The 8 Best Whole House Water Filters of 2024 to Improve Your Water Quality

Table Of Content

• #1. SpringWell Whole House Water Filter System – Best Buy In 2024
• Best for Sediments: The GE GXWH40L High Flow Filter
• How to Install a Whole House Water Filter System
• Top 10 Whole House Water Filters Review 2024
• The benefits of installing a whole house water filter system
• The Best Water Distillers for Clean Drinking Water
• Best Water Filter Faucet
• How do you clean a whole house water filter?

While this is a water softener first, it is a reliable filter system, as well. It can reduce the hardness of the most stubborn water supplies with ease while maintaining odor, taste, and chlorine control. This system is an all-in-one style system that filters the water and softens the water before it reaches your faucets. Unlike every other model on our review list so far, the Whirlpool filter is NSF certified (the others are built to NSF standards, but not officially certified).

#1. SpringWell Whole House Water Filter System – Best Buy In 2024

Some filtration systems are designed to filter out heavy metals, while others are better for filtering out bacteria. This is why it’s so important to find out what contaminants you’re dealing with before investing in a well water filtration system for your home. Choosing a better well water filtration system for clean drinking water doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s easier when you know which contaminants are in your water, as different filtration systems filter out different harmful contaminants.

Best for Sediments: The GE GXWH40L High Flow Filter

The water that comes out of your household tap travels through miles of pipes, aquifers, and treatment systems before landing in your glass. One of the easiest ways to boost the quality of that water is by using a water filter, be it under your sink, in your fridge, or on your countertop. The Pur filter stood up to heavy usage without developing any problems such as leaks—which was not the case for the Brita filter we also tested. Just something to bear in mind if your household goes through a lot of water. Installing the Pur Advanced is simple—but again, no faucet filter works on faucets with integrated pull-out sprayers. On standard, no-sprayer faucets, you just unscrew the aerator (where the water flows out of the faucet) and screw in the correct adapter.

How to Install a Whole House Water Filter System

That makes it our choice for households that need a lot of filtered water and want it as fast as possible. It adds a sediment prefilter, too, which the AQ-5200 lacks; this may extend the contaminant-filters’ higher flow in homes with sediment-rich water. That said, the AQ-5300+ model—with three liter-bottle-size filters—is much larger than the AQ-5200, and it costs a bit more up front and for replacement filters (about $80 per set or $160 a year). It costs just under $1,000 upfront, and filter replacements (including 2 pre-filters, 1 post carbon block filter, and the RO membrane) cost about $155 a year. We were disappointed that the post-remineralization filter was an add-on at an extra cost. We would advise spending $30 on this filter because the RO process removes healthy minerals from water and we much prefer the taste of water with minerals.

The 8 Best Whole House Water Filters of 2024 to Improve Your Water Quality - Better Homes & Gardens

The 8 Best Whole House Water Filters of 2024 to Improve Your Water Quality.

Posted: Sun, 28 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

For chloramine, it adds catalytic carbon, a more porous—and therefore more reactive—form of activated carbon produced by treating the carbon with high-temperature gas. For cryptosporidium and giardia, Aquasana manufactures its filters in such a way that the pore size is reduced to 0.5 micron, which is small enough to physically capture them. We further narrowed our search by favoring filters that are additionally certified under a relatively new ANSI/NSF standard 401, which covers emerging contaminants, like pharmaceuticals, that are increasingly found in US water.

Some models come with indicators, but if a model doesn’t include one, a slower flow rate or different-colored water are signs that you need to change the filter. To test water filters, we take into account their capacity, how easy they are to set up and, if applicable, how easy they are to pour from. We also read each instruction manual for clarity and look at whether pitcher models are dishwasher safe. We test performance factors like how quickly it filters a cup of water and measure how much water the tap water reservoir can hold. Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have rigorously tested and analyzed more than 30 water filters to find the best ones you can buy. The water filters we're reviewing here include whole-house water filters, under-the-sink water filters, water filter pitchers, water filter bottles and shower water filters.

The Best Water Distillers for Clean Drinking Water

The 3M Aqua-Pure AP903 uses a new Sanitary Quick Change design to help you change the filter easily. The tank on a whole-house water filtration system will need to be replaced every three to 10 years, depending on the size of your system and how much water passes through it. The sediment pre-filter will need to be replaced every three to six months. To find the best whole-house water filter, start by making sure you know the quality of your water and the exact needs of your home.

This type of filter is ideal for removing things such as chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while improving taste. The second stage often consists of a Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF) filter. This is made of brass granules, along with a range of zinc and copper alloys. It filters out heavy metals that don’t break down easily, such as iron or lead, to provide protection for your pipes and fixtures.

How do you clean a whole house water filter?

However, if you have high bacterial contamination, you might need a unit with a UV filter. Although a filter could serve a family of four for a year, it is good that you replace it every six months for optimal performance. You could install shutoff valves at the beginning and end of the system, so you don’t have to drain all the water in the house to replace filters. The good thing is that with this filter you won’t experience a noticeable drop in pressure. The water in your home will feel softer on your skin, and it will also be excellent for cooking and drinking.

You will need to figure out how much water you use that needs to be filtered, the type of water you have (hard water will filter differently than soft water), and other factors. Installation is straightforward, but it is recommended you have a professional installer put the system in. Because it is well water-specific, it is also best used with a POU filter for drinking water. The filters themselves are simple to exchange, and each one will be able to filter up to 50,000 gallons. You also have the option to purchase the 2-stage system or a system designed for heavy-metals removal. The Iron removal system listed here helps restore your city, well or backwoods water to cleaner, clearer better tasting water without a lot of fuss.

This is particularly ideal if you are on a well water system or in a city that regularly issues boil warnings. Now that you know what type of filter you are looking for, check the system to make sure it has the right certifications. Both the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)  and the Water Quality Association (WQA) are reliable sources that provide certifications for water filters. Reach out to your local water utility company and ask for a copy of your water quality report. If the company will not provide the report — or if you are not on a city water system — you can get your water tested independently using a home test kit. You can find out which types of contaminants are in your local tap water by contacting your local municipality or utility provider for a copy of their annual consumer confidence report (CCR).

If you’re looking for a water bottle filter, LifeStraw is a well-known option. Water filters require continuous upkeep—you can’t just install a filter and use the system for an indefinite amount of time. Most filtration systems have an indicator that lets you know when you need to replace their filter.

Express Water has one of the easiest to install whole house water filter systems available. The entire unit can be installed in less than 2 hours, including water pipe cutting. This manufacturer offers a wide range of water filter products, such as faucet-mounted filters, filter pitchers, and large-capacity dispensers (the latter of which CR doesn’t currently test). Pur filters are available at national chains such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sears, Target, and Walmart, and at hardware and plumbing supply stores, drugstores, and online retailers. Water filter pitchers are one of the most widely used types of water filters, but there are other filtration systems available for the home. Factor in your budget, your water consumption, maintenance, and, most importantly, the contaminants found in your water before purchasing a new filter.

The Aquasana AQ-5200 is ANSI/NSF-certified to virtually eliminate a wide array of contaminants, including lead, mercury, pesticides, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and other materials that few of its competitors catch. And it’s one of a handful of filters certified for PFOA and PFOS, two of the so-called forever chemicals  that are of concern to the EPA. Installs without drilling and delivers up to 1.5 gallons of filtered water per minute through your existing faucet.