How Much Do Home and Whole House Water Filter Systems Cost? (*Latest Prices)
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated:
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How much does a home water filtration system cost? There’s more than one answer to this question which we’ll cover in great detail on this page. So without further ado…
Home water filters come in all shapes and sizes. The selection ranges from a small and inexpensive pitcher providing drinking water for a single person only to a more pricey whole house system that treats all the water entering your home. So the question really is what type of water filter do you want or need?
Because not every product is capable of removing all the potential contaminants that might be lurking in your water supply. While basic activated carbon filtration reduces chlorine content for example, lead, chromium-6 and chloramines require a more sophisticated approach.
That said, these are the different filter types you can choose from:
Whole house water filters are point-of-entry (POE) systems. This means they connect to the main water line so you can use filtered water in the shower and the rest of your bathroom(s), your kitchen, and even for your laundry. Standard models are good for improving water aesthetics and increasing the longevity of your plumbing system and appliances. But of course there are more specialized units, too – think iron contamination in private wells. Our favorite systems? Check out the BOS whole house water filter guide!
We Recommend: SpringWell CF4 Whole House Water Filter
Reverse osmosis systems provide a very thorough treatment process for filtered drinking water that’s almost pure H2O. They can easily remove up to 99% of dozens of contaminants and either sit on your countertop or install under your kitchen sink for point-of-use (POU) applications. There also are whole house reverse osmosis systems which can get really expensive as they’re more complex and usually require a large storage tank + delivery pump.
Regular under sink systems filter water on demand right before it comes out of your kitchen faucet or wherever you install one. In most cases, they provide water that not only tastes great but is also safe for drinking.
Both countertop and faucet mounted filters can be attached to your kitchen faucet in minutes and without the need to make any permanent changes. Both types feature a more basic filtration process and usually allow you to switch between filtered and unfiltered water. The main goal here is to improve water taste & odor and eliminate some of the more harmful pollutants such as lead.
Water filter pitchers are probably the most popular type as they are affordable to buy and so easy to use. The downside is that filtration speed is slow and cartridges may be prone to clogging.
We Recommend: Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher
Refrigerator and shower filters are somewhat special and probably not what you are looking for right now. Still, we wanted to add them to our list for sake of completeness.
How Much Does a Water Filtration System Cost?
Type
Price Range
Pros
Cons
Whole House
Usually between $300 to $1,000 and more
Filtered water everywhere in your home; increase lifespan of appliances and plumbing system
More likely to require installation by a professional; most won’t have any effect on smaller impurities
Reverse Osmosis
$150 – $500
Provide healthy drinking water 100% safe for consumption; produce relatively large volumes
Produce wastewater; strip away minerals; may require installation by a professional
Under Sink
$50 – $400
Cost effective; most provide water safe for drinking
Might require installation by a professional
Countertop
$50 – $120
Simple to use and clean; portable; no permanent installation required (great for renters); attach within a couple of seconds
Not always the most thorough filtration; take up space on your counter; don’t fit non-standard faucet types like sprayers; flow rate can be slow
Faucet Mounted
$20 – $50
Simple to use and clean; portable; no permanent installation required (great for renters); attach within a couple of seconds
Take up space above/in your kitchen sink; might not be compatible with your faucet; not the most thorough filtration; flow rate can be slow
Pitcher
$20 – $70
No installation required (great for renters); can be stored in refrigerator for cooling; simple to use and clean; portable
Filters need frequent replacements; low flow rate; limited storage volume
Let’s say you’ve just purchased a new water filter. Now, unless you bought a pitcher or a unit that simply connects to your kitchen faucet, the next step would be to have the system installed in your home.
How much does that cost? Again, there is no definite answer because it depends on how complex the system is (check table below). The higher the complexity, the more costly the installation is likely going to be. By the way, you might be able to do the installation yourself.
Basic labor includes mounting the unit, installing a shut-off valve, making the plumbing connections, and verifying that everything works as intended and without leaks. Additional tasks are installation site preparation and cleanup.
To this we have to add the cost of materials and supplies such as tubing, connectors, and fittings if not included with the filter itself.
If modification of your home’s existing plumbing is required the total cost will increase by another $1,000 to $2,000.
Most plumbers also offer to remove and dispose old appliances and installation debris if need be. This is optional and costs somewhere between $50 and $120.
On a side note: In our opinion, if you are handy with tools there’s no reason not to try to hook up your new reverse osmosis or whole house water filter DIY-style (unless self-installation voids the warranty). For under sinks units, setup typically requires cutting into the drain line and drilling a hole into your countertop for the second faucet. Whole house systems require proper plumbing at the main water line.
Bonus Tip
If you want to make sure that the plumber you hire will provide excellent service of the highest quality, check for licensing and insurance. A plumbing company recognized by the Better Business Bureau is always a great start.
In addition, use sites like Yelp and Angie’s List to compare online reviews from past clients.
Lastly, insist on a price estimate in written form upfront to avoid unpleasant surprises.
As for maintenance, all water filter systems require filter (and membrane) replacements for optimum performance every once in a while. This adds to the cost.
Systems with multiple filtration stages like RO units will turn out more expensive compared to simple single-stage devices – think faucet filters.
Type
Installation Cost
Labor
Annual Cost
Total Cost (First Year)
Whole House
$100 to $500 and more
2 – 4 hours
$100 – $300
$500 to $1,800 and more
Reverse Osmosis
$100 – $300
1 – 3 hours
$60 – $200
$310 – $1,000
Under Sink
$100 – $300
1 – 3 hours
$20 – $150
$170 – $850
Countertop
–
–
$70 – $130
$120 – $250
Faucet Mounted
–
–
$20 – $40
$40 – $90
Pitcher
–
–
$60 – $150
$80 – $220
A Few Words on Well Systems
For any reputable source providing information on water filters it is impossible to predict how much it will cost you to have a tailored well water treatment system installed in your home without a full analysis of the situation.
There are simply too many possible conditions that you might be facing, from high iron, sulfur and manganese content to excess hardness or harmful microorganisms. These conditions all require special treatment by specialized systems.
If you have any questions about home or whole house water filtration system cost, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
Gene Fitzgerald has been with BOS since the very beginning. She is head of content creation and has fully immersed herself into the home water treatment industry only to become an expert herself. Outside of BOS, Gene loves reading books on philosophy & social issues, making music, and hiking.
Learn more about Gene and the rest of the BOS Team.
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Leave a Comment:
Adrian says
April 22, 2020
Can you provide listings of water treatment systems for entire home filtration? …and do-it–yourself instructions?