Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
FREE estimates and FREE diagnosis
Buying Guide
Whole-Home vs Under-Sink Filter
Filter all water entering the house or just drinking water? Different solutions.
Filter every tap, or just your drinking water? We install whole-home and under-sink systems and test your water for FREE before you choose.
Home Therapist serves Tampa Bay, Florida. In the area? FREE estimates and FREE diagnosis.
- Licensed CAC1819196 & CFC1431159
- 4.8 stars from 1,398 reviews
- Background-checked, drug-tested techs
- Hablamos español
At a glance
- Whole-home filter
- Every tap, plus the water heater and appliances
- Under-sink filter
- One tap, usually the kitchen cold tap
- Chloramine
- Tampa city water uses it; it needs catalytic carbon, not regular charcoal
- Hardness
- Neither filter removes it; that takes a softener
- Fluoride or lead
- Needs reverse osmosis at the sink
- Under-sink 4-stage RO
- $600 to $900 installed
- Halo 5 whole-home
- $5,500 to $7,500 installed
- Our pick
- Both: whole-home at the entry, under-sink RO at the kitchen
Reviewed by Alejandro Morales, Co-Owner & FL Certified Plumbing Contractor (FL license CFC1431159)
The Fundamental Coverage Difference
Whole-home filtration treats every drop of water entering your home: shower, laundry, kitchen, every bathroom tap, every toilet, the water heater, the dishwasher, the ice maker. Under-sink filtration treats only the water flowing through one fixture, usually the kitchen cold tap.
Your needs determine which (or both):
- Care about drinking and cooking water only: Under-sink is sufficient and cheap.
- Care about shower, laundry, and skin/hair: Whole-home is required.
- Care about appliance longevity (water heater, dishwasher): Whole-home is the only option.
- Care about everything: Both, with under-sink as the final polish at the kitchen.
What Each Contaminant Needs
| Contaminant | Whole-Home Filter | Under-Sink Filter | Why It Matters in Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | Yes | Yes | Tampa city water uses chloramine, harder to remove |
| Chloramine | Catalytic carbon required | Catalytic carbon required | Regular charcoal does not work |
| Sediment | Yes (pre-filter stage) | Yes (pre-filter stage) | Post-hurricane sediment spikes common |
| Heavy metals (lead) | Limited | RO required | Older Tampa homes (pre-1986 solder) |
| Fluoride | Not effective | RO required | Tampa adds 0.7 ppm fluoride |
| Hardness minerals | Not effective | Not effective | Requires water softener, not filter |
| Bacteria, viruses | UV stage required | RO or UV required | Well water primarily |
| Pesticides, herbicides | Limited | RO required | Some well water, rare in city water |
Whole-Home Options for Tampa
Rheem Preferred Plus Whole-Home Filter
- Single-stage catalytic carbon cartridge in a housing.
- Handles chlorine, chloramine, sediment, mild iron.
- Does NOT reduce hardness. Pair with softener if hardness is a concern.
- $1,400-$1,800 installed. $49-$89 per cartridge, replaced every 12-18 months.
- Our recommendation for basic Tampa water quality improvement at reasonable cost.
Halo 5 Whole-Home
- 5-stage all-in-one tank: sediment, chlorine, chloramine, taste/odor, scale inhibition (ION descaler).
- Does NOT remove hardness minerals entirely (descaler reduces scale adhesion but water still “hard”).
- $2,400-$3,200 installed. Media is cleaned by backwashing, minimal replacement cost.
- Good for Tampa homes wanting “softer feel” without actual salt-based softener.
Under-Sink Options for Tampa
3-Stage Carbon Block Filter
- Sediment + carbon block + polishing carbon.
- Removes chlorine, chloramine (with catalytic), taste, odor, some sediment.
- Does NOT remove fluoride, lead, dissolved solids.
- $149-$299 unit, $299-$499 installed.
- 6-12 month filter life, $29-$79 per change.
4-Stage RO (Reverse Osmosis)
- Sediment + carbon + RO membrane + polishing carbon.
- Removes nearly all contaminants including fluoride, lead, dissolved solids.
- Dedicated faucet installed at the sink.
- $600-$900 installed.
- Pre-filters replaced every 6-12 months, membrane every 10-15 years.
5-Stage RO with UV
- Adds UV disinfection stage.
- $900-$1,400 installed.
- Best for well-water homes wanting drinking-quality protection.
Decision Framework for Tampa Households
Renting, budget under $300
Faucet-mount filter ($30-$60) or under-sink 3-stage ($149 DIY install). Basic chlorine and taste improvement.
Single-family home, want drinking water quality only
Under-sink 4-stage RO ($600-$900 installed). Dedicated faucet, FREE installation estimate.
Single-family home, want shower and laundry improvement too
Whole-home Halo 5 ($5,500-$7,500). Better skin, hair, laundry without RO.
Single-family home, want comprehensive protection
Whole-home Halo 5 + under-sink RO. Total $3,000-$4,100. Best-in-class for city water.
Well water home (Pasco, Lutz, Odessa)
Iron filter + whole-home Halo 5 + under-sink RO with UV. Total: quoted in writing after a FREE water test. Address all well water contaminants.
Maintenance Comparison
Whole-home filters have tank-based media that backwashes itself (Halo 5). Cartridge-based whole-home (Rheem Preferred Plus) requires annual cartridge replacement. Under-sink filters require more frequent maintenance because the smaller media holds less capacity.
- Whole-home Halo: $0-$50/year (occasional media cleaning)
- Whole-home Rheem cartridge: $49-$89 every 12-18 months
- Under-sink 3-stage: $29-$79 every 6-12 months
- Under-sink RO: $80-$180 every 6-12 months (multiple stages)
What Tampa Bay customers say
“Happy with the service and excellent communication with Home Therapist for help with a plumbing/ drain issue. Can recommend!”
“I had the best experience with this company. From the free estimate to everything in between. I have my beautiful new water heater and more room under my sink when he took the old broken one out. Lester was wonderful and explained everything to me. Highly recommend them.”
4.8 from 1,398 reviews · Read more reviews
Where we work
We serve the three counties of Tampa Bay from our shop at 1408 W Linebaugh Ave in Tampa.
Hillsborough County
Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Carrollwood, Town ’n’ Country, Plant City, Ruskin, Sun City Center, Apollo Beach, Valrico, Lutz, Seffner
Pinellas County
St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach
Pasco County
Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, New Port Richey, Holiday, Hudson, Trinity, Zephyrhills, Dade City
MaintenanceGreat Team. Arrive on Time and do complete maintenance on our system. Recommend to anyone looking for quality service.
PlumbingHappy with the service and excellent communication with Home Therapist for help with a plumbing/ drain issue. Can recommend!
AC repairI have the Service Maintenance Plan with them for my a/c and plumbing, their visit was pleasant making sure all was clean and functioning properly. I pay monthly $20 of which is…
PlumbingExcellent service and fair pricing from Home Therapist. Their quote was $180 less than similar plumbing company for simple disposal replacement. Plumber arrived promptly, worked efficiently, and answered all of my questions…
Water heaterI had the best experience with this company. From the free estimate to everything in between. I have my beautiful new water heater and more room under my sink when he took…
Water heaterI had a great experience with Home Therapist Cooling, Heating, and Plumbing. We were getting our house ready to sell and the home inspection identified several plumbing issues that needed to be…
AC installI was in need of air conditioning for my detached garage. My AI search for the most trustworthy mini-split AC installer led me to Home Therapist; my expectations were exceeded. Scheduling a…
AC installExcellent service from Richard! He was professional, courteous, and very knowledgeable. He fixed my A/C problem quickly and explained everything clearly. I highly recommend Richard for anyone needing A/C service. had a…
AC repairI had a great experience with Home Therapist AC Repair. Alejandro arrived on time to diagnose why my AC wasn't cooling and quickly found the problem that the previous company had missed.…