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Whole House Filters

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.

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.

Catalytic Carbon Systems 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.

PFAS Whole House Water Treatment

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.

Iron & Sulfur Filters 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.

Sediment Filter Systems 20-micron Filter-Ag 5-micron Turbidex

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.

Tannin Systems

How to Choose the Best Whole House Water Filtration System

Step 1

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 →
Step 2

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
ChlorineCatalytic carbon
Iron / SulfurAir injection
PFASPFAS-selective resin
FluorideBone char carbon
SedimentSpin-down filter / Big Blue
Low pHCalcite
Step 3

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.

Tank Systems GreenFlo Upflow Tank Systems Whole House Cartridge Systems

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 →
Whole House Filter + Water Softener Combos

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.