Water filters for the kitchen:
Models & variants at a glance

Water plays an important role in the kitchen, as we constantly need it to prepare our food and drinks. A water filter system for the kitchen can help to remove pollutants and impurities from Tapwater and thus ensure that food can be enjoyed without hesitation.

However, there are a number of different water filters for the kitchen, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. The choice of a suitable system should therefore be carefully considered.

In this Guidebook you will learn...

• ... which drinking water filters are available for the kitchen,
• ... how the individual models and variants differ from one another,
• ... what you should consider when buying a water filter for drinking water in the kitchen,
• ... how much water filters for the kitchen cost,
• ... why you should filter the water in the kitchen at all
• ... and the advantages of drinking water treatment in the kitchen.

Kitchen water filter system: Which models & variants are available?

In principle, there are four ways to use a water filter in the kitchen. Permanently installed filters can either be installed under the sink, as a countertop filter or directly on the tap. Alternatively, you can also use a table-top jug filter to purify drinking water in the kitchen.

The differences, advantages and disadvantages of the various options are explained below.

1. water filter under the sink

Installing a water filter under the sink has the advantage that the filter system is mounted directly on the substructure at the cold water connection and is therefore not visible - at least as long as the kitchen cabinet under the sink remains closed.

There, the water filter is usually connected directly to the cold water angle valve using a simple pipe wrench. Out of sight, a Under-sink -Water filter in your kitchen for a noticeable improvement in your drinking water .

2. water filter on the countertop

Alternatively to Under-sink You can also find water filter systems for the kitchen that you can place on top of the counter and install next to the tap . Handling and installation are basically simple. However, a countertop system generally takes up more space because it consists of the following components:

• a filter housing,
• a tap that is mounted next to or on the housing
• and a connection hose that is mounted on the kitchen faucet.

Countertop filters can therefore be used flexibly and on the move, but require a corresponding amount of space, as the sink in the kitchen is extended by a "second tap".

3. water filter directly at the tap

There are also water filters that are attached directly to the faucet. These water filters require significantly less space than countertop filters.

The installation of water filter attachments is also somewhat easier than with models for the Under-sink You can simply screw most models onto the kitchen faucet with your hands without any tools .

4. table can filter

Tischkannenfilter sind mobil einsetzbare Wasserfilter für die Küche. Sie bestehen aus einem Behälter bzw. einer Kanne, die mit einem speziellen Filter ausgestattet ist. Zur Trinkwasseraufbereitung muss lediglich das Wasser in die Kanne gefüllt werden, der Rest erledigt sich von selbst.

Die größten Vorteile dieses Filtersystems sind seine Flexibilität und sein geringer Platzbedarf. Es ist jedoch zu beachten, dass Tischkannenfilter in der Regel eine sehr begrenzte Filterkapazität aufweisen.

Good to know:

As most permanently installed water filters reduce the flow rate, it is advisable to unscrew the filter again before you wash dishes, vegetables or need a larger amount of water for other reasons, for example. Alternatively, you can use water filters with a switchover function, which allow you to activate or deactivate the filter at any time.

Permanently installed water filters vs. table-top jug filters: performance spectrum

The performance spectrum of a permanently installed water filter – whether on the Under-sink or at the tap – cannot really be compared with the performance of a table jug filter, as the filter technologies and filter media differ significantly from one another .

• The filter cartridges in permanently installed water filters have a core made of activated carbon.
• Conventional table-top jug filters rely on loose activated carbon.

If the activated charcoal is only poured loosely, the table-top jug filter improves the taste and smell of the water, but fails to filter out harmful substances.

A table-top jug filter is good against limescale, but cannot be used as a nitrate filter in the kitchen, nor can it reliably filter out residues of microplastics, medicines or hormones. A good, permanently installed activated charcoal filter , on the other hand, can reliably filter all the pollutants mentioned.

Water filter for the kitchen: what you should consider

If you want to use a drinking water filter in your kitchen, you should consider exactly which pollutants you want to filter before buying. There are different filter cartridges with strengths and weaknesses for many water filters. Although the performance spectrum is often similar, there are different priorities that may be relevant for you, e.g. depending on where you live.

For example, there are special water filters for the kitchen that are very reliable at filtering out microplastics, asbestos fibers, germs and bacteria (up to 99.9%). At the same time, however, they are less suitable for removing residues of pesticides, medicines or odors and tastes from Tapwater .

Tip:

Before buying, it is best to compile a list of the substances that you want to filter out of your drinking water. If you live in a heavily agricultural area and therefore want to filter nitrate or pesticide residues , you may want to choose a different model than someone who is looking for an effective water filter against germs & bacteria or other microorganisms.

How much does a water filter for the kitchen cost?

The cost of a water filter for the kitchen depends on which variant you choose. Table jug filters are available at very reasonable prices, but they only have a very limited filtering capacity. Permanently installed models under the sink or directly on the tap, on the other hand, cost a little more, but filter the water much more reliably .

At Alb Filter®, for example, the Under-sink water filters cost less than the DUO water filters with switch function , which you can connect directly to the tap. The Alb Filter ELEMENT in the Under-sink variant costs 118.90 EUR. The Alb Filter DUO on the tap starts at 159.90 EUR.

Why filter the water in the kitchen?

Why should drinking water in the kitchen be treated again? Although Tapwater is generally regarded as healthyin Germany, pollutants can still occasionally enter the water cycle ¹.

Substances such as microplastics, hormones, chemicals, pesticides and nitrates find their way into drinking water, particularly from private households, industry and agriculture. These environmental pollutants should be taken seriously for two reasons:

• Many of these substances are neither listed nor taken into account by the German Drinking Water Ordinance ².
• Even the most modern wastewater treatment plants are not yet able to reliably filter out residues of microplastics, medicines, hormones and nitrates.

Unfortunately, apart from a laboratory analysis, there is no way for private households to reliably test the quality of drinking water and check for harmful substance concentrations. With a water filter in the kitchen, you can prevent this and filter numerous substances out of the water. Here is a small selection:

Ingredients Water

Find out important information here about the possible substances that can be found in our water. 

• Drug residues
• Hormones
• Microplastics
• Pesticides/plant protection products
• Heavy metals
• Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS)
• Legionella
• Chlorine
• Asbestos
• Plasticizer
• Bacteria

Water filter for the kitchen: the advantages

When it comes to the potential benefits of installing a water filter in the kitchen, there are three main arguments:

• Drinkable and safe water is not necessarily automatically healthy ³. A permanently installed water filter not only provides an upgrade in taste, but also offers purified, filtered drinking water and therefore greater safety for you and your family.
• You can safely put aside any concerns that water filters filter out valuable minerals and trace elements as well as pollutants: With good water filters, these are retained!
• Another big advantage of water filters in the kitchen is that you save a lot of money: If you used to buy water bottles and transport them home, you save time, money and waste. Healthy drinking water comes straight from the tap.

All these benefits can be achieved by installing a water filter system in the kitchen just once . If you consume less or no water from glass or plastic bottles, you will save a lot of money and reduce your carbon footprint: according to a study by the ESU Services Institute, still mineral water in (disposable) bottles has a 90 to 1,000 times higher environmental impact than the consumption of bottled water. Tapwater ⁴.

In any case, buying and transporting plastic and glass bottles is much more expensive thanenjoying your own Tapwater freshly filtered water directly in the kitchen at any time.

Water filter in the kitchen: well thought out!

Water filters for the kitchen are a good way of removing pollutants and impurities from Tapwater to ensure the carefree enjoyment of food.

The different filters all have their advantages and disadvantages, which is why the choice of a suitable water filter system for the kitchen should be carefully considered. It is important that you are clear about your requirements for the water filter and which model best suits your needs before making a purchase.

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Frequently asked questions explained briefly

Why should you filter Tapwater ?

Although the Tapwater in Germany is strictly controlled, the reality sometimesshows serious deficiencies. Some substance concentrations, such as drug, hormone, microplastic or pesticide residues, are not officially listed by the Drinking Water Ordinance! Only a high-quality water filter can reliably remove these substances from your water.

What are the benefits of water filters for drinking water?

Drinking water filters are versatile: they can filter microplastics, hormones or medicines just as effectively as copper or lead. Activated carbon filters are just as suitable for removing bacteria, germs (e.g. e-coli) and legionella from drinking water or simply removing unpleasant tastes and odors.

How dangerous are water filters?

We can only answer this question for our own product: Alb Filter® water filters are absolutely safe. The numerous concerns are mostly related to table-top jug filters, as there is a risk of contamination. However, table-top jug filters have nothing in common with Alb Filter® water filters!

How can limescale be filtered out of water?

You don't necessarily need a water filter to filter limescale from your Tapwater . You can simply pour the water into a pot and boil it. Alternatively, you can run the drinking water through a standard coffee filter several times.

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