Review: iSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Aug 4, 2023
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The iSpring WGB32B is a 3-stage whole house water filter designed to remove up to 99% of chlorine and several other contaminants.
Its low price, easy installation, and stress-free maintenance could it an attractive option for users working on a budget.
Let’s analyze the features, benefits, and cons of the iSpring WGB32B and see if it’s the right fit for you.
Contents
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iSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Media: | Sediment (5 Microns), Carbon Blocks |
| Filter Life: | 100,000 gal or Up to 12 Months |
| Flow Rate: | Up to 15 gpm |
| Annual Cost: | ~$215 |
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Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘ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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iSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter – All Specs
- Model: iSpring WGB32B
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$215
- Filter Media/Process: 5-Micron PP Sediment, 2x Carbon Block
- Filter Stages: 3
- Flow Rate: Up to 15 gpm
- Filtering Capacity: 100,000 gal or Up to 12 Months
- WxHxD: 24.5″x28″x8″
- Weight: 45 lb.
- Water Temperature: 40-100 °F
- Water Pressure: 25-80 psi
- Water pH: 6-11
- Fitting: 1″ NPT
- Warranty: 1 Year
iSpring WGB32B – Key Features
First of all, the iSpring WGB32B whole house water filter is a 3-stage system that can be used for city or well water. The first stage is a polypropylene sediment filter, and the second and third stages are activated carbon block filters.
Here’s how these stages work:
- Stage 1: The polypropylene sediment filter (model: FP25B) filters contaminants down to 5 microns in size. As such, it removes sediment, sand, dirt, rust, silt, bits of scale, and other larger-sized particles from water. It essentially prevents clogs and pressure loss throughout the system and also protects your plumbing and appliances from dirt clogging. This filter has a lifespan of 3-6 months.
- Stages 2 and 3: The activated carbon block filters (model: FC25B) make up stages 2 and 3 of the iSpring WGB32B. The filters are made from coconut shell carbon and reduce the amount of chlorine, pesticides, sediments (down to 5 microns), herbicides, industrial solvents, and bad taste and odor in your water. These filters have a lifespan of 6-12 months.
The iSpring also has a flow rate of 15 gpm, which is sufficient for small to large households.
Product warranty is 1 year.
iSpring 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter Pros
Most importantly, iSpring’s WGB32B whole house water filter is highly affordable.
And with one sediment pre-filter and two stages of activated coconut carbon, the iSpring WGB32B is pretty good at improving the taste and smell of your water. Getting rid of pesticides and other chemicals also make the water healthier.
Coupled with its flow rate of 15 gallons per minute, you also shouldn’t have to worry about low water pressure after installation.
Speaking of, the installation and maintenance are pretty much DIY and relatively simple, so no additional costs or getting confused.
Besides, the iSpring WGB32B comes with standard-sized 20″x4.5″ (big blue) filter cartridges that can be replaced with off-brand models of your choice – to save money – or with other iSpring cartridges (for instance, you can add a cartridge to remove lead or iron and manganese). This gives you the liberty to make modifications to your filtration setup.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
The iSpring WGB32B is designed to remove up to 95% sediments and other dirt down to 5 microns. It also removes pesticides, herbicides, chlorine (up to 99%), volatile organic compounds (VOC), industrial solvents, and other organic chemicals.
The iSpring WGB32B – learn more on Amazon.com
Installation
Being a whole house filter system, the iSpring WGB32B is installed into the main water line, so it filters all the water entering your home. The installation is DIY and pretty simple if you follow the provided instructions in the manual step-by-step.
You could also watch the installation video if you get confused. However, it’s essential to know that you require some basic plumbing skills, like using a solder iron and pipe cutting.
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
The filter package comprises three filter housings + cartridges, a wall-mounted frame, a system bracket with caps, and a housing wrench. Some other required parts are not in the package. They may include:
- 1x ground jumper table
- 4x shut-off valves
- 2x mounting screws
- 2x pipe hangers
- 2x pipe nipples
- 2x pipe union pressure regulators
- 2x 1″ male NPT threaded adapters
Tools you need during the installation process may include:
- Pipe cutter
- Flat head screwdriver
- Deburring tools
- Plumbers tape
- Adjustable wrench and medium crescent wrench
- Torch, towels, and safety glasses
Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing your system:
- Remember to turn off your water supply and any connected appliances (like your water heater) before you start.
- Select the best location for installing the whole house water filter. It should be at your main water line. Ideally, choose a spot just after the main shut-off valve and before the pipe branches into multiple directions. (Remember to locate the filter in a dry-level area).
- Measure the section of the main pipe you’ll need to cut to install the filter, and then cut it out. (Ensure that the section is enough to accommodate the filter width, union fittings, shut-off valves, nipple fittings, pressure gauges, and any bypass valves you’ll be using).
- Allow the cut line to drain any water left in it, and then smooth the edges with a deburring tool.
- Mount the filter bracket on the wall. Ensure it is level and not tilting in any direction.
- Attach the plumbing to the inlet and outlet with 1″ male NPT threaded adapters. After this, you’ll have to secure the connections with 12-15 wraps of plumber’s tape to prevent leakages.
- Consider placing a shut-off valve and/or pressure gauge on either side of the system for easy monitoring and maintenance. To do this, you might have to adjust the pipe length/distance by fitting a pipe union on the cut end of the main water line. Then you can fit the shut-off valve to the pipe union and wrap Teflon tape on the threaded fittings.
- After fixing the shut-off valve to the main line, use a pipe nipple to connect it to the whole house filter (on the feed/inlet side).
- Fit the shut-off valve to the filter on the outlet side, and then add a pipe union to the free end of the shut-off valve.
- Check the main pipe length and the pipe union length to see if any additional pipe union is required to make them both fit. If not, join them together.
- Fit a pipe on the filter inlet and outlet points for additional support.
- If you have metal pipes, connect them to a ground jumper wire.
- Insert the filter cartridges into their housings (the filter manual describes the sequence).
- Attach the housings to the filter heads. Tighten using the provided filter wrench. Try not to over-tighten.
- Turn on the water supply to flush the system, and allow the filter housings to fill up with water (you’ll know it’s full when you stop hearing the sound of water in the system).
- Check for leaks.
- Open the nearest cold water faucet and let it run for 10 minutes to flush the system.
- After the first flush, turn off the water and allow the system to sit for some time before flushing one last time. The water may be cloudy for a while, but this is only due to the air bubbles it expels from the filter chamber. This should clear out in 2-3 days. The cold water faucets are suitable for use immediately, but hot water faucets will likely still expel raw water for a while. Please wait at least three days for them to get filled with filtered water.
- Once done with the second flush, your system is ready to use.
Video
The Package (Parts)
- Black metal bracket with filter housing caps
- 3 filter housings with O-rings
- 5 inch housing wrench
- Filter cartridge set
- Manual
Maintenance
The maintenance procedures for the WGB32B are just as simple as its installation process. However, you must keep changing your filters as scheduled to keep the system running at optimal performance.
The cartridges need to be replaced every 100,000 gallons or 6-12 months at the latest (6 for the sediment cartridge and 12 for the carbon filters). However, this time is subject to change depending on the amount of contamination in the water. Cost: About $215 per year which seems okay.
Here’s how to change the filters:
- Turn off the water supply to the system, and then open a faucet to release pressure and drain all water.
- Next, unscrew the filter housings with the filter wrench provided.
- Then remove the large O-ring inside each housing with a flat-head screwdriver and keep it in a safe place. Make a conscious effort not to disturb the lubricant in any way.
- Remove the old filter cartridges and discard them.
- Clean the housings by scrubbing the filter caps and insides with warm water mixed with a few drops of household bleach (2 tablespoons). Use a soft material like a sponge, and wear rubber gloves while you clean.
- Rinse the housings thoroughly after cleaning.
- Lubricate the O-rings with silicone grease before placing them back. Press them into place and see that they’re appropriately seated to avoid leakages.
- Fit in the new filter cartridges. Ensure that they slip over the standpipe at the bottom of the housings so they stay in place.
- Install and tighten each housing with your hand, then give a slight extra turn with the filter wrench. Be careful not to overtighten
- Turn on the water supply to fill the system with water.
- Check for leaks.
- Flush the system by turning on a few cold water faucets.
- Allow the water to run till you’ve purged out most of the air bubbles and residual carbon.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://www.123filter.com/ac/index.php?rt=account/download/startdownload&download_id=73
NSF and Other Certifications
iSpring indicates that the WGB32B is NSF-certified but doesn’t provide any further information about the specific standards it’s certified for. Certification could be unrelated to contaminant reduction and is probably related to the product’s structural integrity.
Besides, according to iSpring the system is third-party tested to remove 95% of sediments, dirt, chlorine, chemicals, and other contaminants that create a foul odor and taste in water.
Earlier Product Versions
As far as we know, there are no older versions of this product.
iSpring WGB32B Whole House Water Filter Cons
Although the WGB32B filtration system seems to be an all-rounder, there are a few shortcomings we must point out. One such shortcoming is that some users complained of leakage at several points in the system.
There’s also no bypass valve, so installation is a bit more complicated than necessary.
As for maintenance, the sediment filter requires quite frequent replacement. The price is reasonable but you have to put in some extra effort.
Lastly, the lack of information on NSF standards isn’t ideal; we’d have liked it if they included details on specific standards the product is certified for. And a longer warranty would have been nice.
iSpring WGB32B Review: Our Verdict + Best for
Despite a few shortfalls, the iSpring WGB32B has gained much love from users. From its low price tag to its simple maintenance process, we believe it’s best suited for homes battling foul-smelling and bad-tasting water due to debris, chlorine, and other organic contaminants.
Just don’t expect the most sophisticated filtration process. If you have high levels of iron, manganese, lead, PFAS, or other more stubborn impurities in your water, we recommend you go for a more specialized filtration setup.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 4.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 4.5/5.0
- Annual Cost: 4.0/5.0
- Overall: 4.0/5.0
Comparison to Other Whole House Water Filters
Let’s see how the iSpring WGB32B stacks up against popular alternatives in the whole house water filter market, like the SpringWell CF and the Kind E-1000.
SpringWell CF |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Media: | 5-Micron Sediment, Catalytic Carbon, KDF |
| Filter Life: | 1,000,000 gal or 6 Years |
| Flow Rate: | 9-20 gpm |
| Annual Cost: | ~$40 |
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Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Kind E-1000 |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Media: | 5-Micron Sediment, Catalytic Carbon Block |
| Filter Life: | 12 Months |
| 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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iSpring WGB32B |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Media: | Sediment (5 Microns), Carbon Blocks |
| Filter Life: | 100,000 gal or Up to 12 Months |
| Flow Rate: | Up to 15 gpm |
| Annual Cost: | ~$215 |
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Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘ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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First, the SpringWell CF (you can read our full review here) is a tank-based system which employs more advanced filter media: KDF and catalytic carbon. These target a wider range of contaminants, including chlorine/chloramine, PFAS, and lead and few other heavy metals. This makes the SpringWell much more effective than the iSpring in treating even the nastiest of city waters and some well water.
Coupled with the 1 million gallon filtration capacity, up to 20 gpm flow rate, lifetime warranty (limited), money-back guarantee, and easy installation (including a bypass valve), the system stands tall against the WGB32B. Also, although it sells for a much higher price (between $1,000-$1,750), it doesn’t require cartridge replacements, so maintenance costs are down to just about $40 per year as compared to more than $200 for the iSpring.
The Kind E-1000 (read review here), on the other hand, is a 2-stage whole house water filter using cartridges. It uses a 5-micron sediment filter and one catalytic carbon filter block. The two stages are pretty effective and remove contaminants ranging from chlorine to pesticides to VOCs. Also, like the WGB32B, the Kind has a 15 gpm flow rate but a much higher filter capacity of 12 months.
Comparing the two, we’ll recommend Kind E-1000 over the WGB32B because it can tackle more contaminants and is also cheaper to maintain ($145 per year). Plus, it has a lifetime warranty (limited) and a 120-day satisfaction guarantee.
Bottom line: While the Spring WGB32B is a decent filter, we believe the SpringWell CF and the Kind E-1000 are much better options for users seeking efficiency.
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This completes our review of the iSpring WGB32B Whole House Water Filter. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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