Whole House Water Filter and Softener System Reviews

The Best Whole-house Water Filters for a Make clean Water Supply

Our expert weighed in on the best systems for your home

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Updated on 09/13/21

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The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

A clean, healthy water supply is the lifeline of every habitation. You utilise information technology for bathing, drinking, cooking, washing dishes, doing laundry, and hydrating your lawn. All the same, depending on the source, your supply could contain various impurities—including heavy metals, sediment, leaner, viruses, and high amounts of chemicals like chlorine and hydrogen sulfide. Whether your water tastes bad, smells weird, has a strange color, contains visible particles, looks suspiciously cloudy, or is staining your clothes or dishes, a whole-business firm water filter can have intendance of the trouble.

These systems use various filtration methods, such as fine physical barriers, KDF (which stands for kinetic degradation fluxion), carbon, and UV light. After installing one, your home's water supply is treated in one place to remove the contaminants in question, before information technology makes it style through each pipe and into every faucet. When purchasing a whole-business firm water filter for your home, though, it's important to consider several factors, in addition to how the water is filtered. Menses rate, which is an indication of how chop-chop the water will pass through the organisation and to your desired location, is an important factor. You'll also want to look into maintenance requirements, like how frequently the system needs its filter replaced and whether you have to dismantle the entire unit of measurement when doing so.

In add-on to checking the filtration media, flow rate, and maintenance requirements, y'all'll desire to make sure the system is designed to filter the specific impurities lurking in your tap water. If y'all're not sure what's contaminating your supply, Richard Epstein, licensed master plumber and member of The Bandbox Dwelling house Improvement Review Board says, "It is always best to have the water tested to determine the needs and filter requirements." You lot can have your water tested by providing a sample to a state-certified laboratory. It'due south best to contact your local health department or the laboratory to ensure you're capturing the samples properly, and don't need assistance. Later results come back, you can look into the finest filtration systems for every business organisation, domicile size, and budget.

Here, the best whole-firm water filters for every household.

What We Like

• Deodorizes water supply

• Uncomplicated maintenance requirements

• One-year warranty

What We Don't Like

• Doesn't filter leaner or viruses

• Can be very leaky

The best filter for your domicile ultimately depends on what'southward contaminating your supply. Having said that, the Express Water WH300SCKS iii Stage Filtration Organisation addresses a long list of contaminants—including atomic number 82 and organic thing—making it an constructive option for a multifariousness of households. Your h2o will pass through a sediment filter kickoff, which takes care of pocket-size particles and organic thing. Next, the KDF filter removes trace heavy metals, including lead, iron, mercury, and copper. Lastly, your supply is deodorized with the activated carbon filter to improve its taste and smell.

The carbon also reduces chlorine levels and takes care of turbidity, which is the clarity of your water. The only thing this whole-home filtration system doesn't remove is bacteria and viruses. It tin also exist quite leaky, since some parts that connect to your plumbing are fabricated of plastic and non as durable. However, this arrangement otherwise has a sturdy, stainless steel structure that'll last for years to come. Replace the filter for each of the three stages every six months or then, just know it'southward easy to do without dismantling the system.

Number of Stages: 3 | Menstruation Charge per unit: fifteen GPM | Dimensions: 29 x 24 x 8.5 inches | Filtration Method: Activated carbon, sediment, and KDF

What We Like

• Budget-friendly

• Improves sense of taste and odour

• Easy to install

What We Don't Similar

• Filters must be replaced frequently

• Doesn't remove heavy metals or bacteria

Yous don't have to spend thousands (or fifty-fifty hundreds) of dollars to remove impurities from your home's water supply. GE's single-stage Loftier Flow Filtration Organisation (model GXWH40L) is non only budget-friendly but also constructive at eliminating sediment, chlorine, and rust.

Information technology uses a GAC (granular activated carbon) and a sediment filter to get rid of particles while improving the color taste, and smell of your tap water. We also similar that it's like shooting fish in a barrel to install. While this whole-business firm filtration system is much more than affordable than others in its category, ane thing to note is that yous'll need to buy replacement filters every three months or so.

Number of Stages: one | Flow Rate: 10 GPM | Dimensions: 15.25 x 9.75 x 8 inches | Filtration Method: GAC, sediment

What We Like

• Improves taste and smell

• Removes 99.9 percent of bacteria

• Includes h2o softener

What We Don't Like

• Expensive

• Doesn't remove heavy metals

If you're working with a higher budget, you might consider this whole-firm filter from Pentair (model PSE1800-P). The single-stage system boasts four filtration methods, including a concrete sediment filter, GAC, coconut-beat carbon, sand, and ultraviolet light.

Not simply does it get rid of particulate matter and better the sense of taste and smell of your water, but it also eliminates 99.9 percent of leaner. What'due south more, the included water softener prevents scale build-upwards and gets rid of the distinct hard h2o odor without removing minerals that actually benefit your health, like calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

Number of Stages: 1 | Flow Charge per unit: 7 GPM | Dimensions: 48 x 12 x 12 inches | Filtration Method: UV, sediment, GAC, coconut-shell carbon, sand

What We Like

• Reasonably priced

• Filters most mutual contaminants

• Improves sense of taste and smell

What We Don't Like

• Doesn't filter pb

The best option for well water is the iSpring 3-Stage Filtration Organisation (model WGB32BM). It uses robust carbon and sediment filters to eliminate organic particles often plant in underground wells, similar clay, sand, and rust.

This whole-house water filter as well tackles chlorine and VOCs (volatile organic compounds), along with hydrogen sulfide, to remove the icky sulfur olfactory property. While it's not designed to become rid of atomic number 82, the iSpring targets other heavy metals like iron and manganese.

Number of Stages: 3 | Flow Rate: 15 GPM | Dimensions: 24.25 ten 7.75 10 27.75 inches | Filtration Method: Kokosnoot-crush carbon, sediment

What Nosotros Like

• Kills 99.nine percentage of germs

• Long-lasting filter

• 10-year warranty

What Nosotros Don't Like

• Doesn't remove heavy metals

• Doesn't remove sediment

If your home uses municipal water, nosotros recommend the Pelican Treatment and Disinfection System (model PUV-14). It uses powerful ultraviolet light to eliminate 99.nine percent of harmful microorganisms. This includes viruses, fungi, waterborne pathogens, and bacteria, such as E. coli, cryptosporidium, and giardia.

Not only that, simply the UV filter lasts an unabridged twelvemonth, and the system itself uses about the same corporeality of energy every bit a low-watt light bulb. One thing to note is that the Pelican Disinfection System doesn't become rid of heavy metals or sediments.

Number of Stages: 1 | Flow Charge per unit: 14 GPM | Dimensions: 23.5 x iii.5 x 3.5 inches | Filtration Method: UV

What Nosotros Similar

• Reasonably priced

• Filters lead and iron

• Improves taste and smell

What We Don't Like

• Doesn't remove leaner

You lot can't gustatory modality, smell, or see lead in drinking h2o. Just if this heavy metal has been detected in your supply, the APEC three-Stage Whole Firm Water Filtration Organization (model CB3-SED-KDF-CAB20-BB) is a solid solution.

After removing sediment, rust, and VOCs with an ultra-fine pleated bulwark, information technology captures lead, fe, and other heavy metals with a KDF filter. Finally, your h2o will pass through a carbon filter, which takes on hydrogen sulfide and chlorine to help get out you with crisp, make clean water. It can filter up to 100,000 gallons of h2o before needing to modify the cartridges.

Number of Stages: 3 | Menstruum Rate: 15 GPM | Dimensions: 20 x iv.five ten 4.v inches | Filtration Method: Sediment, KDF, carbon

What We Similar

• Reasonably priced

• Improves sense of taste and odour

• Vi-year warranty

What We Don't Like

• Doesn't filter sediment

• Doesn't filter leaner

For households dealing with the unpleasant smell and taste of chlorine, nosotros suggest the A.O. Smith Unmarried-Stage Water Filtration System (model AO-WH-FILTER). Thanks to its advanced granular activated carbon filter, it claims to remove 97 percent of the odour for a total half dozen years.

This water filter too reduces mercury levels and eliminates turbidity, leaving you with crystal-clear H2O. While it won't get rid of particles or pathogens, it's compatible with various add-ons, including A.O. Smith's sediment filter, a UV sterilizer, and a whole-house descaler.

Number of Stages: 1 | Flow Rate: seven GPM | Dimensions: 26 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches | Filtration Method: GAC

What We Similar

• Includes water softener

• Improves gustatory modality, scent, and colour

• Five-year warranty

What Nosotros Don't Like

• Expensive

• Doesn't remove heavy metals

Difficult water at habitation? Your best bet is this h2o filter-softener philharmonic from Pelican (model PRC-5). The triple-phase filtration system commencement captures sediment and particulates, then eliminates chlorine and chloramines with activated carbon.

While it doesn't specifically kill leaner, the bacteriostatic media stops microorganisms from growing. More to the point, the included NaturSoft feature softens your water supply while treating scale build-upwards in your plumbing, faucets, and appliances without calculation any harsh chemicals.

Number of Stages: 5 | Flow Rate: 15 GPM | Dimensions: 59.5 x 19 ten 19 inches | Filtration Method: Sediment, GAC, bacteriostatic

Final Verdict

The best whole-house water filter is the Express Water 3 Stage Water Filtration Organization (view at Amazon). This comprehensive solution calls on activated carbon, KDF, and a sediment filter to eliminate chlorine, particulate matter, cloudiness, and multiple heavy metals, including lead. However, if you're looking for something more wallet-friendly, you can't get incorrect with the GE High Menstruum Filtration Organisation (view at Amazon), which finer removes chlorine, sediment, and rust from your water supply.

Contaminants Filtered

As Epstein notes, it'south all-time to accept your h2o tested earlier purchasing a whole-house water filter, equally filtration systems vary in terms of what contaminants they eliminate. Some of the most common impurities include chlorine and hydrogen sulfide, which can affect the gustatory modality and smell.

Then in that location are substances that can pose a health adventure, such as leaner, fungi, viruses, and other waterborne pathogens, along with heavy metals like lead, iron, mercury, and copper. Lastly, most (but non all) h2o filtration systems capture particulate matter, like sediment, sand, dirt, and rust.

Flow Rate

Catamenia rates for water filtration systems are measured by gallons per minute (GPM). Generally speaking, slower flow rates are better, as they permit more than contact time with the screening media, thus removing more than impurities.

The right flow rate for filtering your h2o supply can besides be determined by the size of your household. For instance, if there are two people living in a home with one bathroom, a flow rate of upwardly to 7 GMP is ideal. However, households with five or more people and iii or more bathrooms will likely require a faster flow rate, effectually 15 GPM.

Required Maintenance

After initial installation, near whole-house h2o filtration systems are relatively easy to maintain. The most important matter is that yous alter the filters regularly. Be sure to cheque the transmission, every bit some demand to be replaced every bit often as every 3 months, whereas others can concluding an entire year.

Since every model is unique, you lot may desire to expect for an option that doesn't require dismantling every time you supervene upon the filters. And just similar your other HVAC systems, you're wise to accept your water filter serviced by a professional at least in one case a twelvemonth.

FAQ

• Are whole-business firm h2o filters worth information technology?

  While many models are in the $500 range, Epstein notes, "A good whole-house h2o filter tin price you $2,000 or higher, depending on the caste of filtering." For many homes, water filters are well worth the investment.

  To decide whether it'southward a worthwhile purchase, Epstein says to consider your immediate needs. "Are you drinking or consuming high levels of tap water? Is the water discolored? Does the water smell? Are at that place high particle levels?" Answering these questions tin can give yous an thought of how urgent a filtration system is and whether it tin encounter your needs.

• Practice whole-house water filters remove lead?

  Some whole-firm water filters remove lead and other heavy metals like mercury, iron, copper, manganese, chromium, and arsenic. All the same, not all systems are designed to eliminate lead, even if they can filter other heavy metals, then exist sure to check the production description before purchasing 1.

  If there is atomic number 82 in your h2o supply, Epstein recommends getting a reverse osmosis system that meets NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certification standards. Whole-home water filters with kinetic deposition fluxion (KDF) media can also be effective in removing pb.

• Where are whole-firm water filters installed?

  "They are normally installed where the water service enters the dwelling in guild to filter all the domestic water," explains Epstein. Your main water close-off valve is probable somewhere on the perimeter of your house, such as in your garage, basement, utility room, or potentially the basement. Additionally, Epstein says power is typically required, and "drainage may be required for automatic washdown of the filter."

• How long do whole-house water filters last?

  While it depends on the capacity and the size of your home, the tanks of most whole-firm h2o filtration systems last anywhere from 3 to 10 years. Some high-cease can terminal as long equally xx years.

  The filters, however, don't last very long and need to be replaced regularly. Sediment and carbon filters commonly need to be switched out every three to six months, and UV water filters typically concluding about a twelvemonth. KDF media tin can last for much longer, often upwards of six years.

Theresa Kingdom of the netherlands is a copyeditor and commerce writer specializing in home improvement and lifestyle. For this article, she interviewed The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board member Richard Epstein, a licensed master plumber and water filtration expert for insight into contaminants, safety concerns, and types of filters. Before landing on her final selections, she researched the potential health risks of impure water and treatment certification standards, considering dozens of models from various manufacturers and retailers. Theresa has been contributing to The Spruce since 2019, where she writes full product reviews and covers HVAC, cleaning essentials, appliances, and kitchenware.

The Bandbox uses merely loftier-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to back up the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more nigh how we fact-check and proceed our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Source: https://www.thespruce.com/best-home-water-filters-4159152

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