Our Best Whole House Water Filter

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1 Our Best Whole House Water Filter

Everyone knows how important water is for health. Staying hydrated is key to a whole host of different chemical processes in the body, and if you don’t get enough liquid then you’ll likely experience a range of issues including headaches (your brain actually shrinks and pulls away from your skull!), indigestion, dry mouth, bad breath, lethargy, and more.

Water Problems

The only problem is that the water than many of us turn to when thirsty can actually end up doing more harm than good. Water from taps is filled with a whole host of different bacteria, toxins, and other unwanted contaminants. The result is that the water you’re drinking may be lowering your testosterone leading to weight gain, attacking your immune system making you more prone to illness, and generally damaging your health more than helping it! Some of these pollutants are even ‘added in’ by well-meaning local governments. Unbeknownst to them, things like fluoride are actually neurotoxic and can cause brain and nerve damage!

Whole House Water Filter Benefits

This is where a whole house water filter comes in. A whole house water filter – as the name suggests – is a water filter that is effective throughout your entire home. This way, it is able to remove many of the unwanted additives that plague the water supply.

The result is that you should find your water begins to taste better, and that you start to feel better. Users commonly describe the experience of having less ‘brain fog’, of feeling more energetic, and of being less prone to illness. More importantly, drinking purified water like this should have much more impactful benefits in the very long term: leading to a reduced likelihood of cancer, better skin as you age, and better heart health. It can even stave off conditions like Alzheimer’s. Later in this guide, we’ll see why all this is.

And then there’s the fact that many water purifiers also offer additional benefits: such as softening very hard water in order to reduce excess calcium and limescale. This can again improve the taste and smell of your water, as well as helping to extend the lifespan of your appliances.

We’ll explore all this and more over the course of this guide, as well as identifying the very best whole house water filters for your needs.

Our Best Whole House Water Filter

Whole House Water Filter	Reviews	5 Star Rating	5 Star % Rating
Express Water Whole House Water Filter	30+	4.7	Over 80%
iSpring WGB22B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filter	100+	4.6	Over 75%
3M Aqua-Pure Whole House Water Filter System	50+	4.3	Over 75%
Reverse Osmosis Revolution Whole House Water Filter System	15+	4.3	Over 80%
Home Master HMF3SDGFEC 3 Stage Whole House Water Filter	90+	4.2	Over 75%

Things To Consider

When considering your whole house water filter, there are a number of different considerations to take into account. These devices are not all made equally and some are certainly more effective than others. Not only that, but different filters are also better suited to different homes and different situations.

Type Of Water Filtration

One thing to consider for instance then is the type of filtration. How precisely is the water being filtered by the device and what level of filtration is this process capable of delivering?

Carbon Water Filter

A carbon filter for instance is one of the most common types and works by effectively running water through a form of carbon such as activated charcoal, or coconut shells. These are porous materials that despite being quite small, have tunnels running through them that add up to thousands of square meters worth of surface area (yes, the math makes our heads spin too). As the water passes through these tiny holes, the microscopic particles that are causing all the harm will inevitably get trapped along the way, leaving you with fresh and healthy water.

These types of filters are very popular and very effective, but they have drawbacks. For instance, the carbon cartridges will need regularly replacing as the carbon element gradually fills with more and bacteria and toxins until it becomes saturated. Depending on the amount of water used in your home, replacing this frequently can become time consuming and expensive.

Reverse Osmosis Water Filter

Other types of water filter though include reverse osmosis. This method uses a membrane and powerful pressure in order to force the water through said membrane. While the water is able to pass through under the immense force, bacteria, toxins, heavy metals, and the like will end up trapped. This process is just as effective as carbon filtration, but the precise types of contaminant that get removed are slightly different.

Electrolysis Water Filter

Other water filters will use processes such as electrolysis which is said to increase the ORP – Oxidation Reduction Potential – thereby reducing the potential threat of oxidation. This process alkalizes the water, thereby making it safer for the skin and teeth. Some also find that this type of water tastes better.

A sediment trap meanwhile is an element designed specifically to trap and remove sediment such as mud, dirt, and limescale. This is useful for water that is discolored or foul smelling, and it can also help to extend the life of carbon filters by reducing the amount of waste passing through them.

When choosing the right whole house filter for you then, it’s important to consider which types of contaminants you’re dealing with, what type of water you have, how much water you’re likely to need etc. Using this information, you can then determine what the best technology will be for your requirements.

Water Flow

Beyond the type of filter, there are other importance considerations to keep in mind too. For instance, what water flow do you need? This is the flow rate and is often referred to as gallons per minute (GPM). This describes how much water will be available to flow through your system at any given time and the amount you need will depend on the number of people in your home and the types of appliances and installations there.

The average shower head for instance has a flow of 2.5-5gpm. The average toilet requires 5gpm. A dishwasher is often 3gpm.

Now you need to consider that it’s very possible that someone might use the toilet while you are simultaneously taking a shower – requiring a combined flow of up to 10gpm. If your filter system can’t provide this, then the shower will be weak with low pressure, and the toilet flush may be incapable of removing the faeces. A minimum requirement for a single professional is going to be 10gpm. The more people you have in your home though, the more you will need. 20gpm as a minimum is recommended for families, whereas 40gpm is more ideal.

Water Filter Size

You also need to consider the size of the filter. The larger the filter is, the larger the service interval will be. That said, the filter size also impacts on the gpm and the pressure. An ideal filter size for most homes is anywhere between 4.5 and 20”. Consider the filter size as well. The more water will be running through your taps and appliances over any given day, the longer the filter life will need to be. The best carbon filter cartridges for whole house water filter systems tend to last anywhere between 100,000-150,000 gallons.

Other systems can help to extend this number though. For instance, a stand-alone carbon filter with carbon bed can last longer by using a backwashing valve. This basically works by getting the water to flow back through the filter in the reverse direction in order to ‘clear out’ the contaminants that have started to gather there.

Our Best Whole House Water Filter

Whole House Water Filter	Reviews	5 Star Rating	5 Star % Rating
Express Water Whole House Water Filter	30+	4.7	Over 80%
iSpring WGB22B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filter	100+	4.6	Over 75%
3M Aqua-Pure Whole House Water Filter System	50+	4.3	Over 75%
Reverse Osmosis Revolution Whole House Water Filter System	15+	4.3	Over 80%
Home Master HMF3SDGFEC 3 Stage Whole House Water Filter	90+	4.2	Over 75%

Why Get A Whole House Water Filter?

So, with all this in mind, why get a whole house water filter?

The most obvious answer is that a whole house water filter is great for your health and can help you to combat a whole host of different health problems.

What you might not realize is just how much is added to your water that can cause you harm. Here’s just a brief list of some of the things found in the average glass of tap water.

Chlorine

Chlorine is the disinfectant found in swimming pools that can kill off unwanted bacteria. This is a positive thing of course and that’s why it is added to some water supplies in small quantities. What we now know though, is that chlorine not only tastes bad, but is also toxic. This is especially true if it should bond to other substances and create hydrochloric acid. This happens in our guts and can lead to respiratory problems, damaged cells, memory loss, poor balance and other issues.

Lead

Lead doesn’t get intentionally added to the water like chlorine but finds its way there from the inner lining of water pipes as they corrode. Tap water therefore contains 10x more lead than fresh water on average. This is harmful to every single organ in our bodies and can lead to a host of issues such as premature birth, stunted growth, behavioural issues and more. It has also been linked to prostate cancer.

PCBS

Polychlorinated biphenyls. These are used in a host of industrial processes and thus find their way into water despite being actually banned from use!

Arsenic

Yes, arsenic the poison also finds its way into our tap water. This is again because the substance is used in a host of different industrial processes. It leads to a range of cancers (bladder, lung, skin), as well as problems like the disturbingly named ‘blackfoot disease’.

Mercury

This naturally occurring heavy metal is harmless in small quantities but can lead to nerve damage and mental health issues when consumed over long periods.

All this and we haven’t yet touched on the vast amounts of bacteria in our water, the harmful fluoride, or the many estrogenic compounds that threaten to lower testosterone.

For all these reasons, a whole house water filter is a very wise purchase for any health-conscious home-owner.

Our Best Whole House Water Filter

Whole House Water Filter	Reviews	5 Star Rating	5 Star % Rating
Express Water Whole House Water Filter	30+	4.7	Over 80%
iSpring WGB22B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filter	100+	4.6	Over 75%
3M Aqua-Pure Whole House Water Filter System	50+	4.3	Over 75%
Reverse Osmosis Revolution Whole House Water Filter System	15+	4.3	Over 80%
Home Master HMF3SDGFEC 3 Stage Whole House Water Filter	90+	4.2	Over 75%

Why Whole House?

Of course, the other question you might be wondering is why you should get a whole house water filter when you could just get a faucet filter, or even a portable countertop filter.

The answer is that a whole house filter will provide a huge number of practical advantages over smaller and more targeted solutions. It’s important that all of us drink at least seven glasses of water a day. On top of that, we drink multiple cups of tea and coffee, we use water in our cooking, and we use it for brushing our teeth… In short, having a small dispenser of filtered water can’t meet the demands of the average family or even come close.

Whole House Water Filter Conveniences

Then there’s the convenience of being able to get a drink of water from any tap in the home. Having a sink in a bedroom for example is an excellent advantage for those that often wake up tired in the night, or for those that want to be able to brush their teeth without going out and being seen – an en-suite is even better.

And this is particularly pertinent for those with hard water. Hard water contains calcium and limestone deposits which collect to create ‘limescale’. You’ll know you have hard water if ever you see a white crust forming around your taps, or if your kettle has lots of flakes floating in it. Not only does this limescale negatively affect the taste of your water, but it can also have other unwanted effects – for instance it can collect in pipes and machinery (in a dishwasher for instance) – which in turn can negatively impact on its function over time. In short, it can become ‘clogged’ with the minerals and thus stop working sooner. This can get expensive for homeowners!

Because a whole of house water filter works by filtering the water that collects in the water tank, it manages to affect every single tap, every single appliance, and ever single water source in your home.

Our Best Whole House Water Filter

So now you know what to look for when choosing a whole house water filter, and you know why this is such a great purchase for families. The only remaining question is where you can find a product that will do everything you need it to. And to that end, we have collected here some of the best water filter systems on the market today.

Express Water Whole House Water Filter – 3 Stage Home Water Filtration System – Sediment, Charcoal, Carbon Filters – includes Pressure Gauges, Easy Release, and 1” Inch Connections

This water filter uses three stages. That means that rather than choosing just one of the filtration methods, it instead uses three different stages. That means the water is cleansed through three steps in order to create even clearer, healthier, drinks and more. On top of that it also has a very simple and easy installation (always a massive advantage), a particularly great flow (up to 0.25 gallons per second), and long filter lives up to 100,000 gallons or 6/12 months. It’s also good for efficiency in that no water gets lost down the drain.

Main Advantage

The main advantage of this filtration system is that it has the three-step filtration system. This makes it one of the most thorough filter systems on this list, which of course is the most important feature for any filter!

Main Disadvantage

The design of this filter system means that it is not highly modular. In other words, should part of the system fail such as a gage, you will be required to replace the entire product. Seeing as it will be under warranty and all parts are well made, this shouldn’t be a big issue for most users who are likely to have a good experience with it.

Pros

Quick and easy filter changes
Excellent flow
Highly efficient three stage system
Long-lasting filters
Easy monitoring with gages

Cons

Among the more expensive options
Non-modular design more complex to repair

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iSpring WGB22B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System w/ 20-Inch Big Blue Sediment and Carbon Block Filter

The iSpring WGB22B is a two stage whole house filtration system that is capable of doing an incredible job of purifying your home. While it’s not quite as intensive as the previous three step system from Express, it’s nevertheless a very effective option and great value too.

Main Advantage

The main advantage of this system is that the two stage filtration system it uses is highly effective not only against the usual pesticides and bacteria, but also against herbicides, VOCs, and industrial solvents while at the same time maintaining the minerals in the water. This is something not all filters do, and it can result in water that is actually less healthy that has lost some of its nutritional value – not so here!

Main Disadvantage

Some users find that leaving the minerals means that they still get limescale and unwanted sediment in their water. It also does lack some of the more advanced features elsewhere like backwash, reverse osmosis etc.

Pros

Very effective two stage system
100,000 gallons per filter
Leaves mineral content in your water

Cons

Tricky installation
Some users find that the limescale is still there
Missing some of the more advanced features found elsewhere

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3M Aqua-Pure Whole House Water Filtration System – Model AP902

This whole house water filtration system is simple and easy to install and even easier to maintain.

Main Advantage

This single tank is deceptively effective and capable of providing water filtration for the entire home at 20 gallons per minute (gpm) flow rates. Replacing filters is as simple as twisting and swapping!

Main Disadvantage

This is a single stage filter, meaning that

Pros

Easy to install
Very affordable
Easy to change the filter (no wrench necessary)
Large capacity

Cons

Not as comprehensive as multi-stage solutions
Won’t remove as many contaminants or affect softness of water

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Reverse Osmosis Revolution 3/4″ Port Dual Stage Whole House Water Filtration System with Sediment & CTO Filters

This is the first reverse osmosis system on this list, which some find to be more efficient overall. Also uses a multi-stage system that also includes a sediment trap capable of removing dust, dirt, silt, sand and more down to 5 microns.

Main Advantage

The combination of reverse osmosis with the sediment filter is incredibly thorough and will remove even the most microscopic contaminants from the water.

Main Disadvantage

While reverse osmosis is more effective in some ways, it is also less efficient at other specific tasks – such as removing chlorine. It will reduce chlorine but not remove it entirely, meaning you may still get some of the chlorine taste (and some of its harmful effects).

Pros

Good value
Highly effective systems
Removes even the most microscopic elements
Softens hard water
Better taste

Cons

Difficult to install – requires some plumbing experience
Won’t entirely remove all contaminants (chlorine)

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Home Master HMF3SDGFEC Whole House 3-Stage Water Filter with Fine Sediment, Iron, and Carbon

This system is another three stage behemoth that combines a sediment trap with an iron filter and iron filter.

Main Advantage

This system can remove up to 95 percent of iron, manganese, sediment, chemicals and more. This is about more than just hygiene and it truly shows. Even the appearance makes this obvious with the huge filter housings.

Main Disadvantage

This is a very difficult to install product and in fact it is once again only really advisable for those with experience with plumbing to attempt.

Pros

Removes sulphur smell
Excellent at eradicating toxins and sediment in particular
100,000 gallon capacity filters

Cons

Very difficult to install
Multiple failure points mean some people experience issues with odour still

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Final Thoughts

As you can see then, there are a huge number of benefits to getting a whole house water filter and any of these products will more than do the job for you. The only difficulty then is in choosing specifically which you are going to invest in. That comes down to looking at your own water, the needs of your household, and what you intend to get from your filter. Are you looking to remove all contaminants? Do you want to leave the minerals behind or soften the water up? Would you rather use reverse osmosis? Do you need a sediment trap?

Whatever you decide, one of these five top whole house water filters should do the job you need it to. And you’ll be drinking fresher, clearer water in no time!

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