A filter that lies between your appliance/faucet and the incoming water line that filters every drop would be convenient for anyone. It is easy to see why inline water filters are becoming popular. The fact that it will save you considerable space and still deliver 100 percent healthy and pure water to your home offers a compelling solution to home water filtration.

Like all other filters, there are many varieties of inline water filters, and thus you might be a bit overwhelmed when looking for a suitable model for your home. Luckily, we are here to help.

Below, I will discuss the top 5 best inline water filters and later walk you through a comprehensive buying guide that will help you choose a model that fits your home water purification needs. But before that, let’s see what an inline water filter is and how it differs from other filters.

What Is An Inline Water Filter?

An inline water filter is a filter that you install directly to your home water supply line that leads to your appliance or faucet that consumes water. This filter comes with one primary role – to eliminate contaminants and odor from your water.

But how are inline water filters different from other water filtration systems. I have already mentioned that they have a different installation method as they are fitted in between your water line and appliance. Other ways in which these filters are different include;

• They have a compact design, making them ideal for homes where space is at a premium
• They can easily be used as a pre-filter alongside other systems like a reverse osmosis water filtration system to purify water further
• You can connect them to home appliances like ice makers, coffee makers, fridges, and so on. You can use them with appliances that have lower workflow rate

Also, inline water filters offer you an affordable way of filtering your home water making it healthy and clean for drinking and cooking.

Unlike the notion that most homeowners have regarding inline water filters that they are all the same, different inline water filters vary greatly based on intended purpose, functioning, features, and so on. This explains why you need to choose your model after careful consideration to ensure it meets your water filtering needs.

Below, we review the top 5 top-rated inline water filters that are enjoying extensive usage in many homes.

Best Inline Water Filter Comparison Table

1. Woder 10K-Gen3 Ultra High Capacity Direct Connect Water Filtration System

** Editor’s Choice – Best Inline Water Filter **

Woder is undoubtedly one of the outstanding water filtration systems in the market, boasting of filtration capacity of up to 10,000 gallons. The long-lasting filter can offer up to 3 years of remarkable service without considering replacement as it features high-quality construction materials. The filtration system may sound like the kind of filters that takes a lot of time to install, but there’s no need for panic as the Woder 10k – Gen 3 can be easily installed without the need for technical understanding and in minutes.

Better yet, the filter comes with all that you need for its installation- a head with a built-in valve, filter, outlet hose – 3/8 m compression by 1/4 pipe, and inlet hose – 3/8 F compression by a ¼ pipe. The high-quality filtration system helps in the elimination of pollutants including 99.9% lead, chlorine, heavy metals, mercury, chromium 6, carcinogens, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and odors among other contaminants. This ensures that your family not only enjoys the water from the tap but also remains healthy.

All the materials used in the Woder Filtration system have been approved by the NSF and even tested in various independent labs to ensure quality in correspondence with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI standards).

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2. Filtrete Advanced Under Sink Quick Change Water Filtration System

** Best Budget Inline Water Filter **

Are you seeking fresh drinking water right from the tap under your sink? This system is the ideal model for you as it adds great value to the water by removing harmful impurities from your tap water while retaining the beneficial natural nutrients. It has been proven to remove cysts including atrazine, turbidity, and cryptosporidium.

The 3M filtration system is also effective at reducing the taste, odor sediment and chlorine taste to ensure that you get fresh tasting water for your family. Manufactured by 3M, the model features a filter media that’s electrostatically charged. This implies that the media plays the role of a magnet, attracting and getting rid of microscopic particles that other filters may not get rid of. 3M is among the leading brands when it comes to water filtration system as well as other appliances.

And while the installation of this unit may be a bit complex than other filters, it’s worth the effort. The installation may require about 30 minutes with only a screwdriver needed to get the job done; other small tools may prove helpful depending on your specific sink and water line. Once the unit is connected to your cold water line, you’ll undoubtedly be able to enjoy clean water from your tap.

The under sink Filtration system is ideal for both kitchen and bathroom applications. However, the 3M Filtrete requires the cartridges replacement after every six months to ensure optimal performance and efficiency. The materials used in its construction have been tested and certified by NSF International.

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3. Watts Inline Water Filter 20,000 gallon Capacity- Inline Filter

Watts Inline Water Filter has multiple uses. It can be used for a coffee-making purpose, ice-making purpose, for refrigerators as well as in other appliances that use water. Besides, you can use this model for washing machine needs.

This water filtration system is high-quality, safe, and its filters are NSF certified. It reduces chlorine and odor in your home supply as well as other sediments. Along with this, this inline filter system helps to eliminate scale buildups.

The system measures ten by 2.5 by 2.5 inches and weighs about 1.9 pounds. The installation process of this inline water filter is easy as it comes with adapters that are compatible with most modern faucets. Made in China, this product comes with a one-year limited warranty.

The filters used in this model has a longer lifespan as it can filter up to 20,000 gallons. After installing it, you will notice that the quality of water has improved significantly.

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4. Woder 10K Ultra High Capacity Direct Connect Water Filtration System

Also made by Woder, this inline water filter comes fully dedicated to filter your drinking water. It removes over 99.9 percent of contaminants and sediments present in your home water, which include chlorine, bad tastes and odors, volatile organic compounds, mercury, and turbidity. The final result is crisp, safe, great tasting drinking and cooking water.

Something pleasing about this package is that it comes with all the materials needed for installation, including clips and screw, making the installation process simpler than in most units out there.

Despite its affordability, this unit can last for up to 3 years filtering up to 10,000 gallons of water. Made in the USA, this unit comes with all the materials approved by NSF thereby making it one of the best water inline filters on the market today. Like other Woder products, this unit has a money back guarantee policy- making it a risk-free investment.

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5. PureWater Water Filter Install Kit, Complete Filtration System

When trying to buy the best inline water filters, you need to consider a couple of factors. One of the most important things to consider is how long a filter will last. Some generic filters will only treat water for only six months before they need a replacement. While there is nothing wrong with that, it can be easy to forget, and you can go for several months drinking unfiltered water.

Thankfully, this inline water filter from PureWater Filter will last up to one year and can treat over 1,500 gallons of water. Besides the sheer volume that you can treat and filter with this model, it will remove most of the contaminants including chlorine, lead, calcium, and other chemicals.

In other words, you will get clean and healthy water with this system. What I like about PureWater Filter Water Inline Filter is that it can mount easily and securely to any modern faucet as it has adapters that are compatible to most taps. Also, it is easy to replace as you will only need pop it out and replace the filters. The wall mount clips that come with this unit hold the filter in place. When it comes to replacing it, you will only need to unhook it from a water line. Overall, this water filter will last longer than most brands.

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Inline Water Filter Buyer’s Guide

Benefits of a Water Inline Filter

Modern inline water filters reduce contaminants that previously could only be removed using a reverse osmosis system. Old models of these filters only used activated carbon filters to eliminate contaminants, but modern models have cartridge filters and carbon filters making them very effective in eliminating virtually all the contaminants.

Here are major benefits of using inline water filters;

• Remove bad tastes and odors- most modern inline water filters use several activated carbon water filters. These filters are very effective at removing bad tastes and odor from the water.
• Chlorine removal- carbon filters eliminate chlorine from your drinking water. Models with double carbon filters trap most chemicals and contaminants from water with the first filter and chlorine with the second filter thereby ensuring you drink pure, healthy water.
• Sediment removal- the inbuilt cartridge filter removes sediment from the water. This is made possible by the spun polypropylene or pleated polypropylene in the cartridge
• Bacteria and microorganism are also removed from your water. The cartridge used by your inline water filters also block bacteria and harmful microorganism such as giardia and cryptosporidium from reaching your faucet

How to Buy the Best Inline Water Filter

When buying an inline water filter, there are a couple of features you need to consider;

• Water Pressure

When it comes to inline water filters, water pressure is an important factor to consider. It is very annoying to wait a long time for a glass of water to fill. Use a water filter that can deliver good water pressure especially if your home water supply doesn’t have enough pressure. Modern inline filters offer a better water pressure than traditional ones. However, one downside of having the filter increase water pressure is that the water spends less time in your filter and thus some of the contaminants might bypass the filters. This might be a problem if your home water is highly contaminated. If the water supplied to your home is quite clean, the number of contaminants reaching your faucet will be insignificant.

• Ease of Installation and Frequency of Filter Change

This is another important factor you need to consider. You might wonder why installation matters since you are installing the unit once, but the fact is that if the filter is difficult to install, you might damage it in the process. Another reason you need to buy a unit that is easy to install is that you will not need to hire a plumber for the installation work.

These filters are designed as DIY projects, and thus there is no need for hiring a professional. If you encounter difficulties during the installation process, the chances are that you will find a detailed video tutorial that might help. You can also call the model manufacturer to get more details as well. More often, customer service will provide more valuable information that will help you finish your installation process fast.

Besides, go for models that have an easy process of changing filters. All the models we have reviewed here use filters that can be changed easily. However, you will find other models on the market using filters that are really difficult to change. This can be problematic if you are to change filters more often.

• Filtering Capacity

Depending on the number of filters and components of the filter cartridge, some inline water filters will be more effective at removing some contaminants than others. Some models are very good at removing most of the contaminants but lack the capacity to remove specific contaminants. That’s why you should use a water quality testing kit before buying an inline filter. A kit will show you the level of each contaminant in your water source. You then use this information to look for a model that is efficient at removing these particular elements contaminating your water.

• Cartridge Longevity

From the above reviews, I’m sure you have already noticed that most models need new filters every one or two years. Most cartridges work in the same way, and thus you need to check a model with cartridges that last longer and made of high-quality components. However, remember that cartridges longevity depends on the quality of your home water supply.

When Should You Change a Water Filter Cartridge?

There is no accurate answer to this question as some models will need a filter change every 6 months while others can last up to five years before they need a replacement.

You should read your manufacturer’s instruction to know the optimal time to change the filters. Some systems will notify you when it is time to replace the filters.

How to clean and replace a cartridge in your inline water filter

This process varies according to the model, but here are some steps that are common for all filters;

• Turn off your water supply
• Drain all the water by opening the faucet
• Use a screwdriver to open the casing or the tool recommended by the manufacturer
• Remove the filters
• Clean its casing
• Replace the filter and close the casing
• Turn on the water to check for leaks

Conclusion

Inline water filters offer a perfect balance of size and filtration; they are ideal for small spaces or if you want to protect your appliances. All of the best inline water filters we have reviewed here are easy to install and maintain, and they are highly effective at removing contaminants from your drinking and cooking water.

Resources

[1] nrdc.org.com : Water Pollution
[2] nationalgeographic.com : Learn about the effects of pollution on freshwater.
[3] wikipedia.org : Water Purification