Be sure to consider which impurities you want to remove from water flowing out of your faucet before choosing a filtration system.

Some filters remove rust and sediments, some reduce the level and odor of the chlorine that municipalities use to treat water, and some tackle bacteria that can cause illness.

If you don’t need a filter that multitasks every which way – these tend to be on the high end of expensive – shop for a filter designed for your specific water issue.

“Clear water” iron (not yet rusted or oxidized, that is) can’t be removed by a filter; a water-softening system is needed.

To remove lead caused by water passing through older pipes, an under-the-sink or whole-house filter at the water-supply source is recommended instead of a faucet filter.

What will it cost? Faucet filtration systems are priced from $30 to $300, depending on what the filter is being asked to do. But you should also factor in how often the filter itself will need to be replaced and the cost of replacement cartridges.

Costly cartridges may make a reasonably priced filtration system more expensive in the long run than a system with a higher initial price tag.