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Whole house water filters help keep sediments, harsh chemicals and smells out of your home. What a filter prevents from entering your water can vary so it’s important to find a filter that caters best to your needs. Some filters work better for well water or can have a bigger impact on softening hard water. Discover the best whole house water filters and learn how they filter differently.

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3M Aqua-Pure™ AP900 Series Model #AP904

3M’s Aqua-Pure™ AP904 whole house water filter boasts some impressive numbers, like a 20 gallon per minute flow rate and a 100,000 gallon filter capacity. The 25-year warranty will also impress. The 100,000 gallon filter capacity might not live up to its billing as some customers have said their filter did not last that long. How long a filter lasts can depend on usage, water conditions and other factors.

The 904 model has NSF/ANSI standard 42 certification, which is the lowest certification level, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just means that those filters will reduce impurities like chlorine and taste/odor problems. The filter is carbon activated.

Aquasana Rhino® Well Water with UV Model #EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST

Aquasana features a robust filtering system and has some tremendous add-ons available. This model includes a pre-filter, a filter and a post-filter. The filter uses copper-zinc and minerals to stone reduce chlorine and heavy metals while activated carbon removes herbicides, pesticides, PFOA/PFOS, VOCs and more.

This model is designed specifically for well water and the UV filter helps block bacteria, viruses and other contaminants found in well water. Aquasana also has a salt-free water filter as an add-on to help prevent buildup so you don’t have to buy salt pellets or worry about adding salt to the environment.

Aquasana whole house filters tend to cost in excess of  $2,000,  so it’s quite the investment. But it could be worth it if your water has significant issues.

G.E. Appliances System Model #GXWH40L

The nice thing about this G.E. filtration system is that it connects easily to your main water supply and it comes at a reasonable price. It uses a clear canister, which is great when you’re wondering if it’s time for a new filter. It’ll reduce chlorine, sediment, rust, scale and dirt in your water and accommodate a maximum flow rate of 15 gallons per minute.

This model doesn’t come with a filter and the filter needs to be replaced every three months. Customers have reported issues with the canister and the bypass relief valve breaking down.

SoftPro Water Systems Whole House Upflow Catalytic Carbon Filter

SoftPro’s water filter will remove 99% of contaminants along with many other impurities using its catalytic carbon filter, which also eliminates minute metal materials and chloramine. It has a 1 million gallon filtering capacity and an expected lifespan of seven to 10 years.

SoftPro’s filter doesn’t use any electricity and doesn’t produce wastewater, making it an attractive choice for eco-friendly-minded homeowners.

The filter has to be purchased through SoftPro or a SoftPro authorized dealer and won’t soften hard water. Like other filters, it won’t remove total dissolved solids, and a UV filter is an additional cost.

Whirlpool Central Water Filtration System Model #WHELJ1

The lifetime filter is the big draw for this Whirlpool filtration system. The system will clean the filter every two weeks at a programmed time to eliminate the need of purchasing filters throughout the year. This model does a great job of filtering chlorine and sediment, but it won’t filter other contaminants like other filtration systems.

It’s rated for a flow rate of 6 GPM, which is adequate for an average household, but not as high as other filtration systems.

G.E. Appliances Whole House Water Filtration System Model #GXWH04F

If you’re looking to get rid of a chlorine smell and taste to your water, then this G.E. water filtration system is a good option. You’ll get a good maximum flow rate of 12 GPM, which is adequate for an average household. Plus, the filtration system comes with a magnetic reminder light you can keep on your refrigerator so you know when to replace the filter.

The filter does need changing every three months and is only NSF/ANSI Standard 42 certified. This filtration system will not remove harsh chemicals but it will get rid of sediment.

Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter Model #WH300SCKS

NSF/ANSI certified, this Express whole house water filter is pretty easy to use and has the power needed for bigger households. With a 15 gallon per minute flow rate, there shouldn’t be a noticeable reduction in water pressure. The filters have a lifespan of about six months or 100,000 gallons. Customers suggest using silicone grease when installing new filters to get a tight fit to prevent any leaks.

SpringWell Water Whole House Water Filter System 1,000,000 Gallons Capacity Model #CF1

This SpringWell model has a lot of upside because it has a 1 million gallon capacity, so you’ll never run out of clean, filtered water. SpringWell uses a four-stage filtering system, which is an additional stage than others on the market. SpringWell also has the distinction of having Bluetooth connectivity, making it easy to operate from your phone.

Like a lot of other whole house filters, SpringWell’s filter needs an add-on for well water and won’t filter bacteria. Installation is more complicated than others and might need the assistance of a plumber or handyman.

Aquasana Rhino® 600,000 Gallons Model #EQ-600

The Rhino® 600,000 gallon model has many of the same features as the well water model, but it comes at a fraction of the price. Rhino® uses an upflow dual tank that helps prevent clogging, which is a frequent complaint from whole house water filter users. This model does not have a UV filter like the well water model and it won’t reduce total dissolved solids like some water filters.

Pentair Water Solutions Water Filter & Pelican Water Softener Alternative Combo System Model #PSE1800-P

This Pentair system is robust and the water softener component makes it a great choice for homes with hard water issues. The system works well with well water, too. The water softener is great because it doesn’t use any electricity or produce any wastewater while not using any salt.

The carbon filter has a lifespan of five years on average but the pre-filter needs more frequent changing, usually every six to nine months.

This Pentair system tends to run on the higher end of cost and installation might be tougher for the average DIYer.

A whole house water filter system works to keep contaminants out of your water while removing sediment, bad odors and taste. It typically connects to your main water supply and filters out chlorine and other chemicals. Some filter systems include water softeners to reduce the impact of hard water.

It’s important to know what’s in your water that you want to filter. Filter systems should remove chlorine and sediment at a minimum. After that, filter systems can remove chemicals, volatile organic compounds, scale, minerals and metals. How much a filter system removes can vary greatly between manufacturers.

A filter’s capacity matters because it will determine how often you need to purchase a new filter. Filter capacity and lifespan can have a wide range depending upon how much water you use and the quality of water that you’re filtering. Filters become ineffective once they fill up.

Home filtration systems tend to impact the flow rate in a home, or at least it’s a frequent complaint of homeowners who install them. The flow rate determines how much water can pass through the filter at one time. A 5 gpm filter is typically adequate for one to two people in a one or two-bathroom home.

Most water filtration systems can be installed by yourself, however, some of the higher-end models will need professional installation. Anytime you’re dealing with water, you want to make sure you know what you’re doing because any error can lead to catastrophic damage to your home. If you’re not comfortable installing a filtration system, call a pro.

The NSF tests and rates water filters and has developed requirements for safety and performance. The number signifies the order the requirement or protocol was established, not a rating.

A home water filtration system is a quick way to eliminate poor tasting water. Filtration systems will eliminate chlorine, which is often the cause of the poor taste.

Cloudy water could contain impurities like sediment and a whole house water filter can help remove sediment.

Whole house water filter systems can help remove chemicals and VOCs. Some will even remove herbicides, pesticides, iron and heavy metals.

Water filtration systems can significantly decrease chlorine levels in your water. Most can remove around 80% while some can remove up to 99%.

Whole home water filter systems with a water softener function can reduce the impact of hard water. Most systems can’t reduce hard water on their own and will need some sort of water softener. Some models have salt-free water softening and others don’t even use electricity.

To determine the best whole house water filter system ranking, the Forbes Home Improvement editorial team analyzed third-party data on 23 whole house water filter systems, with each product’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:

The installation cost of a whole house water filtration system depends on the type of water filter system you purchase. Some filtration systems cost less than  $30  and can be installed by yourself. Other systems cost  $1,000  or more and will require professional installation. On average, a whole house water filtration system can cost  $2,000  to be installed.

The best whole house filter is the one that will address all of your concerns with your water. You might not need a system that includes UV filtering. If your water has several issues, you’re going to want to find a filtration system that can tackle multiple issues.

A whole house filter is worth it if you purchase a lot of bottled water or have well water. If you detect contaminants in your water, a filtration system can be worth the investment, too.

A whole house water filter needs to be installed near your water main shutoff, which is typically in the basement or a utility closet. Some systems can be installed outside.

Nick is a content creator with a background in DIY home renovation, maintenance, repair and trends. When he's not writing, Nick likes to rehab vintage or kitsch furniture for his home.