In-Depth Review of Multi-stage Aquasana Water Filter and Two-stage Brita System

If you look at any review or comparison of countertop or faucet-mounted drinking water filters, Aquasana and Brita always rise to the top. Brita is the world's number one brand of household water filtration and has been at it for about 40 years.

Aquasana is also considered a veteran in the area of home water treatment with over 15 years in the industry, 17 patents and over 9 million products sold. The Aquasana water filters and their other products have earned the title of the number one rated water filter in America. They also sell shower filters and whole house filtration systems.

What follows in this hub is a comparison of two of the main differences, performance and price.

Most health-conscious consumers have seen the white, chrome or black faucet-mounted Brita water filter. Their two-stage system works when water passes through a non-woven screen that traps sediment and larger contaminants. Next, the water goes through a compressed block of carbon and zeolite. This second stage reduces chlorine and lead. Both Brita and Aquasana use GAC (Granular Activated Carbon), which is recognized by the EPA as the best available technology for removing organic chemicals like chlorine.

However, Brita's visibly small filter size results in less effective filtration than Aquasana's countertop filter. Of course, it's not just important how much filter media comes in contact with the water, but also the filter's quality. More on that below.

et's compare the performance of Brita's "advanced" two-stage water filter with Aquasana's multi-stage system when it comes to reducing lead. Simply put, Brita does not meet the revised standard for reducing lead. Compare this to the Aquasana AQ-4000 multi-stage water filter that exceeds the standard with over 99% reduction of lead, and it actually costs less in the long run. Lead is the most common contaminant found in water and is a toxin that has many negative health effects, especially on the brain.

Now a few words about the Aquasana system. One advantage of having two separate and much larger filter media is that the AQ-4000 can first filter out larger sediment (with the "A" cartridge) , then have the second ("B" Cartridge) remove more difficult contaminants like lead and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). This allows for a longer more effective and efficient filter life. Both systems are called multi-stage, but there are big differences as you can see.

Aquasana's water filtration system uses a high quality carbon filter (with carbonized coconut shell medium). The Aquasana unit uses multiple effective technologies including GAC: mechanical filtration (filtration down to.5 microns), adsorption (contaminants bond chemically to the surface of the GAC filter medium) and ion exchange (replaces harmful lead ions with healthful potassium ions). The multiple water filter media allow you to filter out over 99% of certain chemicals like chlorine.

To read more about the patented Aquasana dual filter multi-stage filtration process, click the link below the picture of Aquasana's dual filters (A&B).

The initial cost of the Brita two-stage water filter is very enticing. The run about $30.00, but you  get what you pay for. In this case, its more contaminants in your water glass. The most important detail with regard to pricing is that the upfront cost is deceptive.

The more effective and efficient Aquasana multi-stage filter will last 500 gallons or approximately 6 months. The Brita filters last for 100 gallons and need to replaced every 4 months. The cost is in the neighborhood of $18.99. Aquasana replacement filter cost $47.99.

However, if you do the math, you see that using 300 gallons with the Aquasana filter over a six month period, means you will pay $47.99. That same amount over the same period for the Brita filter comes to $56.97. It takes a very short time before the great low Brita price doesn't seem like such a great "deal."

While price is certainly important, I recommend that you base the purchase of a sink water filter on performance before price. In this case, a multi-stage filter is the best investment in your health and will save you money in the long-run.

Your next move should be to research other factors like a risk-free guarantee, warranty, maintenance, industry awards and proven service record. I've provided some links below to do just that.