Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Sep 7, 2023
This page may contain affiliate links. If you buy a product or service through such a link we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Top Pick: What’s the Best Whole House Carbon Water Filter?
The best whole house carbon water filter in 2023 is the SpringWell CF, which protects your family and home from water contaminants for up to 1,000,000 gallons. It also improves water taste and odor, is easy to install and maintain, fast (9-20 gpm), and backed by a satisfaction guarantee and limited lifetime warranty.
Are you tired of sifting through a sea of whole house carbon water filters, unsure of which one is truly worth your investment? Well, fret no more! We’ve taken on the task of evaluating over 30 of the top-notch filters out there, so you don’t have to. From researching to testing, comparing to ranking, our team has left no stone unturned in our quest to find the ultimate carbon water filtration system for your needs.
With the inception of our buying guide on that fateful day of April 19, 2023, we’ve poured countless hours into it. Several times we’ve edited and upgraded the guide, ensuring that you have access to the most up-to-date and reliable information possible. So sit back, relax, and let us guide you towards the perfect whole house carbon water filter that will leave you with pure, refreshing water flowing through your taps.
Product | Details | |
---|---|---|
Best Overall: SpringWell CF |
Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRatings based on overall filtration effectiveness, flow rates, filter life, purchase and operating cost, our own testing, user opinions, customer service, warranty, and other factors.
Get 5% Off! Use Code: |
Price: $$ Carbon Type: Catalytic Carbon Flow Rate: 9-20 gpm Filter Life: 1,000,000 gal Annual Cost: ~$40 Read Review: Click Mike’s Video Review: Click |
Runner-Up: USWS BodyGuard Plus |
Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRatings based on overall filtration effectiveness, flow rates, filter life, purchase and operating cost, our own testing, user opinions, customer service, warranty, and other factors.
|
Price: $$ Carbon Type: GAC + Catalytic Carbon Flow Rate: 10-20 gpm Filter Life: 5 Years Annual Cost: $45-100 Read Review: Click |
Best for Small Budgets + Cartridge-Based: Kind Water Systems E-1000 |
Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRatings based on overall filtration effectiveness, flow rates, filter life, purchase and operating cost, our own testing, user opinions, customer service, warranty, and other factors.
Get 5% Off! Use Code: |
Price: $ Carbon Type: Catalytic Carbon Block Flow Rate: 15 gpm Filter Life: 1 Year Annual Cost: ~$145 Read Review: Click |
Best for Broad Contaminant Removal: Crystal Quest SMART |
Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRatings based on overall filtration effectiveness, flow rates, filter life, purchase and operating cost, our own testing, user opinions, customer service, warranty, and other factors.
Get 5% Off! Use Code: |
Price: $$$ Carbon Type: GAC + Catalytic Carbon + Carbon Block Flow Rate: 9-13 gpm Filter Life: 1-1.5 Million Gallons Annual Cost: ~$50-75 Read Review: Click |
Runner-Up for Cartridge-Based: SpringWell CWH-1 |
Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRatings based on overall filtration effectiveness, flow rates, filter life, purchase and operating cost, our own testing, user opinions, customer service, warranty, and other factors.
Get 5% Off! Use Code: |
Price: $ Carbon Type: Activated Carbon Flow Rate: 20 gpm Filter Life: 1 Year Annual Cost: ~$130 Read Review: Click |
Our Top Picks
In our opinion, the best whole house carbon water filter in 2023 is the SpringWell CF. It’s the perfect solution for removing harmful contaminants found in municipal water including chlorine, chloramine, PFOA, pesticides, and more.
Mike’s Video Review
Mike, one of our inhouse video content producers, has ordered, installed, and tested the SpringWell CF Whole House Water Filter in his own home – including lab testing for contaminant reduction rates. You cannot get more hands-on experience than that! Mike has documented the entire process and shares his findings the video below:
Other Specs
Key Features & Pros
Cons
Our Rating
Best for
The Springwell CF is best when you want a high-quality, low-maintenance whole house filter with top-of-the-line catalytic carbon filtration.
→ Check Full SpringWell CF Review Here
The USWS Bodyguard Plus is a close second when it comes to whole house carbon water filters. It combines two levels of carbon filtration: Catalytic carbon and regular activated carbon. The combination of these two filter media does the bulk of the contaminant removal, eliminating chlorine, chloramine, VOCs, pesticides, herbicides, THM, and more.
Gallery
Other Specs
Key Features & Pros
Cons
Our Rating
Best for
The USWS Bodyguard Plus is perfect for whole house carbon water filtration, especially when your budget is less of a concern. It offers an impressive level of chlorine/chloramine filtration, making it a great choice for municipally supplied water.
If you’re interested in a cartridge-based whole house carbon water filter, then you’ll have a tough time topping the Kind Water Systems E-1000. Cartridge-based systems tend to cost significantly less than traditional tank filters upfront, making them an ideal budget-friendly option.
Gallery
Other Specs
Key Features & Pros
Cons
Our Rating
Best for
The Kind E-1000 is the best option when you want a highly effective whole house carbon filter – and don’t want to break the bank getting it. It’s a cartridge-based system, unlike most of the tanked systems on this list.
→ Read the Full Kind E-1000 Review
When it comes to broad-based contaminant removal, you’ll have a tough time finding a better system than Crystal Quest’s SMART whole house system. It offers much more than a simple carbon filter and features an impressive seven different filter types.
The complex filtration process makes this system ideal for any area with water of questionable quality.
Gallery
Other Specs
Key Features & Pros
Cons
Our Rating
Best for
The Crystal Quest SMART system is the ideal choice when you want broad-based contaminant reduction. It targets a far wider range of contaminants than typical carbon filters.
The next best cartridge-based whole house carbon water filter system right after the Kind E-1000 is the SpringWell CWH-1 – at least in our opinion. Its filtration process is based on an activated carbon filter block.
Other Specs
Key Features & Pros
Cons
Our Rating
Best for
The SpringWell CWH-1 POE carbon filter is best if you want to spend less up front, or if you’re just short on space.
The 3M Aqua-Pure water filtration system is by no means the best of the best, but when it comes to budget whole house carbon water filters, it will perform as advertised and make your water smell, taste, and look appealing.
The system is a barebones activated carbon block filter paired with a sediment pre-filter, so it won’t remove a whole lot of contaminant types, but it will greatly improve water aesthetics by removing chlorine and similar chemicals.
Other Specs
Key Features & Pros
Cons
Our Rating
Best for
The 3M Aqua Pure AP903 is perfect for those looking for basic and reliable carbon block filtration on a budget.
→ Read Full 3M Aqua-Pure Review Here
Finally, the Aquasana Rhino – not the best whole house carbon water filter in our opinion, but another solid option. It pairs activated carbon with a KDF-55 media bed to remove chemicals and possibly even few heavy metals including lead.
The system is ideal for municipal water treated with chlorine/chloramine and also has a version tailor-made for homes supplied by well water.
Other Specs
Key Features & Pros
Cons
Our Rating
Best for
The Aquasana Rhino is ideal for thorough whole house carbon filtration focusing on chlorine removal.
→ Read Full Aquasana Rhino Review
(Mobile Hint: Swipe to Scroll)
Model | Price | Entire Filter Process | Water | Filtration Capacity | Annually | Warranty | Additional Info |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SpringWell CF Whole House Carbon Water Filter | $$ | 5-Micron Sediment, Catalytic Activated Carbon, KDF | 9-20 Gallons Per Minute | 1,000,000 Gallons | ~$40 | Limited Lifetime | |
USWS BodyGuard Plus Whole House Carbon Water Filtration System | $$ | Granular Activated Carbon + Catalytic Activated Carbon | 10-20 Gallons Per Minute | 5 Years | $45-100 | 5 Years to Lifetime | |
Kind Water Systems E-1000 2-Stage Whole House Water Filter | $ | 5-Micron Sediment, Catalytic Activated Carbon Block Filter | 15 Gallons Per Minute | 12 Months | ~$145 | Limited Lifetime | |
Crystal Quest SMART Whole House Water Filter System | $$$ | 5-Micron Sediment, GAC, Catalytic Carbon, KDF, Ion Exchange, Ceramic Balls, Tourmaline Balls, Carbon Block | 9-13 Gallons Per Minute | 1-1.5 Million Gallons; 12-18 Months for Pre and Post-Filters | ~$50-75 | 1 Year | |
SpringWell CWH-1 Sediment and Carbon Block Whole House Water Filter | $ | 5-Micron Sediment, Activated Carbon Block | 20 Gallons Per Minute | 12 Months | ~$130 | Limited Lifetime | |
3M Aqua-Pure AP903 Whole House Carbon Filter System | $ | 5-Micron Sediment, Activated Carbon Block Filter | 20 Gallons Per Minute | 100,000 Gallons | ~$250 | 1-25 Years | |
Aquasana Rhino Whole House Water Filtration System | $$ | Sediment Pre-Filter, GAC, KDF, Post-Filter | 7 Gallons Per Minute | 1,000,000 Gallons | ~$120 | 10 Years |
The following are key features worth considering when shopping for a whole house carbon water filter. They will help you choose the right on for your needs and budget.
Whenever you purchase a water filtration system, the first thing to do is get your water tested for contaminants. This will give you a precise reading of what it is that you are facing in your home’s water supply, and allow you to tailor your filter purchase to remove these contaminants.
If your water is sourced from a private well, then the only real choice is to get it professionally tested to find out which contaminants are present. This will typically run you between $100 and $500, but you’ll get precise readings of contaminant quantities present.
You could also opt for a home well water test kit, which will give you a more general idea of contamination (heavy metals, water hardness, bacteria, etc.), but the results may be lackluster.
For municipally sourced water, you can count on water quality reports. These reports are mandatory for public water utilities to create and provide for free. They list all the contaminants detected in a water supply. Additionally, there is the EPA’s and the EWG’s Tap Water Database which both archive water quality reports and make them available online.
A professional water testing is still recommended in this scenario, however, as it will give you precise contaminant readings also taking into account contamination that might happen while the water travels from the utility to your home.
The NSF is an independent organization that conducts testing and certifications on several consumer products including water filtration systems. Whole house systems with NSF testing/certifications are somewhat rare, but if you do find one, you can be sure you’re getting the contaminant removal level advertised by the manufacturer.
Several whole house carbon water filters come with a standard 42 NSF rating, which is the standard for a filter’s ability to remove chlorine and particulate matter. The PIONEER is NSF standard 53 certified to remove lead.
The water flow rate is a measure of the flow capacity that a filter system can provide. In other words, it measures the total quantity of water a system can filter at one time. For a whole house filter system where all of the home’s water supply will flow through the filter, it’s important to make sure the flow rate is sufficient to accommodate your usage.
Flow rate is typically measured in gallons per minute (gpm), but manufacturers will typically also include the number of bathrooms a system is capable of providing.
For a large house with 4 to 6 bathrooms, you’ll need at least 10 to 15 gpm. If you opt for a system with a flow rate that’s too low, you’ll have pressure issues when running different outlets simultaneously. On the other hand, if your purchase a system with a flow rate above your requirements, you’ll be adding an unnecessary cost.
Whole house carbon water filter systems are more complex to install than smaller under sink systems, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t install one yourself. Most systems can be installed on your own provided you have basic DIY skills and a little plumbing knowledge. Also, manufacturers typically include the necessary bypass valves and fixtures as well as detailed installation instructions.
If you feel like installing a whole house system is beyond your skill level, then hiring a plumber to complete the installation for you is always an option.
When it comes to maintenance, all that’s generally required is occasional carbon filter cartridge changes for cartridge-based systems. Typically, cartridges must be changed every 6 to 12 months.
Whole house systems must be installed where your main water line enters your home. As such, you’ll need enough space to install the system at that point.
One advantage cartridge-based systems have over tank-based systems is that the space required for installation is significantly less.
If you’re considering a large purchase like a whole house water filter, then budget will likely be a major consideration. While whole house carbon filters aren’t cheap, they tend to have long lifespans and capacities, so will provide a lot of value over time.
If you’re considering a whole house filter, you should be aware of the cost differences between cartridge-based systems and tank-based systems.
Cartridge-based systems have lower up-front costs, but as they require frequent filter replacements, the costs will add up significantly over time. Tank-based systems, on the other hand, have higher up-front costs, but as the tank has a longer lifespan and greater capacity, the costs tend to average lower in the long run.
Another significant consideration when looking at whole house carbon filter systems is the product warranty and/or money-back guarantee. As a system of this type is going to set you back at least several hundred dollars, it’s worth shopping around for a system with a solid warranty and money-back guarantee.
More on Whole House Carbon Water Filters
A whole house carbon water filter is simply a point-of-entry water filter with some form of carbon filter media as part of the filtration process. These filters often feature other filter stages with different filter media, and can either be cartridge-based or tank-based systems.
Being a whole house system, these filters will remove contaminants from all of the water flowing into your home.
Whole house activated carbon filters use a process known as adsorption to remove chlorine/chloramine, disinfection byproducts, pesticides, and all kinds of organic chemicals from your water supply. Carbon filters are also good at removing certain metals.
They are ideal for filtering water from a municipal supply, as they excel at removing water disinfectants, which are very commonly used in the water treatment process.
Activated carbon is carbon that has been treated to make it highly porous. It is produced by placing a carbonaceous source material like bamboo, coconut husk, wood, etc., in a tank without oxygen and then subjecting it to extremely high temperatures. After this, it’s exposed to various chemicals like argon or nitrogen, and then once again superheated in a tank.
Activated carbon can also be produced through a chemical process in which dehydrating agents like phosphoric acid are applied to break down the bonds binding the cellulose chains together. Then heat is applied to carbonize the material before its washed to remove any remaining dehydrating agent residue.
At this point, the carbon becomes exceptionally porous, and its adsorptive surface is vastly increased. It can readily adsorb a wide variety of organic and some non-organic contaminants.
When unfiltered water flows past activated carbon in a filter, contaminants are effectively ‘pulled’ into the tiny pores, trapping them and removing them from your water.
Catalytic activated carbon is the next step above regular activated carbon. It’s enhanced through a chemical process that renders the surface more absorbent to contaminants that can’t be adsorbed by regular activated carbon. This carbon type can remove chloramine as well as hydrogen sulfide – contaminants that can’t be readily removed by normal activated carbon.
When it comes to whole house activated carbon water filters, there are several different forms to be aware of.
Whole home granular activated carbon filters are made using carbon that has been ground up into small pellets. This filter type, by its loose design, allows for a greater flow rate but is not as effective as the other type described below. As the feed water has less contact time with the carbon, there is less opportunity for the carbon to adsorb contaminants.
This tradeoff is a consideration when shopping for a whole house carbon filter. For larger homes with multiple bathrooms, granular activated carbon filters can be the preferred option due to their superior flow rate.
The other major filter type is carbon block filters. These filters are made from ground up activated carbon that is then bound together using a food-grade binder.
Carbon block filters are significantly more effective at removing water contaminants but offer a lower flow rate than their granular counterparts.
As mentioned previously, catalytic carbon whole house water filters are enhanced versions of typical activated carbon. They are available in both granular and block forms, although the block form is more common.
Carbon filtration is the most cost-effective method for removing chlorine and chloramine from your water. This makes it an ideal choice for treating municipally-sourced water which is often treated with these chemicals.
Carbon filtration will also remove a variety of other contaminants like pesticides, herbicides, disinfection byproducts, hydrogen sulfide, VOCs, lead, and many more. It also excels at improving the taste and aesthetics of water, which is why carbon filter stages are so often included as a component of other multi-stage water filters.
Curious about how we determined the best whole house carbon water filters on the market? We’ve got you covered. Our team of experts meticulously crafted a methodology to ensure that only the top-performing filters made the cut. Here’s a peak:
Rest assured, all the information and ratings presented here are completely independent and unbiased. We take the accuracy of our content seriously, enlisting professionals to fact-check our findings. Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS was involved in verifying third-party certifications and other test data.
We’ve rated each filter on a score of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest rating.
Currently, our evaluation is mostly based on these key factors: Contaminant reduction (25%), filter life (20%), water flow rates (20%), affordability including filter replacement cost (15%), direct testing and user opinions (10%), customer service and warranties (10%).
Questions? Ask away!
Information provided on BOS is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.
We adhere to strict editorial guidelines. Rest assured, the opinions expressed have not been provided, reviewed, or otherwise endorsed by our partners – they are unbiased, independent, and the author’s alone. Our licensed experts fact-check all content for accuracy. It is accurate as of the date posted and to the best of our knowledge.