When it comes to choosing the right water filtration system that best suits your needs and makes the most sense for your home, the options can truly feel endless. Every house has a different layout and every family has different water concerns. A popular water filtration option for homeowners is to install an under sink water filter in the kitchen. That way, they get clean, filtered water from the busiest spot in the home.
However, one question that comes up frequently when looking for the best water filter for a kitchen sink is if the system will work with your sprayer. There are two common types of kitchen sink sprayers:
A single faucet that has a pull out sprayer attached, which is known as a Pull Out Faucet: 
And, a standard kitchen faucet with a separate, dedicated sprayer, which is known as a Side Sprayer: 
Most modern kitchens have one of these two features, which can make it hard to find a compatible water filter for your sink. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, here are some important product features to keep in mind during the research phase for your kitchen sink filter, and options to consider if you’re looking for the best filter for a pull out faucet or side sprayer.
Research water filtration needs
There are a few important things to keep in mind when you’re searching for a water filtration system that works best for your kitchen, especially if you have a pull out faucet or a side sprayer. Some key factors to keep in mind when choosing a water filter for your kitchen include:
- Health Benefits – First and foremost, it’s crucial to find out if a filter can remove the contaminants in your water that concern you the most. Look for systems that have been tested and certified by reputable third-party organizations, like NSF International or the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). This will help you narrow down the number of systems you’re comparing and guarantee you’re addressing your most important water and health concerns.
- Installation – Every water filter requires some level of setup or installation, but some are easier to install than others. If you’re looking for a quick and easy solution, a countertop system may be the perfect fit for you. If you have limited counter space an under sink water filter is a great option but some require professional installation. These are important pros and cons to weigh.
- Maintenance – Replacing water filter cartridges regularly is critical to ensure your system works properly. When shopping for a water filter, some important things to note are how often filters needs to be changed, how
easy they are to change, and the cost of filter replacements. Aquasana’s Water for Life® program auto-delivers filters directly to your home when it’s time for a replacement, and the filters come with a 15% discount. - Size – How much space do you have to spare for your water filter and where do you want it to go? If you’re looking at under sink options, you’ll need to note how much space you have in the cabinet below your sink. If you’re looking at countertop options, you’ll want to take a close look at product dimensions to make sure the system will fit your kitchen.
- Finish – When looking to install a water filter with a dedicated drinking water faucet, don’t forget to make sure the finish matches or compliments the hardware currently in your kitchen. To ensure a match for almost any space, Aquasana offers three popular finishes for our dedicated filtered water faucets.
Understanding drinking water filter compatibility
After taking these factors into consideration, it’s time to choose the best water filter solution for your kitchen sink. Here are some options that work well for households with pull out faucets and side sprayers.
You have a side sprayer and you want to keep it
If you already have a side sprayer on your sink and you aren’t willing to give that up or drill an additional hole, the Aquasana Claryum® Countertop filter, Clean Water Machine, Claryum® Direct Connect, or any of our Whole House filters are great solutions for you to have your cake and eat it too.
This filter can easily be installed by the average homeowner and hooks directly onto your kitchen faucet. Because you don’t have to hire a professional installer to put in your water filter system, it’s guaranteed to save you both time and money. It is full system tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 401 + P473. Plus, if you install your Claryum® Countertop Filter yourself, you’ll understand the full set up, so you’ll know how to perform maintenance down the road. 
The Clean Water Machine uses professional-grade filtration to remove 99% of lead and asbestos, as well as 96% of chlorine, chloramines for a total of 77 contaminants and does it all right on your countertop. It comes in either a handheld pitcher filter version or a dispenser version. Plus, it’s NSF Certified to Standards 42, 53, 401 + P473, so you know you’re getting the real deal. This system is a super easy set-up, just plug it in!
This under sink water filter connects directly to your cold water line for fast flowing, clean water. With do-it-yourself installation on your existing faucet, this filter removes up to 99% of 77 contaminants including lead, PFOA/PFOS, pesticides, chlorine, and more. The Claryum® selective filtration retains beneficial, naturally occurring minerals including calcium, magnesium, and potassium. As healthy water flows straight from your faucet, you can have immediate access to water for drinking, washing vegetables, cooking, and more.
Whole House Water Filter Systems
If you find yourself planning for multiple installations of water filtration faucets in your home, before you buy and install the first one, take a look at a whole house water filtration system. It could turn out to be the most cost-effective solution for your water filtration needs and won’t require any changes to your current faucets and hardware. For example, Aquasana’s Whole House OptimH2O® provides the ultimate protection for your home from the outset, so no matter what fixtures you have in your kitchen, shower, bathtub and more — you and your family will enjoy clean, filtered water throughout your entire home.
You have a side sprayer you want to replace or a pull out faucet 
If you have a side sprayer that you don’t mind parting ways with, an under sink water filter with a dedicated water faucet is a perfect solution, as the second filtered water faucet can take up the spot where a side sprayer ordinarily sits, see below:
On the flip side, if you have a pull out faucet, installing an under sink water filter with a drinking water faucet allows you to keep your current sink hardware as is, but still gives you easy access to clean, filtered water on the spot. Another added benefit to having a dedicated filtered water faucet is that you’re only using your filter systems for the water you drink, so filters don’t have to be replaced quite as often.
Aquasana’s Claryum® 3-Stage Max Flow and OptimH2O® Reverse Osmosis systems are two powerful under sink water filters with dedicated faucets to consider.
Aquasana’s Claryum® 3-Stage Max Flow uses activated carbon, catalytic carbon, ion-exchange, and absolute sub-micron mechanical filtration to effectively filter 15 times more contaminants than the leading water pitcher. The system is independently tested and certified by NSF International to reduce up to 99% of lead and 76 other contaminants, including PFOA/PFOS, asbestos, pharmaceuticals, chlorine, chloramines, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mercury, all while preserving the healthy minerals in your water. The 3-Stage Max flow has a 44% faster water flow rate and 800 gallons of filter life capacity, which makes it ideal for all kitchen needs. 
This under sink water filter combines the power of Aquasana’s premium Claryum® filtration technology with reverse osmosis to effectively remove fluoride plus 87 additional contaminants from your water. The OptimH2O® Reverse Osmosis system also features remineralization to ensure your water still includes healthy minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, that other reverse osmosis systems remove.
questions?
Finding the perfect water filter to work with your current kitchen faucet and hardware can be tricky, but if you’re armed with the right information and know your options, the decision becomes much clearer. If you have additional questions about which Aquasana filter is right for you, contact us and we will help you find the perfect solution for your home.
