Purenex Nickel Countertop Water Filter

I''m not quite sure how this thing works, but it does. Easy install of the diverter from the faucet with no leaks. After a few weeks of running it, it lost any unpleasant taste and was producing pretty good water. A big plus here is flow rate. The filtered water comes out fast -you can fill a bottle in seconds. This is a key advantage for me. Even the regular tap (unfiltered) comes through pretty fast.

So what are the down sides? I can''t quite come to terms with a filter that only needs to be changed once a year. Doesn''t all that standing around in water produce bad stuff (who knows what bacteria?) This is just a worry. Nothing specific.

Second, the "burn in" period for the filter lasts a while. My wife wouldn''t drink the water for a week to two weeks. Granted, she''s very picky when it comes to water, but then we should be! It did take a few weeks for the bad taste to go away. When it came time to replace the filter for me, I didn''t really want to go through another 2 weeks of flushing the filter.

More important, if you do get this filter, then be sure you keep the widget they send to help you open the filter case to change the filter very carefully (sort of looks like a screw driver with out the bit at the end). I lost this and didn''t succeed in using anything else in its place.

More recently, I bought a WaterChef C7000 Premium Countertop Water Filter, and would have to conclude it is better in every way, but one -price (twice as expensive... ouch). That filter started tasting fine after 15 minutes of flushing. The filter is rated at 3 microns rather than 5 for the Purenex. There is a use-based light that tells you when to change the filter. The diverter valve automatically reverts to tap water after use (a very handy feature). The unit itself is better designed so you can place it to the right or left of your faucet (the hose enters at the base from either direction). The downside of the WaterChef is that it is twice as expensive. But having owned both, I think it''s worth the price. In the theory the filter lasts almost twice as long, but more importantly the water out tasting better.

So far I''m sold on the WaterChef and would avoid the Purenex. Having said that taste is very personal, so this one might work for you.