Review: Kinetico Dechlorinator 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 Kinetico Dechlorinator is a tank-based whole house water filter designed to remove chlorine from your home water supply. It works similarly to other activated carbon-based whole house filters – but is sold through Kinetico’s representative network rather than direct to consumer.
This sales model offers both advantages and disadvantages, which we’ll get into in depth below.
So, let’s take a closer look at the Kinetico Dechlorinator and see how it stacks up against the competition.
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Kinetico Dechlorinator Whole House Water Filter System |
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| Price: | ? |
| Filter Media: | Activated Carbon |
| Filter Life: | 3 to 5 Years |
| Flow Rate: | 9 to 12 Gallons Per Minute |
| Annual Cost: | ? |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Kinetico Dechlorinator Whole House Water Filter System – All Specs
- Model: Kinetico Dechlorinator
- Filter Media/Process: Activated Carbon
- Flow Rate: 9-12 gpm
- Filtering Capacity: 3-5 Years
- WxHxD: 7-13″x35-54″x7-13″
- Weight: 40-175 lb.
- Water Temperature: 35-120 °F
- Water Pressure: 15-125 psi
- Water pH: 5-10
- NSF Certifications: Standard 42 (for Chlorine Reduction), Standard 372
- Other Certifications: CSA B483.1
- Warranty: 10 Years
Kinetico Dechlorinator – Key Features
The Kinetico Dechlorinator is a single-tank filter system designed to remove chlorine and foul tastes/odors from water. It’s typically installed in conjunction with a Kinetico Water Softener in homes with a chlorinated water supply.
Kinetico offers the Dechlorinator in 4 sizes, so you can select the ideal one to fit your needs.
- 1030 – 9 gpm flow rate (for up to 3 bathrooms)
- 1060 – 11 gpm flow rate (for up to 4 bathrooms)
- 1100 – 12 gpm flow rate (for 4+ baths)
- 1175 – 12 gpm flow rate (for 4+ baths)
The system features an activated carbon bed to attract chlorine molecules through a process known as adsorption. Water flows through the activated carbon, where chlorine is adsorbed and held in place – removing chlorine odor and taste from your home’s entire water supply.
According to Kinetico, you get 3-5 years of filter life out of the activated carbon media.
Unlike other whole house water filter manufacturers, Kinetico doesn’t sell their systems directly to consumers but through their representatives. This typically involves a representative coming to your home and assessing your water quality before recommending a product. This translates to less transparent pricing than with other brands. Plus, you’ll need to ‘request a quote’ to receive pricing information.
That said, the quality of Kinetico products is usually high, and most customers seem more than happy with their purchase.
Kinetico Whole House Water Filter Pros
First up, the Kinetico Dechlorinator is a well-made and high-quality whole house water filter. The primary complaint you’ll hear about Kinetic products is their pricing scheme, but very few people have issues with the product quality itself.
Additionally, while their sales method may not be for everyone, it does ensure you get an actual expert opinion on which type of water treatment system will meet your needs. This leads to higher costs, but it’s preferable to simply winging it and guessing which system you need.
Besides, the Kinetico whole house filter utilizes an upflow design that prevents media from packing and channeling. This ensures that flow rates remain high and that filtration efficiency remains constant over time.
Additionally, Kinetico backs its product with a 10-year warranty on all parts – which is among the longest you’ll find for this type of system. Another plus is that Kinetico will honor the warranty even if the house where the system is installed is sold to a new owner.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
First and foremost, the Kinetico Dechlorinator will remove chlorine from your water. Chlorine is a commonly used disinfectant used in municipal water treatment which has the unfortunate effect of imparting a foul taste and odor to water.
The system will work at a max chlorine concentration of 4 ppm and can reduce this down to less than 0.05 ppm.
Installation
Unlike most whole house filter systems, you will not have the option of installing the a Kinetico yourself. Part of the purchase price includes a professional installation by a Kinetico representative.
Once again, this is a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, paying a professional means you’ll get a properly installed system that won’t void the warranty. On the other hand, this adds significantly to the cost and eliminates the possibility of a DIY install for the handy folks out there.
The Package (Parts)
- Kinetico Dechlorinator System
Maintenance
Another area where Kinetico differs from other whole house water filters is their requirement that your system be serviced by a Kinetico representative. That means DIY repairs will void the warranty and you will need to get the system professionally serviced when you run into trouble.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://www.kinetico.com/media/1604/9613a_manual_owners_declorinator_sheet.pdf
NSF and Other Certifications
This Kinetico whole house water filtration system comes with several NSF certifications which verify the claims made by the manufacturer.
- The system is tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for aesthetic effects. This means it has been certified to reduce aesthetic impurities (namely chlorine taste and odor).
- It also is tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 372 which is the standard for lead-free plumbing and potable water system components.
- Lastly, the system also features a CAN/CSA B483.1 certification on.
Earlier Product Versions
To our knowledge the Kinetico Dechlorinator has no earlier product versions.
Kinetico Whole House Water Filtration System Cons
Probably the biggest drawback to the Kinetico Dechlorinator – or any Kinetico water treatment system for that matter – is the lack of transparency when it comes to pricing. If you wish to purchase a system, you’ll need to request a quote from your local Kinetico specialist, which means speaking to a salesperson and possibly being upsold.
Additionally, if you wish to purchase replacement parts, to avoid voiding the warranty, you’ll need to purchase them from a Kinetico-authorized retailer.
When it comes to the Kinetico Dechlorinator specifically, the system doesn’t come with a bypass valve, so you’ll need to purchase one separately for installation.
Kinetico Dechlorinator Review: Our Verdict + Best for
Overall, Kinetico’s whole house water filter is a decent choice if you’re looking for a high-quality, low-maintenance chlorine removal system. It will likely cost more than similar whole house filters, but again, pricing is not transparent.
Keep in mind that the Dechlorinator will only remove chlorine and other foul odors/tastes from your water. It won’t remove most of the more stubborn contaminants like lead, PFAS, or chloramine. It also won’t soften hard water – so it’s best suited to relatively clean municipal water.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 4.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: X.X/5.0
- Annual Cost: X.X/5.0
- Overall: 3.5/5.0
Comparison to Other Whole House Water Filters
Let’s compare the Kinetico to 2 other popular whole house water filters designed to remove chlorine – the Kind E-1000 and the SpringWell CF.
Kind E-1000 |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Media: | 5-Micron Sediment, Catalytic Carbon Block |
| Filter Life: | 12 Months |
| Flow Rate: | 15 gpm |
| Annual Cost: | ~$145 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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SpringWell CF |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| 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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Kinetico Dechlorinator |
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| Price: | ? |
| Filter Media: | Activated Carbon |
| Filter Life: | 3-5 Years |
| Flow Rate: | 9-12 gpm |
| Annual Cost: | ? |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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The Kind (fully reviewed here) is a two-stage cartridge-based system featuring a 5-micron sediment filter and a powerful catalytic activated carbon block filter. The sediment filter removes sand, silt, and other particles which could clog the carbon filter, while the catalytic carbon removes chlorine, chloramine, herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, and PFAS. The system flow rate is 15 gallons per minute, which is better than all of the Kinetico models – which tap out at 12 gallons per minute.
As the Kind is a cartridge-based system, it requires annual filter cartridge replacements, which cost approximately $145 per year.
The SpringWell CF (detailed review here) is a tank-based system like the Kinetico, but it features additional filtration – namely a 5-micron sediment pre-filter and KDF media. The sediment filter removes silt, sand, and sediment, while the KDF bed takes care of chlorine and heavy metals, and helps control microbial growth. Also, the carbon in the SpringWell is catalytic carbon – which removes chloramine, VOCs, herbicides, pesticides, and more. As no filter cartridge replacements are required, the system will last for approximately 6 years, which is longer than the Kinetico’s 3 to 5 year carbon media lifespan.
Comparing the above systems to the Kinetico reveals that the Kinetico has several missing features. Namely, the lack of a sediment pre-filter to remove large particles and an activated carbon filter rather than a catalytic carbon one (catalytic carbon is like regular activated carbon with superpowers).
Additionally, the lack of transparent pricing with Kinetico makes price comparisons difficult. Also, the above two systems can be purchased online with no obligations and installed yourself without the need for a professional. Lastly, both the Kind and the SpringWell come with solid limited lifetime warranties and 6-month money-back guarantees in case you aren’t satisfied.
Overall, both the SpringWell and the Kind would make better choices of whole house water filters for the majority of users – at least in our opinion.
More Reviews:
This completes our review of the Kinetico Dechlorinator whole house water filtration system. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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