10 Best Whole House Water Filters Spring 2024 Reviews & Buying Guide

Table Of Content

• Best Water Filters, Tested by Experts
• Aquasana Rhino® Well Water with UV Model #EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST
• iSpring WSP50ARB Spin Down Sediment Water Filter
• What's the difference between whole house water filtration systems and reverse osmosis systems?
• Filter capacity
• Filter Lifespan (Number of Months) (15%)
• SoftPro Water Systems Whole House Upflow Catalytic Carbon Filter

Just like washing machines and dishwashers, whole house filtration systems come in tens of different varieties, at a range of price points – and not all of them are worth your money. A whole house filter gets installed as close as possible to water's entry into your home, upstream of your hot water heater. Depending on your available install space, this could be in a closet, garage, basement, or outside (with weather protection if needed). The right filter for you in terms of contaminant removal completely depends on what your water contains. It's not usually necessary to look for a filter that can remove as many contaminants as possible - just find one that can remove the contaminants you know your water contains, and the ones you're concerned about. We’ve found that the RKIN CBS 5 Micron Sediment Whole House Filter is the best whole house sediment filter for well water.

Best Water Filters, Tested by Experts

This chemical reaction results in electrons transferring between molecules, producing new elements. Spin-down sediment filters look like large pipettes, with a translucent design that lets you see the inside of the system. Spin-down filters trap sediment, which can be manually flushed away with the included flush valve, allowing the filter to be reused again and again before a replacement filter is needed. So, filter lifespan was something else we specifically looked for when choosing the filters for this list. We shared both cartridge-based systems and tank-based systems in this guide, knowing that their different lifespan and ongoing spends would appeal to different users. When buying a whole house water filtration system, there were four key steps that we took.

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

Kind Water Systems, formerly Evo Water Systems, is leading the pack in the cartridge-based filtration system category. As the name suggests, the system uses filter cartridges, which need to be replaced occasionally. So, while the unit is around 30% cheaper than the SpringWell CF and should appeal to folks who prefer to spend less money upfront, it does require more maintenance (in the form of filter changes). The SpringWell CF is special because unlike other tank-based options, it doesn’t just use a single carbon filter media. Anyone looking for one of the best value-for-money whole house water filter systems, manufactured by a trusted brand and backed by impressive lifetime warranty coverage. Even though all models work in the same way, the presence or absence of additional filters will influence the types of contaminants a certain filter will remove from the water.

iSpring WSP50ARB Spin Down Sediment Water Filter

No other water filter company out there even comes close to this kind of commitment to its customers. Pro+Aqua and RKIN only offer 10-year warranties, and Aquasana only offers one year. This suggests they either don’t think their products can last that long or they don’t want to deal with helping you should an issue arise. SpringWell took the opposite route and will stand by you throughout the time you own its products. And if, for some reason, something does go wrong, they will take the steps necessary to fix the problem and get your unit back up and running properly. The fifth pro of the SpringWell WS1 is that it easily combines with a water softener to allow you to treat hard water and remove sulfur, iron, and manganese.

What's the difference between whole house water filtration systems and reverse osmosis systems?

Home filtration systems tend to impact the flow rate in a home, or at least it’s a frequent complaint of homeowners who install them. The flow rate determines how much water can pass through the filter at one time. A five GPM filter is typically adequate for one to two people in a one or two-bathroom home. Whole house water filtration systems come in various styles, capacities and price points to meet the needs of any family. The amount of filtration and purification your water needs to reach your desired water quality is the most significant factor affecting price. Many whole house filters also pass water through a calcium carbonate medium to neutralize highly acidic water.

Whether you’re worried about the quality of your water source or you’re using one as a precaution, installing a whole house water filter helps make consuming water worry-free. To determine the number and type of filtration stages that you need, use a home water test kit or pay for professional water testing. Municipal water utilities often post water quality statistics online, and some provide a water report by request. Testing your own water can still be useful though, since old pipes and other sources may add contaminants that aren’t present in the municipal tests.

The Aquasure Whole House Filtration System has a reverse osmosis filter that is installed under the sink, for extra filtering of tap water. Keep in mind that this advanced granular activated carbon filter does not filter sediment or bacteria. You install this whole house filter by locating a horizontal pipe near your shut off valve, cut into it with a pipe cutter, and attach the filter using tools provided. With a moderate price point and effective carbon filtration, the 3M Aqua-Pure Whole House Water Filter is our pick for the best whole house water filter overall. There’s no need to drain the system for back flushing, and it will even continue working if you slack off on maintenance, just with a reduced flow rate if your well water contains a lot of sediment. This system does require professional installation though, because installing it without a licensed plumber voids the warranty.

SpringWell CF

It features a high flow rate that’s suitable for large homes and families, filters up to 100,000 gallons before the tank needs to be replaced, and provides three stage filtration that includes scale reduction. We like the Aquasure Signature Pro Series 64K, because it's a complete whole-house water filtration and softening system that does it all. It includes a triple purpose sediment, carbon, and zinc water filter, a high capacity water softener with digital controls, and a dedicated under-sink filter system for clean drinking water.

The water flow rate of a whole-house water filtration system determines the maximum amount of water that can pass through the filter in a given period. A whole-house water filter needs to have a water flow rate high enough to adequately supply large appliances, like showers and dishwashers, which average a flow rate of about 5 GPM. Connect this whole-house filter system to 1-inch piping with its 1-inch inlet and outlet connections. The large diameter of the water inlet and outlet helps prevent the reduction of water pressure in the home, though the specific water filter cartridge can impact the flow rate.

Residents and businesses rushing to buy filtration systems - WWLTV.com

Residents and businesses rushing to buy filtration systems.

Posted: Tue, 03 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

It filters out chlorine and four heavy metals including cadmium, copper, mercury and zinc with its cleverly disguised cone filter at the top of the carafe. Our pros found this was easy to set up, fill and pour, however it needs to be washed by hand. Weighing in at a mere 6 pounds when filled, this small but mighty glass water filter pitcher was lightweight and easy to hold and pour during our tests. Just note that you'll need to refill it more often since it only holds 2.5 cups of tap water.

Some calcite filters need to be replaced frequently, while others can be backwashed to extend their lifespan. In their new insoluble form, the oxidized contaminants can be easily removed from the water. When water flows through the birm or manganese greensand media bed, the oxidized contaminants become trapped in the media. The system backwashes periodically to remove the contaminants, preventing the media from becoming saturated. Tank-based filtration systems use a large tank, filled with a filtration media.

It uses dual filtration to remove up to 8 ppm of iron, 7 ppm of sulfur, and 2 ppm of manganese. It’s true that it doesn’t tackle other stuff, such as hard water, microbes, or fluoride, and doesn’t work on well water. This is likely not an issue for the vast majority of you, but it’s also backed by a lifetime warranty that no other product on the market offers. When shopping for a water filtration system, look for certifications from NSF International, an independent organization devoted to developing public health standards for water filtration. It rates water filters and gives them an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) certification if they meet certain minimum requirements. Because they’re a financial investment, it’s important that you not only determine if installing one is truly necessary, but also that you find the best whole house water filter for your home, budget, and environment.