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Think about a time when your clothes didn’t have stains on them. A time where your dishes were always clean and your appliances kept running without a hitch. I bet you can remember those times, right?

They may seem like ages ago for some of us. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way forever. Here is one way you can guarantee the quality of water for your entire household. I have spent a lot of hours researching these products to bring you a definitive review and guide to help you choose the best whole house water filter for your household, take a look below in this article.

SpringWell Water Salt-Free Water Softener

Best Whole House Water Softener: SpringWell Water Salt-Free Water SoftenerKey Features:

  • Retains healthy minerals
  • Vigorous water pressure
  • Risk-free purchase
  • Wastes no water
  • Salt-free

Price Range: $$$$$

 

SoftPro Whole House Upflow Carbon Filter

Best Whole House Water Filter: SoftPro Carbon FilterKey Features:

  • Enjoy tasty bottle-quality water throughout your home
  • Removes up to 99% of Impurities
  • Removes chloramines
  • Maintains high-flow water capabilities 
  • Advanced Catalytic Filter Media

Price Range: $$$$

 

Aquasana EQ-1000-AST Salt-Free Whole House Water Softener

Best Whole House Water Softener: Aquasana EQ-1000-AST

You will need to add the salt-free option on the product page

Key Features:

  • Controls limescale without removing beneficial minerals
  • The low total cost of ownership
  • Salt-free descaling softening system creates no wastewater
  • Makes well water biologically safe
  • Anti-clog design preserves filter life

Price Range: $$$$$$

 

 

Top 10 Whole House Water Filter Systems Product Reviews

 

AquaOx Home Water Filtration System

Best Whole House Water Filter: AquaOx Home Water Filtration System

 

AquaOx makes the industry’s longest-lasting filters. Systems lifespan averages 20 years with zero maintenance and no filter replacements ever. If the only thing that stands between you and better water is the fear of a complicated system, look no further than AquaOx.

Made in the USA with NSF-certified components, its proprietary blend of KDF 85, garnet, carbon, and clinoptilolite ore offers maximum filtration of lead, arsenic, chromium, chlorine, and a host of toxic chemicals. With three times the surface area of its competitors and self-cleaning, Double Vortech technology, produces refreshing, crystal-clear water you can drink with confidence for nearly a lifetime.

Pros Cons
  • NSF Certified
  • High Price
  • 10-year warranty
  • Some customers may struggle with the installation
  • 12-month satisfaction guarantee and remarkable customer care
  • The lifespan of an average of 20 years

Best Whole House Water Filter

 

SoftPro Whole House Upflow Carbon Filter 

Best Whole House Water Filter: SoftPro Carbon Filter

Features: removes 99.9% of all contaminants, carbon filter, installment payments.

Price: $$$$

Best Whole House Water Filter

 

The SoftPro 5-year water filter system is a long-lasting, low-maintenance whole home carbon filter that can filter 600, 000 gallons to 1,000, 000 gallons of water over approximately five years. This whole house filtration system uses catalytic carbon, which can remove chlorine & chloramines, as well as pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. It works by using the adsorption method to trap these harmful contaminants in the filter media and prevent them from passing through with the smaller water particles.  

Also included with the SoftPro 5-year whole house filter, aside from the catalytic carbon filter, is an added KDF sponge, made from high-purity copper and zinc, which uses oxidation and reduction to remove heavy metals. Additionally, the system uses a 5-micron sediment pre-filter that can remove sediment like sand and dirt from water.  

The SoftPro whole house carbon filter comes with an up-flow valve and male threaded connections. The filters and tank are also included. It’s easy to install this system at your home’s point of use. Filter replacements are needed every 3 to six months, and all parts have a lifetime warranty. 

Pros Cons
  • The system has a very long filter life (five years)
  • Currently not much specific info on the manufacturer’s website about the filter
  • Added KSF sponge for additional filtration benefits
  • No evidence of NSF certification
  • Not best for well water

Best Whole House Water Filter

Aquasana 10-Year Whole House Water Filter System

Best Whole House Water Filter: Aquasana 10-Year Whole House Water Filter System

You will need to add the salt-free option on the product page

Features: UV sterilizer, huge capacity, long duration, cost-efficient

Price: $$$$$$

Best Whole House Water Filter

 

The Aquasana 10-Year Performance Whole House Water Filter is a whole home softener and filter combo. It is NSF certified and has been tested and proven to remove up to 97% of chlorine & chloramine from drinking water, city water, or well water source. Installed at the water’s point of entry into a home, this filter enables you to enjoy filtered water in all your appliances, from your showers and faucets to your washing machines and dishwashers. 

The system uses technology that also greatly reduces rust, silt, sediment, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, E-Coli bacteria and viruses, algae, and organic particles in water, and prevents the growth of bacteria and algae. 

Using SCM salt-free technology, the Aquasana 10-year whole home filter allows for soft water production by naturally altering the structure of hard water minerals, preventing them from being able to form limescale. Hard water problems can reduce the lifespan of your home’s appliances, so this whole home system’s ability to alter hard water minerals with a salt-free soft water process is certainly a bonus.

This 10-year whole house filtration system uses 4 filters in total – each of them playing a different role in the removal or reduction of harmful contaminants. 

  1. A sediment pre-filter,
  2. A salt-free water conditioner,
  3. An activated carbon filter, and
  4. A post-filter

The system is one of the best water filter options for getting your money’s worth and has a long-lasting 1 million gallon capacity (though the pre-filter requires changing every 2 to 3 months, and the other filters need changing every 6 months to 1 year). Pre- and post-filters always have a shorter lifespan, no matter what system they’re paired with. Only the salt-free water conditioner has a lifespan of 1 million gallons before the media will need to be replaced.

You may find the installation of the Aquasana whole house filter a little out of your depth, as you’ll need some basic plumbing skills to be able to connect it up to your main water line. Instructions for DIY installation are provided, as well as online tutorial videos, but many customers opt for a professional plumber to carry out the job.

Pros Cons
  • Tested and certified to remove 97% of chlorine
  • Filters need to change every 2 to 12 month (not low-maintenance)
  • Softens (salt-free softener) and filters water for the whole home;
  • Not easy to install by yourself
  • Removes E-Coli bacteria and viruses, prevents the growth of bacteria and algae

Best Whole House Water Filter

 

 

SpringWell Water Whole House Water Filter System

Best Whole House Water Filter: Springwell

Features: multiple filtration system, salt-free, easy maintenance.

Price: $$$$$

Best Whole House Water Filter

 

If you are in need of a certified whole home water filter that reduces high levels of harmful contaminants present in your water and has a 6-month money-back guarantee, take a look at the SpringWell system, as this top pick whole house water filter is one example of the best industry-leading options available. 

The system uses carbon certified filtration media and catalytic carbon coconut shell filtration media to improve water quality and almost completely remove chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals, PFOS and PFOA, herbicides, pesticides, and more. 

With a 4-stage water filtering design, this whole house water filtration system allows the water to have the longest contact time with the filters, helping to provide a more thorough filtration

  1. The first stage of this 4 stage water filter sees the removal of sand, silt, and other larger particles in water.
  2. In stage 2, water passes through a KDF filtration media, which removes harmful chemicals like chlorine & heavy metals.
  3. In stage 3, water passes through coconut shell carbon media that removes contaminants including chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and other chemical contaminants. 
  4. Finally, the 4th stage of the water filter is designed to eliminate channeling while still giving the water plenty of contact time with the filters. 

As with all filter-based whole home water filter systems, you will need to replace the SpringWell water filter system’s filters frequently. Replacement filters for the SpringWell system will come at an extra cost after your purchase. The pre-filter needs replacing after 6 to 9 months. 

If you’re familiar with plumbing, you’ll be able to install the SpringWell whole house water filter system yourself. Anyone who isn’t handy may prefer not to install this system themselves – which may mean hiring a plumber. There’s also a 6-month money-back guarantee, satisfaction guarantee, and a limited lifetime warranty.

Pros Cons
  • Uses certified components
  • Not all parts for installation are included
  • Relatively low-maintenance
  • Some people may struggle with the installation
  • 6-month money-back guarantee & lifetime warranty

Best Whole House Water Filter

 

 

Pelican Premium Whole House Water Filter System

Best Whole House Water Filter: Pelican Premium

Features: removes 97% Chlorine, does not waste water, easy installation.

Price: $$$$

Best Whole House Water Filter

 

The Pelican Premium Whole House Water Filtration System is a stainless steel system that comes in two long-lasting sizes – 600,000 gallons for homes with 1 to 3 bathrooms, or 1,000,000 gallons for homes with 4 to 6 bathrooms. 

The whole house filtration system has a number of certifications, including NSF/ANSI 42 and 61 for the removal of aesthetic contaminants like chlorine taste and smell, and ensuring that no lead or heavy metals are added to water. 

Removing contaminants like up to 97% of chlorine from water and improving water quality, the Pelican whole house filter allows you to shower in cleaner water, promoting softer skin and hair. You can also drink healthier water from your faucets without having to resort to bottled water. 

The unit consists of a sediment pre-filter and a carbon series chamber, which reduces chlorine and chloramine – different filters only remove either one or the other. It also greatly reduces any remaining sediment, heavy metals, taste, and smell from water. Note, however, that it doesn’t remove fluoride. The sediment pre-filter needs changing after approximately six months, and the carbon series chamber, after roughly 5 years.

A major benefit of the Pelican whole house premium filter is that you can install it either inside or outside, so if you’re short of space inside, that’s not a problem. Installation is easy to do yourself, and it includes everything you need for setup, including a bypass valve and fittings. The system also benefits from a 90 day or 3-month money-back guarantee, satisfaction guarantee, and a lifetime warranty.

Pros Cons
  • Available in 2 sizes to better match your requirements
  • Doesn’t remove fluoride
  • Easy installation either inside or outside the house
  • Filters require replacement every 6 months to 5 years
  • 3-month money-back guarantee & lifetime warranty

Best Whole House Water Filter

 

 

iSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System

Best Whole House Water Filter: iSpring WGB32B

Features: 3 stage filtration, high quality, durable.

Price: $$$

Using a 100-gallon capacity carbon coconut filter, the iSpring WGB32B is one of the top whole house water filters with great efficiency and can provide you with a year’s worth of clean water before requiring that you change the filter. This whole house water filtration system is designed to remove up to 95% of chlorine, chloramines, sediment, harmful chemicals, heavy metals, and a number of other chemicals that give watercolor or a bad taste and smell. 

Featured in the WGB32B is a layered sediment filter, which removes larger particles of sand, dust, and rust. There are also two coconut shell carbon block filters, which can filter chlorine particles and other impurities to 0.5 microns in size. 

With densely packed carbon block filtration media, the iSpring system guarantees a more effective contaminant removal, for longer. The filters are third-party tested to meet NSF standards, presumably for chlorine removal (the specifics aren’t mentioned by the manufacturer). 

iSpring has produced a whole host of helpful video manuals for help with installation and maintenance, which come in handy if you plan to handle these things alone. Installation is a little tricky, so you may prefer to hire a plumber. Maintenance is much simpler – you just have to change the filters every 6 months. The system comes with a 3-year warranty.

Pros Cons
  • Will not affect water pressure
  • Filter life is not as long
  • Third-party tested to meet NSF standards
  • Installation is difficult
  • 3-year warranty

 

 

 

Home Master HMF2SMGCC 3 Stage Filtration System

Best Whole House Water Filter: Home Master HMF2SMGCC

 

Features: 3 stage water filtration system, durable, long-lasting.

Price: $$$

 

The Home Master three-stage water filter offers three stages of filtration to remove iron, manganese, carbon, and fine sediment. It is ideal for city and well water supplies and has huge filter housings for the strongest possible water pressure. With an average flow rate of 15 gallons of water per minute (15 GPM flow rate), the Home Master system can filter water without long wait times when you turn on the faucet. 

Using radial carbon filters, the Home Master HMF2SMGCC three-stage filter has a 95,000-gallon capacity and can remove particles up to 3 ppm. Through the water treatment process of adsorption, the filters remove iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide, helping to eliminate staining and remove foul tastes and odors from water. The likes of hydrogen sulfide are often found in well water. This whole-home filter also removes dirt, sediment, rust, heavy metals, and chemicals like herbicides & pesticides. 

The Home Master filter differs from the majority of whole home filters as it doesn’t offer chlorine and chloramine removal. If your city or well water is chlorinated, the manufacturer recommends several other of their whole home water filters for improving water quality. 

You will have to change the Home Master’s 95,000-gallon filters every year, which is fairly standard for a filter-based whole home water device. Many users found that they could install the Home Master easily themselves, so you may want to check out the instructions and give it a go yourself before paying to hire a plumber.

Pros Cons
  • Low cost compared to similar systems
  • Not suitable for chlorinated city water or well water
  • Easy to install
  • Expensive replacement water filters
  • 15 gallons per minute flow rate

 

 

APEX MR-3020 3-Stage Filtration System

Best Whole House Water Filter: APEX MR-3020

Features: 3 stage water filtration system,5-micron polypropylene pre-filter, high-efficiency carbon block polishing filter.

Price: $$$

 

With a sediment filter and carbon block, iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide reducing filters, the APEX MR-3020 water filter is another top pick three-stage whole home filter for homes with one or two bathrooms. 

The MR-3030’s granular activated carbon block filter is NSF certified, so you can rest assured that it effectively removes chlorine and chloramines from the city or well water as advertised. It also removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs), insecticides, industrial solvents, and pesticides. 

The APEX MR-3030 three-stage water filter features a 1-inch inlet and outlet. Being only 1 inch, it has a minimal effect on water flow. You can expect up to a 15 GPM flow rate (gallons of water per minute) when the system has been installed. Considering the average home’s flow rate is 6 to 12 gallons per minute (6-12 GPM flow rate), this whole house system won’t affect your flow rate at all.

It has a first-stage polypropylene sediment filter that water flows through before the carbon block filter, helping to extend the filter life of the overall system. It removes sediment, rust, and particles down to 5 microns, preventing them from clogging the carbon block filter. 

Finally, a KDF water treatment media filter removes dissolved heavy metals in this whole house system, as well as water-soluble nickel, lead, mercury, and other metals. Each filter in this three-stage system has a filter life of around 20, 000 gallon, or approximately 6 months before it needs replacing. Handily, it can be installed both inside and outside your home.

Installation may prove too tricky to handle yourself. The system comes with a 1-year warranty. Some systems have a much longer year warranty than this, so keep this in mind if the warranty is important to you.

Pros & Cons 

Pros Cons
  • NSF certified for chlorine removal
  • Filter life isn’t very long
  • Can be installed inside and outside the house
  • Short 1-year warranty
  • 15 gallons per minute flow rate

 

 

Express Water 3 Stage Home Water Filtration System

Best Whole House Water Filter: Express Water

Features: 3 stage filtering system, easy installation, durable.

Price: $$$

 

The Express Water device is a filter with 3 stages for high capacity whole home water treatment. Designed to be installed at the water’s point of entry into a home, it is made with 100% food-grade materials and is built to last. The filter has also been third-party tested to meet NSF/ANSI standards, which means you can trust that it will perform as advertised. 

All three filter housings in the Express Water device are fitted to a freestanding mount, making it easier to install the system and perform maintenance like changing filters. The filter housing for the first sediment filter is clear, so you can see when the filter needs to be changed. 

Inside the Express Water unit, you can find a sediment filter, a KDF filter, and a carbon block filter. These remove common water contaminants including chlorine, sand, dust, iron, lead, arsenic, sulfur, mercury, pesticides, and more from water. 

Filter changes in the Express Water whole house water filtration system are really simple. You just twist off the housings and drop the new filter in place. With pressure gauges included, you’ll know for sure when water pressure has dropped to indicate a filter change is required.

Pros Cons
  • Third-party NSF/ANSI tested
  • Doesn’t come with all parts needed for point of use installation
  • Simple maintenance
  • Some reviews concerning a drop in pressure with the KDF filter

 

 

Aquasana OPTIMH20

Best Whole House Water Filter: Aquasana

Features: 3 stage filtering system, easiest filter replacement.

Price: $$

Aquasana’s OPTIMH20 cleans your water from dozens of dangerous contaminants, heavy metals, and 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.

Systems include a 1-micron sediment filter that removes dirt and rust particles, improving system efficiency. Plus, it’s expandable — add a salt-free water conditioner and UV light for total protection.

Like the SpringWell, primary filters last 100,000 or 12 months for limited maintenance. Purchasers receive a 5-year warranty.

Pros Cons
  • Removes more than 99% lead, cysts, and PFOA
  • Professional installation required for warranty
  • NSF/ANSI Certified and P473 certified
  • Expensive primary replacement filters
  • LED filter change indicator
  • Won’t reduce water pressure

What To Consider Before Buying

 

Consumption & Filter Capacity

A filter’s capacity is the number of gallons of filtered water it can produce during its lifespan. The higher the filter capacity, the more efficient a filtration system is, and the quicker you’ll be able to benefit from filtered drinking water from a private well or a city source.

Standard whole home water filters, like carbon-based filters, don’t produce any water waste and have better filter capacities. This method of water filtration doesn’t flush away water during the process. A filter’s capacity depends on its quality and the materials that make up the filter.

Filter Longevity/ Lifespan

The quality of the product and the manufacturer are often what determine how long a filter will last. Filter types may survive longer than others in some situations. Pre-sediment filters often have the shortest lifespans because big particles can clog them up rapidly. Pre-sediment filters typically need to be changed every three to six months.

Depending on how often they are used, carbon filters and remineralization filters (which add beneficial minerals to water) last anywhere from six months to a year on average.

Up to two years can pass before a RO membrane needs to be replaced.

 

Micron Rating

A micron is a unit of measurement, with 1 micron being equal to a millionth of a meter in length. Microns are tiny – we can’t actually see anything smaller than 40 microns.

A filter’s micron rating is its ability to remove contaminants based on their micron size. So, for example, a 5-micron sediment filter will be able to remove particles as small as 5 microns, or 1-micron filter filters up to 1 micron in size.

Nominal micron rating gives a measurement of a filter’s ability to remove specific particle sizes at an efficiency of 50% to 90%. So, if a filter has a nominal micron rating of 5, it can remove particles as small as 5 microns at a 50% to 90% efficiency.

Absolute micron rating provides information on a filter’s ability to remove specific particle sizes at an efficiency of at least 98.7%. This means that if a filter has an absolute micron rating of 5, it’s much more efficient in removing a particle as small as 5 microns – it will remove a minimum of 98.7% of the particles from water.

 

Water Flow & Pressure

Your household’s water flow and water pressure is a factor that will affect the efficiency of even the best whole house water filter.

You might think that higher water pressure or flow is always the best way to filter water, but that isn’t true. Carbon whole home water filter systems benefit from a slower water flow, as it allows the filters to more thoroughly remove particles from water.

You can test your home’s water pressure with a pressure gauge that measures PSI.

 

Water Quality Association (WQA)

The Water Quality Association is an independent body that helps customers identify when a water quality improvement product is at a certified level of high standards and expertise. Manufacturers can obtain WQA certification to prove to customers that their product is approved by a third party.

What Is a Whole House Water Filter System? 

A whole-house system is a water treatment system that’s designed to serve an entire household. This type of system typically treats water at the point where it enters the house, meaning you’ll get filtered water at every faucet and showerhead in your home.  

 Depending on your home’s water needs, a whole house system may be an economical choice over a point-of-use system. It requires some installation time, but more than likely you’ll see an improvement in water quality within just days of turning the unit on. 

 

Why is a Whole House Water Filter System Necessary? 

The first reason for a water filter system installed in your home is quality. Water comes from the municipal supply (via a water main in the street or from a well). If it’s chlorinated there will be an obvious chemical smell and taste. Some people can smell chlorine so badly that they avoid drinking it. If your water has high concentrations of lead, you may find discoloration that can vary from yellow to brown. Iron tends to cause a rusty color. 

The most cited reason for this is the presence of chlorine in the water. While chlorine does help kill disease-causing bacteria and other microorganisms that are present in the water, it also has the capability to damage our tissues over time. It also tends to stink, plus leaves behind yellow stains on your clothing and fixtures.  

A whole house water filter will remove chlorine from water through a granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration process. It will also remove chlorine odor and other odor-causing elements that may be present in the water originating from the well and surrounding environment. 

Another reason you should avoid chlorinated water is that it has bad effects on your skin and hair. Your skin can be excessively dried when you wash it with chlorinated water, and your hair can take a dull aspect. Using a whole house water filter will reduce the amount of chlorine you’re exposed to, so it will have a positive effect on your skin’s and hair’s health. 

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Unlike other water filtration systems, a whole house system does not produce wastewater. This means that all the water entering the filter will come out of it in the same quantity. 

When you’re buying bottled water, you’re actually growing your carbon footprint. First of all, bottled water comes in plastic bottles. Not all the plastic we use is recycled, so lowering the amount of plastic you buy is beneficial for the environment. 

 

Choosing a Good Water Filter for your home 

 

Determine the Target of Filtration 

Before buying a whole-house filter, you should know which water contaminants you want to get rid of. The potential contaminants depend on the water’s source and the pipes it travels through. 

 

Tap Water 

Common contaminants in tap water include, but are not limited to: 

  • Disinfectants: chlorine, chloramine, fluoride 
  • Disinfection byproducts: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, etc. 
  • Heavy metals: arsenic, lead, chromium 
  • Radioactive elements: uranium, radium, strontium-90 
  • Carcinogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): benzene, 1,2,3-trichloropropane, 1,4-dioxane 
  • Hormones: estrogen 

 

Well Water 

In well water, the variety of potential contaminants is wider. The types and levels of contamination also vary from home to home. These can include: 

  • Sediment 
  • Microorganisms: Bacteria, viruses, and other parasites 
  • Iron 
  • Nitrates and nitrites 
  • Heavy metals: arsenic, antimony, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, selenium 
  • Organic chemicals 
  • Radionuclides: uranium and radium 
  • Fluoride 
  • Others 

  

Look for Certified Water Systems 

An indication of high quality in a water treatment system is an NSF/ANSI-standard certification. NSF/ANSI certifications guarantee the filter’s material safety and structural integrity, as well as its performance in reducing contaminants. The key ones to look for are: 

  • NSF/ANSI Standard 42: aesthetic, non-health-related contaminants, such as chlorine  
  • NSF/ANSI Standard 44: hard mineral reduction, barium reduction, and radium 226/228 reduction, among others 
  • NSF/ANSI Standard 53 (mostly for water softeners): health-related contaminants such as lead, cysts, and VOCs  
  • NSF/ANSI Standard 55 (for UV systems): pathogenic bacteria, viruses, Cryptosporidium, Giardia (Class A), or non-health-related microorganisms (Class B) 
  • NSF/ANSI Standard 58 (for reverse osmosis systems): total dissolved solids (TDS) and additional contaminants such as cysts, barium, copper, arsenic, and lead 

 You should keep in mind that these standards testify to different claims. “NSF-certified” can be an ambiguous term. If you’re concerned about a specific contaminant, make sure to get a filter certified to remove that exact one. 

 

Whole House Water Filter Systems Installation & Maintenance 

 

How to Install Whole House Water Filter? 

 Different types of water filters may require slightly different installations, and not all offer easy installation. 

To give you an idea of what a general installation of a whole house water filter looks like, I’ve supplied some example step-by-step instructions below. 

  1. Choose your location – It’s the best bet to choose a filter location before you even purchase a whole house water filter so that you can carry out measurements in advance and be sure that a filter will comfortably fit in the available space. The best way to install the filter is as close to a tap water pipe’s POE, where water enters your home after the water shut-off valve. Be sure there’s enough room for installation, regular system maintenance, and filter changes. 
  2. Prepare the pipe – Use the shut-off valve to switch off the water coming into your home. The best filtration system options will have a template for reference when it comes to cutting the pipe. Mark the precise locations, then refer to your instructions to cut the pipe to fit your filter. 
  3. Cut the pipe – Use a tube cutter to cut your pipes in the two locations. Use a bucket to collect any water that escapes. Use a deburring tool to get rid of burrs on the cut pipes. 
  4. Install a shut-off valve – To divert the water away from your filter during maintenance or when you’re replacing a filter. 
  5. Prepare brass fittings – Prepare the brass fittings for your whole home water filter. Your brass fittings should normally include a ferrule, compression nut, ferrule, and fittings for connecting your filter’s ingoing and outgoing sides. Check that you have all fittings needed for installation. 
  6. Connect fittings – Connect your fittings to your water pipe following the manufacturer’s instructions. Use plumber’s tape, making sure not to over-tighten fittings. You may need an adapter to connect the two. 
  7. Check to see if you need a grounding jumper cable – If you live in an older home, your electrical system might use metal water pipes as a ground. Check to see if your electrical panel has a wire attaching it to your water supply pipe. If it does, your whole home water filter might have broken this ground path. To solve this, you’ll need to install grounding clamps to the pipe on either side of the filter, then secure a copper cable from one clamp to the other, across the filter distance. 
  8. Turn on your water supply and divert the shut-off valve towards the filter – Once everything is in place, it’s time to test your whole home water filter. Turn your water supply back on and be sure the shut-off valve is diverted towards the filter. Check for leaks in your fittings. If you see any, use more plumber tape to secure the fittings. 

 

How Do You Change a Whole House Water Filter? 

 It is important to maintain home water treatment systems regularly and changing water filters is a crucial part of it. Changing the filters can vary between models, but most follow the same principle. 

  • When you have to change the filter, turn off the water filter’s inlet valve. 
  • Use the provided wrench to screw the filter off, and keep a bucket close at hand to collect any dripping water. 
  • Clean the inside of the filter using a clean dry cloth. 
  • Insert the new filter and tighten it up using the filter wrench. 
  • Turn the inlet valve back on. 
  • Allow the water to run for at least 10 minutes for the filter to activate before you taste the water. 

 

 

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. 

 

Why should I choose a whole house water filter over a kitchen sink filter?

Your choice is entirely based on personal preference. A whole house water filter will give you all the benefits of a kitchen sink filter, as well as a couple of extras.

Because whole house water filters filter out chemicals at the water’s POE, where water enters your home, you won’t be exposed to dangerous chlorine vapors while you’re showering. Whole house water filters sediment from water before it can travel through your home’s pipes and potentially cause damage. Some whole home water filter systems can remove iron, preventing rust from forming in your home’s appliances.

These benefits are all great, but if you’re just looking for clean drinking water from your well or municipal source, opting for one of the best whole house water filters isn’t essential.

 

How much should I expect to pay?

Whole house water systems can cost anything from $500 to $3,000. You should only pay more for a filter if the product is well worth its value.

 

My pick for the Best Whole House Water Filter is:

 

AquaOx Home Water Filtration System

The winner of this roundup is AquaOx simply because it is the industry’s longest-lasting filter. Systems lifespan averages 20 years with zero maintenance and no filter replacements ever.

If the only thing that stands between you and better water is the fear of a complicated system, look no further than AquaOx.

 

Conclusion

Finding the right whole house water filtration 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.

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