Review: Whirlpool Under Sink Water Filter System (WHADUS5)
Written by: Alexandra Uta // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Sep 12, 2023
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The WHADUS5 is one of the latest under sink water filters by Whirlpool.
The system features a convenient cabinet design which makes it easy to install and maintain. It also comes with a dedicated faucet and an EZ-Change indicator light that alerts you once the dual-stage filters are due for a change.
Let’s discuss all features of the Whirlpool WHADUS5 under sink filter and see if it’s a good investment.
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Whirlpool WHADUS5 Under Sink Water Filter System |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon |
| Filter Life: | 270 Gallons |
| Flow Rate: | 0.5 Gallons Per Minute |
| Annual Cost: | ~$110-220 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘ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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Whirlpool WHADUS5 Under Sink Water Filter System – All Specs
- Model: WHADUS5
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$110-220
- Filter Media/Process: Activated Carbon
- Filter Stages: 2
- Flow Rate: 0.5 gpm
- Filtering Capacity: 270 gal
- WxHxD: 3.5″x6.25″x11.25″
- Water Temperature: 40-100 °F
- Water Pressure: 30-100 psi
- Fitting: 3/8″ NPT
- NSF Certifications: 42, 53
- Warranty: 1 Year
Whirlpool WHADUS5 – Key Features
The Whirlpool WHADUS5 under sink water filter, also known as the Whirlpool UltraEase Dual Stage Water Filtration System, features 2 filter stages. At least one includes carbon fibers. It works to remove chlorine, sediment, cysts, lead, and organic chemicals from water. As such, it’s suited for basic treatment providing fresher and somewhat cleaner water.
The system package includes a dedicated faucet which has an indicator light that notifies you when it’s time to change the filters.
The flow rate is 0.5 gpm which is definitely on the lower end (more on this below), while filtering capacity is 270 gallons which isn’t a whole lot either.
The Whirlpool WHADUS5 is also NSF-certified for contaminant reduction and comes with a one-year warranty – fine pointers to good quality.
Whirlpool Under Sink Water Filter Pros
One thing we like about this Whirlpool under sink water filter is how easy it is to use and maintain.
The system uses simple quarter-turn replacement filter cartridges. It takes literally seconds to change the filters, and it’s mess-free; you don’t even have to turn off your water supply. Besides, you’ll spend between $110 to $220 for new filters in a year, which is fair enough.
Then we also have the dedicated chrome faucet which is part of the package. It has a light on its base that indicates when it’s time to change filters, so you don’t have to track replacement dates manually (what a relief!).
The system’s effectiveness is another quality to point out. The dual-stage process is NSF-tested and certified against standards 42 and 53 to remove chlorine, lead, cysts, chloroform, and a few dozen VOCs. No doubt, the Whirlpool WHADUS5 will give you cleaner and healthier water from your kitchen sink.
Finally, thanks to the convenient cabinet design, you don’t have to mount the system during installation. That means no wall drilling or fixing of mounting screws or brackets.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
The Whirlpool WHADUS5 Under Sink Water Filter is lab-tested to remove cyst (99.99%), lead (99.3%), MTBE (96.2%), chlorine taste and odor (~97%), chloroform (99.8%), and several VOCs (up to 99%).
Aside from that, it should also remove other water contaminants, primarily organic chemicals.
The Whirlpool WHADUS5 – learn more on Amazon.com
Installation
As mentioned before, the Whirlpool’s cabinet design makes it easier and faster to install. However, installation will be more complex if you don’t have a second hole in your sink. This filter does not use an inline design, so you must install an extra faucet.
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
Here are the tools you’ll need to install the Whirlpool under sink filter:
- Pliers and adjustable wrench
- Tube cutter
- Slotted and Phillips screwdrivers
- Electric drill and drill bits (1-1.4″)
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Turn off the shutoff valve under your sink and open faucets to drain the pipes.
- Remove your cold water tubing from the shutoff valve.
- Connect the water supply fitting to the shutoff valve.
- Connect your cold water line to the other end (male threaded part) of the water supply fitting.
- Install the extra faucet for filtered water. Drill a 1-1.4″ diameter hole in your sink to fix the faucet.
- Insert the battery in the tap after installing it.
- Mark out and cut a ⅜” pipe. Insert the cut pipe into the supply and inlet fittings.
- Repeat the last step to attach the tubing from the faucet to the system’s outlet port.
- Turn on the shutoff valve. Open the two faucets (existing and filtered water faucets) to release air bubbles.
- Check for leaks.
- Open the filtered water faucet for about 10 minutes to flush out carbon fines.
The Package (Parts)
- Filter system
- Water supply valve
- Dedicated faucet
- 3/8” color coded tubing
- Drip tray
Maintenance
Maintaining the Whirlpool WHADUS5 Under Sink Water Filter System is easy; it takes only seconds to replace the filter elements — no hassle, no mess, and no need to shut off your water supply.
Follow these easy steps:
- Turn each cartridge from right to left to remove it from the manifold.
- Dispose of the old filter cartridge.
- Slot in the new filter cartridge and turn from left to right to fix it to the manifold.
- Change the timer battery.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://whirlpoolwatersolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/7387356Eng_A.pdf
NSF and Other Certifications
The WHADUS5 under sink filter system has NSF 42 and NSF 53 certifications. NSF 42 confirms that the filter removes chlorine, bad taste, and odor, while NSF 53 affirms that it reduces cysts, lead, MTBE, and VOCs.
Earlier Product Versions
This filter has no earlier versions.
Whirlpool Under Sink Filter Cons
The Whirlpool under sink system has a 0.5 gpm flow rate. That’s very low, and past users have complained about the slow flow from the faucet.
What’s more, the filter life is only 270 gallons. In other words, you need to replace cartridges every six months or more often, perhaps every quarter year. That means higher maintenance costs and more stress.
A few customers also complained about the system’s durability, saying it broke and leaked easily.
Another minor con is that we don’t have an inline design, which you could connect to your existing faucet. You must install a new faucet for the filtered water, and if you don’t have a spare hole for it, you’ll have to drill your sink or countertop.
And last but not least, Whirlpool does not specify what type of media this filter uses. They mention carbon fibers, but whether it’s mixed with some other media type is unclear. We prefer it when filters are clear about their filtration media and process. Speaking of, the system is only tested for lead, cysts, and organic chemicals. It’s a good start, but what about other contaminants like asbestos, arsenic, or chromium 6? We would have like more thorough NSF testing.
Whirlpool WHADUS5 Review: Our Verdict + Best for
In our opinion, the Whirlpool UltraEase Dual Stage Water Filtration System is best for city water filtration. It will remove lead and organic chemicals, but that’s about it. We would not recommend it for well water, nor for anything other than basic treatment of tap water – there are betters products out there, also considering the short filter life.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 3.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 5.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 4.0/5.0
- Overall: 3.5/5.0
Comparison to Other Under Sink Water Filters
Let’s see how the Whirlpool WHADUS5 does compared to the Clearly Filtered and Epic Smart Shield under sink filters.
Clearly Filtered 3-Stage |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon + Proprietary Blend |
| Service Life: | 2,000 gal |
| Water Flow Rate: | Not Specified |
| Annually: | $440 |
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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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Epic Smart Shield |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon Block |
| Service Life: | 651 gal |
| Water Flow Rate: | 1.25 gpm |
| Annually: | $115 |
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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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Whirlpool WHADUS5 |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon |
| Service Life: | 270 gal |
| Water Flow Rate: | 0.5 gpm |
| Annually: | ~$110-220 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘ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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The Clearly Filtered processes water through three stages. The first stage uses granular activated carbon primarily for organics. Clearly Filtered does not disclose the two other stages. However, they’re NSF-tested to remove heavy metals, VOCs, PFAS, and radiation among plenty of other stuff (second stage), as well as fluoride and arsenic (third stage). That’s a broad filtration range, with NSF test results for over 200 contaminants.
Also, the Clearly Filtered is an inline filter, so it’s easy to install. Made in the USA, it has a 12-month filter life, a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, and a limited lifetime warranty. The system’s major downside is its high cost of purchase and maintenance.
The second system, Epic Smart Shield, is another inline filter that uses a single carbon block. It is NSF-tested and certified to remove chlorine, chloramine, asbestos, cysts, lead, VOCs, pharmaceuticals, and more. The system is also made in the USA and has other excellent features like a lifetime warranty, return policy, and good customer support from the brand. You can even recycle used filters and get a free new one.
Interestingly, the Epic Smart Shield system is cheaper to buy and maintain than the Clearly Filtered. It’s about the same purchase price as the Whirlpool but cheaper to maintain. The only feature that comes off as a downside is its low (1.25 gpm) flow rate. But even that is higher than Whirlpool’s flow rate of 0.5 gpm.
Our conclusion? We definitely prefer Clearly Filtered and Epic Smart Shield to Whirlpool. The Whirlpool system may be okay for basic filtration needs, but it has a short filter life and a slow flow rate. The Clearly Filtered is our best pick, but it’s costly. Epic Smart Shield strikes a fine balance — affordable, effective, and tested for various contaminants.
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This completes our review of the Whirlpool WHADUS5 Under Sink Water Filter System. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
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