Looking for the best whole house water filter? Our entire house water filter reviews compare top systems like the 1. 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System and Culligan Whole House Water Filter to help you choose the right one for your home.

Key Features Compared:

✅ 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System(Expensive)

• Removes heavy metals (lead, arsenic) and PFAs
• Anti-scale protection for pipes & appliances
• Stainless steel bracket with pressure gauges

✅ Culligan Whole House Water Filter(Cheap)

• Reduces sediment, rust, and chlorine taste
• Includes filter life monitor & bypass valve
• Certified for material safety and low lead

1. The Ultimate Whole House Water Filter System Review: Is It Worth It?

If you’ve ever turned on your faucet only to smell chlorine, notice weird stains, or worry about hidden heavy metals, you’re not alone. Contaminated water isn’t just unpleasant—it can damage your pipes, appliances, and even your health.

That’s where the Express Water ULTIMATE PROTECTION Whole House Water Filter System comes in. This 3-stage filtration powerhouse promises to remove chlorine, heavy metals, PFAs, and scale while protecting your home’s plumbing. But does it live up to the hype?

Let’s dive in (with clean water, of course).

Why This Whole House Water Filter Stands Out

1. 3-Stage Filtration for Complete Protection

✔ Stage 1 – Sediment Filter – Removes dirt, rust, and debris.

✔ Stage 2 – Anti-Scale & Heavy Metal Filter – Blocks lead, arsenic, mercury, and chromium and prevent limescale buildup.

✔ Stage 3 – Advanced Carbon Filtration – Reduces chlorine, chloramine, PFAs, and sour tastes/odours.

2. Heavy Metal Defense (Because Nobody Wants to Lead in Their Coffee)

✔ Lab-tested reduction of lead, arsenic, mercury, and more.

✔ Perfect for healthy water – Many users report undetectable heavy metals after installation.

3. Anti-Scale Technology (Save Your Pipes & Appliances)

✔ Polyphosphate treatment – Prevents scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers.

✔ Extends appliance life – No more costly repairs from mineral deposits.

4. High Flow Rate (No Weak Shower Pressure!)

✔ 0.25 gallons per second – Strong flow even with filtration.

✔ Works at 45-80 PSI – No noticeable drop in water pressure.

5. Easy Maintenance & Monitoring

✔ Pressure gauges – let you know when to change filters.

✔ 6-12 month filter life (or 100,000 gallons).

✔ Stainless steel bracket – Durable and corrosion-resistant.

Real Talk: The Pros & Cons

✅ Why Buyers Love It

✔ Dramatically improves water quality – Removes heavy metals, chlorine, and bad taste.

✔ Protects plumbing & appliances – Reduces scale buildup (saves $$$ on repairs).

✔ Easy installation – Many users DIY it in under an hour.

✔ Great for well water – Effectively tackles arsenic, lead, and sediment.

❌ The (Minor) Downsides

• It does NOT reduce TDS. If you want purified drinking water, you’ll need an RO system.
• Filter replacements add cost – Budget for new filters every 6-12 months.

Who Should Buy This System?

✔ Well water users – This is a game-changer if you have heavy metals or sediment.

✔ City water drinkers – Removes chlorine, chloramine, and PFAs.

✔ Homeowners with hard water – Prevents scale damage to pipes and appliances.

✔ Families concerned about water safety – Especially with lead or arsenic risks.

Who Might Want to Skip It?

❌ Those needing TDS reduction – This isn’t a reverse osmosis system.

❌ Renters – Best for homeowners (installation required).

What People Thoughts about it(whole house water filter reviews):

People 1:

Still going strong. Can’t believe we didn’t buy this sooner.
We’re replacing the filters every 6 months.
If you have the $$$, buy the 10-pack of filters on their site . . . It’s half the cost of a single pack.

Update 1-18-19
The filter has been doing a great job, but we have finally started to see a noticeable drop in water pressure.

I ordered a replacement set of filters and got to installing them. I installed this bypass system, which allows me to drain the water and still use water in the house with the bypass.
I decided to cut open the sediment filter to see how far the sentiment and particulates have penetrated, and it’s almost entirely through ( see updated pictures )
One important note is when installing the new filter, make sure you pick up some silicone grease from your local hardware store because this is critical to completing a good seal on that gasket, and not having that will cause problems.Also lastly, remember that the threads on the filter are REVERSED, so the right is loose, and the left is tight.

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Main whole house water filter system reviews from 2018
This is a great whole house water filter, and I’m very pleased with it.
The other reviews I have seen up to this point have a few pictures but nothing in full detail of unboxing, setup, installation, and configuration.
I ordered this unit after lots of research and settled on this unit by Express Water over other similar 4.5 x 20 x 3-stage house filters because it came with a few extra upgrades. The metal rack that encloses the unit is helpful, and the 3 individual pressure gauges are also a nice touch.
The box is heavy and well packaged, and everything arrived intact except for one of the gauges (it holds the oil liquid but shows no pressure). Another reviewer had the same issue, and I’ve contacted Express Water for follow-up and am waiting to see if they can ship me a replacement.

I decided to mount my unit on the wall of my basement and not have it on the ground. However, this unit, in particular, could be installed at ground level because it includes rubber feet (grommets).
For my installation and setup, I unscrew the 3 cartridges and drill 2 anchor bolts (sleeve bolts) for this unit. My basement walls are 6+ inches thick of poured concrete, so I used a 4.5-inch sleeve anchor for this installation, and it is rock solid on the wall (see images)
I also cut my main water line and installed this filter as a bypass with a shut-off valve.

If you go with a 3-stage filter like this, I still suggest going with a spring pre-filter if possible. It extends the life of your filters and removes large particulates before the first-stage filter.
After the unit was mounted on the wall, I picked up all the needed adapters/parts for the build. I ended up going with 1-inch copper and shark-bite fittings for my installation, and it went well.
I would caution you to read the manual (single page) and take their advice of wrapping the input threads on this unit TWENTY TIMES with Teflon tape to avoid any leaks. I went about 15 times on mine, and the threads were so coarse that I had to re-do my fittings with more tape to fix a slow leak.
The cost of my shark bite fittings was around 300.00. So, if you want an out-the-door cost (with a pre-filter), you are looking at around 750/800 US. It could be slightly cheaper if you go with PEX or PVC, so YMMV.
After everything was installed, I flushed my house water and opened my cold water for 30 minutes. The water from the system was a milky white and then became clear.
Any time you install a new filter, you need to let the GAC (carbon) settle before you start using the system.

Overall, I’m pleased with the cost of the unit and the filters provided. The replacement cost of the filters is a bit higher, but that is expected because this unit includes the KDF filter, which pulls out more particulates.
At some point, I might install an RO system for our ice maker and kitchen, but at this point, I’m happy with the results. The water tastes better, and it removes the rust and sediment from our city water. If you look at the white filter in my images, you will see the colour change—and that is after only 48 hours!

Get your water tested and get this installed. You will be happy.

Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?

Absolutely! If you want:

✅ Cleaner, safer water from every faucet.

✅ Protection for pipes & appliances from scale and corrosion.

✅ Heavy metal removal (lead, arsenic, etc.).

Rating: 4.8/5 – Loses points only because it doesn’t reduce TDS.

TL;DR:

🚰 3-stage filtration – Removes chlorine, heavy metals, and scale.

🚰 Great for well & city water – Tackles arsenic, lead, and sediment.

🚰 Protects plumbing – Prevents limescale damage.

🚰 Easy to install & maintain – Filters last 6-12 months.

Ready to transform your home’s water? This whole house filter system delivers ULTIMATE PROTECTION—without the hassle.

2. Culligan WH-HD200-C Whole House Water Filter Review: A Simple Solution for Cleaner Water

If you’re tired of gritty sediment, funky tastes, or chlorine-laden tap water, the Culligan WH-HD200-C Whole House Water Filter might be your new best friend. Designed for easy installation and low maintenance, this system promises to improve water taste, reduce sediment, and protect your appliances—without breaking the bank.

But is it the right choice for your home? Let’s break it down (without any plumbing disasters).

Why This Whole House Water Filter Stands Out

1. Simple Yet Effective Filtration

✔ Reduces sediment, rust, sand, and silt – Say goodbye to gritty water.

✔ Improves taste & odour – Cuts down on chlorine and other unpleasant flavours.

✔ Protects appliances – Helps prevent scale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines.

2. Easy Installation & Maintenance

✔ 1″ stainless steel connectors – Durable and corrosion-resistant.

✔ Bypass valve – Lets you switch to unfiltered water during maintenance.

✔ Filter change reminder – Battery-operated timer tells you when to replace the cartridge.

3. Clear Filter Housing (No Guesswork!)

✔ See-through canister – Lets you visually check filter condition (excellent for well water users).

✔ Wrench included – Makes filter changes a breeze.

4. Certified Safe & Reliable

✔ WQA certified – Meets NSF/ANSI standards for material safety and lead-free compliance.

✔ Works with multiple Culligan filters – Lets you customize filtration based on your needs.

Real Talk: The Pros & Cons

✅ Why Buyers Love It

✔ Affordable & effective – Great for sediment and chlorine reduction.

✔ Low maintenance – Filter lasts 2-6 months (depending on water quality).

✔ Clear housing – No surprises when it’s time for a change.

✔ Works great with healthy water – Many users report cleaner, better-tasting water.

❌ The (Minor) Downsides

• The O-ring can be finicky . It needs food-grade silicone grease to prevent leaks.
• Not for heavy metals/PFAs – Won’t remove lead, arsenic, or chemicals like more advanced systems.
• Filter replacements add cost – Budget for cartridges every few months.

Who Should Buy This System?

✔ Well water users – Great for sand, silt, and sediment.

✔ City water drinkers – Reduces chlorine taste & odor.

✔ Homeowners wanting basic protection – Helps appliances last longer.

✔ DIYers – Easy to install with basic plumbing skills.

Who Might Want to Skip It?

❌ Those needing heavy metal removal – Don’t filter lead, arsenic, or PFAs.

❌ Hard water households – No anti-scale technology (consider a softener instead).

What people thoughts about it after using (culligan whole house water filter reviews​):

People 1:

I purchased and installed this filter specifically for my fridge Because my fridge has a very proprietary GE filter that is supposed to last 6 months at a time but keeps getting clogged with sediment after only 3 weeks of use (and I can’t afford to replace filters at $55 a piece every 3 weeks), I installed this Culligan filter to help pre-filter the water before it gets to my fridge’s more expensive filter. It didn’t drop the water pressure. Since it only supplies my fridge, I expect the Culligan filter inserts to last much longer than the six months it’s rated for when used for a whole house.

This was a pain to install because of how it was designed, but it was well worth the price.

It would have been a bit easier to install if the manufacturer had used something smaller than 1-inch threaded openings for the inlet and outlet — it took me a couple of hours at my local big orange DIY store to find the right combination of fittings that would go from my 3/4 or 1/2 inch copper pipes in my house to the inlet and then from the outlet to the right fittings to fit my fridge water/icemaker water supply hose. I found the right parts in the end, as seen in the photo(s).

Another problem with the 1-inch threaded fitting is that because it’s such a large fitting, the threads are comparably large and coarse, so it takes a lot of Teflon tapes and a large amount of force to make the fittings between components water-tight. After installation, I had an extremely slow leak (a drop every half hour) at one of the threaded points; fortunately, a bit more elbow grease to further tighten up the fittings stopped the leak. I’ll have to keep an eye on my connections over the next few days after installation to ensure a zero-leak installation, and I recommend others do the same with these types of fittings. I hesitated to use too much force to tighten the fittings because although Culligan claims the threaded joints are enforced with metal, the connections are still plastic and can break if too much force is used.

I’d recommend hiring a plumber to install the filter for those without the skills.

The clear filter cartridge housing was also challenging to unscrew out of the box and required the included tool to open. (The black plastic tool is hanging next to my filter in the photos.) It’s not stated in the installation instructions, but for putting the housing back on, it’s recommended in the filter cartridge instructions to only hand tighten. I only hand tightened as advised in the cartridge’s instructions, and there was no leak even after 24 hours of use/water running through the filter/housing. Just make sure to follow the instructions for the O-ring and silicone grease.

The installation instructions did mention using silicone grease on the included O-ring when installing the filter housing, so I purchased some from my local Big Orange Home DIY store. Again, there was no leak at the O-ring for me. The silicone grease I used was for potable water connections, and it took only a tiny bit to completely cover the O-ring with my fingers.

Replacement O-rings are available here on Amazon. I purchased some extras because one of the other reviewers warned that their O-ring had gotten damaged during installation. Prime shipping got the extra O-rings to me in just a day or two, but I did not use them for my installation and will save them next to the filter for future use.

The filter’s Filter-Off-Bypass valve does work, but it’s a pain in the behind to turn by hand without a tool. The valve takes a bit of strength to turn, even with the included tool. I suspect that the tool itself will break eventually because it seems to be a bit flimsy for what it was designed to do: for example, instead of being made out of a solid piece of plastic, it’s a semi-hollow frame, and I was terrified it would snap off at the thinnest point every time I used it to turn the filter’s valve from setting to setting. I did check that one of my local big box stores does carry universal filter housing tools of a similar design, so I think I should at least be able to open up the filter housing to replace the filter if the original tool breaks in half — not sure yet where I’ll be able to find a similar tool to change the settings on the valve, however, as the valve handle is a very unique shape.

This means that his filters are similar-looking to some of the other big brands and are all made by some third company that these more well-known companies purchase from slaps for their brands. For example, GE and Dupont make whole-house filters at around the same price point as this Culligan filter, but with their brands — the big difference between the others and this Culligan is that this one has the Filter-Off-Bypass valve. However, like the other brands, Culligan also has a version without the valve. One big plus of all this is that the filter cartridges seem to all be the exact sizes, so I won’t have to worry as much about finding replacement cartridges in the distant future (decades from now) if Culligan decides to stop selling these filters.

Overall, I recommend this filter. I spent almost $50 in parts and supplies to make a proper all-copper-and-brass, soldered connection to my water supply line, but the filter and filter cartridge themselves cost less than $100. At that price, it was well worth it to get cleaner water- and to save me lots more in the cost of replacing more expensive filters for my fridge. So, this was my culligan whole house water filter reviews​.

Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?

Yes—if you want a simple, affordable whole-house filter for:

✅ Sediment & chlorine reduction

✅ Better-tasting water

✅ Basic appliance protection

Rating: 4.5/5 – Loses points for no heavy metal filtration and O-ring quirks.

TL;DR:

🚰 Affordable & effective – Great for sediment and chlorine.

🚰 Easy to install & maintain – Clear housing + reminder timer.

🚰 Certified safe – WQA/NSF approved.

🚰 Not for heavy metals – Best for basic filtration needs.