How2Buy
Are you living in Vietnam and scaring it's water quality? Use this guide to choose the right filter that removes the pollutants in your tap water. Already know what you want? See all water filters.
Step 1. Decide what is most important to you.
| Just want a decent filter at a decent price? | Get a carbon filter. (Pitchers, faucet mounts, and large dispensers are popular types. Effectiveness varies widely.) |
| Want to remove as many contaminants as possible? | Use reverse osmosis (RO) combined with a superior carbon filter.(Note - many brands use only minimally effective carbon filters.) |
| Need to fix a water hardness issue? | >Use an ion exchange filter to soften your water. |
| Interested in removing a specific contaminant? | Keep reading. |
Step 2: Consider what style of water filter would work best foryou
| Style | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher/Large dispenser | Inexpensive. No installation required. Available in various sizes and styles. | If filters are replaced regularly, yearly cost may equal expense of faucet, countertop or under-sink filters. Can require frequent filter changes. Filtering is slow. |
| Faucet mounted | Relatively inexpensive. Easy to install. Allows user to switch between filtered and unfiltered water. Filtration is fast enough to fill cooking pots. | Does not work with all faucet styles. May slow down faucet flow rate. Typically must change filter more frequently than with countertop or under-sink filters. |
| Faucet integrated | Often allows user to switch between filtered and unfiltered water very easily. Ideal for both drinking and cooking water. | Requires installation and possible plumbing modification. Often expensive. Relatively new products, not much consumer feedback available. |
| On-counter | May allow user to switch between filtered and unfiltered water. Typically requires relatively infrequent filter changes. Ideal for filtering both drinking and cooking water. | Requires installation and possibly plumbing modification. Can be expensive, though not always. |
| Under-sink | Placed out-of-sight under the sink. Typically requires filter changes relatively infrequently. Ideal for filtering both drinking and cooking water. | Requires installation and possible plumbing modification. Can be expensive, though not always. |
| Whole house | Filters all water, including for tooth-brushing, showering, and other uses missed by a kitchen filter. | Some are designed to remove a limited number of contaminants, such as sediment and rust. (Others remove a wider range, including volatile organic compounds.) Filters with the highest pollutant removal rates clog faster and reduce water flow. |
Step 3: Determine what contaminants you need to remove.
You may already know what chemical pollutants you want to be sure your water filter removes. But if you don't, a great place to start is to look at what kinds of contaminants are showing up in your community's drinking water. Can't find your system? Call your local water utility and ask them to send you a copy of their Consumer Confidence Report, which contains information on its testing of your system’s water.
Not all water filters are created equal, and you may not be able to trust companies’ marketing claims. To help consumers find one that best fits their needs, EWG has created an on-line guide to filters certified by the California Department of Public Health for effectively removing key contaminants.
Step 4: Use proper service
Now everything is clear! Just call us or simply click the "Shopping" button here!
