Whole House Filters
Whole House Water Filter Systems - Fix Your Water Problem at the Source
Smelly, discolored, or bad-tasting water usually traces back to one fixable cause. Match the right water filter system for whole house use to your actual water problem below, and treat it at the source instead of patching symptoms tap by tap.
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Big Blue 20-inch Bone Char Carbon Filter - Reduces or Removes Fluoride, Arsenic, Radioactive Particles, and Toxic Metals
$179.00Transform your water quality with the Big Blue 20-inch Bone Char Carbon Filter. Designed to not only enhance standard filtration, this advanced filter effectively reduces or removes harmful contaminants like fluoride, arsenic, and toxic metals, ensuring...BC-4520$179.00 -
20-inch 2 Stage High Flow Whole House Filter for Particulates, Chlorine, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and Other Organic Compounds, Tastes and Odors
$229.00 - $429.00Enhance the quality of your home's water with the 20-inch 2 Stage High Flow Whole House Filter. This comprehensive filtration system efficiently removes impurities to deliver clean, refreshing water throughout your home. Equipped with premium sediment...CF2-4520-SDCB$229.00 - $429.00 -
Digital pH 15 System Fleck 5600SXT
$798.00Standard-flow Calcite pH system with digital Fleck 5600SXT for acid neutralization Product Features Complete System 10"x54" resin tankRiser tube with distributor basketFleck 5600SXT Control Head1.5 ft³ Calcite MediaGravel BedChoice of...pH15-56SXT$798.00 -
20-inch Single Canister High Flow 5-micron Sediment Whole House Filter
$129.00 - $229.0020-inch -inchBig Blue-inch sediment filter removes sand, dirt, and particulates as small as 5 microns. Eliminates unsightly discolored water caused by dirt, sand, and other debris. Product Features Complete System Mounting BracketHousing with 1"...CF1-4520-SD-5$129.00 - $229.00 -
10-inch Bone Char Carbon Filter - Reduces or Removes Fluoride, Arsenic, Radioactive Particles, and Toxic Metals
$69.00Experience unparalleled water purification with our 10-inch Bone Char Carbon Filter. This advanced filter not only enhances your existing filtration system but also effectively tackles harmful contaminants, making it an essential addition for those who...BC-2510$69.00 -
Air Injection Iron Filter Removes Iron, Manganese, H2S Silver Series
$709.99Silver Series 5600SXT Digital air injection system Silver Series system, for best removal iron 8 ppm Remove iron up to 8 ppm, Sulfur up to 4 ppm, Manganese up to 2 ppm Easy to install yourself with our instructions and some basic...B078C82XF8$709.99 -
20-inch Single Canister High Flow 5 Micron Carbon Whole House Filter
$139.00 - $239.0020-inch -inchBig Blue-inch carbon filter removes a wide range of tastes, odors, chemicals, and chlorine. Idea for any home on city or well water. Product Features Complete System Mounting BracketHousing with 1" In/OutHousing WrenchCarbon Filter...CF1-4520-CB$139.00 - $239.00 -
GreenFlo Catalytic Carbon 15 Upflow System
$789.00Environmentally friendly GreenFlo™ catalytic carbon filter uses an upflow head to eliminate the need for backwashing, wastewater, or gravel. Catalytic carbon has a great surface area and adsorbtion potential than standard granular activated carbon...GF-CCRB15$789.00 -
Soda Ash Injection System for Acidic Water - Includes Stenner 85MHP17 Injection Pump & 15 Gal. Solution Tank
$799.00The complete soda ash injection system includes a 50 lb. bag of soda ash, the Stenner 85MHP17 adjustable injection pump, and a 15 gallon solution tank. Great for very acidic water with very low pH levels and won't increase water hardness. Product...INJ-SODA$799.00 -
Spin Down Sand Separator Filter - 1-inch
$139.00Spin-Down filter with 1" connections for sand and sediment separation. Product Features 1-inch 1-inch slip connections for easy installation 1-25 GPM Will treat flow rates between 1 and 25 gallons per minute Drain Port Drain port...SDF-100$139.00 -
Digital Carbon 15 System Fleck 5600SXT
$770.00Standard-flow digital carbon system with Fleck 5600SXT for treatment of a wide range of chemicals, tastes, and odors Product Features Complete System 10"x54" resin tank Riser tube with distributor basket Fleck 5600SXT Digital Control Head 1.5...CRB15-56SXT$770.00 -
Corosex/Flomag Media - 0.5 cu ft
$165.001/2 cubic foot of corosex for aggressive acid neutralization Product Features 0.5 cubic foot Corosex-Flomag Aggressively neutralizes acid, correcting pH as low as 4.5. Labeled as Corosex or Flomag Neutralizes pH 4.5-6 Corrects pH problems as low 4.5...CRSX-05$165.00 -
GreenFlo Carbon 15 Upflow System
$604.00Standard-Flow System for 1-2 bathrooms and 2-4 people. Environmentally friendly GreenFlo™ carbon filter uses an upflow head to eliminate the need for backwashing or wastewater. Product Features Complete System 10-inchx54-inch resin tank In/out...GF-CRB15$604.00 -
20-inch 3 Stage High Flow Whole House Activated Alumina and Bone Char Carbon Filter for Fluoride, Radioactive Isotopes, Arsenic, Chlorine, Chemicals, and Odor
$516.00 - $816.00Transform your home's water quality with the innovative 20-inch 3 Stage High Flow Whole House Activated Alumina and Bone Char Carbon Filter. Designed to tackle a range of contaminants, this filtration system effectively reduces fluoride, arsenic,...CF3-4520-SDBCAA$516.00 - $816.00 -
Big Blue 10-inch Bone Char Carbon Filter - Reduces or Removes Fluoride, Arsenic, Radioactive Particles, and Toxic Metals
$149.00Experience cleaner, healthier water with the Big Blue 10-inch Bone Char Carbon Filter. Designed to enhance your existing filtration system, this powerful filter not only purifies your water but also significantly reduces harmful substances such as...BC-4510$149.00
Shop Whole House Water Filter Systems by Water Problem
Chlorine, Taste & Odor Carbon Filter Systems
If your water smells like a swimming pool or leaves an aftertaste, chlorine or chloramine disinfectant is the likely cause. Standard activated carbon handles free chlorine well, but chloramine (increasingly common in city water) needs catalytic carbon to break down. Shop Catalytic Carbon Systems and general Carbon Systems.
PFAS & Emerging Contaminants
PFAS ("forever chemicals") don't have a smell or taste, so testing is the only way to know they're present. The EPA recognizes activated carbon and ion-exchange resin as effective treatment technologies, with dedicated PFAS-selective resin systems removing these compounds more completely than standard carbon alone. See our PFAS Whole House Water Treatment collection.
Iron, Sulfur & Manganese Well Water Systems
Orange or reddish staining on fixtures points to iron; a rotten-egg smell points to hydrogen sulfide. Air injection oxidizes these minerals so they can be filtered out without chemicals. Browse Iron & Sulfur Filters and Air Injection Systems.
Sediment & Turbidity Filters
Cloudy water or grit in your fixtures usually means sand, silt, or fine particulate is getting through. A sediment filter traps particles down to a few microns before they reach your plumbing and appliances. Shop Sediment Filter Systems, including 20-micron Filter-Ag for heavier sediment and 5-micron Turbidex for finer particulate.
Fluoride & Arsenic Specialty Media Systems
Neither fluoride nor arsenic is removed by standard carbon; both need targeted media. Bone char carbon is the standard media for fluoride reduction, while dedicated arsenic media handles that contaminant specifically.
Acidic Water & pH Correction
Low pH well water corrodes copper pipes and fixtures over time, often showing up as blue-green staining. Calcite or soda ash media raises pH to a safe range without adding hardness.
Tannins & Water Discoloration
Yellow or tea-colored well water, common near swampy or peaty ground, comes from organic tannins rather than iron or sediment. A dedicated tannin system is built to target that specific discoloration. See Tannin Systems.
How to Choose the Best Whole House Water Filtration System
Test Your Water First
Before buying anything, test your water city water customers can pull their utility's annual water quality report, while well owners should get a lab test for iron, sulfur, hardness, pH, and (where relevant) PFAS. Guessing at a filter without a test is the single most common reason homeowners end up with the wrong system. Start with our Water Test Kits.
Water Test Kits →Match Contaminants to Filter Media
Once you know what's in your water, matching it to the right media is straightforward:
| Contaminant | Recommended Media/System |
|---|---|
| Chlorine | Catalytic carbon |
| Iron / Sulfur | Air injection |
| PFAS | PFAS-selective resin |
| Fluoride | Bone char carbon |
| Sediment | Spin-down filter / Big Blue |
| Low pH | Calcite |
Size by Flow Rate & Bathrooms
Undersizing is the most common installation mistake; it causes noticeable pressure drop whenever two fixtures run at once. As a general guide, 1–3 bathroom homes need a system that can treat up to 5-8 GPM, while 4+ bathroom homes need 8-15 GPM or more.
Tank Systems vs Cartridge Systems: Which Is Right for You?
Tank-based systems (like Tank Systems and GreenFlo Upflow Tank Systems) use loose carbon media that typically lasts around 5 years before replacement, with higher upfront cost but lower ongoing maintenance. Cartridge Systems, including Whole House Cartridge Systems, cost less upfront but need filter changes every 6–12 months.
City Water vs Well Water Filtration
What City Water Homes Need
Municipal water is typically disinfected with chlorine or chloramine and can carry VOCs, PFAS, or taste and odor issues depending on the source and treatment plant. A catalytic carbon system is the most common fix for city water taste and odor problems, with PFAS-selective resin added where testing shows elevated levels.
What Well Water Homes Need
Well water problems run differently: iron staining, sulfur odor, sediment, acidic pH, and tannins are all common, and none of these show up in municipal water the same way. Because wells aren't disinfected the way city water is, it's also worth testing for bacteria; if that's a concern, UV Ultraviolet Disinfection pairs with your filtration system to treat it.
UV Ultraviolet Disinfection →When You Need Both Filtration and Softening
A filter removes contaminants like chlorine, sediment, and iron; a water softener removes hardness minerals that cause scale; they solve different problems and many homes need both. Running carbon filtration ahead of a softener also protects the softener's resin bed from chlorine exposure, helping it last longer.
Maintenance & Filter Replacement
Cartridge Replacement Schedule
Big Blue sediment and carbon cartridges typically need replacing every 6–12 months depending on water quality and household usage.
Tank Media Lifespan
Loose carbon media in a tank system generally lasts about 5 years or 600,000–1,000,000 gallons, whichever comes first. Upflow tank systems like GreenFlo run without electricity or a drain line, which keeps ongoing maintenance minimal.
UV Lamp Replacement
If your system includes UV disinfection, the lamp should be replaced annually to keep disinfection effective, even though the lamp may still visibly glow after that point. See UV Lamp Replacements.
UV Lamp Replacements →FAQs
What is the best whole house water filtration system for my home?
It depends on what's actually in your water. For city water, a catalytic carbon system handles chlorine, chloramine, and bad taste. For well water with orange staining or a rotten-egg smell, an air injection iron and sulfur filter is the right fit. For PFAS, fluoride, or arsenic, you'll need dedicated specialty media. Test your water first, then match the system to your results.
What's the difference between a whole house water filter and a water softener?
A whole house filter removes contaminants like chlorine, sediment, iron, and chemicals. A water softener removes hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) that cause scale. If you have both contaminants and hard water, a filter + softener combo treats everything and carbon pre-filtration extends the life of your softener resin.
How much does a whole house water filter system cost?
Cartridge-based Big Blue systems start around $129–$500, while tank-based carbon and specialty media systems typically run $600–$1,300 factory-direct with free shipping. Because these systems are built for DIY installation, you also skip the professional installation fees that dealer brands add.
Can I install a whole house water filter myself?
Yes. The system installs on your main water line after the meter on city water, or after the pressure tank on well water. Most homeowners with basic plumbing skills finish in 2–3 hours. Every AFW system ships with instructions, and our free lifetime tech support can walk you through install and startup.
How often do whole house water filters need to be replaced?
Big Blue sediment and carbon cartridges last 6–12 months depending on water quality and usage. Tank-based carbon media lasts about 5 years (600,000–1,000,000 gallons). UV lamps should be replaced annually. We stock every replacement filter and media refill you'll need.
Do whole house water filters remove PFAS, fluoride, or arsenic?
Standard carbon filters don't reliably remove all of these. You need targeted media: PFAS-selective resin for forever chemicals, bone char carbon for fluoride, and arsenic-specific media for arsenic. AFW carries dedicated whole house systems for each.