Review: Culligan Whole House Water Filters (HF-360A, HD-950A, HF-150A)
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Aug 4, 2023
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In this triple review, we check the following Culligan whole house water filters:
- The Culligan HF-360A, a small cartridge-based system with ¾” inlet and outlet connectors for moderate water flow suited for smaller homes.
- The Culligan HD-950A, a heavy duty system with 1″ ports for up to 4 times the capacity of the small filter – designed for larger homes with up to 3-4 baths. It also uses filter cartridges.
- And the Culligan HF-150A, again, a standard ¾” whole house filter.
Let’s find out if they are any good!
Contents
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Culligan HF-360A |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Media: | Sediment or Carbon |
| Filter Capacity: | 8,000-16,000 Gallons |
| Flow Rate: | 4 Gallons Per Minute |
| Annual Cost: | ~$20-50 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Culligan HD-950A |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Media: | Sediment or Carbon |
| Filter Capacity: | 10,000-24,000 Gallons |
| Flow Rate: | 3-10 Gallons Per Minute |
| Annual Cost: | ~$20-50 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Culligan HF-150A |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Media: | Sediment or Carbon |
| Filter Capacity: | 8,000-16,000 Gallons |
| Flow Rate: | 4 Gallons Per Minute |
| Annual Cost: | ~$20-50 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Culligan HF-360A, HD-950A & HF-150A Whole House Water Filters – All Specs
- Model: HF-360A, HD-950A, HF-150A
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$20-50
- Filter Media/Process: Sediment/Carbon
- Flow Rate: 4-10 gpm
- Filtering Capacity: 8,000-24,000 gal
- WxHxD: 5-7.25″x13.25″x5-7.25″
- Water Temperature: 40-100 °F
- Water Pressure: 30-125 psi
- Fitting: ¾”-1″
- NSF Certifications: Standard 42 (Structural Integrity Only)
- Warranty: 5 Years
Culligan HF-360A, HD-950A & HF-150A – Key Features
First of all, Culligan’s HF-360A, HD-950A, and HF-150A whole house water filter systems use standard-sized filter cartridges. HF-360A and HF-150A use 2.5×10”, the HD-950A uses 4.5×10” (big blue).
Because the HD-950A is larger, it can provide higher flow rates, but this also depends on the type of filter element you are using. You can choose from the following:
| Cartridge | Removes | Micron Rating | Capacity/Life | Material | Flow Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R5-BBSA | Large Sediments | 50 | 24,000 gal or 6 Months | Pleated PP | 10 gpm |
| P25-BBSA | Sediments | 25 | 20,000 gal or 5 Months | Spun PP | 8 gpm |
| CW25-BBS | Sediments | 25 | 20,000 gal or 5 Months | Wound PP | 8 gpm |
| RFC-BBSA | Sediments + Chlorine Taste and Odor | 25 | 10,000 gal or 6 Months | Granular Activated Carbon | 3 gpm |
| CP5-BBS | All Sediments | 5 | 12,000 gal or 3 Months | Pleated Cellulose | 8 gpm |
| CW5-BBS | All Sediments | 5 | 16,000 gal or 4 Months | Wound PP | 8 gpm |
As you can see, you have the choice between sediment filters of different micron ratings and sediment + activated carbon filters. A sediment filter will protect your pipes, fixtures, and appliances from the damaging effects of sediments in water. Activated carbon improves water aesthetics mainly by removing chlorine taste and odor.
Filtration capacities and flow rates (up to 10 gallons per minute for homes with up to 3.5 baths) also vary a lot. Simply put, you can choose the cartridge that you consider ideal for your water supply and needs.
The same goes for the Culligan HF-360A and HF-150A. Remember: They are smaller so they are only suited for small condos and the like.
| Cartridge | Removes | Micron Rating | Capacity/Life | Material | Flow Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CW-MF | Sediments (Rust, Scale, Coarse Sand) | 30 | 12,000 gal or 3 Months | Wound Polypropylene (PP) | 4 gpm |
| S1A | Sediments (Rust, Scale, Sand) | 20 | 16,000 gal or 4 Months | Pleated Cellulose | 4 gpm |
| CW-F | Sediments Down to Fine Sand and Silt | 10 | 12,000 gal or 3 Months | Wound PP | 4 gpm |
| SCWH-5 | Sediments + Chlorine Taste and Odor | 5 | 15,000 gal or 3 Months | Carbon | 4 gpm |
| P5 | All Sediments | 5 | 8,000 gal or 2 Months | Spun PP | 4 gpm |
| P1 | All Sediments | 1 | 8,000 gal or 2 Months | Spun PP | 4 gpm |
Culligan Whole House Filter Pros
The main advantage of these Culligan whole house water filters is the very affordable price, which is good if you’re on a tight budget. And while their prices are low, their quality isn’t (all three filters have an NSF/ANSI 42 certification for material safety and structural integrity). And to add to their quality assurance, each system comes with a 5-year limited warranty.
What’s more, the HF-360A has a built-in shutoff valve, which makes installation and filter cartridge replacements easier. Then, the filter housing is transparent, so you can easily monitor the cartridge inside without dismantling a thing.
Culligan HD-950A and HF-150A have pressure release buttons. These allow you to depressurize the filter when performing maintenance, which helps a lot when the housing gets stuck.
And again, we like how you can choose from different filter cartridges provided by Culligan and decide which one best meets your requirements. Plus, you can go off-brand if you want due to the filters being standard-sized. In other words, you can customize your whole house water filter to your liking and maybe even save money doing so.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
Depending on the filter cartridge used, the Culligan HF-360A, HF-150A, and HD-950A filters remove dirt, rust, and other sediments down to 1 micron in size. And if you choose a carbon filter cartridge, they will also remove bad water taste and smell.
The Culligan HF-360A – learn more on Amazon.com
The Culligan HD-950A – learn more on Amazon.com
The Culligan HF-150A – learn more on Amazon.com
Installation
All three systems are easy to install, and because the HF-360A comes with a built-in shutoff valve, it’s even easier. If you have basic plumbing skills, you’ll be able to DIY.
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
Here are the tools you’ll need:
- Screwdriver
- File
- Pipe cutter
- Pencil
- 2x Adjustable wrench
And here’s how you install them:
- Consider installing bypass/shutoff valves before and after the Culligan HD-950A and HF-150A.
- Switch off your water supply and open the nearest tap to release water in the pipes.
- Wrap about six inches of Teflon tape on the pipe threads of each adapter. You should wrap the threads going clockwise.
- If you bought a mounting bracket, fix it to mark spots for the screws. Leave about one inch of space below the filter housing for future replacements.
- Fix all the pipe fittings. Insert the adapters into the housing cap by hand, then tighten each with a wrench.
- Mark out space for the filter on the pipe you plan to cut. To get how long to mark, measure the horizontal length of the filter assembly and subtract 1 or 1 ½ inches (depending on if you’re using a ¾ or ½ inch pipe).
- Use a pipe cutter or hacksaw to cut the pipe following your markings. Use a file to smoothen the cut edges.
- Insert brass compression nut and ferrule (brass ferrule for ¾ pipe or rubber ferrule for ½ pipe) into each pipe end.
- Fix the assembled filter between the pipe, ensuring the “IN” opening faces your incoming water pipe. Use wrenches to secure the pipe and filter connections.
- Turn on the water supply, use the pressure-relief button to release air (950A and HF-150A only), and check for leaks.
- Open the nearest faucet for about five minutes to flush the filter.
Video
The Package (Parts)
Culligan HF-360A:
- Valve-in-head cap with clear housing
- Housing wrench
- P5 filter cartridge
Culligan HD-950A
- Housing
- Housing wrench
Culligan HF-150A
- Housing
Please note: Both HD-950A and HF-150A do not include a filter cartridge!
Maintenance
Maintenance is no big deal with these filters. All you need to do is replace filter cartridges in time and clean the housing.
Here’s how to do it:
- Turn off your water supply and press the pressure-relief button down (950A and HF-150A only).
- Open a nearby faucet.
- Dismantle the bottom of the housing with a wrench.
- Discard the old cartridge.
- Remove and clean the large O-ring.
- Rinse the bottom of the housing and add water to it.
- Add two tablespoons of bleach and wash the housing with a soft sponge. Rinse it out thoroughly.
- Apply silicone grease to the O-ring and fix it back.
- Fix the new cartridge on the standpipe in the housing.
- Screw the housing bottom to the cap.
- Turn on the water supply and check for leaks.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual of the Culligan HF-360A:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0531/5585/6541/files/HF-360A_Manual_Rev_A_7-2011.pdf?v=1628281414
Here is a link to the official manual of the Culligan HF-150A:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0531/5585/6541/files/HF-150A_Manual_Rev_A_8-2008.pdf?v=1628281414
Here is a link to the official manual of the Culligan HD-950A:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0531/5585/6541/files/HD-950A_Manual_Rev_3.09.pdf?v=1628281414
NSF and Other Certifications
The Culligan HF-360A, HF-950A, and HF-150A are tested and certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) against NSF 42 for materials safety and structural integrity requirements.
Earlier Product Versions
We do not know of any earlier versions of these products.
Cons
A common issue is leaking, mainly at the inlet and outlet ports (remember to wrap the adapter with lots of Teflon tape). Then, there’s no mounting bracket in the system package, and from buyers’ experiences it’s best to have one during installation. That means extra cost for the bracket when buying your filter.
Also, the HF-150A and HF-950A do not have a built-in shutoff valve or bypass, so you would have to establish one manually during installation or changing cartridges will be a bit more complex.
Lastly, HF-360A and HF-150A have a low flow rate of 4 gpm, making them unsuitable for medium or large homes.
Culligan HF-360A, HD-950A & HF-150A Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The Culligan HF-360A, HD-950A, and HF-150A whole house water filters are best for basic water filtration and people on a budget. They protect your plumbing and water-using appliances from damage removing sediments. The carbon filter cartridges will also improve how your water tastes and smells, just don’t expect any crazy results.
HF-360A and HF-150A are best for apartments and condos, while the HF-950A is suitable for somewhat larger homes.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 3.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 5.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 3.5/5.0
Comparison to Other Whole House Water Filters
Let’s now compare our 3 Culligan whole house filter systems to the competition: Kind E-1000 and SpringWell PF.
Kind E-1000 |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Media: | 5-Micron Sediment, Catalytic Carbon Block |
| Filter Life: | 12 Months |
| Water Flow Rate: | 15 gpm |
| Annual Cost: | ~$145 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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SpringWell PF |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Media: | 5-Micron Sediment |
| Filter Life: | 6 Months |
| Water Flow Rate: | 20-35 gpm |
| Annual Cost: | $35-65 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Culligan HF-360A |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Media: | Sediment or Carbon |
| Filter Life: | 8,000-16,000 gal |
| Water Flow Rate: | 4 gpm |
| Annual Cost: | ~$20-50 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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The E-1000 by Kind Water Systems uses a 5-micron sediment and a catalytic carbon filter cartridge, so it purifies your water through two stages. Catalytic carbon is really powerful at removing chlorine, chloramine, VOCs, pesticides, disinfection byproducts, and even PFAS among other organic chemicals. The system has a flow rate of 15 gpm suited for very large homes. And on top of that, it comes with a 4-month satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime warranty. Only downside: The price is quite high.
The second system, the SpringWell PF, is a regular sediment filter. It, too, has a very high flow rate of 20-35 gpm, despite being rated at 5 microns. It also comes with a full installation package and 6-month satisfaction guarantee + lifetime warranty.
Bottom line: The Kind provides the most effective filtration process. Both Kind and SpringWell have high flow rates. We would only go with Culligan if the budget is really tight.
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This completes our review of the Culligan HF-360A, HD-950A, and HF-150A whole house water filters. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
Information provided on BOS is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.
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