Richard Arconti
We researched and tested the best whole house water filter systems. My top pick for 2023 is the SpringWell Whole House Water Filter System based on filtration performance, warranty, NSF certifications, and price.
Quick Comparison Of Our Favorites
Guaranteed no drop in water pressure
Lifetime warranty with 6 month money back guarantee
Efficiently conserves water in backwash cycles
Innovative Bluetooth control and smart app
High 15 GPD flow rate so no drop in pressure
Lifetime warranty with 120 day guarantee
Depending on where you live, there can be a variety of harmful contaminants lurking in your water including lead, chloramine, manganeses, bacteria, and more![1] To rid your entire home’s water supply of impurities, a whole house water filter system will get the job done.
If you’re in the market for a whole house filter, it is important to consider these key factors: water flow rate to ensure the system will supply sufficient water without losing water pressure, filtration performance targeted to your specific water contaminants[2], and long-term maintenance cost and warranty.
But with all the home filtration options out there, it can be easy to get lost in an ocean of information. That’s where we come in! After thousands of home water treatment solutions reviews and the help of our water treatment expert panel, I meticulously selected the best filtration options so you don’t have to spend time guessing.
We put together this comprehensive guide on the 7 best whole house water filters to cover all the bases. We’ve considered factors like price, performance, and customer satisfaction to come up with a list of water filters that are best for certain uses so you can find the ideal fit.
Best Whole House Water Filter
- Best For City Water: SpringWell CF Whole House Water Filter System Learn More
- Best For Well Water: SpringWell WS Whole House Well Water Filter System Learn More
- Best Cartridge-Based For City Water: Kind E-1000 Whole House Water Filter System Learn More
- Best Cartridge-Based For Well Water: Home Master Whole House 3 Stage Water Filtration System Learn More
- Best Value: Crystal Quest SMART Whole House Water Filter System Learn More
- Best Budget: Aquasana EQ-1000 Rhino Whole House Water Filter System Learn More
- Runner Up For City Water: Pentair Pelican Whole House Water Filter System Learn More
Comparison Table For Whole House Filters
| Rating | Flow Rate | # Of Bathrooms | Warranty | Capacity | Price | |
| SpringWell CF | 5/5 | 9-20 GPM | 1-7+ | Lifetime | 1,000,000 Gallons | $$ |
| SpringWell WS | 5/5 | 12-20 GPM | 1-4+ | Lifetime | 18 – 25 Years | $$$ |
| Kind E-1000 | 4/5 | 15 GPM | 1-6 | Lifetime | 1 Year | $ |
| Home Master | 4/5 | 15 GPM | 1-5 | Lifetime | 1 Year | $ |
| Crystal Quest | 4/5 | 9-13 GPM | 1-3 | 1 Year | 1,000,000 Gallons | $$$ |
| Aquasana | 4/5 | 7 GPM | 1-3 | 6 Year | 600,000 Gallons | $ |
| Pelican | 4/5 | 13 GPM | 1-5 | Lifetime | 1,000,000 Gallons | $$$ |
Whole House Water Filter Reviews For 2023
SpringWell CF Whole House Water Filter
Filtration Stages: 4 Stage | Flow Rate: 9-20 GPM | Warranty: Lifetime | Dimensions: 9 x 48 inches | Capacity: 1,000,000 Gallons | Filtration Method: Catalytic Carbon & KDF Media
Starting with my top overall choice for city water is the Springwell CF Whole House Water Filter System. The SpringWell CF whole house water filter system was designed to specifically target and remove chlorine, chloramine, PFOAs, pesticides, and more. In fact, you can count on a SpringWell to remove up to 99.6% of all harmful contaminants commonly found in city municipal water systems.
SpringWell’s unique ActivFlow Technology features a 4 stage proprietary design. Water initially pushes through a flex filter bed for maximum contact time before entering the KDF filter to address municipal water contaminants. Stage 3 uses a catalytic carbon media that removes organic contaminants before reaching stage 4 with the 5 micron sediment filter that removes sand, silt, and clay.
My experience with the installation of the system was pretty painless since the SpringWell CF comes with bypass valves, 1″ elbow fittings, and mounting brackets. You just need to provide your own piping to attach to the system and you’re ready to go.
And depending on the number of bathrooms, you can choose from 3 separate model options ranging from 1 up to 7+ bathrooms. Importantly, you will not have a drop in water pressure with SpringWell systems. In fact SpringWell filter systems boast a 50% higher GPM flow rate than competitors’ standard GPM.
My favorite part is that SpringWell offers a Manufacturer’s Lifetime Warranty against defects on all valve and tank components. You also get a risk-free 6-month money-back guarantee.
Read Full SpringWell CF Water Filter Review Here
SpringWell Whole House Well Water Filter
Filtration Stages: 4 Stage | Flow Rate: 12-20 GPM | Warranty: Lifetime | Dimensions: 10 x 64 inches | Capacity: 1,000,000 Gallons | Filtration Method: Air Injection Oxidizing Filter
Next is our top choice for well water, the SpringWell WS Whole House Well Water Filter System. If you have iron, manganese, or sulfur contaminant issues, then this whole house filter system is for you! SpringWell’s WS System is designed to be an economical and environmentally friendly solution for private wells. That means no more staining or rotten egg smell in your water.
The SpringWell WS uses the latest air-injection oxidation technology. It maintains an “air pocket” in the top of the tank and as the water passes through the air pocket; iron, sulfur, and manganese is oxidized, allowing the system to remove the now oxidized iron, sulfur, and manganese from the water.
Because the SpringWell Well Water Filter comes with a Bluetooth enabled smart head, installation and setup are easy. The innovative application gives you complete control over all settings right on your smartphone. View water usage, set backwash cycles, and change valve settings at the touch of a button.
Once installed, there is no drop in water pressure! The SpringWell WS has 2 different models designed based on the number of bathrooms in your home to guarantee optimal water pressure.
Lastly, get peace of mind with a 6-month satisfaction guarantee from the initial purchase and a lifetime warranty on tanks and valves.
Read Full SpringWell WS Well Water Filter Review Here
Watch SpringWell WS Whole House Well Water Filter Video Review
Kind E-1000 Whole House Water Filter
Filtration Stages: 2 Stage | Flow Rate: 15 GPM | Warranty: Lifetime | Dimensions: 24.25 x 15.5 x 8 inches | Capacity: 12 Months | Filtration Method: Catalytic Carbon Block & Pleated Sediment Filter
The Kind Water Systems E-1000 is our top cartridge filter system for municipal water. Utilizing the latest in high-performance carbon filtration, the Kind is able to remove contaminants like Chlorine, Volatile Organic Compounds, PFOAs, and hundreds of other impurities commonly found in your water supply. The Kind system also comes with a 20” pre-sediment filter to remove silt and debris as water enters your home, which helps protect your system for the long-term.
Cities and municipalities often vary the amount of chemicals used to treat water throughout the year and that affects the longevity and effectiveness of a whole house filter. But since the Kind is specifically designed for city water, you can be confident the system is delivering the purest water throughout your house no matter what the conditions.
All Kind Water Systems filters are made using only certified components, and you only need to replace the filters once per year to ensure the system is operating at peak performance.
The best part is you get all this without a drop in water pressure. The Kind has the capacity to support a house with up to six bathrooms, and has a huge max flow rate of up to 15 gallons per minute.
Installation is made simple with the easy Water-In Water-Out design that only requires two connections. Most DIY folks can complete the task in under 60 minutes. When it’s time to change the filter, simply twist off the filter housing and swap the cartridges in a few minutes. Kind also makes a whole-house filter and salt-free softener combo that you can read more about in our E-3000 review.
Read Full Kind E-1000 Water Filter Review Here
Watch Kind E-1000 Whole House Water Filter Video Review
Home Master Whole House Three Stage Water Filtration System
At number 4 is our top cartridge-based system for well water, the Home Master 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System. If your home relies on well water, there is a good chance that undesirable amounts of iron, manganese, and sulfur are present in your water or through the plumbing.
Filtering your home’s well water is as easy as 1-2-3 with the Home Master 3 Stage System. Filter 1 is a multi-gradient media filter. Next, filter 2 uses a unique radial flow filter designed to reduce high levels of iron and magnesium. Filter 3, the coconut shell carbon filter, purifies. That all adds up to 100,000 gallons of fresh, pure filtered well water annually.
Because the Home Master Whole House Filter arrives fully assembled, takes the installation guesswork out of the equation, and gets the freshwater flowing. The unique extra-large, three-stage whole house filters treat sediment, turbidity, iron, manganese, pesticides, and plenty of other contaminants.
The Home Master water filter water is the best in its class for a straightforward reason: this unit delivers clean, clear water to every faucet and bath in your home without drawing down water pressure. Maintaining high water pressure is a key concern of home dwellers living on well water. Water pressure never falls short because the large housings accommodate the larger filters.
The Home master comes with a Limited 2-year warranty from the date of purchase.
Crystal Quest SMART Whole House Water Filter System
At number five is our choice for the best value, the Crystal Quest SMART Whole House Water Filter System. Shopping for a whole house water filter by Crystal Quest is a mix-and-match experience.
Crystal Quest builds for both city and well water filtration, then choose between fiberglass or stainless steel exterior casing, with the configuration option to add a water softener.
Crystal Quest’s impressive 6-stage water filtration process includes two stages of SMART Multimedia. Stage one incorporates coconut shell granulated activated carbons (GAC).
Stage two consists of catalytic GAC, a relatively new media, which increases the life and adsorption capacity of the media and removes herbicides, pesticides, petroleum, and pharmaceutical by-product.
Stages three and four incorporate Crystal Quest’s patented Eagle Redox Alloys 6500 & 9500. Ion exchange resins infused with additional GAC work to reduce heavy metals like lead and mercury. ERA also extends the life of the GAC media and helps prevent the growth of bacteria.
Finally, in stages five and six, ceramic and tourmaline balls oxygenate and increase the water alkalinity to achieve a balanced pH between 6.5-8.5 for perfect drinking water.
Aquasana EQ-1000 Rhino Whole House Water Filter System
Next at number 6 is our top budget choice, The Aquasana EQ-1000 Rhino Whole House Water Filter System.
Although the best option on a budget, Aquasana knows a thing or two about clean, great-tasting water. The Aquasana Rhino is rated as one of the best whole house water filter for bacteria removal. That means the Aqausana can remove 97% of chlorine and other harmful contaminants like lead, mercury, herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, and more.
Aquasana utilizes high-performance with carbon & KDF filtration media designed to eliminate as many contaminants as possible while retaining the healthy minerals in your water. And all this without losing water flow. The Rhino’s newly-improved design enables 11.8 gpm flow rate with no noticeable drop in water pressure.
If you’re shopping for a cost-efficient, long-lasting whole house water filter that will cost you less than $0.01 a gallon – equal to 1 million gallons over 10 years – then the Aquasana is the perfect water filter for your home.
The Rhino filter system weighs 50.9 pounds and measures 9 x 46 x 44 inches and comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
Pentair Pelican Whole House Water Filter System
At number 7 is the Pentair Pelican Whole House Filter System. The Pentair Whole House Water Filter System is an excellent low-maintenance system designed for those with city municipal water supply.
The Pentair Whole House Filter is certified to reduce 97% of common city water contaminants like chlorine and fluoride for better tasting and smelling water.
A three stage process works to deliver the purest water. The first stage is a sediment pre filter to prevent dirt and debris from reaching your appliances. Next a filter blend of coconut shell based activated carbon to remove chlorine, industrial solvents, and much more. Lastly copper and zinc oxidation media aid in the removal of chlorine and extend the life of the GAC media filter.
There is no wastewater, no drainage required, and no electricity to run your water filter system. That means no extra monthly out-of-pocket costs to bring fresh, pure, healthy water running throughout your home.
And since Pentair has two models to choose from depending on your home’s size and number of bathrooms, you can expect the water flow rate to meet your water demands with no drop in water pressure.
The Pelican features a stylish polished solid stainless steel design and measures 49.5 H x 27” W x 18” L and weighs a mere 50 pounds.
Warranty: 90-day satisfaction guarantee, 5-year performance guarantee, and a limited lifetime warranty on tank and parts.
Whole House Water Filter Buyer’s Guide
If you haven’t considered a whole house water filter system before, it might seem like overkill. Especially when compared to point-of-use filter options such as an under sink filter for your kitchen. But when you factor in the improved quality of drinking and shower water, it’s well worth the investment.
Why filter all your water, not just your drinking water?[3] Water you wash and clean with can have a substantial amount of chlorine, lead, or bacteria that can be absorbed through the skin. Likewise, iron, tannins, or sulfur can create issues for your washing machines and porcelain fixtures.
Key Factors To Consider For A Whole House Water Filter
Here are the key factors I used when ranking this list of whole house water filters. Compare these factors to your situation to help find the best-suited system for your needs.
Contaminants Removed
There is no one size fits all solution when it comes to home water filtration solutions. Different whole house water filter systems are best suited for different circumstances. Well water commonly contains heavy contaminants like iron, manganese, and sulfur. If you have well water as a source, you will want to focus on a well-specific system.
In contrast, if you have municipal or city water, look for systems specialized for that source. Municipal utilities use harsh chemicals like chloramine to “purify” tap water, and a filter designed to handle those chemicals makes all the difference.
That said, in most cases, it is best to start your process with a quality water test. You can’t know what to treat if you don’t know what is in your water. We have written about the best water test kits to test your water quality at home. We suggest going with a solid lab test kit if this is the first time testing your home’s water to get the most robust and accurate results.
Lifespan and Cost
Unfortunately, many filters, including the best whole house water filter system, can require additional maintenance and filter replacement cost. You must replace filters, and in some cases, you might need to schedule maintenance. Consider the price of the replacement filters, how often they need replacement, and how long the system will last.
A hidden cost of many systems is replacement filters. Figure it this way, if you purchase a low cost whole house water filter system for $400 and then spend $150 a year you are better off with a $1,000 system that requires a new filter media every 10 years. This is especially true for cartridge-based systems, but also tank-based systems that have pre or post-filters included.
Water Flow Rate
The water flow rate is an important aspect to consider. Unlike water filter systems that affect one output such as your sink or shower, the water flow rate for a whole house system can affect your water pressure at every water point.
Gallons per minute (GPM) measures a system’s flow rate. Usually ranging from 5 to 25 gallons per minute, you should consider both the size of your home, how many bathrooms, and how much water you use daily to determine what a decent water flow rate is for your home.
But, not every house needs a flow rate of 25 gallons per minute. Most family households in a moderate to large-sized home do well with a flow rate of 15 or more GPM. The most standard range of GPM for family households is 15 – 20. If you’re in a small home or have low water needs, 6 GPM should do fine without a severe loss in water pressure.
Warranty
There would be nothing worse than making an investment in a whole house water filter only to have it malfunction. That’s where the warranty comes in. Many of the best whole house water filter systems on this list come with a lifetime warranty. That is worth a lot, especially for peace of mind. You also have a six-month money-back guarantee with the top choices.
When purchasing a whole house filter, make sure the system has some sort of warranty support and or trial period. These days, most will have a warranty, but the best will have lifetime warranties.
NSF Certifications
The NSF certification provides confidence that the filtration system will do what it says it will do. When looking for a whole house system, it is preferable to find a system that is fully NSF certified or uses components that are NSF certified.
Types of Filters
There are two types of filters when it comes to choosing the best whole house water filter system. The first is a carbon tank system. Known for their long lifespan and low maintenance. Tank systems should easily last over 10 years if maintained. Additionally, the carbon filtration system specifically targets chlorine.
The second type of filter is a cartridge system. Filters for a whole house system will last for about 6 months and some claim to last for longer. The right cartridge based filter system will remove issues like taste, odor, or contaminants. Cartridge systems offer a lower upfront price, but higher maintenance cost as you replace the filter cartridges over the years.
Final Thoughts on Buying a Whole House Water Filter
A whole house filter can provide the ultimate piece of mind by protecting every drop of water entering your home. But, it is an investment! Knowing what system will work for your needs requires a little bit of homework.
The first step is to test your water source to find the ideal filtration solution for your water. A whole house filtration system will contribute to healthier water flowing through your home. We hope this guide will save you time and money to decide which whole house water filtration system is best!
Not Sure Where To Start?
Use our Freshnss Plus program to get a free laboratory water test, then we use the test data to custom-tailor treatment solutions specifically for your home.
FAQs on Whole House Water Filter Systems
Here are the most frequently asked questions to consider when purchasing the best whole house water filter:
Are whole house water filters worth it?
If your water supply is heavily contaminated with contaminants that harmful to your health and are destroying your bathtubs and sinks, getting a whole house filter is the ideal treatment solution. But there are not just cosmetic issues. Having harsh water can shorten the lifespan of appliances like washers or water heaters, which will rack up maintenance and replacement costs quickly.
How much do whole home water filter systems cost?
While many models can cost around $500, there are options that cost over $2,000. When comparing the benefits of getting a whole house filter for purified drinking water vs the cost of purchasing plastic bottled water, the numbers show a whole house filter is a far better economic decision (and environmental decision), even for a premium-priced filter option.
Should I filter my whole house?
Most well and tap water in the United States contains at least a moderate amount of contamination. If your water source has heavy contamination, yes, a whole house filter makes the most sense. Or if you want to protect all your appliances and water fixtures throughout your home with a single solution, a whole home filter is preferred over a point-of-use filter.
Generally, people with city water can have high levels of chloramine or other harmful chemicals like PFAs from environmental and industrial pollution. We recommended a whole house filter in those situations.
Where should a whole house water filter be installed?
A whole house filter is installed at your home’s point of entry for water supply. Sometimes you may hear people refer to a whole house system as a point-of-entry water filter system. This is in comparison to a point-of-use water filter system that only addresses a single sink or shower for example.
What is the best whole house filtration system?
Based on laboratory water testing results, the SpringWell Whole House Water Filter System is the best. It is capable of removing up to 99.6% of harmful drinking water contaminants.
Why Trust Freshnss?
Ricky is the founder of Freshnss and product reviewer specializing in water filtration, home, and kitchen products. For this review, he spoke with our water review board of experts. And also with our network of industry professionals who offered whole house water filter recommendations and the qualities that made them stand out from the competition. Next, he researched today’s best whole house water filters, considering dozens of options from various merchants and retailers. The selected products stood out based on filtration performance, water flow rate, warranties, and overall value. He has read thousands of user reviews, and written hundreds of product reviews. He has also tested and re-tested some of our top picks, and looked for filtration companies for new home water treatment options worth trying.
Articles Sources
Freshnss uses only the highest-quality sources to support the facts used in our articles including: government organizations, independent studies, peer-reviewed journals, and lab testing results. Read our editorial review guidelines here to learn more about how we verify and fact-check our writing to keep our content reliable, accurate, and trustworthy.
- Chemicals That Can Contaminate Tap Water, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Protect Your Home’s Water, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Common Drinking Water Problems and Solutions, Penn State University
