The Best Whole-House Water Filters of 2022

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Whole-house water filters aren’t necessarily a home essential, but they are a popular home purchase due to their positive benefits. With so many choices out there, finding the best whole-house water filter for your needs can be overwhelming. To help, we’ve answered some top questions and compiled a list of our favorite whole-house water filters for 2022.

Types of Whole-House Water Filters

Cartridge Whole-House Water Filters

Cartridge filters are the first type of whole-house water filter. They can remove various kinds of contaminants, including heavy metals, sediment, organic chemicals, and more, ranging in size from .04 to 500 microns. Here are the stages of cartridge filters.

• One-stage whole-house water filters include a single filtrations tank to remove sediment. They are the most basic type of filtration system and also work well with water softeners to reduce heavy metals in water.
• Two-stage whole-house water filters have two filtration tanks to filter sediment, dirt, sand, chlorine, and rust.
• Three-stage whole-house water filters include three filters to remove a full suite of contaminants, including heavy metals, sediment, organic matter, chlorine, pesticides, and more. They are the most powerful whole-house water filter cartridge system.

Reverse Osmosis Whole-House Water Filters

Reverse osmosis filters remove contaminants differently than a cartridge and can be very expensive. These filters are highly effective in removing even the smallest contaminants, but they are also challenging to maintain.

Best Whole-House Water Filters of 2022

If you’re looking for the best whole-house water filer. Here are the top options on the market this year.

• Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter
• GE GXWH04F Water System
• Aquasana EQ-1000-AST-UV-AMZN Whole House Filter
• 3M Aqua-Pure Whole House Sanitary Quick Change
• iFilters Whole House 2 Stage Sediment
• iSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration
• iSpring WGB21B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filtration
• Culligan WH-HD200-C Whole House Heavy Duty

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Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter

This three-stage whole-house water filter is the best type of cartridge filter and removes a wide range of contaminants, including sediment, sand, rust, dirt, iron, lead, chloramine, algae, viruses, and more. The cartridges last up to a year and require incoming pipes one inch in diameter. This water filtration system is a three-stage water filtration system with a flow rate of 15 GTM and is easy to install.

Pros

• Cartridge life of six months to one year
• Can remove small five-micron contaminants
• Cartridges are easy to replace and twist-off
• Frame made of steel included

Cons

• Solids that are dissolved do not filter
• Need one-inch pipes

2. GE GXWH04F Water System

General Electric’s whole-house water filter is budget friendly and offers a range of filtration capabilities. Cartridges last for up to three months. It is a one-stage filtration system with a flow rate of four to 12 GPM and is easy to install.

Pros

• Great at filtering sediment, including dirt, silt, and rust
• Replace cartridge after three months
• Connections of inlets only need to be three-quarter inches
• Brackets for mounting included

Cons

• Some users have reported manufacturing defects.

3. Aquasana EQ-1000-AST-UV-AMZN Whole House Filter

The Aquasana whole-house water filtration system is the best option for a combination of filtering and softening your water. Cartridges last for up to three months and remove several contaminants. The price is a little high relative to other systems but removes 99.9 percent of microorganisms and 97 percent of chlorine and works with either 3/4-inch or 1-inch pipes. Overall, the product includes carbon and KDF filtrations, has a flow rate of 7 GPM, and is moderately challenging to install.

Pros

• Comes with a UV purifier
• Excellent filtration of microorganisms, minerals, and chlorine
• The lifespan of cartridges is three months.
• Comes with a kit to install

Cons

• Can be pricey
• Shipping of parts may come separately

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4. 3M Aqua-Pure Whole House Sanitary Quick Change

This 3M Aqua-Pure whole-house water filter is rated the best one-stage filtration cartridge system. It removes sand, dirt, chlorine, rust, and other materials. The filter lasts for six months and offers an easily changeable cartridge with a latch instead of unscrewing the filter. Overall, the 3M Aqua is a one-stage filtration product with a flow rate of 10 to 20 GPM and is easy to install.

Pros

• Cartridges last for six months
• Compatible with one-inch inlets
• Cartridges easy to replace
• Certified as NSF/ANSI 42

Cons

• May not be the best option for well water
• Some users have reported issues with filtration

5. iFilters Whole House Two Stage Sediment

The iFilters whole-house water filter is a two-stage filtration system that removes sediment and contaminants. This water filter system improves the taste and quality of your water and removes particles that are five microns or larger. The system works with three-quarter-inch pipes, and you replace the filter every six months. Overall, the iFilter Whole House filter is a two-stage filtration system, has a flow rate of three to six GPM, and is easy to install.

Pros

• Filter sediment and carbon
• Works with three-quarter-inch pipes
• Comes with a pressure relief valve
• Works with any home due to universal ports

Cons

• Some users have reported decreased water pressure and manufacturing defects.

6. iSpring WGB32B Three-Stage Whole House Water Filtration

The iSpring filter is rated the best three-stage filtration system with three tanks. It removes sand, dust, silt, iron, manganese, and other heavy metals. Cartridges need to be changed about every six months. This product is a three-stage filtration system with a flow rate of 15 GPM and is easy to install.

Pros

• Cartridges remove sediment and carbon
• Removes harmful chemicals, chlorine, manganese, iron, and VOCs
• The cartridge is GAF and KDF
• The cartridge can last for up to 12 months

Cons

• Not suitable for use in sunlight or freezing temperatures
• Some users have reported leaks

7. iSpring WGB21B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filtration

This whole home water filter is perfect for filtering city water and removes up to 97 percent of chlorine from water. No particles larger than 5 microns pass through the filters, and cartridges last for about six months. The two-stage filtration system has a 15 GPM flow rate and is easy to install.

Pros

• Works well with city water or healthy water
• Compatible with one-inch connections
• Comes with a carbon filter
• Already assembled in the mounting bracket upon receipt.

Cons

• Does not filter out total reduced solids
• It may require an additional reverse osmosis system.

8. Culligan WH-HD200-C Whole House Heavy Duty

The Culligan whole-house filter has a heavy-duty sediment filter and can be used with up to 12 Culligan filter cartridges. You must change the cartridge every three to four months or with heavy-duty cartridges every six months. This product is the best filter for one-inch pipes and one-inch inlet and outlet connections. However, this is a one-stage filtration system with a flow rate of four to ten GPM and is moderately challenging to install.

Pros

• Removes heavy-duty sediment
• Works with 12 types of Culligan branded cartridges
• Cartridges can last for up to three to six months
• Affordable option

Cons

• Some users report difficulty when installing.

How to Choose The Best Whole-House Water Filter

Consider several factors before selecting a whole-house water filtration system. Understand types of contaminants, the flow rate of the filter, and what is required to install and maintain the filter.

Contaminants

There are many types of contaminants in water, whether you live on city water or well water. The contaminants span from chlorine to sediment to heavy metals and many other styles. A three-stage filtration system removes the most impurities, and a one-stage removes the least. Check the National Drinking Water Database to learn which contaminants are primarily found in your water.

Flow Rate of Water

The rate of the water flow of your whole-house filter is the maximum amount of water that can pass through your filtration system at a given time. The rate is measured as gallons per minute or GPM. For large appliances that use a lot of water, most filters need to have an average flow of about five GPM. Whole-house systems should have a higher rate, closer to ten to 25 GPM.

Installation and Maintenance

Whole-house water filters require more to install and maintain than faucet filters. They need the water to be shut off in the whole house, the pipes to be drained, and a professional plumber or installer from the water filtration company. Most cartridge filters last around three to six months, but some last up to a year. Also, changing the cartridge should be easy to do on your own.

Certification

NSF International rates the best whole-house water filters. It is an organization that develops water filtration public health standards. If NSF International gives a filter an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) certification, the product should be good and meets the minimum requirements for a filtration system. These certifications can also be called NSF/ANSI certifications, and there are several levels to these standards.

They include the following:

• NSF/ANSI 42filters
• NSF/ANSI 44filters
• NSF/ANSI 53filters
• NSF/ANSI 55filters
• NSF/ANSI 58filters
• NSF/ANSI 401filters
• NSF/ANSI 244 and 231 filters

Softening Capability

Another component of whole-house water filters beyond filtering out contaminants is softening the water. These filters are advised for those with hard water in their homes. The water softener treats the water with salt molecules that bind to hard metals such as calcium, magnesium, and other minerals and makes them inert.

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Which whole house water filter removes the most contaminants?

The top whole-house water filter is the Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter.

Which water purifier is best in 2022?

There are many water filter varieties, but one of the leading whole-house water purifiers this year is the Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter.

Which is better reverse osmosis or filtration?

Compared with reverse osmosis, carbon filtration is best for removing contaminants, chlorine, sediment, and other materials and odors from water.

How do I choose a whole house water filter?

If you’re trying to decide, Learn about the type of water in your area by visiting the National Drinking Water Database to learn what contaminants may be in your water, so you select the best kind of filter.

How much should a whole house water filtration system cost?

Filtration systems range from $1000 on the low end to $3100 on the high end. So if you use a filtration system that is not for the whole house but at the sink level, it will cost from $150 to $1200, and you install it yourself.

What should we check before buying a water purifier?

Before buying water purifier, you should consider the contaminants the purifier removes, the water flow rate, what is required to install and maintain the purifier, and the product’s certification.

Is active copper good for health?

Proponents of active copper believe it is enriched with substances that eliminate harmful bacteria and reduce stomach inflammation.

How long do whole house water filters last?

Most last up to six months, but some need to be changed every three to four months.

Does a whole house water filter remove calcium?

Most filters offer a multi-stage filtering process to remove contaminants, but not all are designed to remove calcium from your water.

Which is the best alkaline water purifier?

The Apex countertop drinking filter is rated highly for removing alkaline.

Summary

If you’re looking for the best whole-house water filter, make sure you perform your research. This article is a great place to start! There are several filters that also remove sediment, sand, rust, dirt, and more. In addition, higher-quality filters can eliminate contaminants that are as small as five microns, and some cartridges last up to a year before needing to be replaced. Examine each of the best whole-house water filters listed in this article to help you decide which is best for your needs.