Review: NU Aqua 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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In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the NU Aqua 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System. It’s a 20″x4.5″ cartridge-based unit a.k.a. Big Blue which delivers filtered water throughout your entire house, from your kitchen sink to your shower(s). Above that, it’ll protect your appliances from sediment, extending their life.
But what makes the NU Aqua really stand out is the low price. Sure, whole house water filters that work with filter cartridges instead of a large media tank are always more affordable upfront. And yet the Nu Aqua is surprisingly cheap. So, should you invest?
Contents
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NU Aqua 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Media: | Sediment Pre Filter, Granular Activated Carbon, Carbon Block |
| Filter Life: | 100,000 Gallons |
| Flow Rate: | 15 gpm |
| Annual Cost: | ~$120 |
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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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NU Aqua 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System – All Specs
- Model: WU-STG3-H1
- Last Price: $499.95
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$120
- Filter Media/Process: Sediment Pre (5 Microns), GAC, Carbon Block (5 Microns)
- Filter Stages: 3
- Flow Rate: 15 gpm
- Filtering Capacity: 100,000 gal
- WxHxD: 23.5″x30″x8.5″
- Fitting: 1″ NPT
- Warranty: 3 Years
NU Aqua 3-Stage – Key Features
First of all, what exactly does the NU Aqua whole house water filter do?
Plumbed into your home’s main water line, it features 3 filter stages:
- At stage 1, the incoming water runs through a sediment pre-filter (polypropylene fiber) which traps floating particulates down to 5 microns in size, so dirt, sand, rust, dust, and debris. This does 2 things: A) it stops those sediments from damaging your dishwasher, washing machine, and so on. And B) it prevents premature clogging of the granular activated carbon filter in stage 2. Speaking of…
- Stage 2: A GAC (granular activated carbon) filter reduces chlorine, pesticides, herbicides, VOCs and other organic chemicals, color, bad tastes, odors, and possibly even some lead. These substances can often have a negative impact on your health.
- Stage 3: This stage uses more carbon, but this time in the form of a carbon block filter (5-micron nominal) which also helps with giardia and cryptosporidium among other stuff. The carbon block gives your water a polishing touch so to speak.
All in all, the NU Aqua 3-Stage was designed for tap water treatment – tap water containing chlorine. It’s less effective against chloramine, and if you’re on well water you’ll likely require a different approach, too.
That said, you’ll get better-tasting water to drink and cook with. On top of that, you can enjoy chlorine-free showers for less irritated skin.
Water flow rate? 15 gallons per minute which is enough for most homes, small to large.
NU Aqua Whole House Water Filter Pros
What else do we got?
- Built-in pressure gauges allow you to easily monitor each of the 3 filter stages. As soon as the pressure difference before and after a stage gets too high, it’s time to replace the filter cartridge in question.
- Thanks to the filter housings being standard sized, you can go off-brand with replacement filters for customization or to save money.
- Pressure release buttons at every stage make filter changes a piece of cake.
- System installation is intuitive and “straight to the point“. Ideal for DIYers to save money!
- The stainless steel frame brings stability and allows wall mounting or free standing.
- You get a 120-day 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee.
- The system is warranted for 3 years by the manufacturer.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
NU Aqua 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter removes contaminants like rust, dirt, silt, and insect parts. It also removes chemicals including pesticides, chlorine, sulfur, trihalomethanes, benzene, industrial solvents, volatile organic compounds, some mercury, and lead.
Most of the contaminants removed are responsible for bad taste and smell in water.
The NU Aqua 3-Stage – learn more on Nuaquasystems.com
Installation
Are you handy with tools? If so chances are you’ll be able to install the NU Aqua whole house filter yourself. Reviewers said the included instructions are easy to follow.
Also, the system is shipped preassembled and already mounted in its stand.
One drawback: There’s no built-in bypass so you have to create one manually if you want one.
The Package (Parts)
- Filter module
- 1x 5-micron polypropylene sediment filter cartridge
- 1x granular activated carbon water filter cartridge
- 1x 5-micron nominal carbon block filter cartridge
- Housing wrench
- Stainless steel frame with mounting bracket
- Installation instructions
Maintenance
Changing the filters of the NU Aqua 3-stage whole house filter system is as simple as removing the housing, taking out the old cartridge, and inserting a new one. Now you can put the housing back on and carefully tighten with the wrench.
If a housing is stuck, you can use the button on top to release pressure. This makes the entire process so much more convenient.
How long will each filter last? It depends on your water quality, but somewhere around 100,000 gallons or 6-12 months should be realistic. If you’re not sure about when to change, check the pressure gauges. The pressure drop before vs. after each filter stage should be small. If the difference becomes too big it’s probably time for a replacement.
By the way, NU Aqua replacement filters are highly affordable. Annual cost: About $120. Still, because everything is standard-sized you can opt for even cheaper off-brand models if you want.
Manual
Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a manual online.
NSF and Other Certifications
The NU Aqua whole house filter does not have any NSF certifications.
Earlier Product Versions
As far as we know, there are no earlier versions of this product.
NU Aqua Whole House Filter Cons
There’s no built-in bypass. This is certainly not a deal breaker, but it’s less convenient.
We checked user ratings and noticed a couple of complaints about the quality of customer service. Users also complained that the GAC filters clogged too easily and they had to get replacements sooner than advertised which added to the cost.
NU Aqua 3-Stage Review: Our Verdict + Best for
People reported seeing a drastic improvement in their water quality after installing the NU Aqua whole house filter: Free from chlorine smell and improved taste from every outlet.
In our opinion, it’s a decent product for people on city water with lower budgets and basic filtration needs. Just don’t expect the highest quality or super outstanding results.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 4.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 5.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 4.0/5.0
Comparison to Other Whole House Water Filters
How does the NU Aqua whole house water filter perform against its competitors, the SpringWell CF and E-1000 by Kind Water Systems?
SpringWell CF |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | 5-Micron Sediment, Catalytic Carbon, KDF |
| Filter Life: | 1,000,000 gal or 6 Years |
| Water Flow Rate: | 9-20 gpm |
| Annually: | ~$40 |
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Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Kind E-1000 |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | 5-Micron Sediment, Catalytic Carbon Block |
| Filter Life: | 12 Months |
| Water Flow Rate: | 15 gpm |
| Annually: | ~$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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NU Aqua 3-Stage |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Sediment Pre Filter, Granular Activated Carbon, Carbon Block |
| Filter Life: | 100,000 gal |
| Water Flow Rate: | 15 gpm |
| Annually: | ~$120 |
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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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The SpringWell CF is a tank-based filtration unit that uses advanced filter media: Catalytic carbon and KDF, to reduce contaminants like PFAS, chlorine, chloramine, disinfection byproducts and other organics, and certain heavy metals such as lead.
Although the system’s initial cost is relatively high, its maintenance cost is affordable at $40 per year since it doesn’t need cartridge replacements. Also, the SpringWell CF is easy to install and can handle 1 million gallons of water, with an impressive flow rate of up to 20 gpm, suitable for both small and large homes. You also get additional benefits like the money-back guarantee and a limited lifetime warranty.
The Kind E-1000 is a whole house water filter system designed with two stages: A 5-micron sediment pre-filter and a catalytic carbon block. These stages work together to eliminate contaminants like sediments, chlorine/chloramine and all kinds of chemicals, even lead, ensuring clean water flows throughout your home.
Furthermore, the E-1000 has a filter lifespan of 12 months with a flow rate of 15 gpm. There’s also a 120-day satisfaction guarantee and a limited lifetime warranty. Annual maintenance cost is $145 – higher than the SpringWell CF and about the same as the NU Aqua.
Our take: If you want a top-end system that filters a broad range of contaminants with no filter replacements required, the SpringWell CF is the ideal choice. However, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, the NU Aqua does have its place. The Kind E-1000 is great for water supplies containing chloramines.
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This completes our review of the NU Aqua 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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