There are still many households that rely on a well as their source of water, both for general use and for drinking water. In the US, there are approximately 13 million homes that use a private well for these purposes.
This may be because it is the only option or perhaps it is a preferred option based on your own research. What is important to consider is that well water will often contain harmful bacteria that should be filtered out, such as E Coli and protozoa. Add into the mix that well water is often hard water, particularly compared to other sources, you could see a build-up of limescale in the pipes and faucets in your home. Filtered water will help solve these problems.
We’ve put together this buyer’s guide to help provide you with an overview of how these filters work, in what situation you would need one, along with key considerations in the buying process. Following this information, is a list of the best filters for well water that are on the market right now, along with key information and the pros and cons.
Our Top Picks
Best Filters For Well Water of 2021:
Filters For Well Water that are worth mentioning:
Please see below the top 10 best whole house water filters on the market right now, along with the key information and pros and cons for each.
1. Aquasana 500,000 Gallon Well Water Rhino
This whole house system from Aquasana really is a heavyweight of the filter world, with its dual-tank feature allowing for improved filtration and its no wonder it makes it onto our list of the best. Throw in it being salt-free and its easy to love this system.
Performance:
With a 500, 000 gallon capacity and a flow rate of 7 GPM, it is strong enough to stand up to use by most households and the well water filters should only need changing every 5 years or so, depending on usage.
Filtration:
Where this system really stands out is in its combination of an activated carbon filter, sediment pre-filter, salt-free water softener and an option UV purifier. This means that it will reduce the number of metals, herbicides and hard water minerals, as well as countless other harmful contaminants, delivering clean water. Everything you would be looking for in a filter for well water.
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2. Pelican Iron & Manganese Water Filter
This water filter for well water utilises a four-stage system of filters and treatments, to provide your entire household with clean, safe drinking water that also tastes great. The fact it is NSF certified adds much-appreciated peace of mind.
Performance:
It’s 10 GPM flow rate is better than some of the other models on this list and its 600,000-gallon capacity means it will be a long time in between filter changes.
Filtration:
The first stage in this whole house system is a pre-filter that removes sediment from the water. The second stage involves a chlorination system, which disinfects the water, in much the same way as water treatment systems do. After this, the third stage removes iron from the water and flushes it out. Finally, its fourth stage is a traditional carbon filter, which helps remove many of the harmful contaminants found in the water supply such as heavy metals.
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3. SpringWell Whole House Well Water Filter System
The SpringWell water filter system is one of the most popular and best, if not the most popular system for well water and it is easy to see why. It is made by one of the leading manufacturers, has impressed statistics and requires minimal maintenance.
Performance:
Its flow rate is 9 GPM, which is at the higher end of the spectrum but where it really impresses is its capacity, which stands at a massive 1,000,000 gallons. Throw in the fact, you can add an optional UV filter and control the system using a mobile app, and you’ve got a great system.
Filtration:
One of the more effective well water filtration systems working in four different stages and none of them use traditional well water filters which need replacing. It has a setting where you can backwash the system and flush out any contaminants. The first stage is an air pocket, the second is a sand bed that traps particles, the third is an automatic backwash process and finally, it sends the safe, clean water into your home.
Features:
With some fancy features and settings, this really is one of the best, most modern and effective whole house water filter systems.
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4. Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter
This whole house water filter is perfectly designed for homes with a private well, thanks to it removing sediment, metals, chlorine, herbicides and VOCs, improving your water.
Performance:
One of the features we love is its flow rate, which has been designed to reach 15 GPM, far more than almost all the others on our list. However, it is important to note that the capacity is only 100,000, which is a lot lower than many other filters.
Filtration:
It has been made using food-grade materials, so you can rest assured that plastic won’t leach into your water supply. This system utilises a three-stage filtration system that includes a sediment filter, a kinetic degradation fluxion (KDF) filter and finally an activated carbon filter. These combine to remove many of the harmful contaminants found in well water supplies, providing clean, good tasting water.
Maintenance:
Whilst it does need the filters changing frequently, they do supply you with three in the box, enough to get you started.
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5. Home Master 3 Stage Filtration System
Home Master has created a filter for well water that is designed to remove up to 95% of harmful contaminants including chemicals and sediment. This not only means you will get a safe, clean supply of water but it will also taste and smell much nice too.
Performance:
With a flow rate of 15 GPM, you won’t be frustrated by a slow supply of water around the home and with a 2-year warranty, you can invest in it knowing the manufacturer will be there to help you.
Filtration:
It uses a three-stage filtration system involving a sediment filter which traps particles, a second radial flow filter to reduce the levels of iron and finally an activated carbon filter. This last filter is aimed at removing many of the harmful contaminants found in well water.
Capacity:
Where this Home Master model does fall down, is in its capacity, which is only 100, 000 gallons, which may mean replacing the filters more often than you’d like, depending on the water usage in your household.
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6. iSpring 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System
This whole-house well water filtration system from iSpring will remove up to 99% of chlorine in the water supply, as well as 95% of sediment and other harmful contaminants such as pesticides. It can also be used with a normal water supply, as well as a private well.
Filtration:
It filters the water through three stages of filtration, with the first being a sediment filter that traps particles bigger than 5 microns. The other two stages use coconut shell carbon to remove harmful contaminants and total dissolved solids that are in the water supply.
Flow Rate:
All of this works whilst still offering a 15 GPM flow rate, maintaining a good flow of water.
Maintenance:
For a normal household, you can expect to get a year out of each filter before it needs changing, as its capacity is 100,000. Whilst this is smaller than other water treatment systems on the market right now, the filters are relatively inexpensive, so it is still a good investment.
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7. SoftPro IronMaster Water Filtration System
One of the more innovative water filter systems to make it onto our list now, with the SoftPro IronMaster removing sulfur and manganese using air injection. It will also remove other harmful contaminants without using any chemicals or costly filters.
Filtration:
As the well water enters the filter, oxygen is added via an air bubble at the top of the tank and this oxidises the iron, manganese and sulfur. Once this has happened, the water flows through to the filter bed. It is this process that removes 30PPM of iron, 7PPM of manganese and 5PPM of hydrogen sulfide, without adding any unwanted chemicals.
Maintenance:
As mentioned, this system doesn’t use traditional filters and it cleans itself via a regular regeneration cycle. This means minimal maintenance will be required and the helpful digital control panel will show you the status of the system at any moment.
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8. Aquaboon Big Blue Whole House Well Water Filter System
At the heart of what makes the Aquaboon Whole house well water filter one of the best is its reliability and performance, giving you peace of mind that it will keep on providing clean, safe drinking water.
Performance:
This whole house water filter system is commonly used by both residential and commercial properties, in rural and suburban areas. This ability to deliver impressive water quality, safe water to a range of property times and sizes shows just how efficient and effective it is when compared to its competitors.
Compatibility:
We love the fact that the housing for the filters on this system can accommodate filter cartridges from a range of brands, as long as they fit the correct dimensions. Furthermore, this well water filter system from Aquaboon is compatible with the majority of the best whole house systems on the market right now.
Installation:
The one real downside of this system is the potential problems people have with installation. It can be challenging for some and may require you to get professional assistance.
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9. Culligan WH-HD200-C Water Filter System
One of the main issues that many manufacturers overlook is the maintenance and upkeep of whole house water filter systems. Fortunately, Culligan doesn’t make this mistake and that is why this system stands out from the crowd on our best whole house filter list.
Maintenance:
Firstly, you will notice that the main section of the filter is transparent, that means you can see whether the water filter you have installed is working correctly. If its faulty or got to the end of its lifespan, you can quickly spot it and take action. The second feature we love is a filter monitor that uses sensors to track the performance, informing you when its time to get a replacement filter.
Performance:
In terms of filtration performance, this well water filter from Culligan does a great job, removing high levels of sediment, chemicals and harmful contaminants from your water supply. A strong, durable system that will stand the test of time, you can trust products from that manufacturer.
Installation
Another system to make it on our list that is relatively easy to install, with clear instructions and fantastic support services should you need them.
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10. 3M AP904 Aqua-Pure Water Filter System
One of the biggest manufacturers delivers yet another high-quality water filter system, with this latest water filter from 3M delivering safe, clean filtered water.
Performance:
To start with, it performs admirably when it comes to removing harmful contaminants such as unwanted minerals and sediments, providing clean water for your family. Secondly, 3M have used some of the latest technology and innovations to further improve the water quality of your home by making it softer and kinder on your appliances, pipes and members of your household.
Flow Rate:
A key feature of this well water filter system is that it maintains a reasonable flow rate, unlike some other filters that reduce the flow rate considerably. This is a big plus giving that well water supplies can sometimes struggle with flow rates and water pressure in the first place.
Installation:
One of the easier systems to install, you shouldn’t need to get any professional support but if you do, they will have no problem getting it installed in your home.
Maintenance:
Whilst replacing filters is very easy, with a handy twist and replace system, we have noticed that the filters don’t last as long as some other systems. That means the running costs may well be higher than expected, so think carefully about that if your household uses a lot of water.
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Summary
We hope you have found this article on the best whole house water filters for well water helpful. It is important to us that every person searching for a well water filtration system has the knowledge and understanding to make an informed purchasing decision.
All of the systems on our list are effective filters that will provide safe, clean and healthy drinking water for you, your whole home and your family.
How does a filter for well water work?
Normally, a filter for well water is installed at the entry point for water into your home. This ensures that any water flowing through this pipe will pass through the filtration system.
What happens within the filtration system depends on the type you purchase, with some whole-home systems utilising multiple filters to remove harmful contaminants. Other systems use chlorination or UV light as methods for removing certain harmful contaminants.
Why do I need one?
One of the most important things to remember is that well water doesn’t go through the same tests by governmental departments that a normal water supply would. As a result, you won’t have this external evidence that your water is safe to drink and use in your home.
As mentioned early on in this article, well water will often have certain bacteria and parasites in, that if ingested could cause you to be unwell. There is also the potential for contaminants to leak in from surrounding land, industrial units or farming methods. Whilst it may not always be harmful to drink, it may still affect the taste and smell.
If you buy a water filter for well water, then you are going to remove as much of the harmful contaminants as possible, improving the taste and smell but more importantly, protecting you from illness.
The key considerations
There are some important considerations prior to buying a filter for well water, to ensure that you pick one that does the best job but also fits your specific household’s requirements. These considerations include:
Space
Each filter on the market will take up a certain amount of space and unfortunately, they do have different dimensions. Some of the more powerful filtration systems will need a lot of space to install, as well as room to maintain it. Make sure you take the time to assess the space at your property and compare this with your chosen filter.
Maintenance
Filters will generally fall into two categories, those that require maintenance and those that don’t. For the standard systems that use filters, you will need to replace them but in general, this will only be once every 9 to 12 months.
For systems that don’t use filters, they will normally have automated maintenance procedures and so won’t require as much maintenance. Whichever choice you make, the best water filters require minimal maintenance when compared to other systems in the house.
Water pressure
It is important to understand the impact the water flow rate of a filter has, as well as the performance of your households well water system. Each filter will have a different water flow rate, telling you how fast water will flow around the home after being filtered and if it’s too slow, this could be a massive inconvenience.
Likewise, if your property struggles with water pressure before it enters the filter, then you may struggle even further, as even the best water filters will almost always reduce the water pressure.
Installation
When buying a well water filter, take the time to find out how easy it is to install. Many of them will be easy enough to install yourself, even with limited experience but there will be some that need professional installation. This obviously increases the cost and time required to get set up.
Advantages of installing a whole house well water filtration system
There are some fantastic advantages to installing a well water filter system that protects your whole house and we’ve listed just some of the most important ones for you to be aware of.
Cost-effective
If you use multiple faucets in your home (most households unless you live in a small apartment), then a whole-house water filter is a fantastic, cost-effective solution. Whilst they will cost more initially than single point filters such as under-sink options, they will filter all water that comes into the home.
Filtration
Whether you have a well water supply or city water coming from the local authorities, you want to make sure it is clean, safe and as healthy as possible. This is particularly important for drinking water and water to wash with, as well as cooking. Making sure you have an effective whole-house water filter in place will protect you and your family.
Maintenance
Fortunately, the majority of these water systems are very easy to maintain and relatively inexpensive to do so as well. The filters will normally last a very long time unless you live in a large household and take moments to replace the filter. Even if you have minimal plumbing experience you shouldn’t have problems.
New Technology
Water filtration systems have been improving leaps and bounds over recent years, with some fantastic innovations and advancements in technology. You can now take advantage of whole-house water systems that utilise multi-stage filtration, performance sensors and demineralization, as well as minimising impact on water pressure.
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