Best Whole House Water Filtration System in 2023

We all want the best for our family, and this includes making sure that everything is safe for them. And since we spend the majority of our time in the house, we have to be aware of the quality of water coming out of the tap. We’re using it to bathe, clean, cook, and even drink it. Basically, all our needs depend on water. However, some areas don’t have a reliable source of tap water.

Some places are contaminated by chemicals, pathogens, and even minerals. Of course, the first two are detrimental to health. While the latter is more of a drag because it causes scaling and can ruin the colors of our clothes. But don’t be alarmed because you can install a whole house water filtration system in your home. This way, every drop of water that you use, whether it’s from the shower or faucet, you know that it is free from contamination.

So how can you choose the best system for your home? We recommend skipping ahead and read our buyer’s guide for you to get to know the different types of filtration systems. At the same time, we wrote what factors you should consider when choosing a unit. Once you’re familiar with these subjects, you can read our reviews below.

Best Whole House Water Filtration System Comparison Table

Best Whole House Water Filtration System Reviews

Aquasana EQ-1000 – Editor’s Choice

When looking for the best whole house water filtration system, you can’t help but consider the longevity of the unit. How long will it last? Our first model is the EQ-1000 from Aquasana. This unit is quite expensive, but we think it’s worth the investment. After all, Aquasana will save you more in the long run since it can last for 10 years of usage. Because of this and other features, this unit is our top pick.

Comes with Pro-Install Kit

First of all, you’ll get the tank, pre-filter, post-filter, shut-off valves, bend supports, and brass fittings for installation. The latter can fit with 1-inch or ¾-inch pipes as well, and the overall quality of the parts is top-notch. And for maintenance, you don’t have to do any backflushing or draining. However, you’ll need some special tools for installation. Nonetheless, we think the majority of households hire a plumber anyway so this shouldn’t be a problem.

Low Maintenance for Up to 10 Years

And since Aquasana has a 1,000,000-gallon water filter, you can still think of this unit as a low-maintenance unit compared to others with lower capacity.

Removes 97% of Chlorine Content

Aquasana does not reduce the total dissolved solids (TDS) such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. Therefore, if you are in need of mineral water, this filtration system is for you. What’s great with this unit is that it removes the bad stuff such as lead, mercury, VOCs, and chemicals like herbicides and pesticides. And if you have your water source has a high level of chlorine, Aquasana can remove 97% of chlorine content.

Carbon and KDF 4-Stage Filtration

If you’re wondering about the mechanism that Aquasana uses, it is carbon and Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF) filtration. When you read our buyer’s guide, you’ll have an idea of how different systems remove the contaminants in the water. You can read in there some information about carbon filtration, and KDF works by exchanging electrons with contaminants.

And as we have mentioned previously, the TDS content is not reduced. This means your water is still alkaline. Now, if you’re curious about the benefits of alkaline water, we have a separate review for that here. Lastly, the post-filter with a micron rating of 0.35 removes organic particles and cysts of microorganisms. But if your home as a specific water quality that might require other filtration processes, we’re pleased to say that you can purchase other features for them as well.

Optional UV Filter and SimplySoft Descaling System

For example, if you still feel like the post-filter is not enough to rid you of pathogens, Aquasana has a UV filter. We all know that the UV filtration system is the best for killing microorganisms. On the other hand, if you find yourself constantly a slave in removing scale and deposits, you might have hard water. Aquasana has a salt-free softener, so you get to save on maintenance against limescale deposits.

Home Master HMF3SDGFEC – Best Whole House Water Filtration System for Well Water

Our next unit might be a stage shorter than Aquasana, but it is still worthy to be recommended for most households. In fact, if your water source is a well, consider getting this unit. You might also notice that in our buyer’s guide, there are a lot of Home Master units that made on this list, but more on them later.

Three Large-Capacity Filter Housings

Upon purchase, you’ll also be getting a steel mounting bracket, bolts, and a housing wrench. And just like our first unit, we recommend that you hire a plumber to do the installation for you. Now, right off the bat, you’ll notice that the HMF3SDGFEC has three massive filter housings. All of them have 1-inch ports and overall delivers 15 gallons per minute.

One Year Capacity

If you’re doing the math for maintenance, the carbon filter can purify up to 95,000 gallons of water before you need to replace it. This means it can last you a year depending on your usage. Again, reduction in maintenance frequency saves you money and time, as we’ve mentioned in Aquasana.

3-Stage Filtration

So how does Home Master work? The three stages consist of using fine multi-gradient sediments with levels of varying micron ratings of 25, 10, 5, and 1. This is excellent for dirt, bacteria, and chemical removal. The second stage is a radial flow iron reduction filter that can reduce iron content up to 3 ppm or 95%. This will lengthen the lifespans of your pipes and water heater.

And the last stage, on the other hand, is a radial flow granular activated coconut shell carbon filter to get rid of residual chemicals. Overall, this improves the taste and odor of your water. All of these stages can purify your water, so you don’t have to worry about the hydrogen sulfide, manganese, and iron content.

Best for Well Water

If your water stains and has an odd smell or taste, chances are it has elevated levels of these contaminants. And if your source is from a well, you can get rid of iron in it in case it has been introduced from repairs and maintenance. Home Master HMF3SDGFEC can also remove dirt, rust, pesticides, and herbicides, but you can check their other models later on if you live in an acidic or highly chlorinated area in the city.

Express Water Three Stage – Runner Up Favorite

Our next product also uses three filtration stages. And while it can remove similar contaminants like herbicides, insecticides, dirt, pathogens, Express Water markets their filtration system for removing heavy metals.

3 Housing Filters with Pressure Gauges and Pressure Release Buttons

Similar to the look of Home Master HMF3SDGFEC, the set-up of Express Water has three large filter housings. You are probably familiar with these filtration levels from the previous units. Express Water uses sediment, granular activated carbon or KDF, and activated carbon block filters.

Be Careful Of…

Each of them has a pressure gauge for system monitoring and pressure release buttons. You’ll also get one-inch connections and a free-standing stainless steel frame. The latter gives you the flexibility to install the system either unmounted or mounted. The set can last you for a year, depending on your water quality. If you need the numbers, Express Water is good for 100,000 gallons of water and up to 0.25 gallons of water per second. However, there are instances where installation leads to leaking even if you tighten the inlets and outlets.

Drop and Go Filters

On the bright side, the action of replacing the filters is not much of a hassle. Express Water designed their filters as drop-and-go, so after twisting off the housings, you can easily replace your filter. At the same time, you can also opt to use the pressure release buttons that we mentioned earlier. Speaking of which, the pressure gauges on each filter housing are also useful so you know when the system is not performing at par than usual and if the filters need replacements.

Bye Bye Heavy Metals

Now, let’s talk about how Express Water performs. As usual, the first stage uses a sediment filter. This removes the dirt and sand that might damage the next filters. With Express Water, the micron rating of their sediment filter is 5 microns and is composed of 4 layers. This stage is also see-through, so knowing when to replace it is easy.

Durable Materials

The next stage is KDF, which you are probably familiar with now when we discussed it in Aquasana EQ-1000. This stage is the part where Express Water boasts its capability of removing heavy metals and even microorganisms like viruses. The KDF filter removes the iron, lead, chloramine, arsenic, sulfur, mercury, chlorine, and aluminum in your water, as well as fungi and algae. And if you’re worried about its durability, the silicon ring and the thermally-bonded cap adds as reinforcement to ensure you a long lifespan of the materials.

The last stage uses ACB or activated carbon block filter. Since this is the last stage, you can expect that it works by making sure the look and taste of your water are acceptable. This removes chlorine, total organic carbon, and a variety of chemicals. This stage is also reliable, and the surface area of the carbon gives you longer performance compared to smaller units.

Overall, all the filter housings are made of food-grade ABS and PCE plastic, so durability is out of the question. The connection rate between them is also fast thanks to the high capacity flow connectors.

Home Master HMF2SmgCC – Best Whole House Water Filtration System for City Water

If the Home Master HMF3SDGFEC earlier is excellent for filtering well water, city water with high levels of chemicals and elements is suitable for the HMF2SmgCC by Home Master. It has a smaller capacity at 95,000 gallons, but we think it can still last you for a year.

Compared to the previous water filtration systems, this House Master unit is only composed of two filter housings. Nonetheless, it’s still capable of 10 gallons per minute of water pressure, so you don’t have to be hassled in water consumption. It also comes with a steel mounting bracket with bolts and a housing wrench. Although these inclusions are not as much as the ones the pricier models, especially the first Home Master.

Sediment and KDF95

As we have mentioned earlier, this model only uses two levels of filtration. And as you can assume, the first one is a sediment filter. The last filter, on the other hand, is catalytic carbon or KDF95. The former is a four gradient density filter with a micron rating ranging from 25, 10, 5 to one. This stage is excellent for bacterial and chemical removal.

Remove Chloramines and other Possible Contaminants in Your City Water

Then, the second filter uses 3 pounds of KDF85 for additional purification of the water from VOCs, hydrogen sulfide, herbicides, and heavy metals like copper, lead, and mercury. And just like other final purification stages, this is the part that’ll improve the taste and odor of the water. It also prevents staining, and the KDF85 keeps mold growth in the filter at bay.

If you live in the city and you found out that your water has high levels of chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals, we recommend the HMF2SmgCC from Home Master for you. The brand boasts that it is capable of removing 95% of these contaminants. And other than chlorine, chloramine often gives households a headache because it can damage and corrode products like rubber and pipes.

Home Master HMF2SDGC – Best Whole House Water Filter for DIY Installation

Our next product also happens to be from Home Master and is a 2-stage whole house water filtration system as well. And just like our previous unit, it also comes with a steel mounting bracket. Capacity-wise, it can filter 95,000 gallons of water before replacement. Therefore, so far, it looks very similar to the previous Home Master water filtration system.

Good for DIY Installation

However, what makes this Home Master unit stand out is the fact that a lot of users agree with how easy it is to install. On the downside, it is pretty heavy, and at the same time, we recommend you to purchase valves for installation.

Solid Materials

The HMF2SDGC is a two-stage filter with a flow rate of 20 gallons per minute. It’s not as high capacity as the pricier models in this list, but for most households with water quality that is not as problematic, this unit is capable enough. We also appreciate that even though it costs less than its previous siblings, the quality of the materials feels solid. However, the adapters are indeed prone to leakage due to being made of plastic and not metal.

Removes 95% of Common Water Contaminants

The first stage is a multi-gradient depth sediment filter, and it is for purifying your water from chemicals and bacteria. The next and final stage is a radial flow granular activated coconut shell carbon filter for the improvement of your water’s taste and odor. Overall, the HMF2SDGC can also remove 95% of chlorine and other contaminants in your water.

3M Aqua-Pure AP903 – Best Easy to Maintain Whole House Water Filter

Maintenance is one of the factors to consider when buying a whole house water filter. After all, it will cost you more if your unit needs constant replacement due to damage from poor maintenance. So far, the Express Water Three Stage offers a convenient feature for filter replacement. But if you’re on a budget and you have chlorinated water, you might want to check out this 3M unit. More than filtration, it is also incredibly low maintenance.

For Chlorinated and Non-Chlorinated Water

3M Aqua-Pure markets this model both for municipal and well water systems. This means you can use it both for chlorinated and non-chlorinated water. It can remove up to 85%, which improves the taste and odor of your water.

Low Maintenance

And if you’re particular about maintenance, the capacity of this unit is 100,000 gallons with a flow rate of 10 GPM. We also think that the stainless steel material is sturdy enough to last you, so corrosion is out of the problem. And even the carbon filter media is long and twisted into the head as well.

At this price point, we’re pleased that 3M Aqua-Pure didn’t cheap out by using plastic and instead, stuck to the more durable steel. Not to mention, changing the filter itself doesn’t need a filter wrench. This is all thanks to the Sanitary Quick Change the design of the AP903. All you have to do is twist the cartridge on and off.

For Chlorine and Particulates

As we have mentioned earlier, the AP903 is excellent in removing chlorine and improving the taste and odor of the water. This is from the unit’s activated carbon filter with a rating of 5 microns. This AP917HP cartridge reduces not just chlorine, but also particulates. However, you can also purchase the AP917HD-S filter if you want to reduce scaling on your appliances.

Sadly, it doesn’t come with a sediment filter, which would’ve been an added longevity protection against clogging in the carbon filter. Nonetheless, we recommend getting a pre-filter, i.e., sediment filter, to prevent large particulates from clogging your main filter. They are not expensive anyway.

iSpring RCC7AK – Best Whole House Water Filter to Remove Fluoride and Chlorine

Before buying a whole house water filter, you should first get your household water tested. This way, you can easily choose from the products we reviewed that’ll be a perfect match in purifying it. If the results show that you have high levels of chlorine, almost all of the previous units we reviewed are suitable for you. However, if you need to remove both fluoride and chlorine in your water, the RCC7AK is for you because it uses reverse osmosis.

Comes with Lead-Free Brass Faucet

But first, let us discuss the quality of its components. Right off the bat, we are impressed with the parts. The connectors allow you to install it without the need to thread pipes. The 1st stage filter is even see-through similar to the Express Water Three Stage, so you’ll know when to replace it. And as an added bonus, it already comes with a brass faucet with brushed nickel finish. This is for your peace of mind from getting lead-free water if you opt to drink directly from the tap.

6 Filtration Stages Including Reverse Osmosis

Now, let’s talk about what gives the iSpring RCC7AK the edge over other water filtration systems in this list. It uses 6 stages, including reverse osmosis for filtration, which is the best choice for fluoride removal. And other than that, it can soften your hard water from removing 99% of contaminants. It can also rid you of arsenic, lead, calcium, sodium, asbestos, hormones, and microorganisms like giardia, bacteria, and viruses.

Alkaline Remineralization (AK) Stage

Another edge that you’ll get with this iSpring unit is that it has an AK remineralization filter for its final stage. This is because the RO membrane removes the mineral content of the water. In order to avoid getting acidic water without healthy minerals, this final stage provides the alkalinity and improved taste. This is in comparison with other models that use reverse osmosis without the 6th remineralization stage. This stage adds back minerals like calcium and magnesium.

Three Pre-Filters

As for the pre-filters, iSpring uses PP sediment, Carbon KDF, and Carbon block filters. These are important because they serve as extra protection for the RO membrane. They remove chlorine and chloramines that can damage the RO membrane. Not to mention, they can filter the water from contaminants that can shorten the lifespan of the succeeding filters from possible blockage.

iSpring WGB21B – Best Filtration System for Small Homes

Compact 2-Level System

Our next unit also comes iSpring, but instead of using 6 filtration levels, the WGB21B is a 2-level system. Because of its size (i.e., 10 x 4.5-inch filters) and capacity, we recommend this unit for smaller households. And speaking of capacity, it can purify 50,000 gallons of water, which we think is enough for small homes.

Removes 95% of Contaminants

However, do not think that being smaller than our previous units means that the WGB21B can’t provide quality filtration. Even at this size and two levels, it is still capable of removing 95% of contaminants. This includes chlorine, rust, sediments, VOCs, pesticides, and herbicides. But as you can assume, if you have hard water, this model won’t be enough to remove its mineral contents. On the bright side, iSpring markets this for city water and well water.

Basic Maintenance

As we have mentioned earlier, this is a 2-level filtration system. It first uses a fine 5-micron PP sediment filter and then a CTO filter. Just do note that replacing the filters is not as easy in 3M Aqua-Pure AP903. That doesn’t mean that it’s a headache, but you’ll still need a filter wrench. You can also take advantage of the pressure release valve to make the replacement easier.

Sediment + Carbon Block Filters

We appreciate that iSpring already placed a sediment filter before the main coconut shell carbon filter. As you know by now, having a pre-filter will extend the life of the next filter since it will remove contaminants like sand, dirt, and scale particles that can cause clogging.

Excellent Chlorine Removal

And as for the 5-micron carbon block filter, it is what the unit uses to improve the taste and odor of the water because of its high density. It is also the same filter responsible for removing 90% of chlorine and chemicals.

You Should Know…

The only potential drawback that you should be prepared for is that carbon block filters can get clogged easily. Yes, they have the advantage in filtering because of their high density, but they can cause a reduction in water pressure compared to their granulated counterparts.

CULLIGAN WH-HD200-C – Best Value for Money Filtration System

Comes with Materials for Installation

Our next unit is perfect for households in a budget but needs to filter their water efficiently. Boasting different certifications to prove the safety and quality of its materials, this Culligan unit comes at a budget-friendly price. At the same time, you’ll get parts like mounting bracket, housing wrench, filter life monitor, and its batteries upon purchase.

With Bypass Valve, Filter Change Timer, and Filter Monitor Battery

We also like the fact that it uses stainless steel connectors, so you know that it will take long before they start leaking. Culligan also has a bypass shut-off valve and a filter change timer. However, do note that you might need to reinforce silicone lubricant, especially on the filter bypass-off lever. Turning them needs some effort, but be careful not to break them off.

Battery-Operated

Worried when the batteries will drain? As we have mentioned previously, there is a filter monitor battery, and you can use this to recharge. You also don’t have to worry about not knowing when it stops purifying because of the timer.

Clear Filter Housing

This sediment filtration system can last you for around 2 months. Not bad for the price considering that it can prevent silt, dirt, and sand build-up on your pipes. At the same time, you can reuse the filters, which can save you more money in the long run. And speaking of filters, you’ll immediately notice when to replace them because the model has an LED indicator. This feature, plus the fact that the filter housing is clear will surely notify you ahead of time.

Option to Expand

Overall, you can remove contaminants like the ones we mentioned previously without any hassle. Culligan can also purify your water from metals and even chlorine. At the same time, you can purchase other filters like CW25-BBS and CP5-BBS if you have specific needs. Both are a polypropylene filter, but the former is excellent for sediments like rust, while the latter is finer for trapping smaller contaminants. And in case you want a carbon filter, Culligan offers a granular activated carbon cartridge.

DuPont WFPF13003B – Best Affordable Whole House Water Filter System

Our last and most budget-friendly product in this list is the Dupont WFPF13003B. Of course, it has a smaller capacity of 15,000 gallons, but depending on your household needs, this might be a good option without breaking the bank. We think that this capacity can last most households for 6 months.

Universal Filter Compatibility

DuPont uses a universal 500 series poly block cartridge making it flexible for upgrade depending on what filters your water will need. The 10-inch filters that it comes with are standard, and has a micron rating of 10. And what’s great about these standard filters is you can use any brand. But if you want to purify your household water for drinking, we recommend adding a pre-filter and a carbon filter. And as we have said earlier, there are also other filtration options for let’s say your water has high lead content.

Chain Reaction

Overall, with this purchase, you can improve the appearance of your muddy or cloudy water since this system is best for removal of sediments. What works to your advantage is just like what we said earlier, DuPont comes with a universal cartridge. You can maximize its ability by having more units in a row with different filters. You don’t have to worry about compatibility because of the ¾-inch inlets and outlets. And because of their size, they still wouldn’t take up too much space.

Buyer’s Guide

Types of Whole House Water Filtration System

We can classify whole house water filtration systems into the type of water purification technologies that they use. There are different methods a filtration system can use to treat contamination in tap water, and the following are the most common:

• Sediment Filtration

As you can see in our review, the majority of whole house water filtration systems use sediment filtration. Sediment filters usually measure 20 inches and they use cylindrical cartridges of varying materials. These include paper, polypropylene, string, and cellulose. These filters trap the water particulates within them or on the surface. Some of the common suspended contaminants that sediment filtration can remove are scale, organic water, dirt, sand, and silt.

And as you may notice, these contaminants are what you’ll commonly find in natural water sources such as wells. Therefore, sediment filtration can clean the previous cloudy water from these sources. Other than the look, sediment filtration can also improve the taste and feel of your water. Some users also use this system as pre-filters before they run their water in UV and carbon filtration systems.

If you are looking for a commercial water filtration system or if you require something much more heavy-duty, you can upgrade into a larger mineral tank system. This type filters the water using a natural blend of zeolite through sedimentation and mechanical straining. But sometimes, it can also treat the water through ion-exchange, physical, and electrostatic absorption. The zeolite blend is more suitable for heavy-duty use compared to the sediment filters that we’ve mentioned previously that are made of sand or anthracite.

• UV Sterilization

The use of ultraviolet light is also gaining popularity for water disinfection in homes. UV sterilization is excellent if you want to target the removal of microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses in the water. The explanation behind this mechanism is that short wavelength-UV attacks and disrupts the DNA of these organisms. Therefore, they won’t be able to reproduce and function. Some examples of pathogens that UV sterilization can kill and eliminate are coliform bacteria, giardia, E.coli, and cryptosporidium.

A 360-degree stainless steel cylindrical chamber that has a UV lamp inside is where your water would run. Once inside, UV energy comes from all sides of the chamber to kill microorganisms in the water. We like UV sterilization the most out of the types of filtration systems because it doesn’t add chemicals in the water. Therefore, the taste, feel, and color of the water will not change. If you want to be sure in removing pathogens in your tap or well water, this filtration system is for you.

• Carbon Adsorption

Another common filtration system is the use of activated carbon. So what is activated carbon? When you process carbon-based materials at high temperatures, you’ll end up with a matrix of pores and crevices. These resulting parts are small enough to trap particles and even organic molecules of varying sizes in the water. This filtration system is also called adsorption because the contaminants will diffuse into the carbon matrix. They will be locked inside the structure, thus freeing the water of chemicals, odors, gases, chloramines, and chlorine.

• Ion Exchange

You might have heard of ion exchange before as a process of house water purification method. And from the name itself, this process decontaminates the ions in the water using ion-exchange beads. These beads are made of resin and are treated with special solutions so they can exchange ions with the minerals and metals in the water.

This whole house water filtration system is suitable if you want to “soften” your hard tap water. This method exchanges sodium or potassium ions with the calcium and magnesium ions found in hard water. By filtering your hard water, you don’t have to worry about scale deposit cleaning and fading colored clothes from the minerals in the water you use.

• Catalytic Conversion

Catalytic conversion is somewhat similar to the process earlier for treating hard water. However, with catalytic conversion, you’re removing minerals like calcium and magnesium without needing to use salt. Instead, you’re using catalytic media to which the minerals will attach to. This process converts them into a scale-resistant crystalline form. Consequently, you don’t have to worry about mineral residues that cause scaling.

Another advantage that you might appreciate with catalytic conversion is that you don’t have to use regeneration and backwashing. This means this filtration system won’t also require you to have water for rinsing and electricity. It’s more eco-friendly, easier to maintain, and because it’s salt-free, it’s a healthier way of softening hard water.

• Oxidation-Reduction

The last water filtration system for the whole house is via the use of the oxidation-reduction method. Some might also refer to this method as “redox” and works using electrochemical oxidation, reduction, and adsorption to remove water contaminants. The use of iron water filters is a good example of redox filtration system. Iron water filters use oxidation to remove iron and manganese in the water using manganese dioxide as the oxidizer. If your tap water contains rust, odor and stains due to the iron and manganese content, consider using a redox filtration system.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Whole House Water Filtration System

1. Water Quality of Your Home

Of course, the first significant factor of consideration is the quality of your water at home. Knowing this will dictate which type of filtration system is best suitable for you. You can reread the Types of Whole House Water Filtration System if you want a recap of their best usage. Remember that the whole house water filtration system that you have should efficiently remove the contaminants in your water.

Some areas might have hard water, so you’ll need a system that can remove minerals. Some places might have chemically-polluted water, or you might need something that can remove microorganisms for your peace of mind. You can also check systems that can remove iron in case you’re noticing rusty water in your tap.

2. Water Quantity and Flow

Besides the quality of your home water, the flow or the quantity of your water itself should also affect your buying decision. As you can see in our Comparison Table, different units are capable of different water outputs as well. And because you’re looking for a whole house water filter, you have to consider the output that you’ll need around the house. Consider if the filtration system can have your expected water output in your faucets, toilets, showers, and appliances.

For busy households, you’ll surely need a large capacity. This way, your house duties won’t get interrupted by slow or small water flow. For smaller households, perhaps 10 gallons per minute is enough to satisfy your daily needs. Otherwise, it’ll be a hassle when everyone ends up consuming water at the same time.

3. Household Consumption

This is related to our previous topic. Your overall household’s water consumption can also affect which unit you should get. If you’re using a lot of water, then obviously, you have to consider the quality of the filter, so you don’t end up changing it monthly. In the long run, it’s going to be more expensive to replace cheap filters continuously as opposed to quality filters that’ll last you.

4. Type of Filter

Speaking of filters, you should take the type of the filters themselves into consideration other than the quality. For example, we recommend getting your water tested, so you’ll know which model is suitable for removing your water contaminants. This is similar to factor number 1. Just like with the systems, different types of filters specialize in removing different contaminants.

This means UV filters are excellent for removing microorganisms, mineral filters for hard water, and sediment filters for dirt and the like. If you know what is in your water, you won’t have to buy unnecessary systems, which can cost more than what you probably need.

5. Micron Rating

Your filters will also have a micron rating, and depending on your water quality, you have to choose the suitable one for your house. Think of it this way; your filters will only be effective in decontamination if it can block the particles in your water source. Therefore, a filter that can remove sand may not be as effective in removing lead.

A good rule to follow is if you look for filters that can block anything larger than 0.35 microns. However, the more common and affordable filters can only block contaminants larger than 1 micron. Depending on how contaminated your water supply is, you can opt for a 0.35 micron-rating or a 1 micron-rating. However, another consideration is that the flow rate is affected by the micron rating. A smaller micron rating means a lower flow rate.

6. Certifications

A lot of manufacturers attract buyers by showing certifications with their products. Some of the common ones are seals from the Water Quality Association (WQA) or certification by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF.) These certifications guarantee the buyer that the filter used by the unit has passed tests and that it matches the standards to prove its quality.

However, realize that getting certifications is expensive. Therefore, in order to sell their unit more affordably, manufacturers need also to cut their costs. In exchange, some brands opt to do the testing in independent laboratories.

7. Maintenance and Longevity

The last factor to consider when getting a whole house water filtration system is how easy or affordable will it be to maintain. And we all know that maintenance depends on how long it will last before you need to replace its parts or as a whole.

Depending on how knowledgeable you are, or if you’re a fan of DIY projects, installing a whole house filtration system takes effort and time. You can opt to get a professional or choose a model that doesn’t require changing more often. You’ll still need to test it by turning the water on and off, so expect a mild inconvenience in the household. We recommend units that can last for at least half a year. However, if your water quality is not that problematic, some systems are capable of lasting longer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we highly advise that you get your water tested before purchasing any whole house water filtration system. This will lead you to find which unit is best fitted for giving you clean water that won’t damage your appliances and won’t cause any health problems. If you need additional info, our buyer’s guide discussed areas that can help you decide in choosing a unit.

Our top pick among this list is the Aquasana EQ-1000. It has a whopping capacity that can last you up to 10 years of usage. We also like that it is low maintenance, and the installation kit that it comes with is composed of quality materials. If you have chlorinated water with pathogens, this unit is excellent to consider. At the same time, you can expand the system depending on your needs.

Another recommendation we have is the iSpring RCC7AK. It is unique among the other products because it uses reverse osmosis for those with high fluoride content. It also has an alkaline remineralization filter for people who needs alkaline water for their health. It’s even a bonus that iSpring includes a brass faucet with this purchase.

Got any questions? Leave them below!