The off-grid dream is an inspiration to millions of Americans, but the challenges of drawing your own water aren’t to be underestimated.
From chlorine to rust, and volatile organic chemicals such as pesticides, sometimes the purity of nature isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
But the dream doesn’t have to die. Whole house water filters for well water are targeted at these common contaminants. They take well water and turn it into crisp, clean-tasting bottled-quality water.
Say so-long to sediment, and goodbye to giardia with a whole house well water filter. For anyone dreaming of getting back to nature, this is an essential tool.
We’re here for the whole house well water hoedown throwdown so get your dancing shoes on. Here come the best whole house water filters for well water.
The Best Whole House Well Water Filtration Systems in 2022
Whole house water filters for well water are a big investment, so it pays to do your research. Cast that lucky penny down the well, make a wish and we’ll find the best whole house well water filter for you.
1. Springwell WS1 Whole House Well Water Filter System – Best For Larger Households
Springwell’s cutting-edge filter system is designed to be more efficient and economical than ever and, targeting sulfur, manganese, and iron it’s exceptionally well suited to domestic well water.
- 12 GPM capacity
- Targeting heavy metals
- Low maintenance unit
- Lifetime warranty
- Bluetooth Head
- Limited filtering spectrum
The system works by passing your water through an air pocket, oxidizing the targetted contaminants, and then trapping and removing the oxidized material. Rather than using a filter media with a finite lifespan, this is a set-and-forget filter system that gives you pure water without the worry.
The 12 GPM capacity should be suitable for larger homes with up to four bathrooms. And there’s an even bigger 20 GPM model available, should you need an upgrade.
The innovative Bluetooth headset gives you constant, digitized feedback about your filter’s performance and lets you optimize the system. You can program your backwash cycles and time your filtering and regeneration to your family’s needs from the touch of a button on your smartphone, and ultimately save you thousands of gallons a year, reducing your water bill further.
For cutting-edge technology, you can expect to pay a pretty price. The WS1 has an eye-watering price tag, but for purified well water with contemporary digital features, it’s an impressive system.
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2. Express Water Heavy Metal – Best For Lead And Iron Filtering
Express Water’s durable and mid-priced whole house filter system is a great all-rounder.
- Targeted at heavy metals
- 3-stage filtering reduces a wide range of contaminants
- Easy installation with standard fittings
- Solid construction
- Easy replacement for filter cartridges
- Doesn’t remove total dissolved solids (TDS)
- Won’t soften your water
Targeted at heavy metals, it’ll transform your well water into purified drinking water without a hint of lead or metal. And thanks to three-stage filtering it removes a range of other contaminants including chlorine and even sediment.
However, it won’t soften your water or reduce the TDS (total dissolved solids) count.
Built from stainless steel and food-grade plastics, the system guarantees a long lifespan. The filters themselves have a 100,000-gallon capacity, and when it is time to change them it’s an easy process.
And the 0.25 gallon per second flow rate, translating to around 15GPM, ensures the system won’t choke with high use. It’s perfect for families looking to purify their well water.
3. Aquasana Whole House Well Water Filter System – Best For Low Maintenance and a Long Lifespan
Aquasana’s impressive whole house well filter system utilizes activated carbon and a KDF membrane and then combines this switch UV purification and descaling for ultimately pure water.
- Softens water thanks to the descaler
- Won’t add sodium to your water
- Exceptionally long filter lifespan
- Premium materials and easy installation
- Warranty covers DIY installation
- Slower flow rate
- Premium price tag
It’s a system designed for low maintenance and boasts an exceptionally long 500,000 gallons lifespan – giving you around 5 years of purified water (although pre- and post-filters require more frequent replacement).
The complete self-installation kit includes all premium-grade components and the warranty covers a DIY install for complete peace of mind.
The one drawback of this style of filter system is the slightly reduced flow rate of 7 GPM – but by targeting 99.9% of viruses and bacteria as well as heavy metals and pesticides you’ll enjoy drinking water on demand.
4. iSpring WGB32BM – Best Compact Filter For Smaller Spaces
iSpring’s whole house well water filter system is ideal for well water thanks to a targeted sediment filter and a heavy metal filter aimed at iron and manganese.
- 100,000-gallon capacity
- NSF certified filtering
- Minimal maintenance
- Fast flow rate of 15 GPM
- Won’t reduce TDS or soften water
- Just one-year warranty
It’s a great package that offers exceptional value for long-life filtering. The filters have a 100,000 gallons capacity and a 15GPM flow rate, perfect for families with moderate to high water consumption.
As well as heavy metals and sediment, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and pesticides are removed and their filters have been independently verified to NSF standards.
However, with no descaler, you may need to bolt on a water softener to your system to extend the lifespan of the filter system as a whole.
iSpring has designed a more compact unit with no compromise on filtering and it comes with everything you’ll need for a seamless DIY installation.
5. 3M Aqua-Pure AP903 – Best For Great Tasting Drinking Water
The 3M Aqua-Pure isn’t designed to remove every contaminant under the sun, but it is highly targeted at aesthetic impurities and great for anyone on a budget.
- Great value
- Reduces sediment
- Great for taste
- NSF certified to reduce aesthetic impurities
- 100,000-gallon capacity
- Limited filtering – bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants aren’t targeted
- Additional components required for installation
The filter is NSF 42 certified, meaning it removes impurities that impact taste and quality of drinking water. That includes sediment and chlorine. But viruses, metals, and bacteria won’t be removed. Make sure you know your water quality inside out before you buy.
It has an impressive capacity of 100,000 gallons making it great for families, and a flow rate of up to 15 GPM ensures you’ll never run dry.
It’s designed for DIY installation, but be prepared to pop to the hardware store as there are a range of components and fittings not included, such as plumbers tape, 1” connections, and 2” ball valves.
Nevertheless, it offers great value if you’re looking for crisp and flavorsome drinking water and you’re not worried about a whole lot else!
6. Culligan WH-HD200-C – Best For Targeting Rust And Sediment
Culligan’s combo filtration system and cartridge is a budget option that targets a few pesky contaminants in your water supply.
- Great budget option
- Targets sediment and rust
- Reduces odor and improves water taste
- Easy installation
- Bypass shut-off valve
- 3 GPM flow rate is restrictive
- A limited range of contaminants are filtered
The sediment cartridge is designed to block particles wider than 25 microns from entering your home water supply – it excels at removing rust, sediment, grit, and sand, and can reduce chlorine too.
The upshot is great-tasting drinking water without the sediment. However, it isn’t targeted at a range of chemicals and metals commonly found in well water – I’d recommend testing your water before committing to a limited filter like this one.
The filter cartridge has a 10,000-gallon capacity – so you can expect to change it every three months for average use, and more frequently if your water contains heavy sediment.
And the flow rate of just 3 GPM will occasionally limit you if you’re a busy household with high water usage.
But this is a great value sediment filtering option, and as it comes with everything you need for installation you’ll have an easy job getting filtered water flowing.
7. Aquaboon 20″ x 4.5″ – Best For Choice Of Replacement Filters
Aquaboon’s one-size-fits-all whole house well water filter system is quick and easy to install and, thanks to a standardized filter slot, gives you the widest choice when it comes to filter cartridges.
- 100,000-gallon capacity
- Targets rust and sediment
- Compatible with a wide range of off-brand filters
- Easy installation without specialist tools
- Limited filtering
- Additional plumbers tape required for installation
It’s a one-stage filter, meaning you miss out on pre- and post-filtering. The absence of KDF and activated carbon means that chemicals, viruses, and heavy metals aren’t targeted. But it’s a great option when it comes to rust and sediment.
Built from premium materials including a high-flow polypropylene (HFPP) cap, this is going to be a long-lasting and durable whole house well water filter system. The double-O ring lock reduces the risk of leaks to near zero.
The easy-install design doesn’t require any specialist tools and replacing filters is simple, minimizing the maintenance needed on the unit. In fact, Aquaboo has simplified almost everything to create an exceptionally easy-to-use product.
8. Home Master – Best For A Powerful Flow Rate
Home Master’s whole house well water filter features three stages for exceptional filtering capacity.
- Immense 15 GPM flow rate
- Sediment filtration down to 1 micron
- Targets metals and chemicals
- Reduces odor and improves water taste
- Premium price tag
- Will be damaged by chlorinated water
The activated carbon layer is effective at removing pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals, whilst the four-depth sediment filter can eliminate particles down to a microscopic 1 micron.
It’s also capable of reducing iron content to 3ppm – particularly crucial for well water. The output is a clean and great-tasting drinking supply.
Thanks to up-sized filters, it also offers a premium flow rate of up to 15 gallons per minute. It’s great for busy households with high water usage – you’ll never see the flow fall to a trickle with this.
And in the box is everything you need for installation, including bolts, brackets, and other components. This is a whole house well water system for comprehensive filtering, but it comes with a premium price tag.
9. EcoPure EPWO4 – Best Cheapest Option
EcoPure’s filter housing unit is easy to install and compatible with a wide range of filters including every major brand.
- Targeted sediment filtering down to 1 micron
- Compatible with every major brand of filter
- Great value
- Chlorine filtering optional
- Easy installation
- Won’t remove metals, viruses, or bacteria
- Filter sold separately
It’s exceptionally affordable and offers great customer choice when it comes to filters.
The housing unit is built for a single filter, so this is 1-stage filtering. That means sediment and rust (down to 1 micron) can be removed and chlorine-removal is an additional option with the right filter.
But don’t be fooled by the price – this is just the housing unit and filters are sold separately. Nonetheless, it’s great value for anyone stepping into the whole house well water filter market.
Filters aside, everything you need for seamless self-installation is included. The durable BPA-free plastic components are designed for long life.
Ultimately, what will appeal to most is the price. Filtered water without splashing out.
Before You Buy: The Buying Guide For Whole House Well Water Systems
Need to know how to size a water filter system for your needs? Or what the essential features of a whole house water filter system are? Let’s take a deep dive into the world of whole house water filters for well water.
Targeted Contaminants
Finding a water filter that’s suited to your particular supply is essential. Whether you’re worried about lead and iron, pesticides or minerals in the form of TDS (total dissolved solids) should guide your purchase.
For a full-spectrum, multi-stage filtering is a great option. Pre- and post-filtering can remove chlorine, metals, and other chemicals and even offer remineralization to give you the best flavor in your drinking water.
Sediment Targeting
One of the main concerns with well water is sediment, rather than chemicals or pesticides. Sediment targeting is expressed in microns, and the smaller the number, the less detritus will make it through the filter.
Budget water filter systems will start filtering around 25 microns, whilst premium models can remove contaminants down to a minuscule 1 micron through multi-layered sediment filtering.
Filter Capacity and Lifespan
Whilst a well-built whole house water filter for well water will be made from durable materials and have a long lifespan, filters themselves are consumable products.
Filter capacity tends to be in the tens of thousands of gallons, but can stretch to 100,000 gallons in premium models, giving you and your family near-limitless filtered well water.
Filter lifespans are the manufacturer’s recommended time before a replacement is required. The quality of your water, including sediment and chlorine, will shorten the lifespan of your filter, and if you don’t replace the filter regularly, your water quality will be compromised.
3 to 6 months is a standard lifespan and the cost of replacement filters should be factored into your budget.
Flow Rate
Whether it’s the comfort of a warm power shower or just the time it takes at the sink to fill your water bottle, flow rate matters in your everyday life.
And a smaller flow rate might mean your family can’t use multiple showers or do the washing up whilst running a bath.
Small filters tend to have limited flow rates, down to about 3 GPM – just enough to run the shower, whilst premium whole house well water filters will stretch to 15 GPM, enough for the whole family.
Certification
In the world of water filters, NSF (National Science Foundation) certification is the main standard. However, this expensive certification is eschewed by some big-name brands, which use alternative independent lab testing.
For complete peace of mind, NSF certification is a must. But NSF also offers different levels of certification for different products, and a certificate doesn’t mean every contaminant is removed.
For example, NSF 42 certification ensures that aesthetic contaminants such as chlorine are removed, so you can be sure the filtered output will taste great – but it doesn’t tell you anything about contaminants that put your health at risk.
Water Softening
For true water softening, an additional reverse osmosis system will be required – but some whole house water filters for well water offer an additional descaling treatment to prevent the minerals in hard water from bonding with your pipes and appliances.
The presence of a descaler in premium models can actually save you money – the filters should last longer and maintenance will be lower than on other models.
Installation and Maintenance
Most whole house well water filter systems are designed for self-installation. But if you’re the type of person who tears their hair out over IKEA furniture, that might not help…
If you’re planning to opt for self-installation, make sure that all the necessary components are included as sometimes simple things like wrenches and plumbers tape are left out.
Most systems are very low maintenance once installed – replacing filters regularly is an important job.
Price
Lastly, price is always a factor. Whole house filter systems for well water can range from under $100 for simple, sediment removal filters to upwards of $1000 for powerful flow rates and premium capacity, and the widest range of contaminants filtered.
Final Thoughts
Anyone drawing their own water from a well will be used to a wide range of contaminants.
From rust discoloring your water to the chemical tang of chlorine, the water nature provides isn’t always clean.
And whilst taste and color might put you off your water, there are plenty of microscopic contaminants you can’t see. Bacteria can make your whole family sick, whilst heavy metals can slowly undermine your health.
For peace of mind with well water, you need a whole house filter for well water. And as we’ve seen, they don’t have to break the bank.
No matter which contaminants you need to target, or the size of your family's water needs, there’s a whole house water filter for your well water.