Best Whole House Water Filters 2022 (Don’t Be FOOLED)

Last Updated on August 6, 2022 by Ava  

Why settle for clean water from one faucet when you can have it throughout your home? Don’t you deserve the same healthy water for showering and washing your clothes?

If the answer is yes, the solution is a whole-home filtration system.

If that sounds expensive or complicated, don’t worry. It doesn’t have to be. Many are as affordable and easy to install as single-faucet filters and offer more protection and convenience.

On This Page:

• Best Whole House Water Filters
• How To Choose The Right Water Filter for Your Home
• Filter System Type and Footprint
• Understanding Warranties
• FAQ’s

…Stop waisting time or money – many of the whole house water filter reviews on the web are outdated or simply misleading.

We’ve spent countless hours of research and spoke with experts to put together proven NSF certified Home filtration systems so you don’t have to waste your time or hard earned cash finding right system yourself…

Let’s get to it

#1 is my favorite, but #2 and #9 are best overall for the money…

Our Best Whole House Water Filters:

• Best for City/Town Tap Water: SpringWell CF
• Runner-up: Aquasana EQ-1000
• Best for Well Water: SpringWell WS
• Runner-up: Home Master 3-Stage System
• Best Budget for Municipal Water: Pentair PC600
• Best Cartridge Filter: Evo-1000
• Best For Lead: SpringWell Lead & Cyst
• Best For Chlorine: Aquasana OPTIMH20

#1. SpringWell Whole House Water Filter System – Best Buy In 2022

Are you’re tired of the endless filtered water pitcher refills due to that annoying chlorine smell? Or that gross after taste of chemically treated city water.

Let me tell you that you’re not alone and this system is what you need – it’s as close to spring water as it gets.

In our testing, we found that you’re getting the best of the best whole house water filtration that’s easy to operate.

No other filtration systems come close!

What other buyers are saying:

“May 5, 2021 Thomas K. stated: Solid system 2 months in and I’m happy with my system. The hardware seems well built, and my water tastes great. Honestly the biggest selling point for me is the long intervals between filter changes. I didn’t want a cheaper system that requires new filters every month.”

What we like best:

There’s no changes in water-pressure, no residue on your faucet fixtures, low annual cost to operate, no itchy dry skin feeling after you take a shower, and best of all — fresh, crisp tasting water.

Springwell also carries a 4.7+ positive rating with hundreds of positive reviews and I haven’t seen such quality priced this good.

.

Use Coupon Code: QWL5 to Save!

---

Springwell CF1 Features

We really enjoy the simplicity of operating the Springwell CF1 and if you’re handy DIY’er – you can have the CF1 installed in less than 4 hours.

• Certified parts
• Designed to eliminate channeling
• KDF filter media stops contaminants in its tracks
• Catalytic carbon removes organic materials
• Doesn’t slow down water pressure one bit
• Four stage filtering system

 

Additional features:

This system comes equipped with a 5-micron filter to handle the toughest of sediment.

1. Quick sediment filter changes
2. Easily filters: sand, clay, dirt, silt and sand
3. Springwell’s sediment filters will cost you about $40 annually

---

👍 Best For:

This system is for those looking for the best overall value in a whole home water filtration system that’s simple to use with the least amount of maintenance and annual costs. Those looking for great customer service and a system that just works!

👎 Not Best For:

Homeowners that get their water from a well with high levels of Iron, Manganese and Sulfur – we would suggest Springwell’s WS system to handle those issues.

Product Updates:

• Springwell now offers “clack connectors” for an easy DIY installation without the use of additional pipe fittings and elbows.

.

Read our Full Review: Springwell Whole House Filter Review

#2. EVO E-1000 Whole House Water Filter – Best Cartridge Filter

If the taste and smell of Chlorinated city/tap water has you feeling down and you’re looking for a low-cost filtration system.

I have good news for you, the EVO-1000 will solve those problems.

In our research, we’ve found that EVO, like Springwell will eliminate the awful smell of chlorine and remove nasty chemicals all while NOT affecting your water pressure one bit.

What other buyers have said:

“Francis – From California stated: No more chlorine smell! Maybe I’m just sensitive but the smell of chlorine went away immediately. Our order arrived in two days and it took my husband and me about 2 hours to install. The instructions were pretty clear, but we did a couple of questions, which they walked us through over the phone.”

What we like best

We like that this system is affordable and that you can save money with their washable sediment pre-filters — a big money saver right there. Evo can easily be installed by a DIY’er and filter changes take less than 10 minutes.

---

.

---

EVO Features

 

• The EVO 1000 is great for reducing over 100 contaminants in your water supply.
• This 15 GPM system can handle up to 6 bathrooms without any loss in water pressure.
• The 2 connectors make installation a breeze
• EVO can be installed outside or inside (36 – 120 temps)
• Doesn’t take up much space

---

Additional features:

This system comes ready to install with everything you need.

1. Filter housing, carbon & sediment filter
2. Spanner wrench for quick filter changes
3. Wall mounting bracket and plumbing reducers

---

👍 Best for:

If you’re looking for a low-cost cartridge filtration system for your home that meet or exceed some of the big named brands like Ispring or home master for a better price, then this is the system for you.

👎 Not Best for:

If you’re looking to remove Fluoride from your tap water, this system isn’t going to do it. A reverse osmosis system would be your best choice in this case.

Product Updates:

• For those with hard water issues, EVO now offers the EVO-3000 combo filtration system that’s also salt-free.

.

#3. Aquasana EQ-1000 Whole House Water Filter System – Best Overall

Typical water filters don’t remove hard minerals — that requires a water softener.

Aquasana’s EQ-1000 solves that problem with Simplysoft — a unique salt-free descaling system that filters and softens your water without removing beneficial minerals.

If you’re sick of dealing with dry skin and hair, or having to scrub limescale off of your appliances more often than not, this is what you need.

What other buyers have said:

“Erin Zinger from Austin, TX. said: I am getting this installed in my home because where I live there have been too many boil water notices. Aquasana noticed my city water treatment was more harsh than the package I bought included so they upgraded me without any hassle or charge. True customer service and very happy to support a company like this.”

What we like best

We like the fact that this is a top rated all-in-one whole home system that just takes care of it all and last for 10 years without us having to think about swapping out the tanks.

The EQ-1000 has over 800+ positive reviews and a 4.6 star rating.

---

.

Features

• The Pre & Post filter give you ultimate protection from sediment and organic materials before you ever pour a glass of water.
• This 12 GPM system can handle up to 3 bathrooms
• Bacteriostatic media stops bacteria from growing inside of your tank
• NSF 42 tested to remove 97.1% of Chlorine

---

Additional Features

1. The upflow tank design elminates channeling and blockage.
2. Increased water contact time to remove contaminants efficiently from the filter media
3. This system is designed for quick tank changes
4. This is an overall low maintenance system that anyone can run with peace of mind.

---

👍 Best for:

This system is best for those looking for a 2-in1 solution for both water filtration and hard water. If you have heavy limescale, I would lean towards Aquasana to solve your needs.

👎 Not Best for:

If you’re looking to filter out harmful PFOA and PFOS or lower total dissolved solids (TDS, this system won’t do it for you. I would recommend Springwell CF1 to tackle this for you.

Product Updates:

• Aquasana now offers a Pro-grade installation kit that comes with stronger fittings and piping.
• Optional UV (ultra-voilet light) addon that can neutralize nearly 100% of harmful viruses lurking in your water.

Read our Full Review: Aquasana EQ-1000 Review

#4 SpringWell Whole House Lead & Cyst Removal System

Most carbon filters reduce lead “up-to” a specific amount. However, most reduce less than 50% of lead and that’s just not good enough in our book, especially if you have kids.

This is when our research led us to Springwell LSR-1 System. This system is capable of removing over 99.95% of LEAD!

That’s incredible, right?

What we like best

We love that fact of how well it filters lead. However, we also love how it completely removes heavy metals, cysts, and a plethora of harmful contaminants all in one swoop.

We also like the real-time LED System that monitors water and flow rate that will also warn you when it’s time to change your filter – leaving you with safe, better tasting water with peace of mind.

---

.

Features

• The digital notification system tells you when it’s time to replace your filter
• Monitors water flow rate
• Eliminates over 99.95% of Crypto & Giardia known to cause diarrhea.
• NSF 42 tested to remove 97.1% of Chlorine

---

Additional Features

1. The optional UV addon helps eliminate bacteria & viruses that could be present in your water.
2. Increased water contact time to remove contaminants efficiently from the filter media
3. This system is designed for quick tank changes
4. Premium certified components for peace of mind.

---

👍 Best for:

If you’re concerned with lead in your water or any PFOA/PFOS – This whole house water filter system is competitively priced for its class, but it’s not cheap to maintain — annual filter replacements cost as much as some entire filtration systems.

But why bother filtering lead at all if enough remains to be a health hazard? If you have a lead problem — this is some of the best protection money can buy.

👎 Not Best For:

Those looking to keep annual costs low as this system will run you 400.00 for every 100,000 gallons of water treated. It might be more cost effective to go with a under-the-sink Reverse Osmosis system for drinking.

Product Updates:

• Optional UV (ultra-voilet light) addon – this helps kill bacteria and viruses on the spot.
• Reverse Osmosis upgrade

.

Read our full review: Springwell lead & Cyst Filter Review

#5 Aquasana OptimH20

Aquasana’s OptimH20 shields your family from dozens of dangerous contaminants from heavy metals to forever-chemicals like PFOA.

It eliminates more than 90-percent of chlorine and chloramine, so water smells and tastes fresh no matter what it’s disinfected with.

Cancel the bottled water deliveries — you won’t need them.

What we like

Aquasana makes quality whole house water filter products. Systems are certified, expandable and easy to maintain.

Like the SpringWell, primary replacement filters cost hundreds, but you get what you pay for — contaminant reduction is exceptional, and it’s an excellent overall value compared to bottled water.

Like the SpringWell, primary filters last 100,000 or 12 months for limited maintenance.

---

.

Features

• Just like Sprigwell’s LSR-1 – Aquasanna also has a LED notification system.
• IAMPO Tested & Certified to remove Lead & Cysts
• Will NOT reduce water pressure
• Ultra-dense carbon filtration

---

Additional Features

1. The optional UV upgrade allows for kiling 99.99% of viruses, bacteria like E.coli.
2. Quick filter changes by snap and lock – no tools needed
3. Low maintenance across the board.

---

👍 Best For:

This is perfect for those concerned with lead and PFOA as well as that cant stand the smell of Chlorine or foul tastes in their drinking water and neither can I really. Like Springwell, the filter replacements are on the expensive side.

Our only complaint is the warranty. It’s half what SpringWell offers and requires professional installation.

👎 Not Best For:

Those looking to remove Fluoride or Arsenic or to keep costs down. In this case, you’re better off with a point-of-use system such as a Reverse osmosis system.

Product Updates:

• Aquasana now offers a salt-free upgrade with this system.
• Tool-free filter changes in their latest design – simply twist and change your filter ; )

.

#6 Pentair PC600 Whole House Water Filter

If your municipal water tastes like it came from a swimming pool, but you’ve given up on water filtration because it’s a hassle, you’re going to love the Pentair’s whole house water filter system.

This system primary targets Chlorine and does so very well as well as other contaminants found in tap water — giving you fresh odorless drinking water

What we like

Carbon block filters work well for a broad range of contaminants, but they’re small and need frequent changing.

If you love your Brita pitcher or under-sink carbon block filter, think of the Pentair as the same thing with better performance and without the annoying maintenance.

With its advanced granular activated carbon media it can filter 600,000 gallons of water.

A 5-micron sediment filter removes suspended particles while bacteriostatic KFD 55 media prevents the growth of bacteria and algae, so you know what you’re drinking is pure.

---

.

Features

• On demand water regeneration process.
• Reduces odors and chlorine
• Multiple sizes for all types of home requirements
• Doesn’t require electricity to run

---

Additional Features

1. The 5-micron pre filter tackles fine to heavy sediment with ease.
2. Coconut shell carbon filter eliminates common city water contaminants.
3. Low annual cost system to run.

---

👍 Best For:

If you’re looking for a catch-all contaminant removal system, lean towards Pentair. Their systems are affordable and don’t require a lot of maintenance to run.

👎 Not Best For:

If you have well water containing Iron, don’t waste your time on this system as it can’t remove Iron.

Product Updates:

• Improved Bypass valve fittings

.

#7. iSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System

This iSpring 3-stage is equipped with a three-stage gradient filtration system that maximizes filter life.

A fine sediment cartridge removes dirt, dust, silt and rust while two high-density coconut carbon filters reduce 95-percent of chlorine, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemical contaminants.

What we like best

For treating city water, the iSpring’s advanced carbon block technology removes 95-percent of the contaminants I’m most worried about — especially lead — without the high cost of neutralizing pathogens.

Healthy minerals are left in, and the water tastes fantastic. Other house water filter systems are a bit easier to maintain, and I’d feel better if the warranty was longer, but the 100,000-gallon filter capacity and brisk water flow are a pleasure.

For the price, it’s a steal.

---

.

Features

• Ispring’s 3-stage multi filter reduces clogging that doesn’t compromise water pressure in doing so.
• Reduces odors, cloudiness and chlorine effectively
• Eliminates stains on appliances
• Literally no waste water

---

Additional Features

1. Sediment filter has a 5 micron rating which is ideal for most sediment issues.
2. Coconut shell-based carbon eliminates odors and chlorine.
3. Easy replacement filter change out.

---

👍 Best For:

Those looking to get rid of that look of brown water or that look of rust in your sinks, toilets and tubs. This is a low-cost solution.

👎 Not Best For:

This system is not designed to treat for harmful microorganisms. For this type of treatment, I would refer you to either Springwell CF with a UV addon, or go with a reverse osmosis system as your best bet.

Product Updates:

• Ispring now comes with CTO carbon block filters for enhanced water quality

.

Read our full review: Ispring 3-stage Review

#8. Home Master HMF3SDGFEC 3-Stage System – Whole House Water Filter for Well Water

If staining is a problem, this Home Master three-stage filtration system may be the solution. For use with non-chlorinated well water only.

It’s three sequential filters remove sediment and chemicals down to a single micron — plus minerals like iron and manganese that can stain your clothing, dishes and bathroom fixtures and cause costly damage to plumbing and water-using appliances.

What we like Best

Designed for easy DIY installation, the kit complete with everything you need including cartridge filters. Filter changes are also less frequent than previous models reviewed.

---

.

Features

• Home Master’s 3-stage multi granulated activated carbon block filter reduces odors and reduces Iron at 3ppm.
• Sediment filter removes dirt, rust, VOC’s down to 1-micron
• Eliminates stains on tubs and sinks
• Improved water flow

---

👍 Best for:

This system has an average initial price for its capability, and while the replacement filters appear to cost more than those for similar models, my research shows they last longer and do a better job.

Too much iron in your well water wreaks havoc over time, so a quality filter matters. When you consider the total cost of ownership, the price difference is negligible, and if it solves your problem with less maintenance, it’s a bargain.

👎 Not Best For:

Anyone looking to eliminate harmful well bacteria and microbial cysts.

Product Updates:

• Extended filter life with Home Master’s updated GAC carbon water filter tech and improved kdf filtration media.

.

Read our full review: Home Master 3-stage Review

#9 SpringWell WS — Best Whole House Water Filtration System For Well Water

If your well water has been letting you down and you’re tired of scrubbing the reddish/brown stains from your sink or tub — then you’re in luck.

Let me introduce you to the Springwell WS whole house water filtering system that’s beats the competition when it comes to removing Iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide up to 8PPM.

Won’t reduce water pressure one bit – and no other filtration systems comes close!

What we like best

We love the fact that this system doesn’t strip out the beneficial minerals that many well owners have come to love and rely on.

We also love the fact that this system is easy to use and operate from our mobile phones that we can just simply forget about it, until we get a notification on when to change filters.

---

.

Use Coupon Code: QWL5 to save!

Features

• Springwell didn’t hold back when engineering this system for complete control and ease of use when they created a simple to use app to monitor your system on the go.
• Four-stage filtration system
• Automatic backwash tech
• Literally no maintenace – which is a bonus in my opinion.

---

Additional Features

1. Quickly glance at your systems perfomance with their digital system display.
2. Enjoy seeing virtually no iron/reddish stains on your sink, toilet and tub!
3. Easy replacement filter changes.

---

👍 Best For:

Those looking for the best filtration system for well water for a great price. This system is capable of removing common well water contaminants effectively and efficiently. This system can be installed outside permitting your region doesn’t go below 36 degrees.

👎 Not Best For:

If you’re on a budget, I would look to another system like Home-masters 3 stage system as it has similar features.

Product Updates:

• SpringWell now offer filtration for 4+ bathrooms
• Optional UV add-on that can eliminate nearly 100% of harmful viruses.
• Optional Reverse osmosis upgrade

.

Use Coupon Code: QWL5 to save!

Read our full review: Springwell WS1 Review

---

Compare All 9 Water Filtration Systems

(Mobile users: Swipe to scroll)

Buyer’s Guide to the Best Whole House Water Filtration System

You can buy a water filter for thousands of dollars that treats everything from pathogens to radiation — but do you need that? Part of why most of us want a water filter is for peace of mind against the unknown, but not all water supplies are prone to the same type of contamination and by evaluating your risks and narrowing down your needs, you can choose the best whole house water filtration system for your family without sacrificing the trip to Disney World.

Let’s look at the most important things to consider when making a purchase decisions.

Choosing The Right Water Filter for Your Home

What does it filter out?

The purpose of finding the best whole house water filter is to remove unwanted contaminants, so it makes sense to know which pollutants are common problems.

If you have city water, it’s disinfected and safe to drink. But despite EPA regulations, it could contain unsafe levels of:

• Fluoride
• Chlorine
• Chloramine
• Bromate
• Haloacetic acid
• Herbicides
• Pesticides
• PFOA/PFOS
• Industrial solvents
• Volatile organic compounds
• Sediment
• Trace pharmaceuticals and more

Lead, bacteria and parasitic cysts can also enter water through deteriorating underground pipes after leaving the treatment plant.

If you have well water, added fluoride and disinfectants aren’t a risk. But an estimated 20-percent of wells in the US are contaminated and could harbor natural and human-made toxins, including:

• Sediment
• Hard minerals
• Lead
• Arsenic
• Mercury
• Chromium
• Nitrates
• Agricultural chemicals
• Petroleum products
• Industrial chemicals
• Bacteria, parasites and more

Not all wells contain these substances. What’s in your water is determined by local geology and your watershed — the area around your home that feeds your water supply. If you live near a landfill, heavy metals and VOCs are a risk. If you live near a large farm, contamination with nitrate fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides is more common.

See our: Best well water filtration system guide

The best way to choose a whole house water filter is to know what’s in your water today. City water users can get a quality report from their treatment authority but should test their tap water for lead separately. Well owners should do a comprehensive test — DIY or via a certified lab. Regardless of water source, you can then shop confidently for a filter that targets the greatest number of problem contaminants.

Does it meet NSF standards?

The federal government doesn’t test or regulate water filters. Instead, industry members of NSF International created voluntary, minimum performance and safety standards recognized by ANSI, the American National Standards Institute.

Filters certified:

• NSF 42 remove taste and odor impurities
• NSF 44 soften water by removing hard minerals via ion exchange
• NSF 53 reduce contaminants with known health effects
• NSF 55 kill bacteria, viruses and cysts with ultraviolet light
• NSF 58 reduce EPA-regulated contaminants via reverse osmosis
• NSF 401 reduce on of 15 emerging contaminants not yet regulated such as PFOA and pharmaceuticals

Broadly speaking, if a filter is NSF/ANSI certified, it’s guaranteed to do what it advertises. That’s an advantage — companies willing to pay for independent testing and certification fees are committed to making better-quality house water filter systems — yet standards aren’t particularly specific. For example, low-quality carbon filters may remove significantly less chlorine than better models yet meet the same minimum standards, while NSF 401 filters can remove different numbers of emerging contaminants and still carry the same certification.

Companies willing to invest in certificates are typically transparent about testing and publish results. Consumers who do their homework know exactly what they’re buying. But some manufactures choose to test without spending on certification, or they make filters with certified parts that are equally capable.

How much do certifications really mean? All things being equal, they’re an added boost of confidence. Certified filters are regularly tested, reducing quality control issues, so no one gets the “bad batch” of lead filters. Just don’t make certification the most important criteria.

Read our guide on what NSF is Exactly.

How Long Is The Filter Life?

Brand	Media Change/ Replacement:	Cost
Springwell CF1	10 years or 1,000,000 gallons	$335.00
Aquasanna EQ 1000	10 years or 1,000,000 gallons	$849.00
Pentair P600	5-years or 600,000 Gallons	$376.00
Ispring WGB32B	1-year or 100,000 gallons	149.99
3M Aqua-Pure	1 year or 100,000 gallons	$190.00

Filters have finite filtration capacity — they can only remove so many contaminants before the filtration media is spent or mechanical filters fail, you can read more on filter media lifespan here. Changing filters on time is a must, but it’s not cheap. The cost of cartridges has a significant impact on a filter’s cost of ownership.

As a general rule, sediment and carbon filters last 3–9 months depending on water quality — the more contaminants they filter, the shorter their lifespan. Extra-capacity filters last longer, and reverse osmosis membranes last 2–5 years. Multi-stage systems using more than one type of filtration require maintenance at difference intervals.

When you consider the cost of a whole house filtration system, factor in the price of replacement filters. Sub-par carbon and sediment cartridges are cheap but need to be replaced more often. Better filters cost more upfront but last longer and require less maintenance.

Understanding Warranties and What to Look For

There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect whole house water filtration system after reading all of the solid reviews, to find your filtration tank leaking and that your warranty coverage is crap and doesn’t cover the headache you now have.

This is why it’s important to read the fine print and to choose the right company/brand that stands behind their whole house water filtration systems with a iron-clad warranty and generous return policy.

Filtration Brand	Warranty	Money Back Guarantee
Springwell	Lifetime	6-month money back guarantee
Aquasanna	6 years	90 days
Pentair	650,885 Gallons or 5 years	60 days
Ispring	1 year	30 days
3M Aqua-Pure	5 years	30 days

Money-back Guarantees – What You Should Know

Just like any sizable purchase in life, you should always have the ability to test out the product to see if you like it before you have to commit long-term with trial periods — the longer the better in my opinion within reason.

However, not all trial periods are equal and some product return policies might leave you with less money than you started with, so it’s important to read the terms & conditions.

30/60/90 day trial periods are all great and dandy, however, if they have restocking fees you’re not going to be to please. You also want to be sure that you will not be responsible for return shipping — depending on the water tank size, this could be a huge cost.

What does “life-time limited warranty” really mean?

This is what I call a “bait and switch” the bait being the consumer and the “limited” being what has a higher probability of breakdown – components. Many consumers overlook this detail and just see “life-time.” Now, this doesn’t mean the company is bad in anyway, it’s basically comes down to how much a company is willing to cover.

Most water filtration brands will cover their tanks, but not: Fittings or valves. Furthermore, whichever brand you choose, read their terms and conditions before buying.

Are you paying for more than what you really need?

Knowing what could be in your water is scary. But the truth is, most homes have only a few contaminants to worry about, so selective filtration is more cost-effective than buying a do-everything house filter you don’t need.

For example, unless a main breaks or your treatment plant goes offline in a natural disaster, your water is biologically safe to drink, so it doesn’t make sense to spend thousands on a high-priced whole house filtration system that kills viruses. Similarly, if you don’t have hard water, why pay for softening capability?

Of course, there’s an argument to be made for preparedness, but unless the risk is tangible, there are better things in which to you can invest. Still, if you can afford it and will sleep better knowing you have state-of-the-art filtration, it’s better to over- than under-filter.

 

Whole House Water FIltration Systems Vs. Reverse Osmosis

Whole house water filtration systems are installed near your home’s water inlet and treat every drop your family uses. You never have to worry about the quality of bath water or which tap the kids are drinking from — it’s all safe.

Multi-stage systems using sediment, carbon, and KDF filters remove the most contaminants, including dirt, rust, chemicals, heavy metals and more. Designed to filter large quantities of water on demand and without reducing water pressure, the only difference you should notice is that your water looks, smells and tastes better.

Reverse osmosis systems offer a higher level of filtration, but they’re slow and can only produce a limited number of gallons per day. Whole home RO systems are cost-prohibitive and rare, but if your water is heavily contaminated or you want to remove pollutants most whole home filters don’t, like fluoride, an under-sink RO filter that purifies drinking and cooking water is an affordable solution.

Since prices are similar, a whole house water filter may be a better value if it removes target contaminants.

Contaminant Reduction Capability

City water is disinfected at the source, so with few exceptions, it’s safe to drink. But it could contain traces of pharmaceutical residue and chemicals as well as lead from aging pipes. Fluoride is added to most municipal supplies to promote dental health despite some evidence it could be harmful, and disinfectants like chlorine and chloramines can make water taste bad.

For well water, unless you have a rare well that’s chlorinated, disinfectants and added fluoride aren’t an issue, but contaminants like heavy metals can occur naturally in the soil, and chemicals from industry or agriculture, as well as potentially harmful microbes, can be introduced into a well by runoff.

Both city and well water can have excessive minerals — known as hard water — and that can damage pipes and appliance. Sediment like rust, while not usually harmful, can stain clothing and bathroom fixtures and isn’t appealing to drink.

The best way to select a whole house filter system is to know what’s in your water now and to evaluate the risk other potential contaminants could pose in the future. Well-water test kits are available at hardware stores or send a sample to an independent lab. To learn what’s in municipal water, contact your water treatment authority.

System Type and Footprint

A Whole house water filter are no better or worse at removing contaminants than point-of-use systems — they just have a higher filter capacity, so they’re more convenient for large-scale use. The important part is to test your water and choose a system that reliably removes the unwanted substances that are unique to your supply.

But you’ll also want to consider the system’s footprint. Most whole-house filters are larger than undersink versions and need to be installed close to the point where water enters your home. Measure the installation area carefully and compare the filter’s dimensions before buying.

Water Capacity

Brand	Capacity	Flow Rate
Springwell	1,000,000 Gallons	Up-to 20 GPM
Aquasanna EQ	1,000,000 Gallons	7 GPM
Pentair P600	600,000 Gallons	10 GPM
Ispring WGB32B	100,000 gallons	7 GPM
3M Aqua-Pure	100,000 gallons	10 GPM

Water capacity is the maximum number of gallons a filter can process before cartridges need to be changed. Always check the filter capacity for each one in the system — some have multiple filters that need to be changed at different intervals. As a rule, the larger the total filter capacity, the less overall maintenance is required.

Flow Rate

Fixtures & Appliances	Flow-rate (GPM)
Dishwasher	1-3 GPM
Washing Machine	3-5 GPM
Shower	2-5 GPM
Toilet	2-3 GPM
Faucet	2-4 GPM

Flow rate — measured in maximum gallons per minutes — tells you how fast a filter can process water. Flushing a toilet and showering simultaneously use an average of six gallons per minute combined, so to do that or comparable water-using activities, a flow rate at least that high is essential.

Practically speaking, the more contaminants a filter removes, the lower it’s flow rate will be. The Aquasana EQ-1000 Whole House Filter System, for example, offers comprehensive filtration plus softening with a flow rate of seven gallons per minute — the lowest on our list. Home Master’s HMF2SMGCC 2-Stage System offers 15 GPM, but without lead filtration.

Calculating Water Flow Rate

You might not be aware of this important detail. However, it’s very important to know what your “effective flow-rate is” so that you can purchase the right size whole house filtration system for your needs so that you don’t buy an under-performing system.

How to Calculate Your Water Flow Rate

1. Make sure all water faucets indoors is closed off and not running.
2. Grab a 5 gallon bucket and locate your water spigot.
3. Begin filling up your 5 gallon bucket and set a timer on how many seconds it takes to fill up.
4. For example: 5 GPM would be roughly 60 seconds to fill up a 5 gallon bucket. See our chart below.

Seconds To Fill 5 Gallon Bucket	Water Flow Rate	Seconds To Fill 5 Gallon Bucket	Water Flow Rate
76-100	3 GPM	61-75	4 GPM
51-60	5 GPM	43-50	6 GPM
38-42	7 GPM	34-37	8 GPM
31-33	9 GPM	28-30	10 GPM
26-27	11 GPM	24-25	12 GPM
22-23	13 GPM	21	14 GPM
20	15 GPM	19	16 GPM
18	17 GPM	17	18 GPM
16	19 GPM	15	20 GPM
14	21 GPM	13	22 GPM
12	23 GPM	11	24 GPM
10	25 GPM

Filter Cartridges

The word “filter” can describe a filtration system or each of the individual cartridges in it, but since it’s the cartridges that matter most in terms of performance, let’s look at how to assess those.

Evaluating the quality of a cartridge is difficult because performance ratings are based on average water conditions. Five filters can each claim a 95-percent reduction of lead, but if your water has higher levels than average, performance between them may not be equal. In this case, cartridges made with more advanced media might perform better.

Similarly, when contaminants are removed “up to” a certain percentage, that could be anywhere between 0-percent and the highest claimed, depending on the total quality of your water. Specifications are helpful, but not ironclad.

The number of cartridges in a system can also affect its overall efficiency. Systems like the Express Water Whole House Water Filter and the iSpring WGB32B and WKB32B have sediment pre-filters that remove large particles that could clog other filters in the system — improving their performance and longevity.

Brand	Filter	Annual Cost
Springwell	5 Micron filter	~$40.00
Aquasanna EQ	Pre Filter & Post Filter	$120.00
Pentair P600	5 Micron filter	$70.00
Ispring WGB32B	filter cartridges	$75.00
3M Aqua-Pure	Filter Cartridge	$127.00

Learn more about filtration cartridge types and sizes.

Softening Capability

No filter on our list is an actual water softener, but three have some softening capability that protects appliances. The Aquasana EQ-1000, the Home Master HMF3SDGFEC 3-Stage System and the 3M Aqua-Pure Whole House Filtration System all have some variation on technology that doesn’t remove minerals, but it prevents them from building up on pipe walls. It won’t alleviate the other effects of hard water, but in place of adding a separate water softener, it’s a plus.

Costs

The waters filters on our list vary in initial price, but it’s also essential to consider the long-term cost of ownership. The price of filter replacements and the frequency at which they need to be changed makes some systems less expensive to operate over the long haul. It’s worth taking a few minutes to crunch the numbers.

System Type	Average Cost
Whole House Filtration System	750.00 to $3,500+
Well Water Filtration System	750.00 to $3,500+
Reverse Osmosis Systems	$500.00 to $8,000+
UV Disinfection System	$600.00 to $1200+

Professional Installation Costs on Average

Labor costs will vary from region to region. However, many plumbers have a minimum 4 hour charge for any type of job weather it takes them one hour to install or just 4hrs, it’s a set rate. However, the rates in the table below should give you a rough idea of what it would cost to install a filtration system.

These rates don’t include any additional cost such as, additional piping and the complexity of the job.

Further Reading: How Much Do Whole House Water Filter Systems Cost?

System Type	Labor	Average Installation Cost
Whole House Filtration System	4 to 8 hours	$500 to $1200+
Well Filtration System	4 to 8 hours	$500 to $1200+
Reverse Osmosis System	4 to 8 hours	$500 to $1200+
UV Disinfection System	4 hours or less	$350 to $600
3M Aqua-Pure	4 hours or less	$350 to $600

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a whole house water filter?

You only need a whole house water filter if your water isn’t safe to drink. However, there are many impurities that, while not harmful to your health, make water unappetizing to drink or cook with. Most people who choose to filter their water do it to enhance taste, not safety.

Are Whole House Water Filters Worth It?

If your kids don’t love your water enough to grab a glass whenever they’re thirsty, a whole home water filter is a good investment. Hydration matters, and in most cases, filters are an environmentally friendly and less expensive alternative to bottled water, or worse, sugary soft drinks.

Can I Drink The Water Filtered With A Whole House Filtration System?

Absolutely! A whole home filter guarantees water from every tap is as safe as possible to drink. Enjoy. Learn how whole house filters work.

Which whole house water filter removes the most contaminants?

A whole house Reverse Osmosis filtration system would remove the most organic molecules, viruses and particles as small as 0.0001 microns. However, these types of systems are to costly for residential use and you would be better served with traditional filtration tank media to remove your specific contaminants.

How often should I change my whole house water filter?

Depending on your filtration type, a sediment pre-filter should be changed every 3 to 6 months. A Carbon filter every 12 Months and a post-filter every 12 months.

How long do whole house water filters last?

This entirely depends on the water filtration system you choose. Tank-based filtration media can last up to 10 years or 1 million gallons. Whereas, cartridge based systems can last up to 12 months.

Final Thoughts

Finding the best whole house water filter system for your home doesn’t have to be exhausting. Just take these three steps:

1. Find out what’s in your water today.
2. Know which potential contaminants are the most likely to affect you.
3. Choose the filter that best meets your needs from one of these top picks.

Everyone deserves water that’s as pure as it can be. If your water isn’t, installing a whole house filter system is a simple and straightforward effective solution.