AO SmithAO Smith Whole House Water Filter System - Carbon Filtration Reduces 97% of Chlorine - NSF Certified - 6yr, 600,000 Gl - AO-WH-Filter

Easy install. Great results on water quality/ taste

I finally got around to having this installed by a plumber in my water softener loop. I had one that was 8 years old (another MFR) that I recently removed and decided that I NEEDED a chlorine filter. My old one was about 4 feet high and I wasn't sure if I needed to replace it or not, but I felt after 8 years, it must be due. I flushed this with the garden hose and the water was running clear in less than 10 minutes, so that was easy. What took me so long to install this was actually the plumber I was using. He had been to my home for a water softener and then again to remove the old chlorine filter. After BOTH visits, my water tasted and smelled like acetone for about 3 days even after flushing for over an hour. Well, I will tell you WHY this happened. The original plumber was in a rush and did not let the pvc primers/glue cure and completely dry enough before turning the water back on! I got a new plumber who waited about 45 minutes for it to cure and dry.....no smell or taste in the water! If you are doing this yourself or hiring someone, make sure you/they wait more than enough time for it to cure and dry COMPLETELY. If your water smells or tastes like acetone, there was not enough time given to dry/cure. And in my case 15-20 minutes was not enough time but 45 minutes worked well. If you get the smell/taste of acetone after turning the water on, the only thing you can do is wait it out, about 2-3 full days.The thing I noticed about this filter is that it is made by the same manufacturer that makes Aquasana filters. How do I know this? It was on the shipping label from the MFR to Amazon, then Amazon to me (there were 2 labels on the box) These exact filters are sold in lowes too for the same price here, but you don't have to lug it around and you may save on sales tax ordering online. I thought they were much heavier than they actually are which is why I ordered here.It works well, I smell no chlorine on any tap in the house. I also installed a pre-filter, (AO smith as well) that I picked up locally and installed that BEFORE this charcoal filter to get any sediment and rust particles from the city water. Yes, city water does have it and after one day, you can see the prefilter is no longer pristine white. After 3 days the prefilter is a light orange and I NEVER had a visible rust problem in my home. Now I know why my salt softener filter was slightly orange after a month! rust in the water. AFTER the charcoal filter is my salt water softener. I will absolutely buy this filter again in 6 years when it comes time to replace it. Great filter, great price, Amazon convenience and customer service if you need it.

I put 2 of these in, in 2 different houses about 2 months apart October to December 2022. I also installed the Descaling unit and 4.5" filer housing with active carbon filter. All items arrived quickly both times and in good condition. Fair warning, the Carbon filter unit is heavy and I bet my Amazon driver hates me sense I ordered 2. Both systems are on public utility water. One system has a water hardness of ~120mg/L (Moderate) and the other has a water hardness of ~260mg/L(Very High) according to local provided municipal water reports. Both system's reports claim to have low TDS but also have rust due to old municipal infrastructure. In both cases we noticed the water felt noticeably better after installation. Will update on status and effectiveness in the future.With the first system I took my time and used the included valves and PVC plumbing and adapted to the existing house PEX system. I fought with leaks in the PVC joints and had to adapt to NPT before adapting back to PEX to tie into house plumbing, which required more fittings and increased chance of leaks. Total install time was about 12 hours or so and ~$250 in extra parts. For the second system I adapted straight to PEX, installed breakable joints and PEX valves on both sides of the units for ease of replacement. The 2nd install was 6 hours and cost less than $150 in additional parts.Some suggestions-These units are short (~30" tall), if you are installing them I suggest you put them on a raised, well supported platform making them easier to work with. If its in a finished area put them in a drain pan.- Put in a bypass valve to allow you to isolate the units in event of leaks and to aid in replacing them after the 6 years.- If you don't already have PVC Plumbing than don't use the included PVC fittings. I tried it both ways and it was easier for me, and cheaper, to adapt to the existing house plumbing rather than install the PVC valves/pipe a then adapt to the house plumbing.- Follow the instructions and purge before installing.- Highly recommend following the manufacturer suggestion and installing the canister pre-filter.Doing the math including salt and filters the cost of putting in the system myself (~$850) was nearly equal with installing a salt based water softener myself which would not have included a carbon filter. This would have required extra plumbing and electrical work, also hauling salt down into 2 basements 2 times per year. Quoted cost (at one location) for having a service put in a full system was $1700 (single tank ion exchange, pre-filter, and whole house carbon filter). To have provide salt, change filters, and service the system was an additional ~$30 per month for the first 2 years, higher after that. Both houses would have required additional plumbing cost for the purge lines and electrical outlets to be added for the water softeners. If this system works as it seems to then the cost is significantly cheaper.

This filter was pricey but it sure does seem to improve our water. Careful if you want to DIY. The threaded holes need thread tape and know how. I had to re apply thread tape on the leading inlet 3 times before it sealed with no leaks. The plumbing required was a snap for me but could be hard for others. Got the descaler also. Be sure to add shut off valves to aid in future replacement. Know your plumbing before you start!

Our city often puts enough chlorine in the water that you think you are in a swimming pool. At a restaurant I go to, hundreds of customers were complaining about the water/tea/coffee/soft drinks. I installed 2 of these for them, one for all the drinks and one for the ice machine. No more complaints, even the employees say the water tastes better than at their house, so they fill their big mugs before going home. As recommended in the instructions, I also installed a pre-filter, just a regular pleated type to catch any sand/particles that could clog the carbon filter prematurely at the drink station, and at the ice machine, I installed of filter that has a fine stainless mesh that never needs to be replaced, it will remove any particles that could clog the carbon filter and has a clear bowl to see, and a drain valve to let any sand/rust out.