Best Whole House Water Filters Reviewed

Gary Johnson
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You may have heard that all water from your tap is not equal, that some is better than others.

Maybe you’ve read about the fluoride in your water or the chlorine used to treat it. Perhaps you’ve heard that you may be paying for hazardous substances that are in your water supply, or that your water may have bacteria in it.

You might also have learned that in some areas of the country, water is being contaminated by the agricultural industry.

Here are some of the best whole house water filters available and my reviews of them.

NameCategoryProduct
iSpring WGB21B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filtration SystemBest OveralliSpring WGB21B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System
iSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration SystemBudget PickiSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System
Aquasana Whole House Water Filter SystemUpgrade PickAquasana Whole House Water Filter System

1. iSpring WGB21B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System

Our rating: 9 / 10

iSpring WGB21B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System

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Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Big coverage
  • Easy to install
  • Outstanding customer service
  • Easy to maintain
  • Long life span (10 years)
  • Includes chloramine reduction
  • Eco-friendly and recyclable

Cons:

  • Decalcification tablets required
  • No carbon filtration
  • Does not remove fluoride
  • Poor flow rate
  • Failure to thoroughly flush can result in odor issues

Pipes, Power Cord/Switch, Faucet Adapter, Pressure Gauge, and 10 Year Warranty.

Among the best whole house water filters, one of the most affordable options is this single-tank alternative from iSpring. It comes with one 10-inch-by-4.5-inch CTO (Chlorine, Taste and Odor) filter that removes up to 99 percent of PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and chlorine taste, odor, and VOCs.

Another convenient feature of this filter is that you can hook up as many water faucets as you like (it’s capable of filtering as many as five faucets at a time). This means that the water will taste the same in all areas of your home.

2. Express Water Whole House Water Filter

Our rating: 9 / 10

Express Water Whole House Water Filter

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Pros:

  • Makes up to 120 gallons of water per day
  • Ensures your water tastes clean
  • Controls bad odors and tastes, bacteria, dirt, sediment, rust, sand, asbestos, and other contaminants
  • Includes a 5 year warranty
  • Comes in a variety of sizes (depending on your home)
  • Efficient and easy to install
  • Distributes water equally for various points of use
  • Available in a wide array of finishes
  • Reasonably priced
  • Works with most water pressure

For decades water filtration systems have been the go-to fix for bad tasting water in homes with old or poor quality water supply systems.

Express Water Whole House Water Filters are popular among the online sing community for their quality, efficiency, and affordability.

Although they are far from inexpensive, they are worth the investment for the price of pure well water can immediately drop once you have them installed.

3. Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter

Our rating: 9 / 10

Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter

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Pros:

  • Very easy to install
  • Enhanced absorption rate
  • High capacity and low maintenance
  • Comes with a PVC free casing
  • Little to no smell
  • Able to remove heavy metals quickly
  • Can remove hundreds of contaminants
  • Allows for normal drinking water
  • Good long-term filter

Cons:

  • High cost of maintenance costs due to frequent filter changes
  • Can be difficult to install

The Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter – is a complete water filter system for your home that resolves water issues that usually affect most homes. It’s a great product with top quality features. This filter works to remove many nasties from your household water supply and it’s perfect for those with septic systems that need extra purification to avoid clogging.

The Express Water filter is a high quality product from a reputable brand that is backed up by a 3-year warranty. It’s easy to install and it comes with everything you need – including some additional goodies like a TDS meter, which lets you check water quality at home easily.

4. APEC 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System

Our rating: 9 / 10

APEC 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System

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Pros:

  • Money saving
  • Efficient filter with great capacity
  • Coarse sediment works perfectly well to improve water quality
  • Filtration rate is good enough to keep the water in your house crystal clear even after it travels through the filter

The APEC 3-stage water filter is a highly efficient filtration system that performs 3 different filtration processes – sediment, chlorine, and heavy metals. It has a life cycle of 3 to 5 years, and can save you lots of money on water filter replacement.

It comes with a pre-filter cartridge (from stainless steel mesh), an active carbon and granular activated carbon cartridge, and a pre-coarse sediment filter cartridge.

When you install the filter, the water from the main line passes through the filter to the first sediment filter, which removes large sediment particles and rust particles, sedimentation of which can cause corrosion. The water then goes through the second filter, where it goes through the chlorination process to remove debris and heavy metals and excess chlorine.

5. iSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System

Our rating: 8 / 10

iSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System

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Pros:

  • Easy to install
  • Filters need to be replaced periodically
  • Provides great tasting and clean water
  • Comes with a lifetime warranty
  • Reduces rust, bad taste and odor from water
  • Offers peace of mind

Cons:

  • High cost of filters
  • Filter installation is time consuming
  • Susceptible to leaks
  • Takes 90 days to filter out hard water

Filtration systems can cost a lot of money, but this one is affordable. It is manufactured using high quality parts and is easy to install. This means it is perfect for those who don’t have any knowledge on how to install them.

The product comes with a lifetime warranty and is made in the USA and is NSF certified. The product can easily be cleaned using a garden hose to rinse it. You will also not experience any leaks because of the product’s tight fitting of parts and use of high quality materials.

The product also helps block rust, bad taste and odor. It will also not require you to replace additional piping and add more faucets. This is because it comes with a standard filter. The product will increase the value of your home because it improves the value of the hard water by removing the turquoise and brown tint.

6. Home Master Whole House Three Stage Water Filtration System

Our rating: 8 / 10

Home Master Whole House Three Stage Water Filtration System

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Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Does a great job
  • Excellent customer service

Cons:

  • Borax buildup can occur to a certain degree
  • Must be flushed every few years
  • Higher than average maintenance

HM-FN-100.

For many people, tap water may not be good-tasting due to chlorine, rust, sediment, and many other harmful chemicals.

One of the best things you can do to improve the taste and quality of your tap water is to install a whole house water filtration system. The Home Master Whole House Water Filtration System is one of the most popular and best water filter systems on the market today.

7. Whirlpool WHESFC Pro Series

Our rating: 8 / 10

Whirlpool WHESFC Pro Series

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Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Can be easily installed
  • High-quality water performance
  • Regeneration reminders
  • Refreshes hard water
  • No bleach required for regeneration
  • It reduces water usage

Cons:

  • Many users need to refill it more frequently
  • Has to be manually initiated for regeneration
  • Starter cartridges need a top-off every once in a while

The Whirlpool WHESFC Pro Series is hands down the best whole house water filter system. This is for the many users with medium-sized households that are looking for a one-fits-all filtration solution. Whether you have active kids who love faucets or if you simply want to install one to ensure that all the water flowing from your tap is drinkable, this is an ideal house filtration solution for you.

This water filter system comes with everything you need to create a user-friendly home filtration system. You get a box with everything you need to install the system, in parts and in instructions. It also comes with an installation manual to help you out.

This system has two primary components:

  • Many users need to refill it more frequently
  • Has to be manually initiated for regeneration
  • Starter cartridges need a top-off every once in a while

8. Aquasana Whole House Water Filter System

Our rating: 7 / 10

Aquasana Whole House Water Filter System

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Pros:

  • Effective for drinking, cooking, washing dishes, even watering plants
  • Completely chlorine-free
  • Effectively removes sediment, rust, chlorine, dirt, and other contaminants
  • Replacement filter provides up to 1,000,000 gallons of clean drinking water
  • Easy-to-install piping system with minimal DIY tools
  • Uses Activated Carbon and KDF technology
  • Comes with UV Ballast and Installation Kit
  • 2-year limited warranty

9. APEC Water Systems WH-SOLUTION-15 Whole House Filter & Salt Free Water Softener Systems

Our rating: 7 / 10

APEC Water Systems WH-SOLUTION-15 Whole House Filter & Salt Free Water Softener Systems

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The APEC Water Systems WH-SOLUTION-15 Whole House Filter offers a lot of bang for your buck. If you’re looking for a new drinking water system for your family, you’ll find the similar quality in the WH-SOLUTION-15 at a more affordable price.

The WH-SOLUTION-15 includes pre-filters, a sediment filter, and a refrigerator water filter. The whole house filter also comes with a faucet adapter, a pressure relief valve, and an air vent. You can choose between the 10-micron sediment filter or 15-micron sediment filter.

The installation is very easy and fast and you can have it running within an hour. The WH-SOLUTION-15 has dual inlet connections so you can also add an independent carbon filter, a reverse osmosis system, a water softener or any other kind of filter, if you need to.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which whole house water filter is best?

There are many different water filters available on the market today, but each one claims to offer a solution to household water problems. Some advertise a filter system to purify your water, while others claim the ability to remove contaminants. While the advertised benefits may be a bit alluring, it’s important to know what each filter filter does and doesn’t filter before making your choice.

Even the best whole house water filter in the business can't remove every contaminant in it's path. Many of them simply can't filter the contaminants they advertise, so it's important to understand what is in your water and what the benefits are you are seeking before you buy.

What is the healthiest water filtration system?

As you can see by this article, there are several factors that determine water filtration quality. The type of filter, the filter medium, and the ability to produce clean water are all important. But, the one that we feel is the most critical is the filter medium. Chlorine and other water pollutants are removed in a filter by the physical ability of the medium to attract these particles when they flow through the filter. The more physical surface area a filter medium has, the better it will be at attracting contaminants and keeping your water clean.

These physical surface areas (also known as contact area) are what determine which filters are rated higher than others. The larger the contact area, the more room there is to attract water contaminants.

What is the most effective filter for groundwater?

When trying to decide which filter is best for you to help improve the taste and quality of your water, there are many things to consider. You may want to choose a filter that will work on both tap water and well water. You may be looking for something that won’t add unnecessary chemicals to your water or carbon. Cost is also an important factor.

The best way to decide which filter is best for your situation is to answer questions like; how often do you use the filter? Is it really for you or someone else? Are you concerned about aesthetic or health issues? Since whole house filtration systems are a big investment, and the system you choose cannot be easily changed, it’s best to make sure you get a system that does what you need it to do.

Who makes the best water softener system?

There are many water softener systems on the market today. There are several different types of systems: Point of Use Systems, Whole House Filters, and Water Softeners. Each of these systems are available for home owners with well or city water. After looking at several different brands as well as speaking with some plumbers, we've determined that the High Sierra system is the best water softener for the home. The High Sierra is a point of use unit designed to provide your home with soft water at the faucets. You will need an additional filter for your shower heads. However, we feel that this is a much better option than softening your entire home's water supply and possibly having problems with the mineralized water backing up into your drains. Another good option for a softener is the Kinetico up 130 system with 13-stage filtration.

Conclusion

There are many factors in deciding on the best whole house water filter. We hope that our thorough review guide has helped you in finding a filter that is right for your household. We have listed the best water filters along with a buying guide to help you make a great buy. But don’t forget that no matter what water filter you get, it will need to be maintained if you want long-lasting, quality water for your home.

Our Recommendation

NameCategoryProduct
iSpring WGB21B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filtration SystemBest OveralliSpring WGB21B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System
iSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration SystemBudget PickiSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System
Aquasana Whole House Water Filter SystemUpgrade PickAquasana Whole House Water Filter System