What did your water test find?

Check every contaminant on your test report (or your utility's water quality report). We'll tell you which system type fits — and which specific models handle it.

Contaminants found Chlorine taste / smellThe most common city-water complaint. ChloramineHarder to remove than chlorine — needs catalytic carbon. PFAS / PFOA / PFOS ("forever chemicals")Needs NSF/ANSI 53-rated media. LeadOld pipes or service lines. FluorideStandard carbon won't touch it. Iron / manganese (orange stains)Well water classic. Rotten-egg smell (hydrogen sulfide)Needs KDF or oxidizing media. Sediment / sand / rust particlesA pre-filter handles most of it. Hard water scaleFilters don't soften — you need conditioning.

No test yet? Get one first.

A $30–$200 water test beats a $1,500 guess. Your utility's annual water quality report (free, search "[your city] water quality report") covers regulated contaminants; a mail-in lab test (Tap Score, MyWaterTest) covers PFAS, lead and well-water minerals the utility doesn't have to report. Buy the filter after the test — never before.

Once you know your contaminants, size the system for your home's flow rate, then check the 5-year cost calculator before you buy. Our PFAS guide goes deep on "forever chemicals" specifically.