What’s the Cheapest Type of Water Filter?

Water quality is very important, especially for drinking purposes, and because of this seeking a water filter to help improve water quality is a solution.

But when your budget doesn’t allow investment in a large or complex water filter, looking for cheaper alternatives is best.

Even so, it will depend on the type of water filter one may want, as they are not all the same, and function differently.

Water Filters Based on Water Quality and Source

Based on location, the water source is influenced by external factors that can alter its quality.

Picking a water filter on a budget must also take this into consideration as well because you still want a filter that does a good job at improving quality. Usually, the smaller the issue the cheaper the filter can be.

For Tap Water

If tap water needs filtration, usually there are not many quality issues, but the ones that are, mostly involve smell and taste.

• The cheapest water filter for tap water sources is a countertop pitcher filter. Brita is the most popular brand that makes these filters and they can cost as low as $32 for a pitcher variety. It’s quite a budget-friendly water filter that uses activated charcoal as the filtering medium. More information about water filter pitchers’ pricings and maintenance can be found at: https://watermasterz.com/water-filter-pitcher-cost/
• A pricier version of this filter would be one that can be mounted directly on the faucet and used with the flow of the tap itself. It works much the same but comes with the added installation process of fitting it on the tap faucet. A unit like this can cost up to $45 which can still accommodate a smaller budget.
• There is also the pricier countertop filter with an inbuilt faucet that filters and stores much more water than a jug. This one can be as costly as $40 which is a middle ground between the two other designs.

For Well Water

There is no doubt that you will need a water filter for your well if you plan on using its water, especially for consumption. Pricing for well water filters is something that needs quite extensive research as most of them will be pricier than a simple Brita pitcher.

The reason for this uptick in price is that well water is not treated at all beforehand and is the sole responsibility of the owner. As such a good water filter is needed to clean sediment, pathogens, pesticides, and various other contaminants. What is more, not every type of filter is capable of tackling well water contamination and in many cases, multiple layers of different filters are required.

The good news is that even such complex water filtering systems come with compact designs that save a more budgetary cost.

• There are reverse osmosis devices with 4 stages of filtration that have a price tag of a little under $50.
• For pathogens, a UV system is usually the most effective but unfortunately, it’s quite an expense. A unit like this can cost up to $160 which can be a budget option if paired with the $50 RO system, but it’s not exactly the cheapest investment.

Water Filters Based on Medium or Technologies Used

Some of the most affordable water filtering systems are also ones that are more compact or use less complex filtering mediums. Carbon or activated charcoal like the pitcher variety is one such cheaper water filtering system.

But the casing design is also a variable in setting the price, so an inline filter with a carbon block is more expensive than your average pitcher filter.

What is more, a combination of charcoal and other mediums could really amp up the overall price so the cheapest water filter depends very much on the type and water quality.

• A whole house water filtering system is one of the most expensive pieces of water filtering equipment and can range from $400 to over $1000.
• On the other hand, an ion exchange water softener starts at about $400 and keeps going up.

Even with such high prices, some brands focus on making smaller versions of their more highly-priced products, to provide lower budget a chance.

It may be the case that one such smaller water filter will require more frequent maintenance but still offers the same functionalities. In the long run, it may be cheaper to get a smaller version than not at all.

Many Options

Finding the cheapest water filter when you’re on a budget is not as easy as it sounds. Not every filter out there will suit specific needs, and what may be cheap for tap water will not have the same price tag as for well water.

It’s a matter of finding the right filter with the right price tag. Fortunately, there are many options, even for some complex systems to be affordable in more compact designs that make them more budget-friendly.