Meta Title: Best Water Filters For Chloramine Removal | Water Defense
Meta Description: We tested the best water filters for chloramine removal based on strict criteria. This includes chloramine removal rates, flow rate, and loads more.
There’s a wide variety of chloramine water filters on the market, each with its own special features. Whole house filters supply chloramine-free water to every faucet in your home, while under-sink units are more affordable and take up less space.
In our search for the top 4 chloramine water filters, we tested whole-house, under-sink, and water pitcher filters to give you a comprehensive view of the best options available.
The SpringWell CF1 Whole House Water Filter System came out on top because of its ability to remove 99% of chloramine. It also removes most other contaminants and has an exceptionally high flow rate of 9 to 17 GPM.
The Kind Water Systems Whole House Water Filter is our pick for the best cartridge-based system. Its use of catalytic-activated carbon block technology to remove chloramines, combined with easy installation, makes it a winner.
Our favorite under-sink unit is the Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-the-Sink Water Filter. It can remove more than 232 contaminants, including chloramine, and its filters last for around a year. If you’re looking for a highly effective and affordable pitcher filter for chloramines, we highly recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher, which costs just $81.
Chloramine Water Filters Comparison Table
- Filtration technology: KDF & catalytic carbon
- Filter type: Whole house filter
- Chloramines reduction rate: Minimum of 99%
- Contaminants removed: Most water contaminants
- Flow rate: 9 – 17 GPM (1 to 7 bathrooms)
- NSF 42 certification: Not certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Filtration technology: High-performance catalytic-activated carbon block technology
- Filter type: Cartridge-based whole house filter
- Chloramine reduction rate: Unspecified
- Contaminants removed: Unspecified
- Flow rate: 15 GPM (1 to 6 bathrooms)
- NSF 42 certification: Not certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Filtration technology: Clearly Filtered 3-stage filtration tech
- Filter type: Under-the-sink system
- Chloramine reduction rate: Minimum of 95.3%
- Contaminants removed: 232+
- Filtration capacity: 2,000 gallons for each filter (lasting roughly a year)
- NSF 42 certification: Certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Filtration technology: Affinity Filtration
- Filter type: Water pitcher
- Chloramine reduction rate: Minimum of 99.7%
- Contaminants removed: 365+
- Filtration capacity: 100 gallons for each filter (lasting roughly four months)
- NSF 42 certification: Certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
Water Filters That Removes Chloramines
1. SpringWell CF1 Whole House Water Filter System
- Filtration technology: KDF & catalytic carbon
- Filter type: Whole house filter
- Chloramines reduction rate: Minimum of 99%
- Contaminants removed: Most water contaminants
- Flow rate: 9 – 17 GPM (1 to 7 bathrooms)
- NSF 42 certification: Not certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
PROS
- The blend of catalytic carbon, KDF media, and flex bed ensures ultimate filtration against chloramines
- Made of sturdy materials, offering you peace of mind with their impressive durability
- 9 GPM flow rate is suitable for 1-4 bathroom households without a drop in pressure, making sure your showers and taps are always running smoothly
- Lifetime warranty, so you’re fully covered for most types of replacements and repairs
- Made in the USA, so you’ll have no trouble finding spare parts if you need them
CONS
- Requires professional assistance during installation, which adds to the overall cost
- Doesn’t have a performance data sheet, so you can’t closely examine its contaminant removal rates
- No NSF certifications, which means it might not have been independently tested
- Expensive but we think it’s more than worth it
The Springwell CF1 is the best whole house water filter for chloramines thanks to its durable build, lifetime warranty, and impeccable filtration process that removes 99% of chloramines from water. It also has a high flow rate of 9 to 17 GPM, so it can easily handle large homes without causing any drops in water pressure.
Highly Effective Filtration
Typically, activated carbon media removes chlorine, but chloramines have a more complex molecular structure, so activated carbon alone isn’t an effective method against them. That’s why the SpringWell CF1 utilizes catalytic carbon, whose surface structure is able to eliminate chloramines.
The system also features a kinetic degradation fluxion (KDF) bed, which, combined with catalytic carbon, ensures a reduction rate of 99%.
Additionally, the SpringWell CF1 employs an innovative technology called a flex bed. This bed applies to all the system components, prolonging the contact time between filters and water for better system efficiency.
High Flow Rate
What makes the SpringWell CF1 stand out among other traditional whole-house units is that the high contaminant-reduction number doesn’t come at the expense of a lower flow rate. The system has up to 17 gallons per minute (GPM) flow rate, which can serve moderately crowded houses with 7 or more bathrooms.
Suitable for Well Water
Unlike several other whole house systems we’ve tested, the CF1 is suitable for homes supplied by well water. This is because it’s efficient at removing common well water contaminants like manganese, sulfur, and iron.
So, if your well water smells like rotten eggs or it’s staining your appliances, the CF1 can effectively prevent these issues.
2. Kind Water Systems Whole House Water Filter
- Filtration technology: High-performance catalytic-activated carbon block technology
- Filter type: Cartridge-based whole house filter
- Chloramine reduction rate: Unspecified
- Contaminants removed: Unspecified
- Flow rate: 15 GPM (1 to 6 bathrooms)
- NSF 42 certification: Not certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
PROS
- Kind Water Systems’s unique high-performance catalytic carbon technology ensures efficient filtration against chloramines
- The coconut shell gives the water a pleasant taste
- Cartridge-based system, meaning it’s easier to install and maintain
- 15 GPM flow rate is excellent for large families that have up to six bathrooms
- Lifetime warranty, so you can be sure Kind Water has faith in the longevity of its product
CONS
- The datasheet doesn’t cover details regarding its performance in removing chloramines
- No NSF certifications, like the SpringWell CF1
If you don’t like conventional whole house filtration systems with huge tanks, the Kind Water Systems E-1000 cartridge-based water filter system might be the best option for you. It uses two small cartridges to remove chloramines from water, so it takes up less space than a whole house system like the CF1.
2-Stage Filtration
The first Kind Water Systems cartridge is a sediment filter that removes dirt, clay, dust, and turbidity. This process ensures the second filter removes hazardous contaminants without obstructions by sediment particles.
The second cartridge houses Kind Water Systems’s remarkable high-performance catalytic carbon embellished with a coconut shell. While the main carbon media removes the chemicals, including chloramines and heavy metals, listed in its datasheet, the coconut shell gives the water a pleasant taste.
Exceptional Flow Rate
Cartridge-based systems typically have a higher flow rate than tank-based systems, but the Kind Water Systems system stands out because the 15 GPM flow rate makes it the best in its category. It can effortlessly provide chloramine-free water for households with up to six bathrooms.
Easy To Install
As it’s cartridge-based, this system is easier to install than the SpringWell CF1. Anyone with some plumbing experience and a wrench will be able to install the product. We managed to do it pretty quickly, but if you think you’re going to struggle, it’s probably worth biting the bullet and hiring a plumber.
3. Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-the-Sink Water Filter
- Filtration technology: Clearly Filtered 3-stage filtration tech
- Filter type: Under-the-sink system
- Chloramine reduction rate: Minimum of 95.3%
- Contaminants removed: 232+
- Filtration capacity: 2,000 gallons for each filter (lasting roughly a year)
- NSF 42 certification: Certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
PROS
- The brand’s unique technology allows the unit to reduce 232 contaminants, including chloramines
- Doesn’t employ reverse osmosis (so it doesn’t remove healthy minerals)
- Its 95.3% chloramine reduction rate is great for a non-RO under-the-sink system
- Filters need replacing once a year which gives it much better filter longevity than many other under-sink models
- Lifetime warranty
CONS
- Expensive under-the-sink unit
- Its replacement filters are expensive, so we’re very happy they last for a long time
Under-sink water filters are the best choice for people who don’t have enough space for a whole house or countertop water filter system. The Clearly Filtered 3-Stage filter is our recommended choice for under-sink water filters that remove chloramines.
Key Features:
- Impressive contaminant removal rates: Thanks to the never-ending innovation of the brand, the Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-the-Sink model can deal with more than 232 contaminants, as certified by the NSF, which is why it’s our favorite in its category. You can check out the details in the product’s performance data sheet. Furthermore, its chloramine reduction rate of 95.3% is nothing short of exemplary for an under-the-sink unit.
- Retains beneficial minerals: Most under-the-sink filtration systems that treat chloramines and heavy metals (like lead) rely on reverse osmosis (RO) technology. That’s not the case with the Clearly Filtered. This item does the job with a highly sophisticated carbon filtration media and a special filter targeting heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. Unlike reverse osmosis units that remove healthy minerals alongside contaminants, the design of the Clearly Filtered allows it to keep the minerals intact. So, with the Clearly Filtered, you treat your water for chloramines while preserving its original mineral content.
- Filter longevity: The Clearly Filtered unit’s advantages over other under-the-sink water filter systems don’t end there. While its competitors require filter replacements once every four to six months, the filters of the Clearly Filtered unit last approximately a year.
4. Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
- Filtration technology: Affinity Filtration
- Filter type: Water pitcher
- Chloramine reduction rate: Minimum of 99.7%
- Contaminants removed: 365+
- Filtration capacity: 100 gallons for each filter (lasting roughly four months)
- NSF 42 certification: Certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
PROS
- Incredible chloramine reduction rate for a water pitcher at 99.7%
- Reduces 365 other contaminants thanks to its unique Affinity Filtration technology
- The filter needs replacing only once every four months, which is excellent for a water pitcher
- Holds all the relevant NSF certifications and comes with an astonishing performance datasheet
CONS
- Replacement filters are expensive, costing $49.50, which is over half the price of the pitcher itself
The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is our favorite pitcher filter thanks to its ability to reduce more than 365 contaminants, including 99.7% chloramines. It’s also very affordable at $81 and takes up little space. So, if you’re on a tight budget and have limited space, this could be the best option for you.
Key Features:
- Affinity filtration tech: The inimitable success of this water pitcher is due to the Affinity Filtration technology developed by the manufacturer. The filter’s structure subjects the molecules of chloramines and many other contaminants to a long and winding road full of twists and turns. As a result, it prolongs contact time while ensuring a thorough treatment process. The walls and paths inside the cartridge act as a contaminant magnet that draws and binds contaminant molecules. This allows the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher to catch chloramines with a much better success rate than its competitors.
- Long-lasting filter: The filter of the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is also durable. While most water pitcher filters require replacement once every one to two months, you’ll only need to do it once every four months with this product, which is more or less equal to 100 gallons of chloramine-free drinking water.
- NSF-certified: The pitcher’s contaminant removal capabilities have been independently lab-tested, and it’s certified to NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, and 473. So, you can rest assured that its ability to remove chloramines has been verified by a third party.
Frequently Asked Questions
As mentioned earlier, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, there are no health risks associated with drinking chloraminated water. Furthermore, as the chloramination of tap water never surpasses the 4 mg/L threshold, citizens have nothing to worry about.
Even if the chloramine levels were to surpass 4 mg/L, there is no research that suggests that drinking such water causes health complications.
However, exposure to chloramines in their gas (or fume) form may lead to skin irritation, red eyes, and shortness of breath. Although this is an extremely rare occurrence in households, it may happen in swimming pools excessively treated with chloramine.
Another important note is that using chloraminated water in kidney dialysis machines leads to serious illness, and patients exposed to chloraminated water have a higher mortality rate. That’s why distilled water is recommended for dialysis machines rather than tap water containing chloramines. However, this is not a concern when it comes to tap water for household use.
Overall, like chlorine, chloramines are only an aesthetic nuisance that affects the water’s taste, odor, and color. Reducing chloramine levels in water is best for a pleasant drinking experience.
You should remove chloramines from water to improve its taste, odor, and color.
The only way for your water supply to have chloramines is if the water supplier or municipal authority utilizes it as a disinfectant. So, you should contact your local jurisdiction’s water supplier or the environmental department to confirm.
If you still have doubts, you should collect a water sample from your faucets and send it to an EPA-certified water testing lab in your area. It’ll cost anywhere from $25 to $400, but in return, you’ll get a detailed document listing all the contaminants found in your water and their levels.
The answer is the SpringWell CF1, with its 99% chloramine reduction rate. However, if you’re looking for a much cheaper option, the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher can remove a minimum of 99.7% of chloramine, which is incredibly impressive for a pitcher filter.
Chloramines are considered an aesthetic impurity. As such, the National Sanitation Foundation certifies chloramine claims of water treatment brands under the NSF 42 standard that pertains to all aesthetic impurities.
That said, not all devices with an NSF 42 certification remove chloramines. For instance, most reverse osmosis units hold an NSF 42 certification but are rarely effective against aesthetic impurities. So, it’s best to examine the performance data sheets of products and finalize a purchase only after you confirm the product in question has chloramines listed under its NSF 42 category.
Conclusion
Municipal authorities and water suppliers pump chloramines into public water systems as secondary disinfection. Although these disinfectants don’t pose a health risk, removing them from your drinking water is still the best practice.
To that end, the SpringWell CF1 and Kind Water Systems Water models are the best whole-house filtration options. While the former is a traditional system with a 99% chloramine reduction rate, the latter is a cartridge-based unit that’s easier to install and maintain.
If you don’t have any space on your counter but still want to install a filter that’ll deliver chloramine-free drinking water, the Clearly Filtered Under-the-Sink model is your best bet. It reduces chloramines and among 232 other contaminants by 95.3%.
Lastly, if you’d rather buy a water pitcher, the efficiency of the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is unmatched. It reduces chloramines by a minimum of 99.7%, along with more than 365 other contaminants.
Scott, thank you for writing this article. However, the EPA doesn’t care about our health. The impact of chloramines in drinking water is a health concern. My husband became ill when we moved to a new town in our state. The town we came from was only using Chlorine to treat city water, the new town uses Chloramine. He was sick for 3 years until we went to a naturopathic doctor. We do not drink tap water in our new town. We are not able to us it when cooking or even washing vegetables. I used to use the local Culligan water, but their service is the worst ever. They recently sent me an email advertising High Efficiency Carbon Filters for Chloramine. I would love to believe this would work, but their RO system did not fix the problem water. I have heard the Berkley Filters have issues with adding Floride to the filtered water. I would really like to be on a well. I see you are in Utah, and I am in Oklahoma. We own our home but can’t see installing a whole house system. The three-stage filter system seem like it would be the best for us. Do you have any affiliates in this area of the US?
Hi Tina, thank you for reading and your question. Our website focuses on providing the best information that we can based on our careful research. We don’t sell anything and don’t have any affiliates that represents us. We do make recommendations of certain manufacturers and their products that you see in our buying guides and product reviews. I would encourage you to view our water filter & system reviews to see what you think will be best for your needs and requirements.