Best Whole House Water Filter in 2025? We Tested 5 Systems!

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Authors: Sara, Adam, and Raoul | Last Updated: 2025/10/06

Adam in His Basement in Front of SpringWell CF Whole House Water Filter

About This Guide

So far we’ve tested and compared 5 different whole house water filters – and many more will follow – to find out which are best! For each system, here’s what we did:

  1. Hands-on experience: We set up, used, and maintained it.
  2. Filtration effectiveness: We sent an unfiltered and a filtered tap water sample to a professional lab for analysis in order to determine real-life contaminant reduction capabilities. Plus, we checked for NSF certifications and other test data.
  3. More testing: We performed a taste & odor test.
  4. All other product aspects: We considered initial + long-term costs, warranties, additional features, frequent customer complaints, etc.

DIY Systems Only!

This guide focuses exclusively on whole house water filters you can purchase directly and install yourself – no appointments, in-home consultations, or professional installation required.

Our Top 4 Whole House Water Filter Picks at a Glance

Model Image Rating Buy Here
USWS Bodyguard Plus
(Incl. Interceptor Pre-Filter)
USWS Bodyguard Plus (Incl. Interceptor Pre-Filter) trophy top pick

4.80/5.00

Check Current Price
USWS Bodyguard Plus (Incl. Interceptor Pre-Filter)
Verdict (Best For): Best for More Demanding City Water Supplies
 
Improving Overall Water Quality, Taste, and Odor
Primarily Removes: Chlorine/Chloramine, Disinfection Byproducts, Forever Chemicals (PFAS), Pesticides, Pharmaceuticals, Other Organics, Certain Metals Incl. Lead, Sediment, Silt, etc.
Filtration: 5.00/5.00
Usability: 5.00/5.00
Costs: 4.00/5.00
Buy Here: uswatersystems.com (Use Code BESTRO-5 for 5% Off!)
Detailed Review: Coming Soon
Additional Link(s): Regular Bodyguard System w/o Backwashing: uswatersystems.com (Use Code BESTRO-5 for 5% Off!)
USWS Bodyguard Fluoride Removal Filter USWS Bodyguard Fluoride Removal Filter trophy top pick

4.80/5.00

Check Current Price
USWS Bodyguard Fluoride Removal Filter
Verdict (Best For): Fluoride Reduction
Primarily Removes: Fluoride
Comment: Chlorine Needs to Be <0.1 ppm So We Recommend the USWS Bodyguard Plus or Another Carbon-Based Whole House Filter for Pre-Treatment
Filtration: 5.00/5.00
Usability: 5.00/5.00
Costs: 4.00/5.00
Buy Here: uswatersystems.com (Use Code BESTRO-5 for 5% Off!)
Detailed Review: Coming Soon
SpringWell CF SpringWell CF trophy great

4.60/5.00

Check Current Price
SpringWell CF
Verdict (Best For): Best for Standard City Water and Easy Installation
 
Improving Overall Water Quality, Taste, and Odor
Primarily Removes: Chlorine/Chloramine, Disinfection Byproducts, Forever Chemicals (PFAS), Pesticides, Pharmaceuticals, Other Organics, Certain Metals Incl. Lead, Sediment, Silt, etc.
Filtration: 4.75/5.00
Usability: 5.00/5.00
Costs: 3.75/5.00
Buy Here: springwellwater.com (Use Code BOS5OFF for 5% Off!)
Detailed Review: Coming Soon
Kind E-1000 Kind E-1000 trophy great

4.56/5.00

Check Current Price
Kind E-1000
Verdict (Best For): #1 Cartridge-Based
 
Improving Overall Water Quality, Taste, and Odor
Primarily Removes: Chlorine/Chloramine, Disinfection Byproducts, Forever Chemicals (PFAS), Pesticides, Pharmaceuticals, Other Organics, Certain Metals Incl. Lead, Sediment, Silt, etc.
Filtration: 4.75/5.00
Usability: 4.75/5.00
Costs: 3.82/5.00
Buy Here: kindwater.com (Use Code BOS5OFF for 5% Off!)
Detailed Review: Coming Soon

Our Full Analysis of All 5 Whole House Water Filters

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Whole House Water Filter USWS Bodyguard Plus
(Incl. Interceptor Pre-Filter)
USWS Bodyguard Fluoride Removal Filter SpringWell CF Kind E-1000 Express Water 3-Stage Essential (WH-300RS-CGS)
Purchase Links & Codes
uswatersystems.com uswatersystems.com springwellwater.com kindwater.com expresswater.com (Deluxe Version Only)
OR
Amazon
BESTRO-5 – 5% Off! BESTRO-5 – 5% Off! BOS5OFF – 5% Off! BOS5OFF – 5% Off!
Image USWS Bodyguard Plus USWS Bodyguard Fluoride Removal Filter SpringWell CF1 Kind Water Systems E-1000 Express Water 3-Stage Essential
Type Media Tank Media Tank Media Tank Cartridge-Based Cartridge-Based
FINAL RATING
trophy top pick trophy top pick trophy great trophy great
Final Rating 4.80/5.00 4.80/5.00 4.60/5.00 4.56/5.00 4.52/5.00
Verdict (Best For) #1 More Demanding City Water Supplies
 
Improving Overall Water Quality, Taste, and Odor
#1 for Fluoride Reduction #1 for Standard City Water and Easy Installation
 
Improving Overall Water Quality, Taste, and Odor
#1 Cartridge-Based
 
Improving Overall Water Quality, Taste, and Odor
Solid Budget Pick
 
Improving Overall Water Quality, Taste, and Odor
Primarily Removes -Chlorine/Chloramine
-DBPs, PFAS, Pesticides, and Other Organics
-Certain Metals Incl. Lead
-Sediment
-Fluoride -Chlorine/Chloramine
-DBPs, PFAS, Pesticides, and Other Organics
-Certain Metals Incl. Lead
-Sediment
-Chlorine/Chloramine
-DBPs, PFAS, Pesticides, and Other Organics
-Certain Metals Incl. Lead
-Sediment
-Chlorine
-DBPs, PFAS, Pesticides, and Other Organics
-Certain Metals Incl. Lead
-Sediment
Comment USWS Bodyguard Plus or Another Carbon-Based Whole House Filter Is Recommended for Pre-Treatment Not for Chloramine!
Buy Here uswatersystems.com uswatersystems.com springwellwater.com kindwater.com expresswater.com (Deluxe Version Only)
OR
Amazon
Discount Code BESTRO-5 – 5% Off! BESTRO-5 – 5% Off! BOS5OFF – 5% Off! BOS5OFF – 5% Off!
Additional Link(s) Regular Bodyguard System w/o Backwashing: uswatersystems.com
Score Overview
Filtration (Lab Results, Taste & Odor Test, Filter Media) 5.00/5.00 5.00/5.00 4.75/5.00 4.75/5.00 4.50/5.00
Usability 5.00/5.00 5.00/5.00 5.00/5.00 4.75/5.00 4.75/5.00
Costs 4.00/5.00 4.00/5.00 3.75/5.00 3.82/5.00 4.33/5.00
Full Analysis
Price (Sep 5, 2025, No Short-Term Sales) $1,449 to $1,949 (Depending on the Size You Pick) $1,299 to $2,109 (Depending on the Size You Pick) $1,072.98 to $1,675.99
(Depending on the Size You Pick)
$788.80 $423.09
Sizes -10 gpm (Up to 3 Baths)
-15 gpm (Up to 6 Baths)
-20 gpm (Up to 8 Baths)
-10 gpm (Up to 3 Baths)
-15 gpm (Up to 6 Baths)
-20 gpm (Up to 8 Baths)
-CF1: 9 gpm (1-3 Baths)
-CF4: 12 gpm (4-6 Baths)
-CF+: 20 gpm (7+ Baths)
-Up to 15 gpm (Up to 6 Baths) -Up to 15 gpm Peak Flow (Up to 6 Baths)
Lab Results 5.00/5.00 5.00/5.00 5.00/5.00 5.00/5.00 5.00/5.00
Taste Test Extremely Clean Didn’t Affect Taste Great Improvement but Not 100% Perfect Great Improvement but Not 100% Perfect Great Improvement but Not 100% Perfect
Odor Test No Odor Didn’t Affect Odor No Odor No Odor No Odor
Setup Process Incl. System Startup -Assembling the System Isn’t Hard As Long As You Follow the Detailed Instructions (Manual Includes Full Color Pictures)
-Connecting the System Is DIY-Friendly (We Used PEX) but You Need to Know What You’re Doing (You Need to Plan Ahead, Have the Right Tools, and Triple Check for Leaks)
-Smart Valve Was Quick and Easy to Program (Valve Can Be Connected to Android/Apple Device Via Bluetooth + Free Legacy View App but We Used the Valve Itself)
-No Issues During System Startup
-Assembling the System Isn’t Hard As Long As You Follow the Detailed Instructions (Manual Includes Full Color Pictures)
-Connecting the System Is DIY-Friendly (We Used PEX) but You Need to Know What You’re Doing (You Need to Plan Ahead, Have the Right Tools, and Triple Check for Leaks)
-System Came Pre-Filled and Some of the Installation Steps Had Already Been Completed So We Didn’t Know Where to Continue at First
-No Issues During System Startup
-Assembling the System Is Straightforward As Long As You Follow the Clear Instructions (Manual Includes Full Color Pictures + There’s Video)
-Plastic Cap of Pressure Relief on Sediment Post-Filter Housing Snapped Off While Tightening but We Were Able to Put on a Replacement Brass Cap
-Plastic Mounting Bracket of Sediment Post-Filter Feels Lower Quality When Compared to a Metal Bracket
-Fairly Straightforward Install and Simpler Than With Systems Featuring a Large Media Tank
-Everything Came in 1 Smaller Box and Was Packaged Very Well (Easier to Handle Than Other Systems)
-Failrly Lightweight and Doesn’t Take Up Too Much Space
-Printed Instructions Weren’t Bad and Included Company Contact Details but Lacked Corresponding Photos for Installation Steps (There Are Full-Color Examples of Fully Installed Units)
-3 Anchor Points for Mounting Rather Than 2 (See Express Water System)
-Package Included Both Lag Bolts and Tapcon Screws
-Pretty Easy Setup and Simpler Than With Systems Featuring a Large Media Tank
-Instructions Were Pretty Clear Except There Was No Guide to Change Water Flow Direction From Left to Right
-Pre-Applied Stickers for “1st Stage”, “2nd Stage” & “3rd Stage” Are No Longer Valid Due to Our Change in Flow Direction
-No Screws Included and Only 2 Holes for Mounting Which Works Fine but Seemed Insufficient at First
Everyday Use -Straightforward and Without Issues
-We Were Impressed by How Clean the Water Felt When Showering + We Saw Skin Improvements
-App Allows You to Monitor Current Water Flow, Water Usage/Peak Flow Today, Days Until Next Backwash, Average Daily Water Usage, Total Regenerations, Total Gallons Treated
-You Can Trigger Backwashing Cycles Using Valve/App
-Straightforward and Without Issues -Straightforward and Without Issues
-Water Felt Cleaner When Showering
-Straightforward and Without Issues
-Water Felt Cleaner When Showering
-Straightforward and Without Issues
-Water Felt Cleaner When Showering
Filter Cartridge & Filter Media Replacements -Pre-Filter Cartridge Is Easy to Replace
-Replacing the Filter Media in the Large Tanks Shouldn’t Be Overly Complicated
-App Helps to Better Estimate When It’s Time to Replace Filter Elements
-Replacing the Filter Media in the Large Tanks Shouldn’t Be Overly Complicated -Replacing the Filter Media in the Large Tank Shouldn’t Be Overly Complicated
-Sediment Post-Filter Cartridge Is Easy to Replace
-Replacing the Filter Cartridges Is Straightforward With Adequate Space Between Each Filter for the Wrench to Fit in -Replacing the Filter Cartridges Is Straightforward With Adequate Space Between Each Filter for the Wrench to Fit in
Filter Media/Process Interceptor Pre-Filter: 4.5″x10/20″, 5-Micron Pleated Outer Wrap With Pleated Nano Fiber Core (Mechanical + Ionical Filtration)
 
Bodyguard Plus: 10/15/20 lbs Washed Quartz Gravel, 0.5/1.0 cu. ft. Coconut GAC, 0.5/1.0 cu. ft. Coconut Catalytic Carbon
Washed Quartz Gravel, 1.0/1.5/2.0 cu. ft. Bone Char KDF, Coconut Catalytic Carbon, Flex Bed (PP Beads, Churn Carbon Media to Prevent Channeling and Prolong Contact Time)
 
Sediment Post-Filter: 5-Micron Melt-Blown, 4.5″x10″
Stage 1: 5-Micron Pleated Sediment Filter, 4.5″x20″
 
Stage 2: Coconut Catalytic Carbon Block, 4.5″x20″
Stage 1: 5-Micron PP Sediment Filter, 4.5″x20″
 
Stage 2: 5-Micron Coconut Granular Activated Carbon, 4.5″x20″
 
Stage 3: 5-Micron Coconut Activated Carbon Block, 4.5″x20″
NSF/ANSI Certifications for Filtration Effectiveness (# of Impurities Certified)
Flow Direction Downflow (Backwashing) Upflow Upflow
Valve Type Programmable Smart Valve Simple Simple
Bypass Valve? Y Y Optional N N
System Dimensions 54/58/61″x9/10/12″ (Hx⌀, Incl. Valve) 52.5/56.5/58.5″x9/10/12″ (Hx⌀, Incl. Valve) 52/58/58″x9/10/13″ (Hx⌀, Incl. Valve) 15.5″x29″x8″ (WxHxD) 23″x27″x9″ (WxHxD)
Pre/Post-Filter Hx⌀ 13.5/23.5″x7.5″ 14″x6″
Plumbing Connections ¾” or 1″ 1″ 1/1/1.5″ 1″ 1″
Backwash Standard Duration: 22 Minutes
 
Required Flow Rate: 4/5/10 gpm
 
Wastewater: 140 gal/Cycle
Feed Water Requirements -pH: 5-9.5
-Iron: <0.3 ppm
-Manganese: <0.05 ppm
-Turbidity: <3 NTU
-Sulfur: 0
-pH: 6.5-8.5
-Chlorine: <0.1 ppm
-Ferrous Iron: <0.1 ppm
-Not for Well Water Containing Sulfur/Hydrogen Sulfide, Oils, Iron, Manganese
-Copper: <1.3 ppm
-pH: 6.5-9.5
-Iron: 0 ppm
-Hydrogen Sulfide: 0 ppm
Rated/Claimed Filter Life Interceptor Pre-Filter: 6-12 Months
 
Carbon: 1,000,000 or 5 Years
Bone Char: 400,000 or 3 Years Carbon: 1,000,000 or 6-10 Years
 
Sediment Post-Filter: 6-9 Months
Up to 12 Months Up to 100,000 gal or 6-12 Months
Maintenance Cost Based on Filter Life (May 5, 2025, No Short-Term Sales) Interceptor Pre-Filter Cartridges: ~$100-340 Per Year (Depending on the Size You Pick, Save 10% With Filter Subscription)
 
Gravel + Carbon Media: ~$210-320 (Depending on the Size You Pick, About Every 5 Years)
Gravel + Bone Char Media: ~$600-1,150 (Depending on the Size You Pick, About Every 3 Years) Carbon, KDF, Flex Bed: ~$335 (About Every 6-10 Years)
 
Sediment Post-Filter Cartridges: ~$25-40 Per Year (Save 5% With Filter Subscription)
~$145 Per Year (Save 15% With Filter Subscription) ~$110-220 Per Year (Save 15% With Filter Subscription)
Product Warranty Tank + Interceptor Housing: Limited Lifetime
 
Smart Valve + Electronics: 10 Years
 
Carbon: 5 Years
 
1-Year Satisfaction Guarantee If You’re on Tap Water
Tank + Head: Limited Lifetime
 
Bone Char: 3 Years
 
1-Year Satisfaction Guarantee If You’re on Tap Water
Limited Lifetime (6 Years of 1,000,000 Gallons, Filter Media Excluded)
 
6-Month Satisfaction Guarantee (25% Restocking Fee)
Limited Lifetime
 
120-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
1-Year Limited
Made in Italy (Filter Housings Only)
(More) Features/Pros -Chrome Cover Protects Tank Against UV Damage
-Distributors in Tank Prolong Water Contact Time for More Effective Filtration
-Backup Battery Prevents Issues During Power Failures
-Pre-Filter Cartridges Use 2 O-Rings to Prevent Bypassing
-Pre-Filter Cartridges Are American-Made
-Pre-Filter Cartridges Are Washable
-Chrome Cover Protects Tank Against UV Damage
-Distributors in Tank Prolong Water Contact Time for More Effective Filtration
-Optional Tank Jacket Fits Well, Protects Tank Against UV Damage, and Gives Unit a Nice Appearance Overall
-Performance Guarantee for Chlorine/Chloramine to Below Minimum Detection Levels for 6 Years or 1 Million Gal
-Standard-Sized Post-Filter Cartridges Allow You to Go Off-Brand
-Military and First Responder Discounts
-Sediment Filter Cartridges Are Washable
-20-Inch Standard Sized Filter Cartridges Allow You to Go Off-Brand With Replacements
-System Feels Solid and Well-Built, but We Couldn’t Spot an Immediate Difference in Build Quality Compared to Express Water — Despite the Housings Being Made in Italy
-20-Inch Standard Sized Filter Cartridges Allow You to Go Off-Brand With Replacements
(More) Cons -Although Pre-Filter Cartridges Are Standard-Sized You Can’t Replace With Other Brands Due to Double O-Ring Housing -Parts of the Springwell Website and Instruction Booklet Show Old Metal Bracket for Sediment Post-Filter Which Has Been Replaced by Plastic Bracket
Frequent Complaints From Third-Party Customer Reviews -Note: Not That Many Customer Reviews Yet -Note: Not That Many Customer Reviews Yet -Some Chlorine Taste/Odor Remaining in Filtered Water
-Lackluster After-Sales Support
-Note: Negative Reviews Were Hard to Find (Customer Feedback on Kind’s Own Website Is Nothing but Positive)
-We Found These Complaints for the E-3000: Taste/Odor Issues, No Improvement in Water Quality, Cloudiness/Discoloration
-Leaking
-Lackluster Filtration
-Poor Customer Service

Start Full Screen Mode enlarge icon

Whole House Water Filter USWS Bodyguard Plus
(Incl. Interceptor Pre-Filter)
USWS Bodyguard Fluoride Removal Filter SpringWell CF Kind E-1000 Express Water 3-Stage Essential (WH-300RS-CGS)
Purchase Links & Codes
uswatersystems.com uswatersystems.com springwellwater.com kindwater.com expresswater.com (Deluxe Version Only)
OR
Amazon
BESTRO-5 – 5% Off! BESTRO-5 – 5% Off! BOS5OFF – 5% Off! BOS5OFF – 5% Off!
Image USWS Bodyguard Plus USWS Bodyguard Fluoride Removal Filter SpringWell CF1 Kind Water Systems E-1000 Express Water 3-Stage Essential
Type Media Tank Media Tank Media Tank Cartridge-Based Cartridge-Based
Lab Reports (Please ignore results for bacteria as we didn’t sample in a sterile environment.) Filtered Water Report Report After Filtration Filtered Water Report Filtered Water Report Filtered Water Report
Unfiltered Water Report Report Before Filtration Unfiltered Water Report Unfiltered Water Report Unfiltered Water Report
Reduction Rates for Undesirable Impurities & Contaminants
Potentially Harmful Aesthetic Issues
Water Disinfectants
Chlorine 100% Not Tested 100% 100% 100%
Disinfection Byproducts
Bromochloromethane 100% Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested
Bromodichloromethane 100% Not Tested 100% 100% 100%
Bromoform Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested 100% Not Tested
Dibromochloromethane 100% Not Tested 100% 100% 100%
Chloroform 99% 100% (Irrelevant!) 100% 100% 100%
Industrial Solvents
Methylene Chloride 100% (Flawed?) Added* (See Below, Flawed?) Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested
o-Xylene (µg/l) Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested 100% Not Tested
m+p Xylenes (µg/l) Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested 100% Not Tested
Metals
Copper 100% Not Tested Not Tested 100% 0%
Iron Not Tested Not Tested 100% 80% Not Tested
Manganese Not Tested Not Tested 100% Not Tested Not Tested
Aluminum 26% 100% Added** (See Below, Flawed?) 29% 0%
Barium 0% 50% 78% 0% 0%
Boron 50% 0% 0% 50% 0%
Zinc Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested 33% Not Tested
Lithium Not Tested Not Tested 100% Not Tested Not Tested
Strontium 0% 69% 72% 0% 0%
Salts
Nitrate (N) Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested 0% Not Tested
Fluoride 6% Reduction Anywhere Between 84% and 99% 6% 16% 10% Increase
Other
Uranium Not Tested Not Tested 100% Not Tested Not Tested
Impurities NOT Detected in “Before” Water Sample
Methylene Chloride (µg/l) (Flawed?) 2.17*
Aluminum (mg/L) (Flawed?) 0.03**
*Our best guess is that the methylene chloride was added by some of the newly-installed plumbing components such as the sampling taps.
**We’re confident the aluminum increase is due to natural fluctuations and not an issue with leaching, as we’ve found significant amounts of aluminum in our water supply before.
Explanation:
Full Removal
Considerable Reduction
Concentration More Than Double of Unfiltered Water Sample
Potential Leaching Reached or Exceeded the Strictest Public Health Guideline We Could Find
Raw Data
Water Disinfectants
(Before | After)
Chlorine (mg/L) 0.57 | 0 0 | 0 0.5 | 0 0.54 | 0 <0.1 | 0
Disinfection Byproducts
(Before | After)
Bromochloromethane (µg/L) 0.76 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0
Bromodichloromethane (µg/l) 11.93 | 0 0 | 0 10.48 | 0 23.57 | 0 26.38 | 0
Bromoform (µg/l) 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0.57 | 0 0 | 0
Dibromochloromethane (µg/l) 3.78 | 0 0 | 0 3.79 | 0 7.45 | 0 7.82 | 0
Chloroform (µg/l) 65.26 | 0.5 0.5 | 0 28.19 | 0 100.61 | 0 113.43 | 0
Industrial Solvents
(Before | After)
Methylene Chloride (µg/l) 0.62 | 0 0 | 2.17 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0
o-Xylene (µg/l) 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0.56 | 0 0 | 0
m+p Xylenes (µg/l) 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0.89 | 0 0 | 0
Metals
(Before | After)
Copper (mg/L) 0.01 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0.01 | 0 0.01 | 0.01
Iron (mg/L) 0 | 0 0 | 0 0.03 | 0 0.05 | 0.01 0 | 0
Manganese (mg/L) 0 | 0 0 | 0 0.02 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0
Aluminum (mg/L) 0.23 | 0.17 0.17 | 0 0 | 0.03 0.28 | 0.2 0.1 | 0.1
Barium (mg/L) 0.02 | 0.02 0.02 | 0.01 0.09 | 0.02 0.02 | 0.02 0.02 | 0.02
Boron (mg/L) 0.02 | 0.01 0.01 |0.01 0.01 | 0.01 0.02 | 0.01 0.01 | 0.01
Zinc (mg/L) 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0.06 | 0.04 0 | 0
Lithium (mg/L) 0 | 0 0 | 0 0.01 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0
Strontium (mg/L) 0.13 | 0.13 0.13 | 0.04 0.47 | 0.13 0.17 | 0.17 0.12 | 0.12
Salts
(Before | After)
Nitrate (N) (mg/L) 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 <0.5 | <0.5 0 | 0
Fluoride (mg/L) 0.67 | 0.63 0.63 | <0.1 0.67 | 0.63 0.57 | 0.48 0.4 | 0.44
Other
(Unfiltered | Filtered)
Uranium (µg/L) 0 | 0 0 | 0 1 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0
Water Parameters
(Before | After)
Alkalinity (mg/L) 100 | 107.5 107.5 | 105 95.0 | 112.5 102.5 | 102.5 92.5 | 100
pH 8.02 | 8.12 8.12 | 9.95*** 7.66 | 9.73*** 7.99 | 8.59 7.88 | 8.23
Turbidity (N.T.U.) 0.66 | <0.2 <0.2 | 0.31 <0.2 | 0.31 <0.2 | 0.2 <0.2 | <0.2
Hardness (mg/L) 104.3 | 98.3 98.3 | 99.9 116.6 | 103.4 125.4 | 126.9 86.3 | 94
***pH Increase Should Subside After a Few Weeks

Whole House Water Filters

Please note: This page is still a work in progress. Additional content and details will be added shortly – stay tuned!

Why Trust Us?

You might be wondering, “Why should I trust these recommendations?” Fair question! Here’s the scoop:

We actually get our hands dirty. Every single whole house water filter in this guide (5 and counting!) has been tested by us in the real world – and yes, that includes lab work. To ensure comparable results, we adhere to standardized testing and rating procedures. As such, we’ve run every system on the same tap water in Buffalo, New York – and it’s always the same person, Adam, doing the testing. What’s more, with years of experience and a ton of research under our belts, we’ve honed our methods again and again to achieve the most accurate results possible. Plus, we know how to differentiate between crucial product criteria such as NSF certifications and unnecessary bells and whistles.

Last but not least, we’re 100% open about the fact that we participate in various affiliate programs run by the water treatment companies themselves or large marketplaces like amazon.com. This helps us purchase the products/services we test, fund our expensive lab testing, and pay for video production cost while keeping our content free. That said, our ratings aren’t tied to who pays the highest commission. We follow strict, standardized protocols, never accept payments for positive write-ups, and all opinions are 100% ours. We even publish our complete lab reports so you can dig in and draw your own conclusions.

About the Author(s)

Sara

Sara has been a lifelong home-improvement fan (she’s been hooked on This Old House since she was five) and taught herself any project she didn’t already know by watching YouTube tutorials. She is also an award-winning filmmaker. Armed with this skillset, Sara installs, primes, samples, uses, and maintains nearly every point-of-use water treatment systems we test – then brings her results to life on camera for our YouTube channel.

Adam

Adam has always loved testing and reviewing the latest products. He began his BOS Water journey doing simple pitchers and has since expanded his expertise to installing and evaluating advanced point-of-entry systems. Cultivating a small business in the filmmaking industry, Adam is also in front of the camera sharing his findings on the BOS Water YouTube channel.

Raoul

Raoul has a background in mechanical engineering and has been writing about home water treatment since 2015. He designs our product review processes, analyzes the results, and ties everything together. As editor-in-chief, he tries hard to keep the whole operation running smoothly behind the scenes.

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