News

Feb 24, 2025

The 3 Best Whole House Water Filters, Reviewed by BHG

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. The best whole-house water filters to remove sediment, and other contaminants from

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

The best whole-house water filters to remove sediment, and other contaminants from your water supply.

In This Article

Better Homes & Gardens

A whole house water filter is a great investment that helps ensure every drop is free from heavy metals, sediment, and bacteria. Not all filters have the same functions or level of filtration, which is why choosing the right type is important.

“Whole house water filters are specifically designed to clean and purify all the water that flows into your home, which covers everything from drinking water to general household use,” says Rachel Kourey, director of merchandising for The Home Depot.

If you have specific contaminants you want to remove, want to improve the taste and smell of your drinking water, or are looking to eliminate the issues that arise from hard water, we have researched the best whole house water filters to improve your water quality.

According to Kelly Russum, owner of KC's 23 ½ Hour Plumbing & Air Conditioning, the most common contaminants you’ll find in water are chlorine, lead (often found in homes with old pipes), calcium, and magnesium.

Additionally, some water sources may contain PFAS or “forever chemicals” that may cause chronic health issues, or bacteria, viruses, and nitrates from agricultural runoff. “Microplastic is also an emerging concern, especially in municipal water supplies,” Russum says.

“Pesticides and herbicides can also pollute water supply, which is often overlooked, especially in rural areas,” he adds. “To identify less-obvious contaminants in your area, request a detailed water quality report.”

It purifies your entire water supply, but only costs about as much as a standard countertop water filter.

Its 200-gallon filter capacity may not be enough for households with more than four people.

For homes with municipal water (as opposed to well water) and no significant contaminant issues, a single-stage filter should be enough. This NSF-certified filter costs about the same as a countertop water filter but connects directly to your main water line to purify water throughout the entire home.

Use it to remove sediment, rust, and silt from your water supply. It also handles higher water volumes and requires less frequent filter replacements compared to countertop models. Since it’s compact and filters up to 200 gallons, it’s ideal for households with up to four people.

While the filter mainly functions as a standalone unit, it can be integrated within a multi-stage filtration system for larger homes. Replacing the filter is simple, thanks to a built-in shutoff bypass valve that lets you swap filters without turning off your water supply.

We like that it is DIY-friendly, so you can get it going with minimal technical plumbing expertise. It comes with a wrench, but you’ll have to buy wall brackets for it if you plan on mounting the system.

Product Details: Contaminants Filtered: Rust, silt, sediment | Filtration Method: Sedimentation

This filter removes over 80 contaminants, including chlorine and VOCs, while minimizing the effects of hard water and scaling.

It may not be the best option for heavily contaminated water.

The best two-stage filter helps with hard water and scaling. It works whether your water supply is connected to a private well or if you rely on municipal water sources. The sediment pre-filter prevents large particles from seeping through, while the KDF filter removes heavy metals such as mercury and lead.

In total, the filter removes over 80 contaminants including chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), plus reduces odors. It has a total capacity of 100,000 gallons and delivers up to 0.25 gallons of water per second.

The water filter should be changed every six to 12 months—but this may vary depending on water quality, temperature, and water pressure. Replacing the filters is quick and convenient as it comes with an easy-release button and can be taken off with a simple twist.

We appreciate the addition of a pressure gauge to monitor performance. A drop in pressure indicates that the filter might be clogged or need replacement. The system also includes a wrench to help with installation, which is a nice touch.

Although this system is enough for most households, it lacks special features such as a reverse osmosis filtration that you can find with three-stage filters, and may not be as effective if water is heavily contaminated.

Product Details: Contaminants Filtered: Chlorine, VOCs, sediment, mercury, lead, and more | Filtration Method: Sedimentation, heavy metals

Large alloy steel housing makes for increased durability and larger filters that require little maintenance.

While it offers high-level filtration, it doesn’t work on minerals that cause hard water.

This comprehensive multi-stage water filter is the way to go if you have poor water quality. It’s expensive, but well worth the price considering that it is equipped with radial flow filters which purify water while maintaining strong water pressure.

The filtration system consists of a four-layer filter for fine sedimentation, another that removes heavy metals such as iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide, and a carbon filter that removes pesticides, herbicides, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and sediment.

Specifically, it removes up to 95% of iron and manganese, two contaminants that can give water a metallic taste and a nasty odor. The water filter is NSF-certified and appropriate for use in a home or small office. It maintains water pressure and has a high flow rate (up to 15 gallons per minute).

Because its housing weighs a hefty 48 pounds and is made of alloy steel, the filter is durable . Even more important, the large housing means bigger filters, so there is minimal maintenance. As with most systems, filters should be changed every six to 12 months depending on water quality and usage.

It’s a powerhouse filter system that provides clean water for bathing, drinking, doing laundry, and watering plants. Unfortunately, the filter cannot remove minerals that cause water hardness. For that, the manufacturer recommends using a water softener to treat water before filtering.

Product Details: Contaminants Filtered: Iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, sediment | Purification Method: Sedimentation

The AO Smith Single-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System is our pick for the best single-stage whole house water filter because of its moderate price point, easy-to-change filters, and its ability to remove rust, silt and sediment.

Hard water is concerning due to the damage it causes to pipes, in addition to leaving limescale buildup on appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. It can be bad for skin and hair, as excess calcium and magnesium strip away natural oils, causing dryness.

Hard water can also cost you money—Russum points out that if you notice higher electricity bills, it could be an indication that hard water might be clogging the pipes.

Other signs of hard water include “white scale buildup on faucets, soap scum in the sink or shower, and dry skin or hair after showering,” Russum says. “Soft water is the opposite—it lathers easily, leaves no residue, and feels smoother.”

You can find out for sure what type of water you have with a home water testing kit that can be purchased at a home improvement or hardware store.

“There are a wide range of water substances that whole house filters help get rid of, including substances like arsenic, fluoride, heavy metals, and pathogenic bacteria,” Kourey says.

She adds that “factors such as the plumbing system, water runoff, and the age of your home can determine the specific water contaminants you may encounter, which could differ from those affecting your neighbors.”

A common contaminant is chlorine, which is usually used in water treatment centers to disinfect the water as it’s treated. Some filters are also able to remove heavy metals like lead, iron, manganese, chromium, copper, arsenic, and mercury. They can also be helpful for filtering larger particles like sediment, sand, dirt, and rust.

If you want to know exactly which is the best whole house water filter for your home, Kourey suggests testing your water with a water analysis kit to be sure you know exactly what needs to be filtered out.

Some whole house water filters have just one filtration method, but there are some that use multiple stages of filtration to ensure different contaminants can be caught.

Often water filters with multiple stages begin with larger materials like sand, dirt, and sediment. Then, they’re often filtered again with UV or infrared filtration to remove chemicals, fungi, and bacteria. Finally, the water will be filtered once more, sometimes with reverse osmosis, so that the water is clean.

If you're just looking to remove sand and sediment or chlorine and fluoride, then a carbon filter could do the trick. If it’s bacteria, viruses, or heavy metals you’re worried about, then the more filtration steps the better.

Not all whole house water filters clean water in the same way. Carbon filters are able to filter chlorine and sediments by attracting and then absorbing the materials that pass through. There are also filters that use UV (ultraviolet) light, which destroys bacteria without heat or chemicals, using UV radiation.

Infrared filters use heat and light to filter water, and often leave your water feeling softer. Most water filters also typically have some kind of sand or sediment mesh so that any larger materials cannot pass through.

Reverse osmosis systems are great for removing heavy metals (including lead) from water because there are multiple stages of cleaning used. First, the water is pre-filtered to remove sediments and chlorine, and may even go through another carbon filtration. Then, after being stored, the water is filtered again before drinking.

While a whole house water filter can remove harmful contaminants from your water supply, it’s important to avoid over- or under-filtering, Russum says. Filters remove toxins and sediment, but they can also remove beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium, which potentially impact water taste and health benefits.

According to Russum, carbon-based filters are ineffective against bacteria or dissolved solids unless they are paired with specialized systems.

How much you pay comes down to the amount of filtration. The options on our list range from around $30 for a single-stage system to $500 for a three-stage. According to Russum, basic models that remove sediment and chlorine will be the most affordable.

More advanced filter systems that remove VOCs and heavy metals can be priced as high as $2,500, and high-end models with reverse osmosis or UV filtration can go up to $5,000. But the most expensive is not necessarily the best—Rossum suggests a water-quality test to determine what your filtration needs are.

“No single filter type is perfect alone,” Russum says. He recommends a multi-stage system that combines sediment filters, activated carbon, and reverse osmosis for maximum contaminant removal. “UV light can add microbial protection, creating a system that handles everything from chlorine to bacteria effectively.”

If you draw from a well or your municipality does not offer water treatment, or if your water is discolored, cloudy, or has an odor, then a whole house water filter may be a worthy investment.

Whole house water filters are connected to your main supply line, which means all of the water in your house gets filtered. If you don’t get a whole house water filter, you may have a filter installed individually to faucets and sinks, but that would mean not having clean water in the rest of the house.

If you’re on the fence, you can test your water to see whether or not it is necessary. There are a few different tests you can purchase, including some where you test your water yourself using test strips to see which contaminants are present or, some that have you send in a sample of your water to a lab to be analyzed. If sending out a sample, make sure the lab is state-certified.

“Whole house filters cannot treat hard water alone,” Kourey explains. “Hard water is characterized by high concentrations of minerals, typically calcium and magnesium ions. To fully address hard-water issues, the use of a water softener alongside a whole house filter is necessary.”

Water softeners use a process called ion exchange in order to replace those minerals with sodium, making the water less hard. Because whole house water filters remove chemicals and impurities from your water, it can help with your hard-water issues. This does not mean that all whole house water filters can fix a hard-water problem, but some, like the Aquasure Whole House Filtration, our pick for the best for calcium, have a water-softening setting built in.

Andrea Wurzburger is a freelance writer at Better Homes & Gardens. For this story, she spent several hours researching the best whole house water filters by comparing product reviews, customer recommendations, and product specifications. The story was updated by Nor'Adila Hepburn, a writer who specializes in writing in-depth buying guides for Better Homes & Gardens. Experts consulted for the story include Rachel Kourey, director of merchandising for The Home Depot, and Kelly Russum, owner of the KC's 23 ½ Hour Plumbing & Air.