This is our comparison of the Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PC600 whole house water filter.
We have a large experience reviewing water filtration systems, so researched these two popular whole house water filters to help you determine which one is better for you and your family.
We are going to compare the Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PC600 in which of the main factors to consider when choosing a whole house water filter.
While both are really good options if you need a whole house water filtration system, Aquasana EQ-1000 has more capacity which means that will have a longer lifespan, and also have a longer warranty.
The Pelican PC600 has a higher flow rate, and looks more efficient at removing chloramines. So, depending on your specific needs, this guide will help you choose the best for your situation.
Let’s get started with the review!
Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PC600: Contaminants Removed
Both systems are highly effective at dealing with common harmful contaminants: the Aquasana EQ-1000 Whole House Water Filter, also known as Aquasana Rhino, removes up to 97% of chlorine, sediments, heavy metals, VOCs, pesticides, herbicides, etc., and the Pelican PC600 removes about the same amount of contaminants.
The main difference we found, is that the EQ-1000 is not as effective at removing chloramines, as the Pelican PC600. Aquasana mentions on their website that while the process of removing chlorine is similar to the process to remove chloramine, removing chloramine exhausts the activated carbon media faster, making it a bit less effective.
A positive factor of the Aquasana EQ-1000 is the fact that it has bacteriostatic media that prevents bacteria and algae from growing inside the filtration system, avoiding further contaminations.
A positive factor of the Pelican PC600 is the fact that it has 2 NSF certifications, 42 and 61. These certifications ensure that this whole house water filter is designed to reduce non-health-related contaminants and that no contaminants are leaked to the water from the water system.
Winner: Pelican PC600
Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PC600: Filter Capacity & Longevity
Filter capacity is a really important factor to consider when looking for a whole house water filter, because the more frequently you have to change the filter, the expensive it becomes in the long run. Also, it makes maintenance more demanding, if you have to change filters more frequently.
The Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000 whole house main filter has a capacity to filter up to 1.000.000 gallons of water, while the Pelican PC600 whole house main filter has a capacity of 600.000 gallons.
The filter longevity of the PC600, which averages 5 years, is quite good compared to most of the whole house water filters, but can’t beat the 10 years expected longevity of the Aquasana EQ-1000.
Regarding the sediment pre-filter that both filters have, the Aquasana EQ-1000 should be replaced every 3 to 6 months, while the Pelican PC600 should be replaced every 6 to 9 months.
comes with 3 main filter components, the pre-filter that removes sediments, the post-filter, and the main filter that performs the bulk of the work.
Winner: Aquasana EQ-1000
Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PC600: Flow Rate
The flow rate is an important topic to consider because it will limit how much water you will be able to use in multiple activities at the same time. It becomes especially important if you have a large house, and need to use water in different divisions simultaneously.
While Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000 flow rate of 7 GPM (gallons per minute) should be enough for a standard family, it might become short for a large family.
Pelican PC600 is better at this point because it has a 10 GPM flow rate, and if this is not enough for you, you can always go for the larger model, the Pelican PC1000.
Winner: Pelican PC600
Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PC600: Installation & Maintenance
To be perfectly clear, installing a whole house water filter is not an easy task, and if don’t like DYI activities, the best approach is to hire a plumber to do it. But if you have some basic DYI skills, you should be able to do it by yourself, for both of these water filters.
For both of the options, you just need to install them at POE (point-of-entry), to make sure that all the water that goes into your household is filtered. And none of them need electricity, so you don’t need to worry about selecting a place with power nearby.
The Aquasana EQ-1000 come warranty requires proof of proper installation in case you need to activate it, so if you go with this water filter, is probably a good idea to hire a plumber.
Pelican has a Pelican Whole House Installation Kit available at an affordable price, which can make this process much smoother.
Regarding maintenance, you just need to consider the fact that you will have to change the filters. While the Aquasana main filter you only need to change after 10 years, the pre and post-filter need to be replaced more often, every 6 and 12 months respectively.
The Pelican PC600 main filter needs to be replaced after 5 years, but the pre-filter needs to be replaced after 9 months.
Winner: Pelican PC600
Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PC600: Warranty & Support
Warranty and the ability to get your money back if you are not satisfied are important factors to give you peace of mind to invest in a whole house water filter and make sure it works well for your situation.
And it also represents the trust that the manufacturer has in its own product. Both options covered here have long warranties and money-back guarantees, which is great.
The Aquasana EQ-1000 comes with a 10-year warranty (if the filter was installed by a professional), and a 90-days money-back guarantee.
The Pelican PC600 comes with a 5-year performance warranty and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee.
Winner: Aquasana EQ-1000
Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PC600: Add-Ons
Because not water sources are equal, each household has different needs to deal with contaminants, so it is important to have the ability to add-on extra filters to cover these needs.
Aquasana EQ-1000 is a great option for this because it has the option of adding extra filters in case you need them to deal with your water.
There is an option to add a Salt-Free Water Conditioner to prevent scale formation without needing to use salts or chemicals, if you need to deal with hard water.
And you can add a UV Filter that will kill up to 99.99% of viruses, bacteria, and chlorine-resistant cysts, if you need to deal with viruses and bacteria.
On the other side, the Pelican PC600 doesn’t have the option of adding extra filters, but you can always choose other Pelican whole house filter models that might be better suited for your specific needs.
Winner: Aquasana EQ-1000
Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PC600: Reviews
Both products that we are comparing have a good rating and hundreds of reviews on their manufacturer’s website – Aquasana EQ-1000 has 4.6 stars and Pelican PC600 has 4.8 stars.
But on Amazon the picture is not the same: Aquasana has an average rating superior to 4 stars with more than 500 reviews, and the Pelican PC600 has a rating of just 3.6 stars with less than 50 reviews.
Reading the reviews in detail, customers of both whole house water systems seem happy with their choice, and mention the improvement on the taste of the water after start using these systems.
Winner: Aquasana EQ-1000
Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PC600: Price
The price of the Aquasana EQ-1000 and the Pelican PC600 is quite similar, so there isn’t a huge direct difference between them.
But we need to consider that one has a lifespan of 10 years while the other has half the lifespan, as the Pelican PC600 expected longevity is only 5 years.
If we compare the Pelican model with similar filter longevity, the PC1000, it has a higher price, then the Aquasana EQ-1000 price becomes more favorable.
Winner: Aquasana EQ-1000
Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PC600: The Overall Winner
In our opinion, the Aquasana EQ-1000 is the overall winner when compared to the Pelican PC600.
The Aquasana EQ-1000 has greater longevity of 10 years, a longer warranty period, and the potential to add-on extra components to deal with specific water problems that you might have.
But the Pelican PC600 is a great whole house water filtration system and is at the same level as the Aquasana EQ-1000.
And if you need to deal with chloramines, or if you need a better flow rate, then the Pelican PC600 whole house water filter might be a better option for you.