Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Aug 4, 2023
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The PC600-P by Pentair (formerly Pelican PC600) is a whole house water filter that provides great-tasting drinking water at every tap in your home and lets you enjoy cleaner showers for healthier hair and skin as well as improved indoor air quality; all for a reasonable price.
Eager to learn more? Keep reading!
The Pentair PC600-P Whole House Water Filter was designed for the filtration of tap water (most well waters require different treatment) – whether chlorinated or chloraminated doesn’t matter, the system eliminates both disinfectants. It also reduces other chemical and non-chemical water contaminants that might be causing bad taste and odor or affect your health.
How does the PC600-P whole house filter work?
All in all, the system has a filtration capacity of 650,885 gallons or five years, whichever comes first.
The service flow rate is 8 gallons per minute, so enough for small to mid-sized homes with up to 3 bathrooms. Peak flow is 12 gallons per minute. →The larger Pentair PC1000-P is for homes with 4 to 6 bathrooms which you can learn more about here.
The Pentair PC600-P has been independently tested and certified according to NSF Standard 42 for chlorine taste and odor reduction as well as structural integrity.
What’s more, the media tank is wrapped in durable stainless steel for longevity. Besides, we like the looks.
The system is backed by a 1 year warranty on the tank and 5 years on the valve and electronics.
What about installation and maintenance? Don’t worry, the system can be set up by the average DIYer (flex lines and SharkBite fittings are your friends). And maintenance is a piece of cake.
The Pentair PC600-P – learn more on Amazon.com
The Pentair PC600-P whole house water filter can be installed inside or outside. You only need access to your home’s main water line. Since this is not a backwashing system, neither electricity nor a drain is required.
Everything is shipped pre-assembled. The tank comes pre-loaded. This plus the fact that there’s a built-in bypass valve greatly simplifies the installation process saving you time and money. Still, you’ll need to visit your local hardware store for pipes and fittings.
Side note: The optional installation kit provided by Pentair is worth considering buying.
Priming (Soaking) of the Filter Media
The catalytic carbon filter media has to soak for 48 hours before first use. This so-called priming isn’t complicated at all. But you need a location suitable for water flow.
Tools and Materials needed for installation:
The system head can come loose during transit. Check the system head and hand tighten clockwise a ¼ turn.
To install the system, follow these steps:
For the 72 hours following installation keep the water demand low by not running multiple outlets at once. This can disturb the media and restrict water pressure.
Keep in mind the installation process above assumes you have your water inlet and outlet pre-plumbed. If this is not the case, you’ll need to cut through the main water line to install the system.
Maintaining the Pentair PC600-P whole house water filtration system is a breeze.
All you have to do is replace the sediment pre-filter cartridge approximately every 6 to 9 months, depending on your water usage and the amount of sediment in your water supply. One cartridge costs around 15 to 20 dollars.
As for the catalytic carbon filter media, after 5 years of use or roughly 650,000 gallons it needs to be renewed. The good news: You can continue using the tank. Replacing just the media is the most environmentally friendly and cost effective solution (about $200). And thanks to the upflow system design you can do this yourself.
To replace the sediment filter:
Here is a link to the official manual:
The PC600-P system is tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 42. This is the standard for the reduction of aesthetic effects in water – namely chlorine taste/odor. The system is certified to provide a ~96% chlorine reduction at a capacity of 662,400 gallons.
The system is also tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 61 – which is standard for products that come into contact with drinking water such as pipes, hoses, fittings, gaskets etc. It ensures that they are safe to use.
Finally, the system also features an NSF/ANSI Standard 372 certification. This is the standard for lead-free or low-lead products that come into contact with drinking water.
The product has an earlier version under the Pelican brand – the PC600. It seems that nothing has actually changed between the two systems other than the new name.
This is no one’s fault but pre-soaking the carbon media can be a pain in the neck. Although, 1 or 2 people said the hose bib could do with an upgrade.
Personally, we would have preferred metal fittings. Looks like a few people had problems with their plastic connections leaking.
A small proportion of users also had issues dealing with customer service, but this seems to be relatively isolated so it’s unlikely to be a widespread issue.
People who installed the Pentair PC600-P whole house filter in their home could immediately tell the difference in the quality of their water. Super fresh taste, no more chlorine smell, softer skin – they love it.
We are equally convinced. The price is fair, no unnecessary bells and whistles, everything as advertised. What more can you ask for? The Pentair PC600-P is best for city water with regular filtration needs. 4.5 stars!
Let’s take a look at how the Pentair PC600-P compares to sever popular whole house filter systems – the SpringWell CF and the Kind E-1000.
First, the SpringWell CF (read the full review here) is another tank-based system offering similar filter media to the Pentair. It features a combination of 5-micron sediment filtration, catalytic carbon, and KDF to remove a wide range of contaminants including chlorine, chloramine, sediments, heavy metals, VOCs, herbicides, pesticides and much more. The system is offered in three different sizes, with flow rates of 9, 12, and 20 gallons per minute respectively. Overall, the SpringWell CF is similar to the Pentair in many ways, although it’s slightly more expensive.
Next, the Kind E-1000 (review on this page) is a 2-stage cartridge-based system offering a 5-micron sediment filter stage and a catalytic carbon block. As it’s cartridge-based rather than tank-based, annual filter replacements are required – which total approximately $145 per year. The system costs slightly less than the Pentair, but annual filter replacement costs mean long-run costs will be higher. The system offers similar filtration to the Pentair, although it’s missing KDF media – so it can’t remove certain water-soluble heavy metals. It also offers an impressive 15 gallon per minute flow rate, which is better than the PC600’s 8 gpm flow rate.
Overall, both of the above systems have their strengths and weaknesses when compared with the Pentair. Still we would go with the SpringWell CF and the Kind E-1000 respectively.
This completes our review of the Pentair PC600-P whole house water filter. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
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