complaints and an effective source of complaints. The adapter is made of plastic, it is easy to cross thread and strip the thread during installation, making it unusable. If you are a little more careful, this shouldn't be a problem, but the brass adapter will be more sturdy and will be less prone to this problem.
The 600-gallon Hahn Class 3 is a renamed version of the Aquasana AQ-5300. It has the same 77 ANSI/NSF certifications as Aquasana 5200, 5300, 5300+ Max Flow and AO Smith AO-US-200. Like 5300 and 5300+ Max Flow, it has a sediment pre-filter. It is not as widely available as any of them, but if you see a product at a competitive price and you know that the sediment content in the pipeline is high, then it is a good choice.
Amway eSpring 100189 has more ANSI/NSF certifications than any other filter found in our research, including lead, VOC, standard 401 "emerging pollutants" and PFOA and PFOS. But its cost is $1,250. This is almost 10 times the cost of our choice, which makes it easy for us to be fired.
Aquasana AQ-5300 is between the first choice AQ-5200 and the upgrade choice 5300+ Max Flow. It is almost the same physically as AQ-5200, but adds a sediment pre-filter (such as 5300+ Max Flow) to help extend the life of the contaminant filter. If you know that your water is rusty or rich in sediments, the filter may be worth the slightly higher upfront and maintenance costs. It has the same ANSI/NSF certification and 0.5 gpm flow rate, a slightly higher 600 gallon capacity and the same six-month filter replacement schedule as the AQ-5200, but due to the third screening.
Brondell's popular H2O+ Coral UC300l has lead and VOC certification, but it does not have standard 401 "emerging pollutants" certification.
3M Aqua-Pure AP-DWS1000 is an informal recommendation in the previous version of this guide, its cost is much higher than our choice, and it lacks standard 401 "emerging pollutants" certification.
Body Glove BG-12000 is also a previous unofficial recommended product. Its rated value is relatively high, 0.75 gpm and 750 gallons, but the certification is less than our choice, and the cost is more than 500 US dollars. You must buy the faucet separately. The BG-3000 has no standard 401 certification and has a rated capacity of only 450 gallons, which is again more expensive than our choice and does not have a faucet.
The popular Brita Redi-Twist WFUSS-334 is not a Brita product, but uses the Brita name. It lacks VOC and standard 401 certification, and the cost is higher than our choice.
Camelot Imperial Plus has passed lead and VOC certification, but has not passed the standard 401 "emerging pollutants" certification, and is priced at $1,800.
APEC's popular WFS-1000 has not obtained any claim certification from NSF or WQA.
The Ecodyne filters under the sink and in the non-reverse osmosis category do not meet our requirements. (The company mainly focuses on industrial, swimming pool and spa filtration.)
iSpring US31 has not passed NSF or WQA certification, but has been "independently tested" according to its standards.
Frizzlife MP99 is "Amazon's choice" and has not passed NSF or WQA certification.
No EcoWater filter meets our requirements to reduce lead and VOC and 500 gallon capacity.
GE's single-stage filtration system does not have NSF or WQA certification.
Pentair F2000-B2B has lead and VOC certification, but there is no standard 401, and it is not widely used.
Shaklee’s BestWater MTS2000 82333 model has passed NSF lead and VOC certification and has a rated capacity of 1,000 gallons, but we have hardly found more information about it.
WaterChef U9000 has passed the lead and VOC certification, but has not passed the standard 401 "emerging pollutants" certification. Although it has a capacity of 1,000 gallons and a flow rate of 0.75 gpm, its high cost means it is not our choice.
Tim Heffernan is a senior staff writer for Wirecutter and a former writer and editor for The Atlantic, Esquire, and other companies. Since 2015, he has been working on our unparalleled coverage of air purifiers and water filters. In 2018, he established a continuous partnership with Wirecutter with Smarter Living of the New York Times. When he is not here, he will ride a bicycle.
The Big Berkey water filter system lacks independent certification and is much more expensive and inconvenient than other options.
After testing 13 pet drinkers (and turning one of them into a chew toy), we believe that the Catit Flower Fountain is best for most cats (and some dogs).
The following are the best water filters we have selected for installation on kitchen faucets.
These water filters, kettles and water dispensers are certified to remove contaminants and improve household drinking water.
You can also send us a note.
© 2021 The New York Times Company Wirecutter, Inc.