Best Whole House Water Filter Systems for City Water, Matched to What’s in Your Tap
Quick answer: the best whole house water filter is the one built for the disinfectant your city uses. If your water report says chlorine, the Aquasana Rhino is our top pick: it’s independently tested to NSF/ANSI 42 to remove up to 97% of chlorine, lasts 1,000,000 gallons and needs no drain or power. If it says chloramine, choose the catalytic carbon Aquasana Rhino Chloramines (up to 83% of chloramines under the same test). For PFAS, the Aquasana HealthShield is certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for five PFAS. For big homes, look at the SpringWell CF (up to 20 gpm), and on a budget, the iSpring WGB32B on Amazon. A whole house filter doesn’t soften water, and for lead the EPA points to a certified filter at the tap.
Our picks:
- Best overall for chlorine: Aquasana Rhino (1,000,000 gallons, 7 gpm rated, no drain or power)
- Best for chloramine: Aquasana Rhino Chloramines (100% catalytic carbon)
- Best for PFAS: Aquasana HealthShield (WQA certified to NSF/ANSI 53 and 401)
- Best for large homes: SpringWell CF (9, 12 or 20 gpm by size)
- Best backwashing filter: US Water Systems Matrixx Catalytic Carbon (5–20 gpm, media typically 5+ years)
- Best budget pick on Amazon: iSpring WGB32B (3 stages, up to 15 gpm)
How we chose: we haven’t installed or tested these systems ourselves. We compared each maker’s published flow rates, capacities and test results, and we separate three kinds of claims: certified (a certification body such as WQA lists the product), tested (the maker reports a test to an NSF/ANSI standard without a certification listing) and claimed (the maker says it with no test named). Public health guidance comes from the EPA.
Do you need a whole house water filter?
City water is already treated to meet federal drinking water rules, so a whole house filter is mostly about what the treatment leaves behind. The usual reasons people buy one:
- Chlorine or chloramine taste and smell at every tap and in the shower. Utilities add these on purpose to keep water disinfected in the pipes, and the EPA says chloramine-treated water that meets its standards is safe for drinking, cooking and bathing.
- Sediment or rust from water mains, which a sediment pre-filter catches.
- Specific contaminants your water report lists, such as PFAS. Only buy for these if your utility has actually measured them; the EPA says a filter may not help if PFAS weren’t found or are below federal limits.
If you only care about drinking water, a filter at the kitchen tap costs far less. Our guide to reverse osmosis vs a softener covers that option. And if you’re on a private well, you need a different kind of system: see our well water filtration guide.
Step 1: find out what’s in your tap water
Every community water system publishes a yearly water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report. The EPA’s CCR page helps you find yours, or search your utility’s name plus “water quality report.” Look for two things:
- The disinfectant. “Chlorine” or “chloramine” (sometimes “monochloramine” or “total chlorine with ammonia”). The EPA says more than one in five Americans drinks water treated with chloramine, which utilities use because it lasts longer in the pipes. This is the single most important detail, because the filters built for chlorine aren’t the ones makers rate for chloramine.
- Anything detected that you want removed, such as PFAS (often listed as PFOA and PFOS). Note the level and whether it’s above the limit shown.
While you have the report out, check the hardness. A filter doesn’t soften water, and a hardness test kit settles it if the report doesn’t list it; see our hardness test kit picks.
Which whole house water filter do you need?
Answer six questions from your water report and your home. You’ll get the filter to buy, the size, and what else to add.
Your setup
- Aquasana Rhino. It’s tested to NSF/ANSI 42 for up to 97% chlorine removal, lasts 1,000,000 gallons or 10 years, and is rated 7 gpm. No drain or power needed. See the Rhino.
- Check your hardness too: your water report may list it, or use a hardness test kit.
The picker uses each maker’s published flow ratings and test results. Aquasana recommends its Max Flow models for larger homes; SpringWell is the only maker here that lists flow by bathroom count (9 gpm for 1–3, 12 for 4–6, 20 for 7 or more), so we use its figures to size the backwashing filter.
Chlorine, chloramine or PFAS: what each filter type handles
| In your water | What reduces it | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | Activated carbon | The easiest job for a whole house filter. Look for a test to NSF/ANSI 42, the standard for chlorine, taste and odor. |
| Chloramine | Catalytic carbon | Makers rate chloramine separately: Aquasana’s chlorine model is tested for 97% of chlorine, while its catalytic carbon model is tested for 83% of chloramines. |
| PFAS | Carbon, reverse osmosis or ion exchange, certified for PFAS | The EPA says to look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFAS reduction, from bodies such as NSF, WQA, IAPMO, UL or CSA. |
| Lead | A filter certified to remove lead, at the tap | The EPA says lead service lines and brass fixtures are the main sources, which are after a whole house filter. See lead and PFAS. |
| Sediment and rust | Sediment pre-filter or spin-down screen | Every pick here has a sediment stage; add a spin-down screen ahead of it if you see grit. |
| Hardness | Water softener | A filter doesn’t soften water; see water softener vs water filter. |
Compare the whole house water filters
| System | Chlorine | Chloramine | PFAS | Rated flow | Main filter lasts | Drain and power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquasana Rhino | Up to 97% (tested to NSF/ANSI 42) | Not rated; Aquasana sends chloramine homes to the Rhino Chloramines | Not certified | 7 gpm (Max Flow: 14 gpm) | 1,000,000 gallons or 10 years | Neither |
| Aquasana Rhino Chloramines | Up to 97% (tested to NSF/ANSI 42) | Up to 83% (tested to NSF/ANSI 42) | Not certified | 7 gpm (Max Flow: 10 gpm) | 1,000,000 gallons or 10 years | Neither |
| Aquasana HealthShield | 97.4% (Aquasana’s own test) | 97.49% (Aquasana’s own test) | Certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS and PFHpA | 5.7 gpm | 165,000 gallons, about 2 years | Outlet only |
| SpringWell CF | Claimed | Claimed | Claimed; no certification listed | 9, 12 or 20 gpm | 1,000,000 gallons or 10 years | Not listed as needed |
| US Water Systems Matrixx Catalytic Carbon | Claimed | Claimed | Not listed | 5, 10, 15 or 20 gpm | Typically 5+ years | Both |
| iSpring WGB32B | Up to 99% (claimed) | Not claimed | Not claimed | Up to 15 gpm | 100,000 gallons or 12 months | Neither |
Figures are each maker’s own, from its product page. “Tested” means the maker reports a test to that standard; “certified” means a certification body lists it. The Rhino tanks themselves are WQA certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61, the standard for materials that touch drinking water.
Our picks
Aquasana Rhino Whole House Water Filter
For most homes on chlorinated city water, the Rhino is the simplest long-term option: one large carbon tank between a sediment pre-filter and a post-filter, with no drain line, no electricity and no backwashing. Aquasana reports an independent test to NSF/ANSI 42 showing up to 97% chlorine removal, and the tank is rated for a million gallons.
- Reduces: up to 97% of chlorine (independently tested to NSF/ANSI 42); Aquasana says its Claryum media reduces 78 contaminants in all, without percentages for the rest
- Flow: 7 gpm rated, 14.6 gpm peak; the Rhino Max Flow version is rated 14 gpm for larger homes
- Lasts: 1,000,000 gallons or 10 years
- Upkeep: pre-filter every 2 months, post-filter every 6 months
- Limits: 100 psi maximum, 40–90°F; fits 3/4 in. or 1 in. main lines
- Warranty: 10-year limited, plus a 90-day satisfaction guarantee
Good to know: the Rhino isn’t rated for chloramine; Aquasana directs chloramine customers to the Rhino Chloramines. The 2-month pre-filter is the main ongoing cost, and Aquasana sells a longer-lasting pre-filter rated for 6 months.
See it at AquasanaAquasana Rhino Chloramines
Chloramine is harder to remove than chlorine, which is why this version fills both of its tanks with 100% catalytic carbon. Aquasana reports an independent test to NSF/ANSI 42 showing up to 83% of chloramines and 97% of chlorine removed. If you’re not sure which disinfectant your city uses, this is the safer choice of the two Rhinos.
- Reduces: up to 83% of chloramines and 97% of chlorine (independently tested to NSF/ANSI 42)
- Flow: 7 gpm rated, 10.3 gpm peak; Aquasana lists the Rhino Chloramines Max Flow at 10 gpm for larger homes
- Lasts: 1,000,000 gallons or 10 years
- Upkeep: pre-filter every 2 months, post-filter every 6 months
- Limits: 100 psi maximum, 40–90°F
- Warranty: 10-year limited, plus a 90-day satisfaction guarantee
Good to know: like the standard Rhino, it needs no drain or power. If you also have hard water, Aquasana sells it with a salt-free conditioner; see our filter and softener combo guide for how those compare with a real softener.
See it at AquasanaAquasana HealthShield
Most whole house filters say little or nothing certified about PFAS. HealthShield is the exception among our picks: Aquasana says WQA tested and certified it to NSF/ANSI 53 and 401, reducing 99.9% of PFAS to below 4 parts per trillion for PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS and PFHpA. That matters, because the EPA tells you to look for exactly this kind of certification.
- Certified (WQA, NSF/ANSI 53): 99.9% of PFAS for the five listed above, and 99.8% of VOCs
- Certified (NSF/ANSI 401): 94.7% of BPA and pharmaceuticals
- Also: 97.4% of chlorine and 97.49% of chloramines in Aquasana’s own testing
- Flow: 5.7 gpm rated, 11.2 gpm peak
- Lasts: about 165,000 gallons or 2 years; a built-in flow meter shows what’s left
- Limits: 100 psi maximum, 40–100°F; needs a 120 V outlet within 10 feet for the meter, but no drain
- Warranty: 2-year limited, plus a 90-day satisfaction guarantee
Good to know: the tank lasts about 2 years instead of 10, so it costs more to run than a Rhino. Buy it only if your water report shows PFAS. The EPA also notes that today’s certifications don’t yet confirm a filter removes PFAS down to its newest limits. If you only need PFAS out of drinking water, a certified filter at the kitchen tap costs much less; see lead and PFAS.
See it at AquasanaSpringWell CF Whole House Water Filter
The CF comes in three sizes, so it’s the easiest pick to match to a big house. Water passes a 5-micron sediment pre-filter, then a copper-zinc (KDF) bed and catalytic carbon, which SpringWell says remove chlorine, chloramine and PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS. There are no cartridges in the main tank to swap.
- Sizes: CF1 for 1–3 bathrooms (9 gpm); CF4 for 4–6 bathrooms (12 gpm); CF+ for 7+ bathrooms (20 gpm, 1.5 in. connections)
- Lasts: media every 10 years or 1,000,000 gallons; sediment pre-filter every 6–9 months
- Limits: 25–80 psi, 36–120°F
- Guarantee: SpringWell guarantees chlorine and chloramine below detection limits for 6 years or 1,000,000 gallons
- Warranty: lifetime against defects, plus a 6-month money-back guarantee on unused, uninstalled systems
Good to know: SpringWell’s product page doesn’t list a third-party certification for the system, so treat its PFAS claim as the maker’s claim; our SpringWell review has the details. Returns of non-defective systems carry a 10% restocking fee. SpringWell also says not to use it where water is microbiologically unsafe, which matters only if you’re on a well.
See it at SpringWellUS Water Systems Matrixx Catalytic Carbon Backwashing Filter
A backwashing filter flushes its own carbon bed down a drain on a schedule, so there’s no main tank to replace for years. The Matrixx uses catalytic granular activated carbon, which US Water Systems calls one of the most effective ways to remove chloramines from city water, and it comes in sizes up to 20 gpm.
- Reduces: chloramines, chlorine and most other VOCs, per US Water Systems
- Sizes: 081-MXF-CX-100 (5 gpm, 1.0 cubic foot); -150 (10 gpm, 1.5); -200 (15 gpm, 2.0); -250 (20 gpm, 2.5)
- Backwash flow your supply must provide: 4, 5, 8 or 10 gpm, by size
- Lasts: catalytic carbon typically 5+ years
- Valve: 12-volt Bluetooth smart valve with a built-in bypass
- Warranty: lifetime on the tank, 10 years on the valve and electronics
Good to know: it needs a drain line and an outlet near the main line, which tank filters like the Rhino don’t. US Water Systems doesn’t list a certification for it.
See it at US Water SystemsiSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter
If you mainly want chlorine taste and smell gone and you’re fine changing cartridges once a year, a cartridge system costs a fraction of a tank system up front. The WGB32B runs water through three 20 × 4.5-inch “Big Blue” cartridges: a 5-micron sediment filter and two coconut-shell carbon blocks. This Amazon bundle includes braided push-fit hoses with a shut-off valve.
- Reduces: up to 99% of chlorine, plus sediment, rust, taste and odor (iSpring’s figures)
- Lasts: 100,000 gallons or 12 months per set of cartridges
- Flow: up to 15 gpm, 1 in. NPT connections
- Limits: 25–80 psi, 40–100°F
- Warranty: 1 year, extended when you register it
Good to know: iSpring says its carbon blocks are “tested by a third-party to meet NSF/ANSI standards” but doesn’t name the standard, and it doesn’t claim chloramine reduction for this model. It also won’t reduce dissolved solids or hardness. Replacement cartridges are a yearly cost, sold as a 3-pack.
Check price on Amazon Replacement filters on AmazonLead and PFAS: whole house or at the tap?
Lead usually comes from the plumbing, not the treatment plant. The EPA says lead service lines are typically the most significant source in homes that have them, and brass or chrome-plated brass faucets are the most common problem in homes that don’t. Fixtures and indoor pipes are downstream of a whole house filter, so the EPA’s advice is to use a filter certified to remove lead where you drink. Its consumer tool lists point-of-use and pitcher filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 and 42 to reduce lead to 5 parts per billion or less.
PFAS can be treated either way. The EPA says to check your water provider’s results first, then look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFAS reduction. A certified reverse osmosis or carbon filter at the kitchen tap covers drinking and cooking water for much less; a certified whole house system like HealthShield also covers showers and every other tap. Whichever you choose, replace the filter on schedule: the EPA warns that an overdue filter can increase your exposure.
Do you need a water softener too?
A whole house water filter removes chemicals and particles, but it doesn’t remove the calcium and magnesium that make water hard. If your water is 7 grains per gallon or harder, the scale on fixtures and in water heaters needs a softener. Our guides explain hard vs soft water, the best water softeners, and filter and softener combos sold as one system. Salt-free conditioners, which Aquasana and SpringWell both sell as add-ons, don’t remove hardness; see how salt-free systems work.
If you mostly want softer-feeling water in the shower, a shower filter handles chlorine at that one fixture for much less.
Installation basics
- Where it goes: on the main water line where it enters the house, so every tap gets filtered water. Outdoor faucets are often branched off before it, which saves filter life on garden water.
- Add a bypass so you can shut the filter off for service without cutting water to the house.
- Sediment first: if you see grit, a spin-down screen such as the iSpring WSP-50 goes ahead of the filter.
- With a softener too, follow the order in the makers’ manuals; combo systems arrive set up in their maker’s order.
- Flush the new media as the manual describes; carbon releases fine dust at first.
The plumbing is similar to a softener install; our softener installation guide covers the tools, bypass valves and code points such as grounding and drain air gaps. Follow each maker’s manual first.
Upkeep and running costs
| System | What you replace, and how often |
|---|---|
| Aquasana Rhino and Rhino Chloramines | Pre-filter every 2 months (or 6 months with the long-life pre-filter), post-filter every 6 months, tank after 1,000,000 gallons or 10 years |
| Aquasana HealthShield | Tank after about 165,000 gallons or 2 years, shown on its flow meter |
| SpringWell CF | Sediment pre-filter every 6–9 months, media after 10 years or 1,000,000 gallons |
| Matrixx Catalytic Carbon | Nothing routine; it backwashes itself, and the carbon typically lasts 5+ years |
| iSpring WGB32B | All three cartridges every 100,000 gallons or 12 months |
Cartridge prices change often, so compare a year of replacement filters, not just the system price, before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best whole house water filter?
For chlorinated city water, the Aquasana Rhino: it’s independently tested to NSF/ANSI 42 for up to 97% chlorine removal, lasts 1,000,000 gallons and needs no drain or power. For chloramine, choose the Rhino Chloramines; for PFAS, the HealthShield, which is certified to NSF/ANSI 53; and for homes with 7 or more bathrooms, the SpringWell CF+.
Is a whole house water filter worth it?
It’s worth it if chlorine or chloramine taste and smell bother you at every tap and in the shower, or if your water report shows something a certified whole house filter removes. If you only care about drinking water, a filter at the kitchen tap costs much less.
Do whole house water filters remove chloramine?
Only ones built for it. Standard carbon is rated for chlorine; for chloramine, makers use catalytic carbon. The Aquasana Rhino Chloramines is tested to NSF/ANSI 42 for up to 83% chloramine reduction, and SpringWell and US Water Systems also sell catalytic carbon filters for it.
Do whole house water filters remove PFAS?
Some do, but check the certification: the EPA says to look for NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFAS reduction. The Aquasana HealthShield is WQA certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS and PFHpA. Many other whole house filters claim PFAS reduction without a certification.
Will a whole house filter remove lead?
It isn’t the right tool. The EPA says lead mostly comes from lead service lines and brass fixtures, which water passes through after a whole house filter. Use a filter certified to remove lead at the tap you drink from.
Does a whole house water filter reduce water pressure?
A filter sized for your home shouldn’t noticeably. Match the rated flow to your home’s size: SpringWell lists 9 gpm for 1–3 bathrooms, 12 gpm for 4–6 and 20 gpm for 7 or more. Pressure also drops as a sediment filter clogs, so replace it on schedule.
How often do you change a whole house water filter?
It depends on the type. Cartridge systems like the iSpring WGB32B need new cartridges every 12 months or 100,000 gallons. Tank systems like the Aquasana Rhino last 1,000,000 gallons or 10 years, but their pre-filters need changing every 2 to 6 months.
Do I need a whole house filter and a water softener?
Only if you have both problems. A filter removes chlorine, chloramine and other chemicals; a softener removes hardness. If you need both, a combo system comes pre-arranged; otherwise follow each maker’s manual for the order. See our filter and softener combos.
What about whole house reverse osmosis?
Whole house reverse osmosis exists, but it’s a much bigger system than any filter here, with a storage tank, a pump and wastewater. Most homes use reverse osmosis only at the kitchen tap; see our under sink reverse osmosis picks and water softener vs reverse osmosis.
Can I use these filters on well water?
These picks are built for treated city water. Wells need testing for bacteria, iron, manganese and sulfur first; see our well water filtration systems and well water test kits.
Related guides
- Best well water filtration systems
- Best water filter and softener combos
- Water softener vs water filter
- Best under sink reverse osmosis systems
- Water softener vs reverse osmosis
- Best shower filters for hard water
- Best water softeners
- Hard water vs soft water
Sources
- U.S. EPA, Chloramines in Drinking Water (updated March 2026).
- U.S. EPA, Reducing PFAS in Your Drinking Water with a Home Filter (updated August 2026).
- U.S. EPA, Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water (updated June 2026) and Consumer Tool for Identifying Point-of-Use and Pitcher Filters Certified to Reduce Lead.
- U.S. EPA, Consumer Confidence Reports.
- Aquasana, Rhino, Rhino Max Flow, Rhino Chloramines and HealthShield product pages, and Introducing the Rhino Max Flow Systems.
- SpringWell, Whole House Water Filter System product page and specifications.
- US Water Systems, Matrixx Smart Whole House Backwashing Catalytic Carbon Filter product page.
- iSpring, WGB32B product page; WSP-50 and replacement filter details from iSpring’s Amazon listings.