Seeking softer water? I tried the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter to see if it could provide the filtered water taste I was searching for

Although I don't claim to drink the recommended amount of water each day, I do appreciate the difference between a glass of water that tastes good and one that tastes 'off'.

Likewise, seeing the limescale build up quickly on the inside of my kettle causes me some concern when I consider how many coffees I consume each day that contains this water. And, there's no doubt that the taste changes the worse it gets.

Plus, having a health conscious son who would far prefer to drink filtered or bottled water each day if it wasn't so expensive, means water filters and water softeners are a regular topic of conversation – but I've yet to commit to installing one. So, when the opportunity to test the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter came along I was interested to see if would be a potential solution to my needs.

Specification and design

The Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter is a self-install water filter. However, unlike other products, it doesn't require any DIY skills or plumbing knowledge. Instead of sitting underneath your sink and connecting to the water supply, you simply fit it to your tap. It's suitable for around 90% of all taps, but if yours is one it doesn't fit, there are also a range of adapters available.

Available in a white or chrome finish, the product is available on the Tappwater site as an annual subscription model with a 12 months supply of filters, or as a starter pack with two months worth of filters. However, it's also easily purchased online as a starter kit from Amazon.

Filters need replacing every two months (regardless of how much you use it) and the product claims to remove over 100 contaminants from your water but leave essential minerals in place with its five stage filtration process.

Other benefits include a 45 day trial, lifetime guarantee on the annual subscription, two years on the starter pack and the option to receive reminders about it being time to replace your filter.

Installing the filter

Worried you have zero DIY skills? Don't be, I can assure you the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter doesn't need any. As long as it fits your tap with the adapter supplied, (as it did mine) it's simply a case of unboxing it and following the instructions on the inside lid of the box.

Step one: unscrew the end of your existing tap. I chose to install the filter in my kitchen as I was most keen to see how clean our drinking water would become.

Step two: Attach the adapter to the end of the tap where you have removed the current fitting.

Step three: Pop on the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter which already has the filter inserted.

Using the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter

Once the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter is installed you have two options available to you. Turn the diverter on the one side of the adapter so that water only flows through the filter, or only turn it to filter use when required. The filter will need changing every two months, regardless of how much you use it, so that shouldn't necessarily need to influence your decision.

However, while it would make sense to use the filter permanently given it's based on length of use, rather than volume, in my experience, there's a slight flaw in the product that means I'm only using it when running water for drinking, cooking or filling the kettle. This issue is the difference in water flow when run through the filter.

I benefit from fast running water in my apartment, but using the filter reduces this substantially. The water still runs out of the tap at an acceptable rate, but by no means is it as fast as it is when I turn the diverter and use the unfiltered tap – such as when running hot water to wash dishes. It's tasks like this that see me switching back to the tap, rather than using the filter.

Is this really a problem? In the big scheme of things it's not, although it has led to complaints from family members about how long it takes to get the water cold for a glass of water, and can add a few seconds to daily tasks like filling the kettle and pans.

But, using it requires no extra work than operating the tap as normal. It couldn't be easier.

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Tests and findings

Prior to installing the filter, I purchased the Kedixiest water testing kit from Amazon to see what the current quality of my water was like. The results were as expected, no real nasties, but a relatively high reading regarding the water hardness. Testing the filtered water prior to writing this review, the results were slightly improved, with the water hardness still towards the higher end, but lower than before.

How reliable this test pack is of course impossible to tell, so the taste and kettle tests are perhaps a better indicator of the Tappwater EcoPro Compact's success rate.

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I also conducted a blind water tasting test on my sons, filling glasses of water with filtered and non-filtered water in order to see if they could distinguish between the two. Water was placed in identical glasses and they both sniffed and tasted the water and noted which one they preferred, and which one they felt was filtered.

My younger son chose the unfiltered version, but said this was because it was more chilled – as previously mentioned, the water is less cold unless you run it for longer.

However, my oldest son chose the water that had come through the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter as it had no smell, felt cleaner in his mouth and left no taste. All attributes I'd have described in the same way when tasting the water side by side.

And finally, I descaled my kettle before I started using the water Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter so that I could start with a clean kettle to see if it stayed clean. Normally the limescale builds up very quickly but to date, it's still very shiny inside which is pleasing to see.

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Costs

As previously stated, there are two options for purchasing the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter and prices quoted are as currently show on the website (April 2025).

An annual subscription is available for £99.90 for the first year, with the second year renewed at a cost of £69. You can pause or renew at anytime, or purchase one year's supply at a one off cost of £150.

For the starter pack which comes with all the components but only one filter (two months supply), you will pay £69.90. Six additional refills can be purchased for £98 which would bring the total cost to just over £167.

However, a quick search online reveals you can buy the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter for £69 and six filters for £69 from B&Q, so it's certainly worth shopping around before deciding which option is right for you. Although the subscription model comes with a lifetime guarantee, even the one off purchase offers two years, and with the rate at which new kitchen innovations are developed, you may find yourself faced with other choices in two years time anyway.

But how do the costs equate to other options for filtered water such as bottled water? Looking at a cost comparison, it's important to weigh up both an eco-cost and monetary cost.

Based on an average 2 person household consuming 1.5 litres of water per person, per day, its the equivalent of not using 730 1.5 litre plastic bottles, or 1,095 1 litre bottles.

In terms of how this looks on your budget, it's currently possible to buy 6 x 1.5 litre bottles of Evian water at Tesco for £5.50. To meet the needs of 2 people this equates to purchasing 122 packs at a cost of £671 per year. While cheaper bottled water is available, it's clear that cost wise there are indeed benefits to installing a permanent water filter such as the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter in your home.

Final verdict

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter was both to install, and use. I've looked at a variety of filters over the last few months, and while many claim to be easy to install, messing with the pipes under the sink to attach one feels like it has an element of risk attached – especially when you live in a first floor apartment and any flooding will impact not just you, but the floor below.

Being able to simply attach the filter directly to the tap was a huge bonus and literally took minutes. Cost wise, it's clearly more cost-effective than buying bottled water and as I only have a small fridge, using a large filter jug simply isn't an option either. I've also tried those in the past and they end up more empty than full as no-one remembers to fill the jug!

Taste wise I feel like I'm drinking more water as a result of the filter being in place, and seeing less limescale in the kettle and on glasses is definitely a bonus.

However, while it certainly has it's benefits and will be staying in situ for now, there are two issues for me that leave it slightly lacking in terms of meeting all my main requirements.

The main niggle for me is with the reduced water flow. Although running the water for longer to make it cold probably isn't consuming as much extra water as I think it is, psychologically it feels wasteful to see the water running down the plughole. Of course, if you prefer your drinking water to not be as cold, then this won't be a problem for you.

Secondly, from a design perspective, while the chrome option works with my type of kitchen tap, it won't suit everyone's kitchen design. White is the alternative choice and neither of these finishes would suit kitchen ideas that feature gold, brass or black fixtures and fittings.

Do I feel like I've found a permanent solution to my water filter requirements? In my current property where I can't afford to lose any space to an under sink solution, nor do I have space for a large kitchen appliances such as a fridge with a built in filtered water dispenser, it feels like the Tappwater EcoPro Compact Tap Filter offers a good option for now and I see no reason why I would switch it for something else.

But if I moved, I think I would certainly be considering alternative option for both of the above reasons.

For more filtered water options, find out what you can expect to pay for other water softener costs and what our reviewer thought of the Kinetico Water Softener when he installed one in his home.