Photo: davewirth.blogspot.com
What We Like
- Compact design
- Reinforced stainless steel inlet/outlet connectors
- Compatible with multiple Culligan cartridge filters
- Includes a filter life monitor
- Affordable
What We Don’t Like
- Does not come with the filter cartridge
Bottom Line
A compact whole house water filter that is a must-have if you use well water in your home as it protects your appliances and plumbing from scale and sediments.
Introduction
While most water filters are used to clean drinking and cooking water, piping and appliances such as washing machines, showerheads, water heaters, etc. remain vulnerable to clogging due to sediments and scale in the water feed.
Therefore, a whole house filter is necessary and the ideal example is Culligan’s WH-HD200-C. Despite having such a huge responsibility, this filter has a compact design, and here is how it performs.
Culligan WH-HD200-C Review
Photo: Culligan
Filtration Effectiveness: Protects Your Appliances
Culligan’s WH-HD200-C is designed to reduce multiple contaminants such as rust, scale, sediment, silt, sand, odor, chlorine, etc., but this depends on the installed cartridge.
That said, this unit is compatible with multiple filter cartridges and even though none is included in the pack, this allows you to buy the one that specifically meets your filtration needs.
These include the R50-BBSA, which is a 50-micron pleated polyester filter that provides level 1 basic filtration. It removes sand, rust scale, dirt, and coarse sand, and this makes it ideal for high-flow and well water applications.
There is the CW25-BBS, which is a polypropylene-wound 25-micron heavy-duty filter cartridge. This gives it a slight edge over the one above because it adds on the removal of fine sand, extra fine sand, and silt.
You have the option of fitting in the CP5-BBS, which is made using pleated cellulose and has fine 5-micron pores that offer premium level 4 filtration.
This makes it very effective but at the same time, slower (5 GPM) and with a shorter lifespan. It is not recommended for well water.
The fourth option is Culligan’s CW5-BBS, which is a 5-micron filter but is made using wound polypropylene. It offers similar filtration performance to the CP5-BBS but has a slightly longer lifespan and can be used to filter well water.
Lastly, there is the RFC-BBSA. This is the most expensive cartridge but offers the best filtration performance because it reduces bad taste and odor, as well as aesthetic chlorine taste and odor.
This cartridge is made using granular-activated carbon with a 25-micron rating. It is recommended for well water but has a short lifespan in terms of gallon capacity.
Each of these is guaranteed to protect your appliances from clogging for enhanced durability, and also maintains high pressure and water flow in the piping.
Additionally, each is independently certified and tested against NSF/ANSI standard 42, in which the cartridge’s material safety and structural integrity are checked and approved for this task.
The filter housing is tested and certified by WQA against NSF/ANSI standard 42, as well as standard 372, which check for low-lead compliance. This assures you that both the cartridge and housing are sturdy and safe to use.
Part of this structural integrity (standard 42) in the housing is found on the inlet/outlet connectors. These sections are made using reinforced using stainless steel to hold adapters firmly without breaking or leaking.
Installation: DIY Project
You don’t need a plumber to install this filtration unit. However, there are several tools that you need beforehand for the DIY project.
These include a pipe cutter or hacksaw, two adjustable wrenches, Teflon tape, a Phillips screwdriver, two 1-inch compression fittings, measuring tape, and a marker.
Start by closing the water supply on the mainline then locate the most ideal place to mount the filter along this line. This should be after the water meter or pressure tank. After that, open the nearest faucet to clear the pipes of any water.
Next, install the compression fittings and you should prepare them first by applying Teflon tape in a clockwise direction on the threads.
Install these fittings then measure the overall length of the filter plus its fittings. Use this length to mark where to cut on the pipe. Remember to include some additional working length on each side.
Once marked, use the pipe cutter or hacksaw to cut along the highlighted section. Remove the cut section then insert slip brass compression nuts and ferrules on each end.
Align the filter unit with the pipes and ensure its marked arrows are in line with the water flow in the pipes.
If the filter is not mounted on the wall using the included bracket, use two wrenches to install the piece (one to hold the incoming fitting and the other to tighten the nut).
Finish off by turning the bypass valve to filter mode using the handle of the included housing wrench, then turn on the water supply. Press the pressure relief button at the top to release air from the system and check for leaks as the water flows through.
Remember to flush the system for about 5 minutes using the nearest faucet then set the filter life indicator by pressing it for 2 seconds. Detailed instructions with labeled diagrams are included in the user manual for easy guidance.
Maintenance and Replacement: Takes a Few Minutes
As stated earlier, this filter is compatible with 5 cartridges and each one has a different lifespan. The R50-BBSA is rated at 24,000 gallons or 6 months while the CW25-BBS can last up to 5 months or 20,000 gallons.
The small pore CP5-BBS and CW5-BBS are rated at 3 months (12,000 gallons) and 4 months (16,000 gallons) respectively while the high-end RFC-BBSA takes up to 6 months to wear out or 10,000 gallons.
Depending on the one you use, remember to change as per these conditions. A filter change timer is built in to help remind you when a replacement is due. However, it flashes red after 90 days, and therefore, it is only effective when using cartridges that wear out after 3 months.
That said, once the filter wears out, replacement takes very few minutes. A housing wrench is included in the set and this makes it easy to loosen the filter housing.
Before this, turn off the water by rotating the bypass valve to “off” or “bypass”. Open the cartridge housing then replace the filter and screw it back to the unit. Rotate the bypass valve back to filter mode then flush the system for 5 minutes.
At the same time, replace the filter change timer’s battery then reset it by pressing its button for 2 seconds. That’s it.
Detailed cartridge replacement and timer battery replacement instructions are included in the user manual for easy guidance.
Price: Very Affordable
Culligan’s WH-HD200-C is a very affordable filter because it costs less than $100. Despite this, it has a tested and certified heavy-duty design, that can be used to reduce sediments, sand, silt, and other contaminants from your water supply.
However, you need to factor in the cost of the filter cartridge because this is not included. That said, even with the most expensive cartridge, the price will not exceed the $100 mark.
Culligan produces a wide variety of whole house filters but only 2 have a heavy-duty design. Apart from this WH-HD200-C, the other one is the HD-950A model, which is slightly cheaper.
However, it lacks a bypass shut off valve, a filter life monitor, and has a blue opaque casing that makes it impossible to monitor the cartridge visually.
Verdict
A compact, heavy-duty whole house water filter that is ideal for cleaning well water.
While it has a compact design, Culligan’s WH-HD200-C is a heavy-duty whole house filter that helps to reduce sand, sediments, silt, scale, and other contaminants.
As such, the unit is ideal for domestic use in filtering well water before heading into the house. This ensures your washing machine, dishwasher, showerhead, and other appliances are kept free from clogging.
Specs
- Product Name: Culligan WH-HD200-C
- Product Brand: Culligan
- Operating Temperature Range: 40 – 100ºF
- Operating Water Pressure: 125 PSI
- Product Dimensions: 7.48 x 8.26 x 16.33 inches
- Weight: 3 lbs.
- Warranty: 2-year limited
Key Features
- Compact housing.
- Includes a battery-operated filter change timer.
- Easy-grip bypass valve.
- Reinforced 1-inch inlet/outlet connectors.
- Integrated bracket design for easy installation.
- Compatible with multiple Culligan filters.
- Built-in pressure relief button.
- Transparent cartridge housing.