2023’s Culligan Water Filtration System Reviews – Pros, Cons & Cost
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Aug 24, 2023
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Culligan was established in 1936 with its headquarters based in Rosemont, IL. From the start, the company offered home water softening solutions.
Today, the product range is much wider. It includes water treatment systems – mainly softeners & filters – for private homes, offices and commercial and industrial applications. Another business field is the filtered bottled water delivery service.
While Culligan has always focused on building a network of franchises with local experts that act as company representatives, the DIY Solutions water filter line is a relatively new addition. And it’s what this Culligan review series is all about.
We will take a close look at:
- The Culligan WH-S200-C & WH-HD200-C whole house sediment water filters
- The Culligan HF-360A, HD-950A & HF-150A, also whole home filter systems
- The Easy-Change US-EZ-1, US-EZ-3 & US-EZ-4 under sink drinking water filters
- Culligan’s WSH-C125 & HSH-C135 filtered shower heads
- The FM-15A & FM-25 faucet mounted filters
- The Culligan PIT-1 pitcher filter
- The RVF-10 for RVs
- And lastly the Culligan IC-EZ-1, IC-EZ-3 & IC-EZ-4 icemaker and refrigerator water filters
Culligan Water Filter Overview
| Model | Details | |
|---|---|---|
 Best for Whole House & Sediments: Culligan WH-HD200-C |
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Price: $$ Type: Whole House System Water Flow: 3-10 gpm Filt. Capacity: 10,000-24,000 gal Read Review: Click |
 Best for Small Homes: Culligan HF-360A |
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Price: $ Type: Whole House System Water Flow: 1.5-6.5 gpm Filt. Capacity: 8,000-16,000 gal Read Review: Click |
 Best for Under the Sink: Culligan Easy-Change US-EZ-4 Drinking Water Filter |
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Price: $$$ Type: Under Sink Drinking Water Unit Water Flow: 0.5 gpm Filt. Capacity: 500 gal Read Review: Click |
 Best for Showering: Culligan WSH-C125 |
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Price: $ Type: Shower Filter Water Flow: 2 gpm Filt. Capacity: 10,000 gal Read Review: Click |
 Best for Faucets: Culligan FM-25 |
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Price: $ Type: Faucet Mounted Unit Water Flow: 0.5 gpm Filt. Capacity: 200 gal Read Review: Click |
 Best for Ease of Use: Culligan PIT-1 Pitcher |
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Price: $ Type: Pitcher Water Flow: 2.5 gpd Filt. Capacity: 50 gal Read Review: Click |
 Best for RVs: Culligan RVF-10 |
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Price: $ Type: For RVs Water Flow: ? Filt. Capacity: 250 gal Read Review: Click |
 Best for Icemakers & Refrigerators: Culligan IC-EZ-1 |
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Price: $ Type: For Refrigerators & Icemakers Water Flow: 0.5 gpm Filt. Capacity: 3,000 gal Read Review: Click |
Culligan Water Filter Reviews
Review Order
- Culligan WH-S200-C & WH-HD200-C – Best for Whole House and Sediments
- Culligan HF-360A, HD-950A & HF-150A – Best for Small Homes
- Culligan Easy-Change US-EZ-1, US-EZ-3 & US-EZ-4 – Best for Under Sink
- Culligan WSH-C125 & HSH-C135 – Best for Showering
- Culligan FM-15A & FM-25 – Best for Kitchen Faucets and Bathroom Taps
- Culligan PIT-1 Pitcher – Best for Ease of Use
- Culligan RVF-10 – Best for RVs
- Culligan IC-EZ-1, IC-EZ-3 & IC-EZ-4 – Best for Icemakers and Refrigerators
1. Best for Whole House & Sediments: Culligan WH-S200-C & WH-HD200-C Filters
Culligan’s DIY line features a total of five different whole house water filtration systems with a variety of housing styles, capacities and flow rates. The WH-S200-C and WH-HD200-C are the two most popular units.
The WH-S200-C is a standard duty filter with ¾” ports for small to mid-sized homes, whereas the WH-HD200-C is a heavy duty system with 1-inch ports for a higher flow rate. Thus it’s perfectly suited for larger families with 2 or more bathrooms.
Both will protect your plumbing and water-using appliances from sediment and scale resulting in an increased lifetime of your water heater, for example, and also guaranteeing peak performance.
Three additional benefits that we wanted to point out are:
- The built-in bypass valve allows you to replace the filter without having to turn off the entire water supply to your house.
- You can choose between a number of different cartridges according to your needs. Some are good for trapping sediment, rust, scale, dirt and coarse sand. Others will even remove chlorine – you get the idea. They all have varying filtering capacities.
- NSF certifications for lead compliance (Standard 372), material safety and structural integrity (Standard 42, WH-HD200-C), and material safety only (Standard 61, WH-S200-C).
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Culligan WH-HD200-C |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Purpose: | Mainly to Remove Sediment |
| Ideal for: | Small to Large Homes |
| Water Source: | City or Well Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42, 372 |
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Our Rating
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Culligan WH-S200-C |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Purpose: | Mainly to Remove Sediment |
| Ideal for: | Small to Mid-Sized Homes |
| Water Source: | City or Well Water |
| NSF Standard: | 61, 372 |
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Our Rating
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Pros
- Protect plumbing + appliances from sediment and scale
- Choose from different cartridges according to your needs
- NSF Standard 42, 61, 372 certifications
- Clear housing for timely filter replacements
- Battery-operated filter life monitor
- Quick & easy installation
- Low maintenance cost
- Built-in bypass valve for fast filter changes
- 2-year limited warranty
Cons
- Cheap plastic threads are prone to leaking (use plenty of Teflon tape)
- Bypass valve may be hard to turn
Best for
The Culligan WH-S200-C and WH-HD200-C are best for people looking for a whole house water filter who like the idea of customization and experimenting with different cartridge types and filter materials.
→ Read Our Full Culligan WH-HD200-C & WH-S200-C Review Here
2. Best for Small Homes: Culligan HF-360A, HD-950A & HF-150A Whole House Filtration Systems
The HF-360A, HD-950A and HF-150A are three more whole house filtration systems by Culligan that will remove sediment and scale from all the water entering your home. The goal: Protect your plumbing, washing machine, dishwasher, water heater, etc. from clogging.
Furthermore, they might trap sand, rust, coarse and silt, and even eliminate chlorine and other tastes & odors. This depends on which filter cartridge you choose to use, though.
- The HF-360A and HF-150A with a moderate flow rate (¾” ports) are for small to mid-sized homes.
- The HD-950A with its heavy duty ports (1 inch) is ideal for larger houses, even farms says Culligan.
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Culligan HF-360A |
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| Price: | $ |
| Purpose: | Mainly to Remove Sediment |
| Ideal for: | Small to Mid-Sized Homes |
| Water Source: | City or Well Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42 |
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Our Rating
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Culligan HD-950A |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Purpose: | Mainly to Remove Sediment |
| Ideal for: | Small to Large Homes |
| Water Source: | City or Well Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42 |
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Our Rating
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Culligan HF-150A |
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| Price: | $ |
| Purpose: | Mainly to Remove Sediment |
| Ideal for: | Small to Mid-Sized Homes |
| Water Source: | City or Well Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42 |
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Our Rating
|
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Pros
- Protect plumbing + appliances from sediment and scale
- Choose from different cartridges according to your needs
- Replacement filters are affordable and widely available
- NSF certification for chlorine taste and odor reduction (not all)
- WQA tested and certified for material safety and structural integrity (Standard 42)
- Clear housing for timely filter replacements
- Quick & easy installation
- Low maintenance cost
- Built-in bypass valve for fast filter changes (HF-360A only)
- 5-year limited warranty
Cons
- HD-950A and HF-150A come without filter cartridge
- Common issues with leaks
- Some cartridges have a low flow rate only suited for households with 1-2 people
Best for
Culligan’s HF-360A, HD-950A, and HF-150A are best for POE water filtration in small homes.
3. Best for Under Your Sink: Culligan Easy-Change US-EZ-1, US-EZ-3 & US-EZ-4 Drinking Water Filters
The EZ-Change (“Easy-Change”) under sink drinking water filter series features the US-EZ-1, US-EZ-3 and US-EZ-4.
- The EZ-1 is the most affordable unit and perfect for basic filtration needs a.k.a. better tasting, odor-free water.
- The EZ-3 is for “advanced” filtration. Apart from chlorine and particulates, it’ll also take care of some of the more harmful impurities that are commonly found in tap water – think cysts and lead.
- The EZ-4 provides water of the highest purity and is thus the most expensive. Contaminants that the EZ-4 can eliminate include chloramines, MTBE, mercury, chloroform and PFOA & PFOS.
By the way, all three are NSF certified for guaranteed performance and make us of carbon media. Their filtration capacities vary between 500 and 3,000 gallons.
What’s more, no matter which system you choose they all come with the same standardized filter head. In other words, if your filtration needs change you can easily switch between cartridges.
Speaking of filter changes, thanks to the modular design the cartridges can be installed and uninstalled with a simple twist which is a huge time saver.
Culligan US-EZ-1 |
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| Price: | $ |
| Purpose: | Making Water Ready for Drinking |
| Ideal for: | Small to Larger Families |
| Water Source: | Tap Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42 |
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Our Rating
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Culligan US-EZ-3 |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Purpose: | Making Water Ready for Drinking |
| Ideal for: | Small to Larger Families |
| Water Source: | Tap Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42, 53 |
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Our Rating
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Culligan US-EZ-4 |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Purpose: | Making Water Ready for Drinking |
| Ideal for: | Small to Larger Families |
| Water Source: | Tap Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42, 53, 401 |
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Our Rating
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Pros
- Provide great-tasting drinking water
- NSF Standard 42 certified for chlorine reduction
- NSF Standard 53 certified (EZ-3 & EZ-4 only)
- NSF Standard 401 + Protocol P473 certified (EZ-4 only)
- Standardized filter head allows upgrades/downgrades
- Modular filter design allows for quick replacements
- Ready for DIY install thanks to quick connect fittings
- Come with everything required for setup and operation
- 2-year warranty (limited)
Cons
- Water flow feels a little slow
- Cheap chrome faucet (mainly plastic)
- Plastic connectors prone to leaking
- Incidences with cracked housings
- Installation might require drilling
Best for
The Culligan US-EZ-1 to 4 are best for people who want an under sink drinking water filter.
→ Read Our Full Culligan Under Sink Water Filter Review Here
4. Best for Showering: Culligan WSH-C125 & HSH-C135 Filtered Shower Heads
If you are searching for a shower filter, Culligan offers the WSH-C125, a filtered shower head, and the HSH-C135 which is the hand-held version.
Both work with the same filter cartridge to remove between 55 and 99 percent of free available chlorine from municipal waters – chlorine that would otherwise damage the follicles of your hair and cause dry and itchy skin.
In addition, sulfur smell and mineral scale will be reduced for a more refreshing shower experience.
FYI: Obviously you can’t compare the WSH-C125 or HSH-C135 to a genuine water softener system for whole house applications in terms of softening effectiveness.
Oh, and the filter media is bacteriostatic so that the growth of microorganisms in the filter head is limited. This will make your everyday shower much healthier.
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Culligan WSH-C125 |
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| Price: | $ |
| Purpose: | Clean Shower Water |
| Ideal for: | Dry, Flaky Skin & Brittle Hair |
| Water Source: | Chlorinated City Water |
| NSF Standard: | 177 |
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Our Rating
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Culligan HSH-C135 |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Purpose: | Clean Shower Water |
| Ideal for: | Dry, Flaky Skin & Brittle Hair |
| Water Source: | Chlorinated City Water |
| NSF Standard: | 177 |
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Our Rating
|
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Pros
- Soften hair and skin
- Reduce sulfur smell + mineral scale for refreshing shower experience
- Bacteriostatic filter media for a healthier shower
- Choose between fixed head and hand-held
- NSF Standard 177 certified for aesthetic water improvement
- Meet EPA WaterSense program standard for water conservation
- 5 spray settings for added comfort
- Install in minutes on any industry standard ½” threaded pipe
- 5-year limited manufacturer warranty
Cons
- Showerhead does not stay up due to design flaw making ergonomic standing difficult (HSH-C135 only)
- Slightly lower flow rate
- Low maintenance requirements
- Reasonably priced replacement cartridges
- Filters do not last as long as advertised for some users
Best for
The Culligan WSH-C125 and the HSH-C135 are best for filtering chlorinated shower water.
→ Read Our Full Culligan WSH-C125 & HSH-C135 Review Here
5. Best for Faucets: Culligan FM-15A & FM-25 Filters
Next in our Culligan reviews are the FM-15A and FM-25 faucet mount filters that make a simple solution for better tasting and somewhat cleaner drinking water free from odors.
They apply carbon block filtration to adsorb sediment, turbidity, chlorine taste & odor, lead (≥98%) and other impurities from your water (certified to NSF standards) at a flow rate of .5 gallons per minute. Now, half a gallon of filtered water per minute isn’t bad but not a whole lot either.
By the way, the only difference between the two is their color. The Culligan FM-15A comes in white, whereas the FM-25 has a “chrome” finish (plastic with chrome coating) that easily blends with other kitchen fixtures.
Another feature that we wanted to point out is the diverter tab which allows you to easily switch between filtered and unfiltered water whenever you want.
This will greatly extend filter lifetime as you can use regular tap water for purposes other than cooking and drinking. As a result, maintenance costs are reduced to a minimum.
How about the installation? Don’t worry, it’s tool-free and only takes a couple of minutes. Plus two adapters are included in the package.
Culligan FM-15A |
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| Price: | $ |
| Purpose: | Water for Drinking and Cooking |
| Ideal for: | Basic Filtration Needs |
| Water Source: | Chlorinated Tap Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42, 53 |
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Our Rating
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Culligan FM-25 |
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| Price: | $ |
| Purpose: | Water for Drinking and Cooking |
| Ideal for: | Basic Filtration Needs |
| Water Source: | Chlorinated Tap Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42, 53 |
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Our Rating
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Pros
- Provides better tasting water free from odors
- Effective lead reduction
- NSF Standard 42 & 53 certified
- Easily switch between filtered and unfiltered H2O
- Tool-free installation
- 2x faucet adapter included
- 2-year limited warranty
Cons
- White finish looks cheap
- Issues with leaks
- Low flow rate
- Incompatible with pull-down/pull-out faucets
- Adapters may not fit all (standard) faucets
- Filter housing can be hard to open making replacements a pain
- Replacements filters are relatively expensive
Best for
The Culligan FM-15A and the FM-25 are best for people who want a compact and easy to use drinking water filter that’s also affordable.
→ Read Our Full Culligan FM-15A & FM-25 Filters Review Here
6. Best for Ease of Use: Culligan PIT-1 Picher Filter
The PIT-1 is Culligan’s “perfect solution for great-tasting water at an economical price” – at least that’s what the company says. Is there any truth to the strapline?
First of all, yes, the PIT-1 is indeed very affordable. In fact, it’s cheaper than what you pay for most other pitcher filters. However, we read many reviews where people complained about the “horrible” taste that the PIT-1 added to their water.
Other than that, the unit is sturdy, very compact and thus fits in most refrigerator doors. The downside is that it can’t hold a lot of water so it’s best suited for 1 to 2 people at max.
Any NSF certifications? Standard 42 for the aesthetic reduction of chlorine taste and odor (82.8%), zinc (97.4%) and particulate class VI (>99.9%). Also, Standard 53 guarantees the removal of copper (>84.0%) and mercury (>91.0%).
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Culligan PIT-1 |
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| Price: | $ |
| Purpose: | Making Water Ready for Drinking |
| Ideal for: | Basic Filtration Needs |
| Water Source: | Tap Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42, 53 |
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Our Rating
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Pros
- Very cheap price
- NSF Standard 42 + 53 certified
- Compact (fits most refrigerator doors)
- Simple replacement indicator reminds you of cartridge changes
- Spout cover prevents impurities from transferring into the pitcher
- 2-year warranty (limited)
- Replacement filters are affordable and widely available
Cons
- Water tasted awful for some users with a faint chemical hinge to it
- For a maximum of 1 to 2 people
- Fragile top may fall off when pouring and break
- Upper reservoir must be completely empty for pouring (common issue with pitchers)
Best for
The Culligan PIT-1 is best for people looking for a water filter pitcher that provides basic water treatment.
→ Read Our Full Culligan PIT-1 Review Here
7. Best for RVs: Culligan RVF-10
Want clean water in your camper? The Culligan RVF-10 might be just what you need.
It’s a pre-tank filter for RV and marine use that allows you to enjoy better-tasting water (almost) free from foul tastes and odors – think chlorine – as well as sediment.
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Culligan RVF-10 |
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| Price: | $ |
| Purpose: | Improving Water Aesthetics |
| Ideal for: | RVs |
| Water Source: | Chlorinated City Water |
| NSF Standard: | – |
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Our Rating
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Pros
- Slim design for easy storing
- Inexpensive replacement filters
- Great for home brewing
- Installation is a piece of cake
- 5-year limited warranty
Cons
- Hose not included
- Cheap plastic fittings prone to leaking (better change with brass)
- Low capacity per cartridge
Best for
The Culligan RVF-10 is best for people who want filtered drinking water while traveling in their RV.
→ Read Our Full Culligan RVF-10 Review Here
8. Best for Icemakers and Refrigerators: Culligan IC-EZ-1, IC-EZ-3 & IC-EZ-4
Culligan’s Easy-Change (EZ-Change) icemaker and refrigerator water filter series uses the exact same filter cartridges as the Culligan under sink drinking water units:
- The IC-EZ-1 is for basic filtration
- The IC-EZ-3 for advanced filtration needs
- And the IC-EZ-4 for premium filtration
As mentioned above, we are talking about carbon-based filters with a flow rate of .5 gallons per minute which is more than enough for any refrigerator or icemaker.
Impurities that the different models can remove range from chlorine and larger particulates to cysts, lead, atrazine, lindane, chloramines, MTBE, mercury, chloroform and dozens of VOCs.
Different NSF certifications speak for the sophistication of the filtration process.
Again, no matter which version you choose the head is compatible with each of the cartridges which is great for upgrading (or downgrading) your system.
What’s more, the head features a simple twist on/off mechanism. This allows for quick and easy filter changes (tool-free) without making a water mess.
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Culligan IC-EZ-1 |
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| Price: | $ |
| Purpose: | Safe Drinking Water |
| Ideal for: | Basic Filtration Needs |
| Water Source: | Tap Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42 |
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Our Rating
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Culligan IC-EZ-3 |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Purpose: | Safe Drinking Water |
| Ideal for: | Advanced Filtration Needs |
| Water Source: | Tap Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42, 53 |
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Our Rating
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Culligan IC-EZ-4 |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Purpose: | Safe Drinking Water |
| Ideal for: | Most Thorough Filtration |
| Water Source: | Tap Water |
| NSF Standard: | 42, 53, 401 |
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Our Rating
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Pros
- Provide great-tasting drinking water + ice
- NSF Standard 42 certified for chlorine reduction
- NSF Standard 53 certified (EZ-3 & EZ-4 only)
- NSF Standard 401 + Protocol P473 certified (EZ-4 only)
- Standardized filter head allows upgrades/downgrades
- Modular filter design allows for quick replacements
- Come with everything required for setup and operation
- Easy to install and use
- 2-year limited warranty
Cons
- Inlet/outlet connections prone leaking
Best for
The Culligan IC-EZ-1, IC-EZ-3, and IC-EZ-4 is best for NSF-certified water filtration in refrigerators.
→ Read Our Full Culligan IC-EZ-1, IC-EZ-3 & IC-EZ-4 Review Here
More Reviews:
Culligan Reviews: Why Culligan?
Why invest into Culligan water filters? One reason is low prices. Another is user friendliness.
What factors against investing is Culligan’s customer service which, according to online reports, can leave a lot to be desired. The good news is that this doesn’t matter as much with a product that you can install and service yourself.
More reasons to invest in a Culligan DIY Solutions water filtration system are:
- NSF Certifications – Most models were tested and certified against NSF standards. This guarantees optimal system performance in regards to contaminant reduction. The RFC-BBSA whole house filter, for instance, is certified to reduce 90.3% chlorine taste and odor for 10,000 gallons. The US-EZ-4 under sink premium filter has earned 4 independent NSF certifications (Standard 42, 53, 401 and Protocol P473) for the elimination of dozens of potentially harmful contaminants, among them lead, cysts, perfluorinated chemicals and VOCs. Another example are the FM-15A & FM-25 faucet mount filters that take care of chlorine (97.4%), lead (at least 98%) and turbidity (99.1%).
- Warranty – All Culligan DIY Solutions systems are covered by limited warranties of varying lengths (between 1 and 5 years).
- DIY – We have already mentioned the DIY aspect that allows you to install and maintain your Culligan filter yourself to make significant savings. Of course you should be somewhat handy with tools. Other than that it’s learning by doing.
- Low in Maintenance – The filters are maintenance-free for the most part. All you have to do is change the cartridge(s) every once in a while.
- Plenty of Feedback – Apart from this website, there’s plenty of customer feedback on Amazon that will help you to learn about all the benefits and drawbacks that a specific product has.
If you have any questions about Culligan water filters please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
And remember to revisit this page from time to time as we are going to add new Culligan water filter reviews occasionally.
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.
We adhere to strict editorial guidelines. Rest assured, the opinions expressed have not been provided, reviewed, or otherwise endorsed by our partners – they are unbiased, independent, and the author’s alone. Our licensed experts fact-check all content for accuracy. It is accurate as of the date posted and to the best of our knowledge.