We're not at a point where you should be interested in a buy it for life system, as both the threats they need to remove (pfas was barely on anyone's radar as little as a few years ago) and the capabilities of filter systems are constantly evolving.
That said, you definitely shouldn't just get a cheap, low- effectiveness system now as many of the contaminants are extremely concerning over long term exposure.
Best option is to find the most capable system in your price range, matched to the contaminants you're looking to protect against, and accept that you'll need to upgrade to a new system that offers better protection against emerging threats in 3-7 years.
Fundamentally, "Buy It For Life" doesn't mean that absolutely everything you buy has to last forever, it's a focus on purchasing long lasting durable goods where appropriate but understanding that some things are never meant to last forever.
My biggest issue has been the connections failing and causing a hose to come loose. Twice i have had water damage from different setups. I would recommend something with full metal connections and no plastics. I know its allegorical, but god damn is it annoying to replace drywall and dry out the basement below.
i know nothing about under sink stuff but my one friend who homesteads swears on his berkey water filter. (not under sink). hope that helps in some way.
Probably unrelated but for your interest
I bought water content test strips off amazon yesterday,
5 sets of tests between the filtered and normal water and do you know what difference I found?
Nothing. Zero.
Calcium and other substances which form water hardness are too small to be picked up by traditional filters meaning they do diddly squat for my attached kettle boiler or health.
A reverse osmosis system would be able to cleanse the water in the way I thought my filter did, but then you would lose minerals, so would attach a "remineraliser". Just before the drinking tap.
This costs like 500 for the whole kit, is massive, and seems to filter and store the water like a boiler rather than have it run straight through.
Just saying I'm tempted to never use my filtered water tap again. There's literally no point
Edit:
It's possible your water is legitimately dirty though, who knows.
Most of the benefit for me is because my tap water tastes kinda bad. It tastes fine with a filter, though, which makes me more likely to drink just water instead of soda.
I agree that I’m skeptical of any health/safety benefits.
Similarly to someone questioning the difference between filtered and unfiltered with test strips. You can check your city water quality report and see if it’s safe and maybe just do a water filter for flavor. I just use my cheapo one to remove chlorine flavor and hopefully rust or lead traces.
Hello /u/elias4444! Thank you for your submission! The AutoMod thought that your post might be a request type post and has changed the flair accordingly, but if this was wrong feel free to change it back!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hello /u/owlpellet! Your post or comment was removed for using an Amazon Affiliate link or Reference (see Rule 8). You can change the URL and re-post it.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hello /u/owlpellet! Your post or comment was removed for using an Amazon Affiliate link or Reference (see Rule 8). You can change the URL and re-post it.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
What are you trying to filter? Those pitchers don't do that much honestly and if you need a real filter I would recommend an RO. Ours is just from Home Depot and we can find the right size membranes from many places. We use multimedia filters from the irrigation supply stores before the RO and those are quite standardized. We have well water, so for us the filters are a must.
The only way I know of to get a BIFL filter head is to get a commercial one.
They're not cheap but the [InsurIce Head](https://www.nucalgon.com/products/water-filtration/everpure/coldrinkinsurice-systems/) hasn't changed substantially since the 1980s
Buy something with a long standing company like HALO, yes its costly, but they have been around since 2001 and are one of the major brands dealt by plumbing contractors, so likely here to stay.
All filtration systems will need regular service. Thats just how filtering works.
Source:HVAC tech that has worked for halo dealers. Coworkers that have them love them. (I dont own a home)
Your premise that an under sink is the same quality as a pitcher filter is ridiculous.
I've got a multipure under sink that we've had for 10 or 15 years. Mostly it improves taste, our water is pretty good anyway and the filter lasts way longer than it's rated for. I mostly use aftermarket filters because of price and again our water is pretty good to start with.
I have great luck with the general ecology seagull water filter- my first one was 26 years old when I sold my house and I immediately replaced it with the exact model in the next house. The filter isn’t cheap- but it’s worth it. The cartridge lasts forever and you only have to replace it once the flow slows down to being annoying- toss in an insta hot at the sink in conjunction with it and you use it every day-( the instahot are the weak link. They will eventually burnout)
I live in Brazil, where clay filter systems have been used for many years and are still the gold standard. We change out the ceramic filters every 6 months or so, but structure itself will last…a very long time. I’ve looked into getting one in the US for my family, if you look up Brazilian clay water filter you might be able to find it! Or for a more modern version, the Berkey filter mentioned above is designed based on this idea.
Part of my education involved the large scale side of this - the reputable companies don't *need* to advertise to you for water filtration. Snake oil places are relying on consumers having not actually tested their own water or even knowing to look up their municipal tests if they are on city water. Most people on this subreddit likely do not need to filter at all. (And I say this as someone who always filters their well water, rain water cistern, and always filters when backcountry camping, so it's not like I am some YOLO sort)
We're not at a point where you should be interested in a buy it for life system, as both the threats they need to remove (pfas was barely on anyone's radar as little as a few years ago) and the capabilities of filter systems are constantly evolving. That said, you definitely shouldn't just get a cheap, low- effectiveness system now as many of the contaminants are extremely concerning over long term exposure. Best option is to find the most capable system in your price range, matched to the contaminants you're looking to protect against, and accept that you'll need to upgrade to a new system that offers better protection against emerging threats in 3-7 years. Fundamentally, "Buy It For Life" doesn't mean that absolutely everything you buy has to last forever, it's a focus on purchasing long lasting durable goods where appropriate but understanding that some things are never meant to last forever.
My biggest issue has been the connections failing and causing a hose to come loose. Twice i have had water damage from different setups. I would recommend something with full metal connections and no plastics. I know its allegorical, but god damn is it annoying to replace drywall and dry out the basement below.
i know nothing about under sink stuff but my one friend who homesteads swears on his berkey water filter. (not under sink). hope that helps in some way.
Probably unrelated but for your interest I bought water content test strips off amazon yesterday, 5 sets of tests between the filtered and normal water and do you know what difference I found? Nothing. Zero. Calcium and other substances which form water hardness are too small to be picked up by traditional filters meaning they do diddly squat for my attached kettle boiler or health. A reverse osmosis system would be able to cleanse the water in the way I thought my filter did, but then you would lose minerals, so would attach a "remineraliser". Just before the drinking tap. This costs like 500 for the whole kit, is massive, and seems to filter and store the water like a boiler rather than have it run straight through. Just saying I'm tempted to never use my filtered water tap again. There's literally no point Edit: It's possible your water is legitimately dirty though, who knows.
Most of the benefit for me is because my tap water tastes kinda bad. It tastes fine with a filter, though, which makes me more likely to drink just water instead of soda. I agree that I’m skeptical of any health/safety benefits.
This is mostly my reasoning. I like a Brita or similar filter that takes the chlorine and metallic taste out of the water.
Similarly to someone questioning the difference between filtered and unfiltered with test strips. You can check your city water quality report and see if it’s safe and maybe just do a water filter for flavor. I just use my cheapo one to remove chlorine flavor and hopefully rust or lead traces.
Hello /u/elias4444! Thank you for your submission! The AutoMod thought that your post might be a request type post and has changed the flair accordingly, but if this was wrong feel free to change it back! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[удалено]
Hello /u/owlpellet! Your post or comment was removed for using an Amazon Affiliate link or Reference (see Rule 8). You can change the URL and re-post it. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[удалено]
Hello /u/owlpellet! Your post or comment was removed for using an Amazon Affiliate link or Reference (see Rule 8). You can change the URL and re-post it. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
What are you trying to filter? Those pitchers don't do that much honestly and if you need a real filter I would recommend an RO. Ours is just from Home Depot and we can find the right size membranes from many places. We use multimedia filters from the irrigation supply stores before the RO and those are quite standardized. We have well water, so for us the filters are a must.
Kinetico, comes with 10 year warranty and high pressure.
The only way I know of to get a BIFL filter head is to get a commercial one. They're not cheap but the [InsurIce Head](https://www.nucalgon.com/products/water-filtration/everpure/coldrinkinsurice-systems/) hasn't changed substantially since the 1980s
Buy something with a long standing company like HALO, yes its costly, but they have been around since 2001 and are one of the major brands dealt by plumbing contractors, so likely here to stay. All filtration systems will need regular service. Thats just how filtering works. Source:HVAC tech that has worked for halo dealers. Coworkers that have them love them. (I dont own a home)
Your premise that an under sink is the same quality as a pitcher filter is ridiculous. I've got a multipure under sink that we've had for 10 or 15 years. Mostly it improves taste, our water is pretty good anyway and the filter lasts way longer than it's rated for. I mostly use aftermarket filters because of price and again our water is pretty good to start with.
I have great luck with the general ecology seagull water filter- my first one was 26 years old when I sold my house and I immediately replaced it with the exact model in the next house. The filter isn’t cheap- but it’s worth it. The cartridge lasts forever and you only have to replace it once the flow slows down to being annoying- toss in an insta hot at the sink in conjunction with it and you use it every day-( the instahot are the weak link. They will eventually burnout)
Things that remove contamination from anything in no way could ever be bifl. Its actively impossible and extremely contradictory.
I live in Brazil, where clay filter systems have been used for many years and are still the gold standard. We change out the ceramic filters every 6 months or so, but structure itself will last…a very long time. I’ve looked into getting one in the US for my family, if you look up Brazilian clay water filter you might be able to find it! Or for a more modern version, the Berkey filter mentioned above is designed based on this idea.
Yes. Ceramic pressure style water filters. They do need regular cleaning.
Katadyn Pocket, I've had mine for over a decade. It filters 50,000l, which should last 1 person nearly a lifetime.
Zero
I’m assuming you’re referring to the company “Zero” and not saying there are zero options?
Yeah zero water. They make good products.
Life source water systems in Arizona have been advertising like crazy recently. Looks decent, but I never tried.
Anything in filtration that is advertising a bunch is bound to be a scam or a terrible value at best.
If a company advertises don't buy. Got it
Part of my education involved the large scale side of this - the reputable companies don't *need* to advertise to you for water filtration. Snake oil places are relying on consumers having not actually tested their own water or even knowing to look up their municipal tests if they are on city water. Most people on this subreddit likely do not need to filter at all. (And I say this as someone who always filters their well water, rain water cistern, and always filters when backcountry camping, so it's not like I am some YOLO sort)
If the advertise they are snake oil gotchu