Aquasana HealthShield Whole-House Water Filter (WH-HS)

1. Proven reduction 35% of the rating 4 of 5

   WQA lists this model for PFOA, PFOS, PFHpA, PFHxS and PFNA (tested to 20 ng/L, 6 for PFNA), VOCs, BPA and ibuprofen. No lead claim, and chlorine and chloramine are Aquasana’s own tests.

2. What touches the water 20% of the rating 3 of 5

   Carbon in a tank that Aquasana does not describe, with disposable pre- and post-filters, and the whole tank is replaced at capacity. No silver is mentioned. Lead content is certified.

3. Independent testing 15% of the rating 3 of 5

   A paid WQA certification with a strict PFAS test and a published data sheet. We found no independent test of this model, and WQA’s note says incoming aluminum must be reduced first.

4. Trust 10% of the rating 3 of 5

   No recall or Prop 65 notice found. But it is new, the “penny a gallon” claim is about two cents on Aquasana’s own numbers, chlorine results are internal, and Aquasana pays affiliates at least 10%.

5. Running cost & value 20% of the rating 1 of 5

   $4,198 list up front ($2,099 in the fall sale), then a $3,498 tank ($1,749 on sale) about every two years plus $74 of pre-filters and $74 of post-filters a year: near $1,900 a year at list prices, near $1,000 on sale. That is about five times Pentair’s PFAS cartridge cost per gallon at list, and about two and a half times on sale.

The rating, 3.0 of 5, is the weighted average of these scores. See how we rank water filters and our standard.

1. One tank of granular activated carbon, rated 165,000 gallons; the tank material is not stated
2. 20-inch sediment pre-filters (replaced every two months) and a 10-inch post-filter (every six months); materials not stated
3. Touchscreen flow meter and a 120 V outlet; the electronics do not touch the water
4. Aquasana says “nothing added” and mentions no silver or antimicrobial. WQA also lists the system for lead content (NSF/ANSI/CAN 372)
5. At capacity the whole tank is replaced, not just the media (WQA’s listing note)

• Paid certification Water Quality Association (WQA)

  Lists WH-HS (replacement WH-HS-R, 165,000 gallons at 5.7 gpm) under NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA, PFOS, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFNA and VOCs as chloroform. Aquasana’s data sheet shows each PFAS cut by more than 99.9% against limits of 20 ng/L (6 ng/L for PFNA) and VOCs by 99.8%. WQA’s notes say the incoming water must have its aluminum reduced first and the whole system is replaced at capacity. The maker pays for the program. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Paid certification Water Quality Association (WQA)

  Lists WH-HS under NSF/ANSI 401 for BPA and ibuprofen only, under CSA B483.1 (the Canadian standard for drinking water treatment systems) and under NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 for lead content of its parts. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Maker’s own test Aquasana’s own testing

  Reports chlorine cut by more than 97.4% and chloramine by 97.49%. The data sheet says these were internal tests and that WQA did not evaluate them. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Do whole-house carbon filters let PFAS back through?

In the one in-home study of whole-house carbon systems we found (Duke University, North Carolina homes), PFAS levels in the filtered water went up for four of eight systems (abstract (opens in a new tab)). The abstract does not name the systems or say whether any was certified for PFAS. HealthShield is certified for five PFAS compounds when new, but we found no study of this model, and a carbon filter run past its rating can give back what it caught. Change on schedule and test your water.

Is it really “a penny a gallon”?

On Aquasana’s own numbers, a $3,498 tank for 165,000 gallons is about 2.1 cents a gallon, before the pre-filters and post-filter. The system is rated for about two years of use, so the figure assumes that you replace on that clock.

Are the chlorine and chloramine claims certified?

No. The data sheet says Aquasana tested them internally and WQA did not evaluate them. Chlorine is the main reason most people buy a whole-house filter, so treat the 97% figures as the maker’s word.

Is there any track record?

Little. Aquasana’s page tags it “New Product” and gives a two-year warranty. We found no independent review, and Consumer Reports’ water-filter ratings do not include whole-house systems.

Who gets paid to recommend it?

Aquasana’s affiliate program pays commissions “starting at 10%” through Rakuten’s LinkShare, so a list that recommends the HealthShield may earn money when you buy (program page (opens in a new tab)). A. O. Smith, the water-heater maker, has owned Aquasana since 2016.

• It is new, with a two-year warranty and no long track record.
• The cost is high: $4,198 list ($2,099 in the sale that was on 2026-10-23) plus installation by a plumber, then a $3,498 tank ($1,749 on sale) every 165,000 gallons or about two years, plus pre- and post-filters. That is about 2 cents a gallon for the tank alone at list price, or about $1,900 a year. Aquasana says “a penny a gallon”, which holds only at sale prices.
• WQA did not evaluate chlorine or chloramine, so Aquasana’s 97.4% and 97.49% figures are its own tests. WQA’s listing also says the incoming water must have its aluminum reduced first, and that the whole system is replaced when capacity runs out.
• It needs a 120 V outlet within ten feet and cold water only. For drinking water alone, a certified filter at the kitchen tap costs far less.

Third-party tested

Yes

Tested by

WQA (Water Quality Association), paid for by the maker

1. Aquasana HealthShield product page. Maker’s page. Specifications and claims as seen on 2026-10-23, when the page showed $2,099 in a limited-time sale against a $4,198 list price. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
2. HealthShield (WH-HS) performance data sheet. Maker’s page. States that WQA did not evaluate chlorine or chloramine, and that the filter is only for cold water. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
3. HealthShield replacement tank page. Maker’s page. $3,498 list; $1,749 in the fall sale on 2026-10-23. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
4. Aquasana 20-inch replacement pre-filters, 3-pack. Maker’s page. $36.99. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
5. Aquasana 10-inch post-filter replacement. Maker’s page. $36.99. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
6. WQA directory: Aquasana, NSF/ANSI 53 (health effects). Certifier or regulator listing. Lists WH-HS as point of entry, 5.7 gpm, 165,000 gallons, with the aluminum and replace-at-capacity notes. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
7. WQA directory: Aquasana, NSF/ANSI 401 (emerging compounds). Certifier or regulator listing. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
8. WQA directory: Aquasana, CSA B483.1 (drinking water treatment systems). Certifier or regulator listing. Lists WH-HS as point of entry. The same directory lists it under NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 for lead content of its components. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
9. Assessing the Effectiveness of Point-of-Use Residential Drinking Water Filters for Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) (Duke University, 2020). Test report. Abstract read via Crossref. Reports PFAS rising after four of eight whole-house carbon systems. The publisher blocks automated access, so we could not read the data tables. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
10. HealthShield (WH-HS) installation and owner's manual. Maker’s page. Influent water limits (pH, hardness, iron, aluminum, hydrogen sulfide, PFAS). No Prop 65 warning in it. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
11. Aquasana affiliate program. Maker’s page. Commissions starting at 10%, a 30-day cookie, run through LinkShare. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Pentair FloPlus Protect 20BB whole-house PFAS filter IAPMO lists it for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA and PFHpA under NSF/ANSI 53. About $325, but only 40,000 gallons per $169 cartridge, and its chlorine claim is Pentair’s own.
• Delta Clarifi tankless reverse osmosis system For drinking water only: total PFAS, lead and fluoride on its IAPMO listings, about $800.

• Choosing a Filter Article Comparing activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and gravity filters by what they actually remove
• How to Reduce Your PFAS Exposure Article Practical steps to minimize PFAS exposure from cookware, food packaging, water, and consumer products
• What Are PFAS? Article What per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are, why they persist in the environment, and where they're found
• What's in Your Water Article Common contaminants found in US tap water and why they matter for your health