Having clean water is a huge priority for most people. Whether you know you have bad water or old pipes or are just hoping to install a water filtration system for preventative measures, having a great carbon-based water filter is a great option.
Carbon blocks remove a wide range of contaminants and leave your water very clean, especially when used in conjunction with sediment filters or reverse osmosis systems.
In this article, we will explore some of the best activated carbon water filters types and provide a comprehensive buying guide to help you make the best decision for your water filtration needs. But first, you should know the different types of carbon filters that are available to us all.
Types of Activated Carbon Water Filters: A Comprehensive Guide
Activated carbon is one of the most effective materials for filtering water, removing many contaminants, such as chlorine, pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and unpleasant tastes and odors. But not all activated carbon filters are created equal. Choosing the right type of filter depends on several factors, including your specific water quality concerns, the type of water source, and the level of filtration you need.
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filters
Granular activated carbon filters are the most common carbon filters and are typically found in most home water filtration systems. They consist of a tank filled with a bed of small carbon granules that trap contaminants as the water flows through the tank. GAC filters effectively remove chlorine, pesticides, VOCs, and other organic compounds and improve your water’s taste and odor.
Block Carbon Filters
Block carbon filters are similar to GAC filters, but they use a solid carbon block instead of using small carbon granules. This design makes block carbon filters more efficient at removing contaminants, and they are often used in higher-end filtration systems. Block carbon filters are especially effective in removing chloramines, a type of chemical used to disinfect water that is resistant to removal by GAC filters.
Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) Filters
Powdered activated carbon filters use a fine carbon powder to remove water contaminants. PAC filters are often used in industrial and commercial applications because of their high level of filtration and ability to remove a wide range of contaminants. However, because of the fine powder, PAC filters can be more challenging to use and maintain than GAC or block carbon filters.
Impregnated Carbon Filters
Impregnated carbon filters use carbon that has been treated with a chemical or substance to enhance its ability to remove specific contaminants. For example, an impregnated carbon filter might be treated with silver to eliminate bacteria or chlorine to remove chloramines. Impregnated carbon filters can be more effective than other carbon filters for removing certain contaminants, but they are also more expensive.
How To Choose the Right Activated Carbon Water Filter
When choosing an activated carbon water filter, consider the type of water source you have and the specific contaminants you need to remove. If you have city water, a GAC filter may be sufficient, but a block carbon filter may be a better choice if you have well water. If you need to remove a specific contaminant, such as chloramines, an impregnated carbon filter may be your best option.
It is also essential to consider the level of filtration you need. If you have a high level of contaminants in your water, a PAC filter may be necessary, but for most homes, a GAC or block carbon filter will provide adequate filtration.
Best Carbon Water Filter Reviews
1. Express Water Heavy Metal 3-Stage Carbon Water Filter
This three-stage whole house water filter will remove nearly all major contaminants from your water. It utilizes a carbon block, KDF, and sediment filter to remove everything from chlorine, iron, lead, and pesticides to VOCs, chromium, herbicides, viruses, chloramine, and insecticides.
The system is easy to install and maintain. The housing on the first stage of filtration is clear so you can see the filter working and know when it needs to be replaced. This filtration system can help elongate the lives of your appliances and plumbing while removing harsh chemicals from the shower and drinking water.
Additional Specification
- Ideal For: Whole House
- Capacity: 0.25 Gallons
- Flow Rate: 0.25 Gallons Per SECOND
- Purification: Sediment, KDF, Activated Carbon Block
- Temperature Range: 40-100℉
Why We Love It
This whole house water filtration is easy to maintain and has a clear first-stage water filter housing so you know when it is time to replace the cartridges.
Keep In Mind
The installation is simple as long as your pipes are the same size as those on the filter otherwise it could be expensive to get the fittings to convert the pipe size.
2. Aquasana Whole House Water Filter System
This whole house water filtration system is unique from some because it does not use salt to condition the water. Even so, it will still remove up to 97% of chlorine and significantly reduce the presence of many other common contaminants including mercury, lead, VOCs, herbicides, and pesticides.
The water filter uses a carbon and KDF filter to clean the water and ensure healthy water for your home which will improve health and taste, increase the longevity of your appliances, and decrease the scale and build-up in showers and sinks. It also comes with a 10-year warranty which is significantly longer than most manufacturers provide.
Additional Specification
- Ideal For: Whole House
- Capacity: 1000000 Gallons
- Flow Rate: 7 Gallons Per Minute
- Installation Method: 0.75 inch fittings
- Temperature Range: 40-90℉
Why We Love It
This filter will remove nearly all chlorine and reduce other major contaminants significantly. It does not use salt to soften or condition water.
Keep In Mind
Filter cartridges need to be replaced approximately every three months which is a consistently added cost that needs to be considered.
3. APEX EXPRT MR-2050 Drinking Water Filter
This countertop alkaline water filter is simple and easy to install; however, it will only work with standard domestic faucets. It uses a carbon block filter to remove chlorine, chloramine, bacteria, heavy metals, benzene, radon, THM, solvents, and TCE from your water. It also utilizes alkaline beads to add magnesium, potassium, and calcium to your water. Alkaline water can increase healthy minerals in your body and reduce fatigue.
The filtration system has a 1-year manufacturer warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. The filter does need to be replaced approximately every 750 gallons of drinking water which equates to approximately 6 months with normal usage.
Additional Specification
- Ideal For: Countertop
- Capacity: 0.25 Gallons
- Stage: 5 Stage
- Material: Carbon
- Warranty: One-year Manufacturer’s
Why We Love It
This is an alkaline water filter that is simple to install and use. It connects to domestic faucets and uses a carbon filter for efficient filtration.
Keep In Mind
If you do not have a domestic faucet, then this filter will not work. Be sure to check the compatibility of your faucet before purchasing.
4. Home Master – Sediment & Carbon Water Filter
This whole house water filter is a great, sustainable option for homeowners. The filter must only be replaced about once a year or every 95,000 gallons. It has a 2-year parts warranty so you can rest easy knowing that if anything happens, go wrong.
While the installation might be a bit challenging if you do not have much hands-on experience, it is well worth it as the filter removes up to 95% of sediment and contaminants such as chlorine and other chemicals. This water filter is only meant for those on municipal water, not for those with well water.
Additional Specification
- Ideal For: Well water
- Capacity: 100,000 gallons
- Feed water: PSI 20 to 90 PSI
- Stage: 3 Stage Filter
- Temperature Range: 40˚ to 100˚(F)
Why We Love It
This is a thorough, high-quality water filter that will treat your entire house and only needs the filter replaced once per year.
Keep In Mind
Installation can be a challenge, especially if you have no experience with plumbing. This system is meant for those on municipal water only.
5. ISpring WGZB21B 2-Stage Heavy-Duty Water Filtration System
This water filter is very efficient. The filter cartridges last for 50,000 gallons, equating to about 6 months for a family of four. It uses high-quality PP sediment and carbon block filters to remove up to 95% of chlorine, sediment, chloramine, rust, herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, industrial solvents, and other potentially hazardous chemicals.
The installation is involved but instructions are thorough. Additionally, the customer service provided by iSpring is great. They offer a money-back guarantee and a warranty on this product.
Additional Specification
- Ideal For: All Households
- Capacity: 50000 Gallons
- Pattern: Filtration System
- Purification: Mechanical filtration, Chemical Absorption
- Material: Polypropylene (PP)
Why We Love It
iSpring has great customer service and is easy to work with. The filter is durable and will last a long time.
Keep In Mind
If you have hard water or well water, you may need to install a water softener in conjunction with the filter.
6. AQUA TRU 1 Year Combo Pack – Includes Carbon Filter
This is a unique water filter as it is one of the few countertop reverse osmosis systems available. There are four steps to the filtration with this system including a mechanical pre-filter, reverse-osmosis pre-filter, reverse osmosis membrane, and an activated carbon filter.
The pre-filter will need to be changed about every 6 months, the carbon filter about once a year, and the RO membrane approximately every 2 years. This filter will remove major contaminants such as lead, chromium, copper, fluoride, radium, and chlorine.
Additional Specification
- Ideal For: Countertop
- Brand: AQUA TRU
- Stage: 4 Stage
- Duration: 12 months
- Material: Plastic
Why We Love It
A comprehensive countertop water filter that is great for drinking water. Perfect for those who only want filtered drinking water or rent their home.
Keep In Mind
The filters need to be changed at different times so you have to pay attention and have extras on hand for when the system notifies you.
7. Express Water — 3 Year Reverse Osmosis System
This pack of replacement filters is very high quality and a great option if you have a whole house reverse osmosis water filtration system. Replacement filters can be extremely expensive, so purchasing three years’ worth of quality replacement filters for a reasonable price is a great option.
These filters remove up to 99% of lead, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, chlorine, and bacteria. The filters included are a sediment filter, carbon block, RO membrane, post-carbon filter, and a GAC block which removes bad tastes and odors from your water.
Additional Specification
- Ideal For: Kitchen
- Components: 6 Carbon Block Filters
- Certification: NSF
- Duration: 6 months
- Product Benefits: Removes Pollutants
Why We Love It
These filters fit with standard 10” systems and have a quick connect feature, making them easy to replace when needed.
Keep In Mind
You will need to ensure your RO system works with these filters as some have different connection mechanisms.
Activated Carbon Water Filter Buyers Guide
Here is your comprehensive buying guide on carbon water filters. Activated carbon water filters are a trusted and reliable form of water filtration, especially for homes and drinking water. In addition to the product recommendations above, here are some considerations and details that could affect your purchase of a carbon water filter.
One thing to note is that carbon water filters do not soften water so if you have hard water or well water, you may need to have a water softener in addition to a water filter. Hard water can significantly reduce the life of a carbon block filter and could cause maintenance costs to increase.
Whole House Or Countertop
First, you will need to decide if you want a whole house or countertop water filter. Whole house water filters will filter any water coming into your home, including shower water, sink water, water used by your washer and dishwasher, and drinking water.
Countertop water filters will only filter the water from the faucet it is directly hooked up to. Countertop water filters are a great, budget-friendly option to get clean water if you rent or only drink from one location.
Type of Water Source
The type of water source you have will impact the type of activated carbon filter you need. If you have city water, a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter may be sufficient, but a block carbon filter may be a better choice if you have well water. An impregnated carbon filter may be necessary if you have a specific contaminant, such as chloramines.
Contaminants
Consider the specific contaminants you need to remove from your water. Activated carbon filters effectively remove a wide range of contaminants, but some filters are more effective at removing specific contaminants than others. For example, an impregnated carbon filter treated with silver may be more effective at eliminating bacteria than a standard GAC filter.
Level of Filtration
The level of filtration you need will also impact your choice of activated carbon filter. If you have a high level of contaminants in your water, a powdered activated carbon (PAC) filter may be necessary, but for most homes, a GAC or block carbon filter will provide adequate filtration.
Every carbon block filter does not remove the exact same amount of contaminants. Additionally, most carbon block filters are coupled with other forms of filtration such as reverse osmosis or a sediment filter.
It is important to look at the whole system. If you have fairly clean water and just want to drink or use even cleaner water, a system that reduces contaminants is likely good. But, if you truly have contaminated water with heavy metals present or high levels of chlorine or pesticides, it might be necessary to look at a higher-quality system that truly removes almost all of the contaminants.
Price
Price can be a huge factor when looking for a water filtration system for your home. Luckily, it would be best if you did not have to compromise on the quality of filtration to meet your budget needs. A countertop water filter is almost always a budget-friendly option if you need good drinking water. There are also some reasonably priced whole-house water systems but be careful as sometimes cheaper systems need maintenance more often, which can quickly add up.
Warranties And Guarantees
If you purchase a water filter for the first time and are worried about not liking the system or things going wrong, you can check for guarantees or warranties. Some have both. Some filters will come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Others might have a warranty of anywhere from 1 to 10 years. Knowing if a warranty or guarantee can ease your mind about making such a significant purchase.
Maintenance
Maintenance will be required for all filtration systems, likely in the form of replacing filter cartridges.
Most systems make maintenance easy: pop out the used cartridge and pop in a new one. But what might differ is how often you need to replace them.
Some systems need to be replaced every 3 or 6 months, while others can last up to a year or even two before needing to be replaced. Purchasing cartridges is an added cost, so be sure to factor in how much the system will cost per year in maintenance before making a purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I need to replace the filter cartridges on a carbon water filter?
This depends on the brand of the filter. Be sure to follow the instructions given by the manufacturer.
Do I have to know a lot about plumbing to install a carbon water filter?
There is no plumbing involved in countertop systems. You should have a basic knowledge of tools and plumbing to install whole-house systems.
What happens if I forget to replace a carbon water filter cartridge?
If you forget to replace the cartridge, you will likely notice your water flow slow down significantly. Additionally, it will no longer be filtering contaminants out of the water to its best capacity.
How much of a contaminant do carbon filters remove?
Check with the manufacturer’s site, as they are usually very transparent about what is and is not removed or reduced. Each filter is different and may reduce or remove slightly different contaminants.
Conclusion
Activated carbon water filters are an effective way to improve the quality of your drinking water. By understanding the different types of activated carbon filters and their unique benefits, you can choose the right one for your home and ensure that you get the cleanest, safest, and best-tasting water possible.
Remember to find the filter that fits your needs and your budget. There is a perfect fit out there for you.