Best Whole House Water Filter Systems

Filters for your whole House Water system may help keep odours, harsh chemicals, and sediments out of your residence. Choosing a filter that best suits your requirements is crucial since there are differences in what a filter can and cannot remove from your water.

All whole-house water filters eliminate impurities from your water supply. Still, some are more effective at softening hard water or are better suited for healthy water, which often exhibits rusty staining. There are single or multiple filter stages available for whole-home water filters. As the number of steps rises, more pollutants and impurities are eliminated.

A whole-house water filter, as opposed to point-of-service water filters, intended to be used at a single faucet in a kitchen or bathroom, eliminates impurities from the water supply of your whole house as it comes from the sound or municipal system. By filtering it all, you can be confident that every water source in your home is pure.

Whole home water filters come in various varieties, sizes, designs, and kinds. Selecting the best option for your requirements based on little information might be difficult. We assessed more than 20 of the leading candidates based on factors like cost and flow rate, warranty protections, and filter quality to assist you in selecting the ideal option for your water filtration requirements. The top 10 are shown below.

How the Best Whole House Water Filtration Systems Were Selected

Our method for generating our list of the top whole home water filtration systems included first locating rivals who satisfied fundamental requirements, then going over the 23 most accessible systems on that list and assigning a score based on 17 distinct characteristics. The top 10 home water filtration systems were the result of further culling our list. Several variables are considered when grading products, including cost, warranty, energy production, noise level, load management, and high-temperature shutdown. Price, flow rate (GPM), stage type, NSF/ANSI Standard Certification, filter lifetime, softening capacity, and guarantee are some considerations we consider when reviewing products. The editorial crew alone sets all of the ratings.

Best Whole House Water Filter Systems of 2023

3M Aqua-Pure™ AP900 Series Model #AP904

The Aqua-PureTM AP904 whole home water filter from 3M has a 100,000-gallon filter capacity and a 20-gallon per minute flow rate, among other remarkable specs. Impressing is the 25-year warranty as well. Some consumers have reported that their filters did not last as long as advertised. Therefore, the 100,000-gallon filter capacity may not live up to its billing. A filter’s lifespan may vary depending on use, the quality of the water, and other factors.

The 904 model is certified to NSF/ANSI standard 42, the lowest degree of certification, which isn’t inherently harmful. It simply implies that those filters will reduce contaminants like chlorine and issues with taste and odor. Carbon is used to activate the Filter.

Pros & Cons

• 20 GPM flow rate
• 100,000-gallon filter capacity
• Lower price than competitors

• NSF/ANSI standard 42 certified
• Installation can require a plumber
• Not great on well water

Other Details

• Model: AP904
• Three-stage type; peak flow rate of 20 gpm
• Operating Pressure: 125 psi / 862 kPa Maximum Operating Temperature Range: 40 – 100°F / 4.4 – 37.8°C
• Filtration: NSF/ANSI-standard, minimum 5-micron; certification: yes
• Duration of Filter: 12 months
• Softening Capability: No
• Sorting Capacity: Ten Thousand Gallons
• Assured for 25 years

Aquasana Rhino® Well Water with U.V. Model #EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST

In addition to having an excellent filtration system, Aquasana offers some fantastic add-ons. A pre-filter, a filter, and a post-filter are included in this model. Herbicides, pesticides, PFOA/PFOS, VOCs, and other substances are eliminated by activated carbon in the Filter, which employs copper-zinc and minerals to decrease heavy metals and chlorine.

The U.V. filter in this type, specially made for healthy water, aids in blocking germs, viruses, and other impurities. You may avoid buying salt pellets and worrying about introducing salt to the environment by using the optional salt-free water filter offered by Aquasana, which helps prevent buildup.

Typically costing more than $2,000, Aquasana whole-home filters are a significant investment. However, if there are severe problems with your water, it can be worth it.

Pros & Cons

• shields the body from germs
• A UV filter is included.
• An accessible salt-free water filter

• Pricier
• It is necessary to change the pre- and post-filters.
• A more difficult DIY setup

Other Details

• Model: UV-PRO-AST-EQ-WELL-AST
• Sort: Three-Step Maximum Flow: 14.7 GPM
• Range of Operation: 40 to 90°F / 4.4 to 32.2°C
• NSF/ANSI Standard Certification: Yes; Maximum Operating Pressure: 100 psi / 681 kPa
• Ability to Soften: Yes
• Capacity of Filter: 500,000 gallons
• Lifespan of Filter: 5 Years
• Guarantee: five years

G.E. Appliances System Model #GXWH40L

This G.E. filtration system has the great qualities of being reasonably priced and conveniently connecting to your main water supply. Its transparent canister helps determine when a filter needs to be changed. It can handle a maximum flow rate of 15 gallons per minute and lessen your water’s debris, rust, silt, chlorine, and scale.

No filter is included with this model, which must be changed every three months. Consumers have complained about the bypass relief valve and canister breaking down.

Pros & Cons

• less expensive than several rivals
• Simple to install
• transparent canister

• Filter life of three months and not included
• Customers claim that the canister may shatter.
• Specific bypass relief valve problems

Pros & Cons

• Lifetime limited warranty
• A catalytic carbon filter eliminates 99.9% of impurities.

• It doesn’t soften water.
• A UV filter is an add-on.
• Doesn’t remove TDS

Whole house Flake Water Purifier + Top Flow Carbon Filtration System

The main selling point of this Whirlpool filtration system is the lifetime filter. The system will clean the Filter every two weeks at a predetermined period to save the need to buy filters all year. While this type is excellent at filtering out silt and chlorine, it is not as effective at filtering out other toxins as other filtration systems are.

While sufficient for the typical home, its rated flow rate of six GPM is lower than that of other filtering systems.

Pros & Cons

• Every two weeks, the lifetime filter automatically cleans.
• Simple to set up and program

• Reduced rate of flow
• filters out chlorine and sediment.
• Not able to soften water

Other Details

• The WHELJ1 model
• Type: Diminishes sediment and chlorine
• Flow-rate attained: 6 GPM
• Range of Operation: 40 to 100°F / 4.4 to 37.7°C
• 125 psi / 861 kPa maximum operating pressure; NSF/ANSI standard certification: yes
• No filter is available for softening. Duration: Indefinite
• Guarantee: One Year

G.E. Appliances Whole House Water Filtration System Model #GXWH04F

This G.E. water filtration system is a beautiful choice to eliminate the taste and smell of chlorine in your water. A typical home can comfortably utilize the excellent maximum flow rate of 12 GPM that you will get. To help you remember when to change the Filter, the filtration system includes a magnetic reminder light that you can install on your refrigerator.

The Filter is only certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 42 and needs replacement every three months. While this filtering system will remove silt, it will not remove strong chemicals.

Pros & Cons

• less expensive than several rivals
• Remote filter reminder light
• Easy installation

• Certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 42
• fails to get rid of chemicals
• Issues with pressure relief valves

Other Details

• The GXWH04F model
• Sort: One-step
• Flow-Rate Rated: 4 GPM
• Maximum Flow: 12 GPM
• Range of Operation: 40 to 100°F / 4.4 to 37.7°C
• 125 psi / 861 kPa maximum operating pressure; NSF/ANSI standard certification: yes
• No filter is available for softening. Sixteen thousand gallons is its capacity.
• Duration of Filter: 3 months
• Guarantee: One year

Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter Model #WH300SCKS

Get safe, clean water for your family with our 3-stage Heavy Metal and Anti-Scale Water Filtration System. Our advanced technology reduces harmful contaminants like mercury, lead, and heavy metals for odour-free, crystal-clear water while protecting your home from scale formation and corrosion.
Improved Water Quality: Upgrade your water quality with our home water filtration system. Eliminate impurities and chemicals for a refreshing, clean taste. Enjoy healthier, great-tasting water straight from your tap!

Pros & Cons

• 15 GPM of flow
• Simple filter replacement
• Simple installation

• Tight filters are necessary to stop leakage.
• decreases total dissolved solids in no way
• Reducing the hardness of hard water is not very effective.

Other Details

• eavy Metal + Antiscale
• 1 option from $549.99
• Brand EXPRESS WATER
• Special Feature Durable
• Product Dimensions 29″L x 8.5″W x 30″H
• Package Information Cartridges
• Item Weight 63 Pounds

iSpring Whole Home Water Filter System

With a one million gallon capacity, this SpringWell model offers several advantages as it ensures you never run out of pure, filtered water. Compared to most other filtration systems on the market, SpringWell’s four-step system has one additional stage. Another unique feature of SpringWell is its Bluetooth connection, which facilitates simple phone operation.

Like many other whole-house filters, the Springwell filter does not filter bacteria and requires an add-on for healthy water. Because of its complexity, installation may need the help of a handyperson or plumber.

Pros & Cons

• Long-lasting Filter
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Limited lifetime warranty

• Bad when using healthy water
• Installing could call for an expert.
• Won’t filter bacteria

Other Details

• Model: WGB32BM 
• Filtration System + Filter w/ Siliphos
• Material Polypropylene
• Item Weight 55 Pounds
• External Testing Certification ANSI, NSF

Aquasana Rhino® 600,000 Gallons Model #EQ-600

Many of the characteristics of the healthy water model are also included in the Rhino® 600,000 gallon model. However, it costs a fraction of that amount. A common concern from whole-home water filter consumers is clogging, which Rhino® helps to avoid with its up-flow twin tank.
Unlike the healthy water type, this one lacks a U.V. filter and won’t lower the total dissolved solids as other water filters.

Pros & Cons

• More affordable
• Upflow dual tank helps prevent clogging
• It can help make hair and skin softer

• No U.V. filter
• Does not reduce TDS
• Customers report some difficulty with support

Other Details

• The EQ-600 model
• Three-stage rated flow rate of seven GPM
• Maximum Flow: 14 GPM
• Range of Operation: 40 to 90°F / 4.4 to 32.2°C
• Maximum working pressure: 689 kPa / 100 psi NSF/ANSI certified: yes
• Lack of Softening Capability
• Capacity of Filter: 600,000 gallons
• Sorting Duration: 6 years
• Guarantee: six years

Pentair Pelican PSE1800-P Water Whole House Water Filtration and NaturSoft Salt-Free 

The home solution addresses sediment, chlorine and chloramine, hardness, and scale.
Reduces scale by 99.6%; only DVGW-certified water softener alternative in North America.
Handles hard water scale in plumbing and appliances, extending their life
Filtered and treats water from every tap, kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and more
Includes sediment pre-filter system with mounting hardware

Pros & Cons

• Softening power; no salt required
• inhibits the development of microorganisms
• Various sizes are offered

• Pricier
• Pre-filters typically last between six and nine months.
• Installation could call for an expert.

Other Details

• Brand Pelican Water Systems
• Special Feature Chlorine Reduction
• Product Dimensions 32″L x 19″W x 59.5″H
• Package Information Bottle
• Purification Method Sedimentation
• Model Name PSE1800-P

A Whole House Water Filter System: What Is It?

A whole-house water filtration system eliminates sediment, unpleasant tastes, and smells from your water while keeping impurities out. It usually connects to your primary water supply and removes contaminants like chlorine. Water softeners are a component of several filtration systems that lessen the effects of hard water.

How Do Water Filtration Systems for the Entire House Operate?
Whole-house water filtration systems eliminate or neutralize impurities when water enters your home. An entire home filter may be utilized in five different methods to accomplish the same task. Available whole-house water filters currently use one or more techniques to target, eliminate, or destroy certain waterborne pollutants. The kind of water filter you require will depend on what’s in your water.

1-Water Softener

The most fundamental kind of water purification for homes is water softeners. As a side effect of filtration, several whole-house water filters provide water softening. Bypassing your home’s water through a synthetic medium, water softening eliminates minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and other elements. The water is “softened,” and the accumulation of minerals and scale on plumbing fittings is decreased by removing these minerals.

2-Sediment Filter

More significant impurities are removed from your water using a sediment filter. A sediment filter is usually the first used in multiple-stage filtering and purification systems. Before the water proceeds to other filtering stages that remove smaller particles, the sediment filter collects and retains sand, dirt, clay, contaminants, and metals.

3-Carbon Filter

Water is passed through an activated charcoal medium via a carbon filter, often after its passage through a sediment filter. The carbon can eliminate impurities that give water a bad taste or smell, such as pesticides, herbicides, chlorine, and highly tiny particles.

4-UV Purification

Ultraviolet light, or UV purification, eliminates organic contaminants from water by dissolving DNA molecules. In most cases, U.V. purification comes last in a whole-house filtration system. In contrast to a mechanical filter, UV light enters the cells of bacteria, fungi, viruses, waterborne algae, and parasites. It breaks down their internal chemical composition, making them safe to eat.

5-Neutralization of Acid

Many whole-house filters run the water through a calcium carbonate media to neutralize very acidic water. Potable water systems that utilize well water perform very well when using whole-house water filters with acid neutralization.

How Much Would It Cost to Install a Whole House Water Filtration System in Your House?

To suit the demands of any household, whole-home water filtration systems are available in various designs, capacities, and pricing ranges. The primary cost determinant is the degree of filtration and purification required to get the desired water quality.

Buying and installing a somewhat basic sediment filtering system for a house might vary from $30 to $100 if done independently. Depending on usage and water quality, these systems need six to twelve months of replacement filters, usually costing less than $40.

Whole-house, multi-stage filtration systems that need expert installation may range in price from $1,000 to $4,000 or more. These systems provide more excellent flow rates, more enormous filter capacities, and fewer filter replacements, which more than offset their increased cost. For example, reverse osmosis and U.V. purification solutions are often offered as add-ons if not already built into the system.

Extensive choices of additional one- and two-stage filtration systems, ranging in price from $100 to $2,000, fall between those two extremes. These systems cater to particular filtering demands, such as removing silt or different purification levels to eliminate microorganisms or minerals found in water.

HVAC System Cost 2023?

Whole House Water Filtration Systems’ Primary Phases

Point-of-entry systems are another name for whole-home water filtration systems. Their purpose is to rid your home’s water of impurities and dangerous toxins before they can infiltrate the rest of the water system.

Depending on your chosen degree of purification and the water supply, your home will need a different whole-house water filtration system. Water may be treated and filtered using various techniques to get comparable effects. Your system will do one or more of the following stages, albeit manufacturers and systems differ in how they accomplish this.

Sediment Removal

Particles are eliminated from the water via sediment removal filters. This is the first stage of the purification process in multi-stage filtration systems. These filters mechanically remove particles from the water by bypassing the water through a fine-mesh medium and transferring the cleaner water to your faucet or the subsequent filtering step. The size of the particles that sediment filters can remove determines their rating. Cloudy water is successfully removed using filters that can absorb particles as small as five microns.

Fine Mineral Filtration

The second filtration stage passes the water through additional mechanical filters to remove minerals, chemicals, and metals and potentially eradicate or destroy organic materials like algae, fungi, and other microorganisms. These filters may include activated carbon, fine membrane filters, or carbon-zinc combinations.

Bacterial Filtration and Purification

Microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses are destroyed or eliminated at the last step of water purification. This degree of purification may be achieved by exposing the material to ultraviolet radiation (UV) or using a reverse osmosis device, which both capture and eliminate biological pollutants at the molecular level.

How to Choose the Right Whole House Water Filter System for Your Needs

Knowing what you want to filter out of your water is crucial. Sediment and chlorine should be the most minor things that filter systems remove. Subsequently, chemicals, metals, minerals, and volatile organic pollutants may all be eliminated using filter systems. Depending on the kind of filters your system has, and the manufacturer, a filter system’s removal capacity might vary significantly.

Specific systems function by only filtering out sediment from your water, while others are more involved and might include U.V. radiation exposure or other methods to completely eradicate or kill bacteria at the molecular level.

Degree of Filtration

Microns are the unit of measurement used to describe the size of pollutants in water. A micron rating indicates the degree of purity in treated water and is strongly related to the filtration capacity of a system. Ratings for filter microns show the most enormous particle sizes that can flow through the Filter. Particles bigger than five microns will not pass through a filter intended to trap such particles, while smaller particles may.

Sand, dust, and prominent metal pollutants are captured by pre-sediment filters from water, usually down to 50 microns. The elements are eliminated by finer filters that capture and remove particles as small as 20 microns, which is the level at which cloudiness starts to dissipate. Whereas one-micron and more minor filtration techniques provide spotless water, five-micron filtering removes particles visible to the unaided eye and several bacteria, cysts, and certain organic materials.

Filter Capacity

The capacity of a filter is essential since it will dictate how often you need to buy new filters. The amount of water you use and the quality of the water you filter might affect the Filter’s capacity and longevity. Filters stop working when they are fully clogged.

Generally speaking, you’ll need to replace filters more often with new ones if the filter material is finer. A five-micron filter, for example, will require replacement more often than a 20-micron filter. However, frequent filter changes may be minimized by beginning with large-micron filtration and advancing through successively smaller filters in a multi-stage filtration system.

Flow Rate

Installers of home filtration systems sometimes claim that their installation affects the flow rate of their house. The flow rate determines the amount of water that can travel through the Filter at once. A five GPM filter usually suffices for one to two individuals in a house with one or two bathrooms.

In general, the flow rate decreases with increasing filter fineness. This means that it takes longer for the filtered water to get through the system. High-purity whole-house filtration systems often have more excellent physical dimensions to boost flow rates or may be combined with temporary filtered water storage.

Operational Temperature and Pressure Range

Water filtration devices installed throughout the home can only function with sufficient water pressure. These systems usually need 20 pounds per square inch (PSI) or more. Higher pressures are required for higher filtration levels. The majority of municipal water systems have a force of around 35 PSI. Meanwhile, private well-served households may need to be sure their well pump can provide enough pressure.

Water filtration may also be impacted by water temperature. For the most part, however, homeowners don’t have many concerns. A broad range of temperatures between freezing and boiling may result in optimal filtration. Considering an external filtration system in areas without frequent cold temperatures is only advisable.

Installation

You can install the majority of water filtration systems on your own. Some of the more expensive versions, meanwhile, may need expert installation. Whenever you work with water, you should always be cautious since a mistake might cause irreversible harm to your house. Hire an expert to install the filtration system if you’re uncomfortable doing it yourself.

Maintenance

The manufacturer may find the maintenance requirements for different water filtration systems and can also provide information specific to your system. Complex, multi-stage systems may need periodic backwashing, cleaning, regeneration, and other maintenance that you may do yourself or pay a professional. Single-stage systems might need rare filter replacements regularly.

Warranties for Whole House Filter Systems

Whole home filtration system warranties differ significantly across manufacturers, products, what they cover, and how long they last. One-year guarantees are as prevalent as lifetime warranties. A standard warranty doesn’t cover installation problems or filter changes, but it does cover manufacturing flaws and component failures.

Filter Certification

The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) has established standards for performance and safety and tests and ranks water filters. The number denotes establishing the order, rule, or protocol—rather than the rating itself.

Your water filtration system will fulfil strict safety and construction criteria if it has NSF certification. A system that has received NSF approval has undergone testing to verify that it eliminates the contaminants it says it will and blocks the passage of certain pollutants.

Why You Should Purchase a Whole House Water Filter System

Water Tastes Bad

One easy solution to get rid of bad-tasting water is to install a home water filtering system. Chlorine, which often contributes to the sour taste, will be removed by filtration systems. Furthermore, to guarantee that your water is safe for consumption, whole-home water filtration systems may eliminate or release dangerous elements, including metals, sediments, chemicals, pollutants, and microbes, from your water.

Cloudy Water

A whole-house water filter may assist in removing contaminants like sediments that may be present in murky water. Particles as tiny as five microns may be suspended in the water and cause cloudy conditions. Charcoal filtration usually completely removes cloudiness in the water, even though some sediment filtering might diminish it.

Impurities

VOCs and pollutants may be eliminated using whole-home water filtration systems. Some will even eliminate iron, heavy metals, insecticides, and herbicides. Untreated water may have bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, and other impurities. These components may also be destroyed or eliminated by completing entire home systems.

High Levels of Chlorine

Systems for filtering water may drastically reduce the amount of chlorine in your water. Some can remove as much as 99%, but most can only remove around 80%, depending on how much filtration your entire home system can.

Hard Water

The presence of suspended minerals in water, such as calcium and magnesium, is the cause of hard water. In places where the water includes these and other minerals, many households suffer from the impacts of hard water, such as mineral buildup on faucets and showerheads.

Hard water may be lessened by whole-house water filtration systems with a water-softening feature. Some variants soften water without salt, while others run entirely off electricity.

How to Set Up a Water Filtration System for the Entire Home

If you have any plumbing expertise or experience, you can rapidly DIY install straightforward entire home water filters. Making sure the water supply to the house is shut off at the main valve, cutting the pipe, and installing two valves, a bypass line and valve, and the filter are all part of the procedure.

Experts often install more sophisticated water filtration systems. It’s rare, however, that the plumbing is more challenging to understand—correct filtering setup requires a deeper understanding of the system.

Several variables were evaluated to provide a star rating to each device, including:

Cost (20%)

We recognize goods equal to an exceptional value in their price range since we know that pricing is a crucial aspect when making a potentially substantial investment in your house.

Flow Rate (GPM) (20%)

The usefulness of a whole home system is impacted by its flow rate. Therefore, plans with outstanding flow rates relative to their degree of filtration were given more points in this critical area.

Type of Stage (15%)

We evaluated and ranked the filtration system’s stages of filtration in comparison to other systems that have comparable capabilities.

Filter Lifespan (Number of Months) (15%)

Filter replacements and upkeep determine a home filtration system’s overall price and convenience. The amount of filtration and the typical number of months a filter will survive with normal usage were considered while evaluating filter lifespans.

Warranty (Number of Months) (15%)

Whole home system warranties vary widely across manufacturers and product categories. In our research, more extended warranties were shown to be superior to those of competitors’ goods.

NSF/ANSI- Standard Certification (10%)

Safety certification is essential when working with items that may directly affect health. Higher grades are given to NSF/ANSI certification in our evaluation.

Capacity to Soften (5%)

Not every water filter has the capacity to soften water. Similarly, not every house needs water softening. Water softening systems received somewhat better ratings than those without this feature.

FAQs

What is the price of installing a water filtration system for the whole house?

Depending on your type of water filter system, the installation cost of a home water filtration system may vary. Installing some filtering systems for less than $30 is possible. Some systems need expert installation and cost $1,000 or more. Installing a whole home water filtration system typically costs $2,000 in total.

What is the finest whole-house filter?

The most incredible whole-home Filter is the Filter that will take care of any issue you have with your water. It’s possible that a system with U.V. filtering is not necessary. If there are various problems with your water, you should look for a filter system that can address them all.

Is a whole house water filter worth it?

Investing in a whole-home filter makes sense if you have well water or buy lots of bottled water. Investing in a filter system may also be worthwhile if you find toxins in your water.

Where should a water filter for the whole home be installed?

The location of your water main cutoff, which is usually in the basement or a utility closet, is where you should install a whole home water filter. It is possible to put specific systems outdoors.

Which water filtration system is ideal for city water?

The finest filtration system for city water is the one that gets rid of the things the city employs to fight more harmful contaminants and the stuff it ignores.

Heavy metals, biological contaminants, sediments, and certain mineral content are all removed from city water via treatment. To get rid of any contaminants and bacteria that have been introduced to or remain in the water, activated charcoal and UV light purification may be helpful.

Are whole-house water filters suitable for drinking water?

Water filters for the whole homework well to supply drinking water. When it comes to drinking water, whole-home water filters may eliminate contaminants that large-scale filtration cannot, such as those found in municipal water. Furthermore, waterborne pollutants that enter the water after they leave the city’s treatment plant may be eliminated using whole-home filters.