Cost guide · Water Treatment
Whole House Water Filter Cost
Short answer: A whole-house water filtration system costs $850 to $5,400 installed, according to HomeGuide. A basic carbon and sediment system runs $850 to $1,400, adding UV disinfection brings it to $1,850 to $2,900, and whole-house reverse osmosis costs $4,800 to $8,000. Well water systems cost $800 to $4,000. Replacement filters add $150 to $250 a year.
A whole-house system filters all water entering the home, so every tap, shower and appliance gets treated water. HomeGuide puts installed systems at $850 to $5,400, depending on how many treatment stages you need.
Cost by system
| System | Installed |
|---|---|
| Carbon, mineral and sediment | $850 – $1,400 |
| Carbon, mineral, sediment and UV | $1,850 – $2,900 |
| Carbon, mineral, sediment, UV and softener | $2,650 – $5,400 |
| Reverse osmosis, whole house | $4,800 – $8,000 |
| Well water filtration | $800 – $4,000 |
Source: HomeGuide.
Carbon removes chlorine, taste and odor and many chemicals. Sediment filters catch sand and rust. UV lamps kill bacteria and viruses, which matters most on private wells. Reverse osmosis removes the widest range of contaminants but is expensive for a whole house and wastes water. Angi lists whole-home RO at $4,000 to $11,000.
A filter does not soften water. For hardness, see water softener cost, or choose a combined system.
Point-of-use systems
| System | Installed |
|---|---|
| Under-sink, overall | $170 – $580 |
| Under-sink carbon | $180 – $550 |
| Under-sink reverse osmosis | $300 – $950 |
| Countertop distiller | $100 – $350 |
Source: HomeGuide. If drinking water is the only concern, an under-sink unit costs a fraction of a whole-house system.
Installation labor
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Whole-house installation labor | $200 – $600 |
| Under-sink installation labor | $120 – $330 |
| Plumber hourly rate | $45 – $150 |
Source: HomeGuide. Labor rises when the main line is hard to reach or a bypass loop must be added.
Filter replacement
| Filter | Cost |
|---|---|
| Whole-house annual replacement | $150 – $250 |
| Carbon, sediment or iron cartridge | $15 – $65 |
| UV lamp | $20 – $100 |
| Whole-house RO filters | $150 – $250 |
| Under-sink annual replacement | $20 – $100 |
| Technician labor for filter changes | $65 – $180 extra |
Source: HomeGuide.
Test before you buy
Choose the system based on what is in your water, not on the sales pitch. City water customers can read the utility's annual water quality report. Well owners should test; HomeGuide lists basic lab tests at $130 to $200. See well inspection cost.
Ways to save
- Match the system to the test results instead of buying every stage.
- Install a pre-filter for sediment to extend the life of carbon and RO stages.
- Change cartridges yourself if the housings are accessible.
What a whole-house filter does
A whole-house (point-of-entry) filter treats all the water coming into the home, so every faucet, shower and appliance gets filtered water. That is different from under-sink filters, which treat only drinking water at one tap.
Common filter types
- Sediment filters remove sand, rust and particles.
- Carbon filters reduce chlorine, chloramine taste and odor and some chemicals.
- Catalytic carbon is designed to handle chloramine, which many cities use.
- Iron and sulfur filters are common on private wells.
- UV systems disinfect well water against bacteria.
- Water softeners remove hardness, which filters do not.
More on test before you buy
The right system depends on what is in your water. City water quality reports list what is in municipal water; private wells should be tested by a lab. Buying a filter without knowing the problem can mean paying for the wrong technology.
What affects the price
- Filter type and capacity.
- Number of stages combined.
- Installation: an existing loop near the main makes it simpler.
- Ongoing costs: cartridge or media replacement and, for UV systems, lamp replacement.
Questions to ask
- What does my water test show, and which contaminants will this remove?
- How often do filters or media need replacing, and what do they cost?
- Will it reduce water pressure?
In Texas
Many Texas cities treat water with chloramine, and hard water is common across much of the state. A combination of a catalytic carbon filter and a softener is a frequent setup for Texas homes. Your city's annual water quality report is a good place to start.
Matching the filter to your water
The right whole-house filter depends on what is in your water, which is why testing comes first. Common problems and the usual solutions include:
- Chlorine and chloramine taste or smell (city water): a carbon filter, often a catalytic carbon media for chloramine.
- Sediment and sand (often well water): a sediment filter, sometimes a spin-down filter ahead of it.
- Iron and manganese (staining): an oxidizing filter, such as an air injection system or a specialized media.
- Rotten egg smell (hydrogen sulfide): an oxidizing filter or a specialized carbon media.
- Hardness (scale): a water softener, which is a separate system from most filters.
- Bacteria (well water): disinfection such as a UV light system, usually after sediment filtration.
Many homes need a combination. A filter that is not designed for your specific problem may do little or nothing.
Certification
Look for filters certified to NSF/ANSI standards for the specific contaminants you want to reduce. Certification shows that the claims were tested by an independent organization, not just by the manufacturer. Product listings that do not name a standard or the contaminants it covers deserve more scrutiny.
Flow rate and water pressure
A whole-house filter must handle the full flow of your home. An undersized system lowers water pressure, especially when several fixtures run at once. Ask the installer what flow rate the system is rated for and whether it fits the size of your main water line. Pressure gauges before and after the filter make it easy to see when cartridges are clogging and need to be changed.
Where the system goes
Whole-house filters are installed on the main line where it enters the house, usually in the garage, a utility room or outdoors with a protective cover. A bypass valve lets you keep water running when the filter is serviced. Systems that backwash need a drain nearby and an electrical outlet for the control head.
Ongoing costs
Plan for replacement cartridges or media and, for backwashing systems, the water used during each backwash. Ask how often cartridges need changing at your household's water use, since a cheap system with expensive cartridges can cost more over time than a pricier one with long-lasting media.
Retesting
Test the water again after installation. It confirms the system works.
Warranty
Ask about warranties on the tank and the control valve.
Using the bypass
Turn the bypass on before changing cartridges.
Sources
Water treatment companies in Texas
Our Texas business directory lists 163 water treatment companies across 6 major cities. The ratings below are the average Google rating of the listed businesses in each city, and the review counts are the total number of Google reviews they have received.
| City | Businesses listed | Avg. Google rating | Total reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 67 | 4.8 | 14,236 |
| Dallas | 11 | 3.7 | 556 |
| San Antonio | 37 | 4.8 | 12,457 |
| Austin | 21 | 4.8 | 6,158 |
| Fort Worth | 6 | 3.5 | 1,142 |
| El Paso | 21 | 3.9 | 1,399 |
Source: twupro Texas business directory, built from public Google Maps listings.
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