Like so many others, I read the recommendation in that very well-known CONSUMER magazine that REPORTS its ratings of various products. I think that the magazine is most useful for things like this water filter, which is very difficult for a consumer such as myself to test.

So according to those ratings, this water filter is very effective and quite cheap, both in terms of purchase price and filter price per gallon of clean water. In fact it was nearly the cheapest to operate they tested. There is one other filter, a carafe-type, that performs somewhat better and is slightly cheaper to operate, but it is a carafe type: less convenient and doesn't produce unlimited clean water on demand. If you want to cook with filtered water, then you would need at least two carafes, and you might still run out if you have guests over. Also water in carafes can pick up odors from other food in the fridge, though that may not be an issue for you.

So this faucet-mount unit was the one for me. Installation was a snap, no tools required. It screwed right into my faucet without the need for any adapters. It comes with an adapter, but you may need and additional one. A trip to any hardware store will take care of that, but be sure to bring the filter and if possible the spigot end of the faucet. There are many, many different sizes types of threads used for spigot ends, and they can be male or female.

This filter seems to work great. The water tastes good and has no muddy red clouds (a product of my building's ancient galvanized iron plumbing). The filter slows down the water flow slightly, but that would be true of any filter, and it isn't severe enough to be an issue.

One nice thing is that you can switch between filtered and unfiltered water while the water is running. You do not have to shut off the water to switch to filtered, which my old filter with a less robust valve required. The water pressure holds the switch in filtered position, and when you shut off the water, it returns to the unfiltered position.

The filters do not last very long, but that is to be expected from such small filters. My old water filter cartridges lasted a year, but it was a hulking counter-top model like two stacked beer cans. This little guy is about the size of half a beer can. I installed it so the switch is on the left, so I can turn on the filtered water while I am holding a pot or glass in my right hand.

The Culligan FM25 is identical, except it has chrome-painted plastic and costs a bit more, while this one is just plain white plastic.

I've been using a Brita filter pitcher for the past seven years. It still works fine, but I've gotten tired of having to constantly replace the filters, and it seems like the new filters aren't doing quite as good a job as the old ones, so I decided to look into a faucet filter. I immediately ruled out the ones made by Brita and PUR after reading all the bad reviews.

When I came across this filter from Culligan and saw the high number of favorable reviews, I decided to give it a try.

I've had the Culligan FM-15A for a couple of weeks and so far, so good! It does a nice job of making my water taste better. It doesn't taste quite as lovely as a cold bottle of Poland Spring, but it does taste as good as, or slightly better than, the water I used to get from my Brita pitcher.

Installation was simple and took about five minutes. The only tricky part was trying to figure out which adapter to use in my internally-threaded faucet. After that, it was smooth sailing.

The instructions say that the filter core is good for two months or 200 gallons. Since I live alone and certainly don't drink 200 gallons of water every two months (I probably drink a gallon a day at the very most, which would be 60 gallons every two months), I wasn't exactly sure when I should replace the filter. I sent an e-mail to Culligan and received a reply the next day. They stated the most important factor is how much water has passed through the filter. So, if you're like me, you can get away with replacing the filter every six months or so. On the other hand, if you have a big family that consumes more than 200 gallons every two months, you may need to replace it sooner than that. I would suggest measuring your drinking water usage for a couple of days, and then sitting down with a calculator to figure out how often you should replace your filter. I'm absolutely thrilled that I'll only have to replace mine every six months!

One final note: the product description on this page (as of the day I'm writing this review) says that the product has a five year warranty; however, the product I received has only a two year warranty. Five would have been nice, but two is still better than one. Hopefully Amazon will update the description accordingly.

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UPDATE August 29, 2010: I've been using this filter for a year and it still works great. Haven't had any problems with it at all. Very happy with it, and have recommended it to friends and family.

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UPDATE November 14, 2011: Two years and still going strong! The knob doesn't return to its position when I shut the water off, but that's not a big deal; I just push it back in when I'm done filtering. The filter cartridges do seem to get kind of slow after a while, so I'm now replacing them every three months instead of every six, but that's still better than the lifespan I was getting from Brita pitcher filters -- and a heck of a lot less expensive than buying bottled water.

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UPDATE December 13, 2014: My Culligan faucet filter finally gave up the ghost after five years of daily use. It was leaking due to the screw threads becoming worn. Five years is pretty darned good compared to the competition and I'll definitely be buying another one.

This is my second time purchasing the FM-15, I lost the first one in a relocation last year. The issue at the old house was iron, chlorine and an old, stale, sediment taste that came from the water sitting in the iron supply line for too long. My house was on the dead end of the water main and it would accumulate trash and sediment giving the water a really nasty taste. Sometimes the county would come out and open the fire hydrant to flush out the line, which would help for a while. At this home the Culligan could improve the taste a little. Mostly by removing all of the chlorine and it helped a little bit with the old, stale, sediment taste but this filter can do nothing for iron (nor is it designed to). I tried other far more expensive filters and none of them improved the waters taste any more than the Culligan. The water flow would be higher but that is about it.

At our new home the county water supply is not so bad. (Gwinnett County Georgia) We are no where near the end of a supply line and the water is always fresh. The only real issue I have with my water is chlorine and this little filter does a great job. In the summer time they seem to spike the water supply with extra chlorine and it taste like pool water. I like the taste of my filtered water and am very happy with it.

I accept the low flow issue of this filter as just part of the process. Low flow is how carbon filters work best. The last time I tracked the life of a replacement cartridge I came pretty close to Culligans estimate of 200 gallons. The chlorine taste would begin to come back after 200 gallons.

Of all the filters I tried I liked this faucet filter the best. The counter top filters were the worst at improving taste. That surprised me because some of them have some very well made carbon block elements. But they all imparted a plastic taste that I intensely disliked. The faucet filters did not add that taste but the water flow is really slow. I was considering an under the counter model and then we relocated here and I found the FM-15 is all I need for this house.

Summary: Two minute install. Delivers 0.4 gallons per minute at my very low water pressure. I had much higher water pressure at the other house and it delivered 0.6 gallons per minute. After a month the water flow dropped to 0.3 gallons per minute. No real issues with it being in the way of the sink or the faucet. It does reduce the unfiltered flow from my faucet by a good 25% which is a bit annoying.

I took apart a used cartridge for the fun of it and it has a small block of solid carbon on the inside.

Recommended; if you don't mind the low flow of filtered and unfiltered water.

CORRECTION: 06/07/12 The water regulator for our home was blown shortly after installation and our water pressure shot up to 125 psi. Now that the water pressure has been corrected to 65 psi, the filtered water flow has dropped to 34 oz. per minute. The taste of the filtered water has also improved with the lower flow.

I want to start out by saying after reading all the reviews (negative and positive), I'm not at all surprised by how amazing this Culligan faucet filter is.

During a typical day, I drink well more than the recommended 64 ounces of water. I live in Arizona and, while they say our tap water is "safe" to drink, I'm not entirely sure. Even if it is technically "safe", I can't say I'd want to drink it. The straight tap water out of my faucet is usually cloudy, there's stuff that can be seen floating in it and the strong aroma of chlorine is nauseating. Even when brewing very strong coffee with straight tap water, it had an under taste of chlorine. That being said, I've been buying 20+ bottles of water from Walmart every week or so for many years.

Recently, I saw a commercial for a PUR faucet filter and decided I should really consider getting one. I checked them out at the store and they start at $40. Not bad if it meant I'd do away with buying (and, conversely, having to carry) several gallons of water regularly. Before making a purchase, I decided to read some reviews online to make sure I got the best brand and model. I figured I'd be buying either a PUR or Brita (name brands). After checking the reviews at Amazon, I was shocked to see how badly they were reviewed. Then I came across this Culligan filter. It had 300+ reviews with an average 4 out of 5 star rating (while PUR and Brita were the exactly opposite).

Upon further research, I found that the Culligan filters tap water identically, if not better, as the 'name brands', but the big difference is that a.) the filter is good for 200 gallons, b.) it's built to last and c.) it's less expensive! That's correct... the sturdier, higher quality filter is the least expensive. Awesome.

I purchased it figuring that if it didn't live up to my now huge expectations, it's not as if it broke the bank. After it arrived, installation took probably 20 seconds (no kidding... I unscrewed the aerator from my faucet and then screwed on the filter.... done). I let the filter rinse for the recommended 10 minutes and then poured a glass of water. I was hesitant since I've been living off bottled water for so long and have such a bad view of tap water. Before drinking any, I first noticed that the water had absolutely no smell! Not only that, but it was crystal clear. Now the biggest test.... how did it taste. Like nothing! That's right, water should not have a taste and through this filter, it does not! If I poured two glasses of water, 1 from the Culligan filter and 1 from my store bought water bottle, put on a blindfold and tasted each, I would not be able to tell you which was which.

For those few who claim the filter does nothing, you've either done something horribly wrong or you had incredibly good water prior to installing the filter. Another "complaint" I've read is that the water flow from the filter itself is very weak. Well what did you expect? Any water filter (faucet, under the sink or from the fridge door) that I've ever used comes out at exactly the same rate, perhaps even slower. Anyone giving the filter a bad rating because of that should seriously reconsider. The flow from the filter is no worse than any other filter on the market. Period.

In conclusion, if you're leery of your tap water and don't want to deal with (or pay for) bottled water, pick up the Culligan FM-15A Level 3 Faucet Filter, you won't be disappointed.

I used to purchase PUR water filters because I loved the way they made my water taste. Earlier PUR models would last at least a year or two. Then, they cheapened down the device so much (while increasing the cost) that they begin to crack and leak after just a month or two of use. The newest model cost me the most and kept falling off the faucet, since it was only held on by a plastic device that would lose its shape. To their credit, when I contacted PUR, they mailed me a new faucet ring immediately. After a week of using the new fixture, it fell off again. I called them and got another ring. It fell off in a matter of days. Altogether, I've gone through 5 Pur filter systems (in different styles) in one year, hoping to find one that would hold up. I've finally run out of refills (I bought them in bulk, so I kept trying to find a PUR that would last so I could use them up--they're expensive!) and decided to try a different brand. The Culligan arrived very quickly from this seller. I was pleased with the cost, too. The refill filters cost as much as a PUR filter refill but lasts twice as long. The actual filter itself is a fraction of the cost of a PUR. The Culligan has a very simple design (without all the bells and whistles), and I was pleased--the simplier the design, the less that can go wrong. It was EXTREMELY easy to put on--I did it myself in 30 seconds. The fixture to the faucet is metal, so I don't expect there to be a warping problem as with the PUR filter. It is VERY light weight, so there is less strain on the faucet itself. It has great water pressure. The water tastes great. It does NOT automatically stop running when the filter is dirty, so you do have to keep track of when to replace it yourself. I just put a date on my replacement filter so I know when to install the new refill. The device is easy to open--the PUR filter, with the round design, was almost impossible to unscrew at times. There are ridges at the base of the Culligan that makes this no problem. So far, we are extremely pleased with the filter. I can't see any design flaws, yet. I will write again if any arise.

Update: There aren't many products I will take the time to review let alone write an update to my review, but Culligan deserves an update because they've done something right when so many others have really screwed up. We are still loving the simplicity and reliability of the Culligan faucet filter over any other brand we've tried. I've just had to buy a new Culligan faucet filter mount after three years because it formed a small leak where the plastic part forms against the metal faucet part. Considering what we paid for the filter, and how often we've used it, I'm not complaining at all. We love the taste of the water, and we don't miss the fancy features of a PUR filter or other brands because we like the reliability of the Culligan. It doesn't put any strain on our faucet (PUR just got too heavy for it's own good). The refills are affordable, as is the new faucet mounts if they do go bad. Culligan has a winner here--I hope they don't feel pressure to upgrade to add features--just remember; if it isn't broken, don't fix it!

The Faucet Filter was working fine until a month ago. The Faucet Filter (Culligan FM-15A) has a crack in it and the unfiltered water leaks into the filtered water. I plan to contact Culligan and I will update this posting on how they handle it. I might have to buy another one but it probably won't be from Culligan(you get what you pay for). I have always wondered if manufacturing companies are misleading us with the filters. As consumers, we do not know if it is really filtering anything.

Update 05-15-12.

The Culligan FM-15A Level 3 Faucet Filter has started to leak around the part where it attaches to the actual faucet. Also, it is leaking around the base of the faucet filter where the filter is attached. I do not know how durable the faucet filters are supposed to be but I really can not recommend it. The old saying goes, "you get what you pay for."

Update 08/28/12

I contacted Culligan and the representative asked me to take pictures of the Faucet Filter. After they reviewed the pictures they sent me a new faucet filter. I am satisfied with Culligan's prompt response.

Update 03/13/13

I downgraded my rating of this Culligan Faucet Filter. Seven months later after I received a replacement filter, the filter cracked again. I contacted customer service and below is the email response that I received. I was told the reason the faucet filter cracked was because of "excessive water pressure." I was using the filter on a standard sink faucet. Instead of Culligan standing by its product I was told to upgrade to a more expensive device. I purchased an inexpensive product and I am not surprised at all. I just wanted to make any future buyers aware of this issue.

When cracks reoccur on a unit it typically boils down to one of three reasons: 1) excessive water pressure, 2) temperature (the unit gets too hot or too cold), or 3) something struck unit causing it to crack.

On the rare occasion excessive exposure to UV rays can weaken the housing, and since standard kitchen designs put a window directly in front of the sink & faucet, direct rays could also overheat the housing causing the structure to weaken after it cools. But like I said, that is a very rare occurrence.

Assuming you're using the product as instructed, I would guess reason #1 is the root cause of this cracking. It might be worthwhile to look at sturdier under-sink unit like the US-600A. Faucet mount models do take the most abuse of all the filters, since the kitchen faucet is usually the most used appliance in the house.

Well, that's what came to mind when first operating this filter.

I gave this unit 3 stars because the lever seems notchy and cheap--like when you spend all day test driving Infiniti or Lexus then have to come home to an average Ford Mustang V6 that has clocked over 100k. Or like when you eat out at Carrabba's most nights then have to settle in and make yourself a basic hot-water "sammich." You feel a bit let down by the initial quality.

Oh, it does function okay for the price I paid for it. The water that comes out of it in no way resembles the subtle nuances of boiled cabbage or anything of the sort. Nor does the water smell like 3 day old vomit left out in the sun to bake dry. No, the quality of filtering here is good. Not stellar--I would like some kind of aromatic, soothing, leaves-you-speechless kind of...something. But I digress.

I can compare this to the old Pur filter I had. The Pur's tilty activation method leaves you with dryer cups when you finish your exercises in filtration. It did, however, spring a leak not unlike a Texas gusher in the side of it after only a few months on the job. I suspect that my wife (bless her soul) was inadvertently using the "hot" water to fill our son's bottles when the manufacturer clearly states in the manual "...do not use this unit with hot tap water." The plastic damaged to the point where I could 1. turn it into a fancy paperweight or 2. throw the mound of junk in the recycle bin. I chose the former. My wife and I have yet to discuss the ramifications of not reviewing owner's manuals prior to engaging in questionable culinary practices. I, however, feel like this is a conversation we'll likely never have.

So a recap: my cups are wetter as a net side effect of the notchy/cheap engagement of this Culligan filter.

One of these days I will get a decent 'fridge with filtered water in the door. Until then, I leave with the prophetic words of Dan Hartman: I can dream about you...if I can't hold you tonight.

My town is currently going through upgrades to most of the water mains around my house. This has caused our water to take on a horrible chlorine like smell and sour taste. The water department told us that it is just the residual ......(they never explained what the residual is!!) and that the smell and taste would be gne within a few days. After a full week and living off of bottled water, I decided to give this faucet water filter a try due to its low price.

I got the filter and had it installed in under 30 seconds. For me, that is huge as I am petrified of anything plumbing related. For anyone with modern plumbing this filter just screws on to your existing faucet with no tools necessary. If you have an older faucet, this comes with multiple attachments that are supposed to fit most other connections. I can't comment on that as mine went on without needeing them.

Once it is installed you need to run the water for about 10 minutes or so to completely clean out the filter and then you are ready to go. To activate the filter you need to pull out the metal tab. Once the water is shut off, the tab automatically returns to its closed position so the filter is shut off. The water will automatically run through the normal faucet until you pull the tab agin for filtered water.

After my filter was "cleaned" I filled to glasses with water. One from the unfiltered tap and one from the filter. The unfiltered water had the horrible chlorine smell and sour taste(and waht appeared to be a lot of sediments). The filtered water had zero smell, no sediments and tasted, well...didn't really have a taste at all. Just plain water which is what I expect from my water!

So far, I am very happy with this filter. I will post back once I need to change out the filter (2 months or 200 gallons) to give an update if I have any problems. But for now, the price can't be beat to get great tasting and clean water from my tap. And I am happy I don't have to spend $1 or more per gallon for water at the market which, in my opinion, is no better than most tap water.

Update: February 18, 2009*****

After a full two months of use I can say that my initial impressions have not changed. The water filter has continued to operate as expected and I find myself drinking more water than in the past due to the clean taste.

My only issue is with replacement cartridges. The only place I can find them is here on Amazon. Problem is that the seller has them listed for $9.50 or so plus $7.50 for shipping bringing the total cost to $17.00 (or my original purchase price of the unit itself. The listing only states one filter so the cost to replace a filter is the same as buying an entire unit.

Amazon recently reduced the price of the whole unit to $14 and change. Because of this, I find it cheaper to just buy the entire unit rather than just the filter. I get free shipping from Amazon so I ended up buying two more units. Hopefully the filters will become available through Amazon (as the seller) so we are not hit with shipping charges that are almost as much as the filter itself. Otherwise, I will end up with a ton of leftover parts!

tres belle article j,ai acheter raison suivante de la marque brita plutot de la camellote cette article on trouve sur autre marchand les cartouches a 20 euros maxi ce n,est pas cas de brita en plus dans restaurant c,est cette marque qui est accepter

This water filtration system is excellent. Austin installed it quickly and professionally, and the water tastes so much cleaner now. Highly recommend!

Easy to install as it came with 2 types of adapters.

Ran water through it for 10 minutes and then drank from it and I could tell the difference straightaway as I couldn't smell the horrible smell left at the end each time I sip water.

We were on ASDA bottled water, spending around £4 each week on water, due to scale in the water.

We tried tap water but the smell and taste wasn't right.

We didn't want to get rid of all the natural nutrients in water but stop the smell and change the taste to the same ASDA bottle water.

This did the trick. Kids happy as well.

simple to use. my 5 year old uses it with no difficulty.

open the tap, pull the button out, water comes from filter, will up your glass, close the tap, the button goes back in automatically, so the water comes out of the tap next time.

cumple su funcion pero sale poca agua necesita mucha presion para tener un chorro aceptable y si la presion es muy baja no se puede usar porque el pivote que jalas para que salga agua se devuelve a su posicion

Chegou rápido. Fácil colocar e água boa.