Gravity Water Filters

Want to know more about gravity water filters?

Imagine what it would be like to have powerful water filter you only have to change every 6 months.

And it works during emergencies as well.

OK, I know what you're thinking, just a lot of hype and no proof.

Check this out:

Gravity water filters do not need electricity, water pressure or installation.

Preppers just love these water filters. Plus they are very popular as camping filters.

What's the catch?

You need to fill them by hand, just like any filter pitcher.

So let's take a closer look at the pro's and con's of gravity filter.

Gravity Water Filters Pro's and Con's

Price Range: $150 - 400

Why choose a gravity counter top water filter?

Gravity counter top water filters are a convenient and cost-effective way to filter water at home. Some even clean well water or rivers, lakes, or really muddy water from puddles.

They come in various sizes so you can choose one that fits the number of people in your household.

Multiple filtration stages reduce a wide amount of contaminants.

They are easy to install and use. You do not need electricity or a water line for them to work.

Some models include filters you only have to change once a year.

And on top of that, the are affordable.

Who profits from a gravity water filter?

Would you believe me, if I said everyone?

Maybe not.

But they have clear advantages over pitcher filters, purely because of their size. More clean water in shorter time. Ideal to cater for a family or group.

Because they are so easy to use, they are ideal if you have children in your house. They are also a convenient way to give clean water to your office staff.

Preppers also like them. They do not need electricity to run. And depending on the cartridges you use, they can clean even very muddy ground water. The Berkey gravity filter i.e. can even remove uranium from the water.

Go camping?

Take your gravity water filter with you. Most models do not need that much space when packed up.

Performance of gravity water filter compared

They filter more water than pitcher or faucet-mount filters. Additionally they are able to reduce a wider variety of contaminants.

In general, only reverse osmosis or distillation systems would have comparable water cleaning capabilities. But these devices need a water line and electricity to run. Plus, they filter out beneficial minerals, leaving the water taste bland.

Gravity filters leave beneficial minerals in your water.

Filter Elements

Gravity filters use filter candles.

Ceramic filter candles are not so powerful, but they last very long.

Ideal, if you just need to filter out bacteria and silt.

More powerful gravity filter elements reduce contaminants to similar levels as reverse osmosis. Some of them tackle trihalomethanes, chloramine, chloride, heavy metals like aluminum, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides, VOCs or petroleum products.

The downside here is, these filters only last around 6 months.

Read all the detail in our post about Berkey gravity filters and their alternatives by Propur and Doulton.

Stainless steel or plastic?

Most gravity filter system are made from food-grade material, no matter if it is steel or plastic.
Your gravity filter will stand where it is most convenient for you. That may be your kitchen or your dining area. I think, the steel gravity filters look better than their plastic counterparts. But that is purely a matter of personal taste.

BPA-free Plastic gravity filters have the advantage, that you can easily see how much water is left in your filter. They are also lighter than the steel models. Additionally plastic is cheaper than steel. If you decide for plastic, look for a BPA-free filter system.

On the downside, plastic breaks easier than steel. If a plastic part falls down, it is more likely to break than a steel one. It might have a dent, but will continue to work just fine.

You can take many stainless steel gravity filter systems apart and store the top inside the bottom part for transport or storage. With most plastic gravity filters this would not work.

Choosing the right size

Many of the filter systems come in different sizes. So which one is best for you?

It depends on a few factors.

Most importantly, how many people will use the filtered water.

Additionally, it matters if you use the water for drinking only or plan to cook with the clean water also. Or plan to even use is for basic hygiene.

If you think, you need more water than the average person per day, take this into account as well.

How does a gravity water filter work?

All gravity fed water filters consist of three elements. A container that holds the "dirty" water, a filter element and another container for the clean water.

You fill the top container with the water you want to clean and it sips through the filter element into the bottom container for clean water.

The time it takes for the water to pass the filter depends on the filter size and material.