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9 Best Whole House Water Filters for Well Water in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Carbon cartridges and a glass of water on a wooden background

Carbon cartridges and a glass of water on a wooden background_ivan_kislitsin_shutterstock The average household uses around 100 gallons of water every day. Having a well allows you to access the water you need for free, but there is a multitude of contaminants and bacteria lurking in the water. Installing a filtration system on every faucet and shower is inconvenient and costly.

A whole house water filter is attached at the source, eliminating the need for individual filters. With the right filter, you can run every faucet at once, drawing purified, clean water. It’s better for you and can protect your appliances from water contaminants.

The best whole-house filter costs only a little more than an under-sink filter. It should be easy to install, match your maximum and typical flow rates, and should not need changing too frequently.

There are many benefits to having a whole house filter, but there is a seemingly varied assortment of devices on the market, making choosing the right one challenging. Using our list of in-depth reviews, you can narrow down your options and find the ideal filer for your home.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
iSpring WGB32BM Whole House Water Filter iSpring WGB32BM Whole House Water Filter
  • 3-stage filtration
  • Removes chlorine taste
  • 100
  • 000-gallon capacity
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Aquaboon Whole House Well Water Filter System Aquaboon Whole House Well Water Filter System
  • Great value for money
  • Works with 20-inch cartridges
  • FDA approved materials
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Aquasana EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST Water Filter System Aquasana EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST Water Filter System
  • 6-stage filtration system
  • 20-inch pre-filter
  • Filtration for 500
  • 000 gallons
  • Express Water WH300SCKS Whole House Water Filter Express Water WH300SCKS Whole House Water Filter
  • Pressure gauges above each filter
  • Freestanding installation rack
  • Clear sediment filter
  • iFilters Well Water Whole House Filtration System iFilters Well Water Whole House Filtration System
  • Cheap
  • 6-month filter life
  • Removes 95% of sediment

  • The 9 Best Whole House Water Filters for Well Water

    1. iSpring WGB32BM Whole House Water Filter – Best Overall

    1iSpring WGB32BM

    The iSpring WGB32BM is a three-stage whole-house water filter. The sediment filter first removes any large particles and debris. This minimizes clogging while also ensuring greater filtration results from the second stage filter, which is the carbon block. The carbon block features compact, high-quality coconut shell carbon. The carbon block removes pesticides, herbicides, chlorine, and other pollutants. The third filtration stage reduces iron levels and minimizes lead to below 15 parts per billion, which is considered a safe drinking water level.

    With a peak flow rate of 15 gallons per minute and 25 PSI minimum working pressure, the iSpring WGB32BM is effective for households of up to four people. Although the iSpring removes more iron and other contaminants than a standard water softener, the company recommends installing a separate water softener if your water is measured as having more than 700 TDS.

    Two things held us up from giving this filter a perfect review. It was a bit tricky to install and seemed to meet its limit with highly polluted water. Overall, however, we think it’s the best whole-house filter this year.

    Pros
    • 3-stage filtration
    • Removes chlorine taste
    • 100,000-gallon capacity
    • Reduces heavy metals
    Cons
    • May require separate water softener
    • Tricky to install

    2. Aquaboon Whole House Well Water Filter System – Best Value

    2Aquaboon Big Blue

    The Aquaboon Big Blue is a filter housing system that will accept a range of 20-inch filters. The filters are not included when buying the housing, so you must purchase these separately. However, even after buying filters, the Big Blue from Aquaboon is the best whole-house water filter for well water for the money.

    The unit incorporates a pressure release button inside the cap, which makes changing the filter more straightforward and less messy. A double-O ring also ensures water does not leak outside the filter system.

    Thanks to its large capacity housing, the Aquaboon whole-house well water filter system is especially effective for use with wells with heavy-sediment water or where high water flow rates are required. It is made from FDA-approved, food-grade materials, ensuring that it doesn’t add to the pollutants in your water, and it includes the brackets and all other fittings required to install the filter in your well water system.

    Pros
    • Great value for money
    • Works with 20-inch cartridges from various manufacturers
    • FDA approved materials
    • Double-O ring attachment prevents leaks
    Cons
    • Need to buy filters separately

    3. Aquasana EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST Water Filter System – Premium Choice

    3Aquasana

    The Aquasana EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST water filter system is an advanced six-stage system designed specifically for use with well water. It is on the pricey side and costs several times more than some of the other systems we reviewed, but Aquasana states that it will clean your water for 5 years, or roughly 500,000 gallons of water.

    Water passes through a pre-filter to remove sediment before reaching the salt-free softener. The premium filter system also includes a mineral stone filter, activated carbon, a post filter, and a UV filter. It has proven especially effective for water with high sediment levels, thanks to its giant 20-inch pre-filter.

    It also reduces up to 97% of chlorine in the water while eliminating heavy metals, so your water tastes great and won’t stain your glassware or damage your appliances. The salt-free softener also negates the need to replace salt, while the filters will need to be changed approximately every 3 months.

    The price is this unit’s biggest drawback, while its complexity requires a professional installer, and the multiple filters take up a lot of room. Overall, it is a powerful and effective filter.

    Pros
    • 6-stage filtration system
    • 20-inch pre-filter removes heavy sediment
    • Filtration for 5 years or 500,000 gallons
    • No need to replace salt in the softener
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Bulky
    • Difficult to install

    4. Express Water WH300SCKS Whole House Water Filter

    4Express Water Heavy Metal

    The three-stage Express Water WH300SCKS water filter boasts a 15 GPM flow rate at a pressure between 45 and 80 PSI. Water passes through a sediment filter to remove coarse debris like sand and rust before the Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (HDF) filter removes heavy metals. Finally, your well water is passed through an Activated Carbon Block (ACB) that effectively captures chlorine, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals that can give water an off-taste.

    Express Water boasts that each filter will last between 6 months and a year, depending on the quality and cleanliness of your water. The model includes handy pressure gauges on top of each filter, which indicate if you have a blockage and when filters need replacing. These can help save money because they prevent you from replacing incorrect filters or the whole lot every time you change them.

    The WH300SCKS also comes with a freestanding frame, so you don’t have to attach brackets to your wall unless you want to. There were a few hang-ups with this filter. First, we experienced leaking connections, even after applying several layers of Teflon tape. Secondly, we found that the water pressure dropped drastically between the filtration stages, which caused a problem with showers and following heavy water use.

    Pros
    • Pressure gauges above each filter
    • Freestanding installation rack
    • Clear sediment filter is easy to monitor
    Cons
    • Leaks
    • Loss of water pressure

    5. iFilters Well Water Whole House Filtration System

    5Well Water

    The well water whole house filtration system from iFilters is an inexpensive system that has two-stage filtration and includes the filters. It is best for light use because its 3 GPM flow rate is lower than most other models, but it matches its price tag. iFilters state that filters will last approximately 6 months before they need changing, but the actual frequency you will have to change your filter depends on water quality.

    Once installed, your well water passes through a sediment filter, which rids the water of sand, rust, and other large sediments. The sediment-free water is then passed through a coconut carbon filter, removing heavy metals, mercury, pollutants, and chlorine, ensuring that you have odorless and clean water from every faucet.

    Although this model has a reasonable price, it lacks the third filtration stage that most models offer, and it also lacks the power of most filter systems. It is best reserved for those with minimal water needs.

    Pros
    • Cheap
    • 6-month filter life
    • Removes 95% of sediment
    Cons
    • Only a 2-stage filtration system
    • 3 GPM flow rate

    6. Home Master Whole House Water Filtration System

    6Home Master

    The Home Master HMF3SDGFEC is a whole-house water filtration system. It has a flow rate of 15 gallons per minute and a capacity of 1 million gallons of water. Home Master says the filters will only need replacing approximately every 6 months to a year, depending on the water quality before filtration.

    The first filtration stage utilizes a high-capacity PP sediment filter. This removes large particles of sediment, including rust, sand, and dirt. The second stage removes iron, manganese, and sulfur, and it uses a radial flow design that prevents a drop in water pressure. The final filter is a coconut shell carbon filter, which removes potentially harmful, foul-tasting, and odorous chemicals from the water.

    The filters are oversized, so they are a little bulkier, but this enables the water to pass through without losing pressure, and it also means that the filters are less likely to become clogged, so maintenance requirements are minimized. Unfortunately, we thought the Home Master filter did not do a good job of removing the sulfur smell. On top of that, after a few weeks, the water was yellow and high in iron again.

    Pros
    • Oversized filters mean easier maintenance
    • Very little loss of water pressure
    • Three-stage filtration
    Cons
    • Doesn’t do a great job removing sulfur smell
    • Iron quickly returns to the water
    • Installation can be difficult

    7. Pro Aqua ELITE Whole House Water Filter

    7PRO+AQUA

    The Pro Aqua ELITE is a three-stage whole-house water filter that provides a 99% reduction of chlorine and heavy metals, which not only make your water look and taste foul, but can also leave lasting rust damage on your sinks, bathtubs, washers, and dishwashers. The system is designed for use in small to medium homes, and each filter has a life of up to 100,000 gallons of water or 6 to 12 months, depending on the quality of your water.

    It has a flow rate of up to 15 GPM and is modestly priced. It also includes a heavy-duty bracket for fixing the filter by the well and has water pressure gauges above each filter so that you can determine where the pressure loss is coming from and exactly which filter needs replacing. However, we experienced leaks early on in our testing. And if you have very dirty water, you may need to invest in a bigger and more powerful filtration system.

    Pros
    • Modestly priced
    • Water pressure gauges
    • 99% reduction of chlorine and other contaminants
    Cons
    • Leaks
    • Not as effective on dirty water

    8. 3M Aqua-Pure AP903 Whole House Water Filter System

    8 3M Aqua-Pure

    The small, portable 3M Aqua-Pure AP903 has two stages of filtration: a particulate filter, which rids the water of large particles, including sand and rust, and a carbon filter which reduces chlorine and minimizes the taste and smell of your water. Although the 3M Aqua-Pure is suitable for city water and well water and has an impressive 20 gallons per minute flow rate, it struggles to purify all but the clearest of well water and is better for city water.

    However, it is a portable design and, as a result, is easy to fix. 3M states that a filter will last 12 months or 100,000 gallons of water, and the unit includes a magnetic display timer to remind owners when it is time to change the unit. The 3M filter also works with three different filter types, with a universal fixing, and you can choose the filtration system for you.

    Pros
    • Small and portable
    • Cheap
    • Choice of filter systems
    • Does a good job of eliminating chlorine
    Cons
    • Ineffective for most well supplies
    • Filter lasts as little as one month

    9. EcoPure EPWO4 Whole Water Filter

    9EcoPure

    The EcoPure EPWO4 is a 10-inch large-capacity water filter housing unit. It is compatible with EcoPure’s range of 10-inch filters and 10-inch filters from other major manufacturers. It is pretty cheap, but you need to buy the filters to go into the housing because none are included. Also, if you want a three-stage filter, you must buy three housing units and three individual filters. The cost soon adds up, and connecting multiple housing units and filters is not as simple as buying a single three-stage filter.

    We have our fair share of complaints about this filter. First, it’s incredibly difficult to install. Secondly, we had trouble finding appropriately sized O-rings to tighten the seal. And lastly, we experienced leaks after just a few weeks. Overall, the quality is much lower than other units on our list. Buyer beware.

    Pros
    • Cheap for a single filter
    • 10-inch universal housing
    Cons
    • You need multiple units for multiple filtration stages
    • Difficult to put together
    • Leaks
    • Easily breaks or cracks

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    In Conclusion

    Above, we have compiled a list of in-depth reviews of the best whole-house water filters for wells. We have included single-, three-, and even six-stage filtration systems so that you can find the system that best meets your home setup and your requirements.

    Overall, we found the iSpring WGB32BM to be the best system, with a three-stage filtration, a competitive price range, and few issues with installation or use. If you’re on a tight budget, the Aquaboon filtration housing system, which works with just about any 20-inch filter cartridge, provides many benefits at a really good price.


    Featured Image Credit: ivan_kislitsin, Shutterstock

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