Aquasana Vs Pelican – Water Filter Comparison 2022

Aquasana and Pelican are both top water filter brands in the United States. Both are high-quality brands and have several features or specifications to brag about. However, in this Aquasana vs Pelican review, we will focus on those details that distinguish these whole house filter systems from each other.

Whole House Water Filters

Aquasana and Pelican whole house water filters are some of the most sought-after water filters on the market. The whole house water filter system is the go-to solution for clean, drinkable water around the home, not just from the kitchen faucets.

Here is a quick comparison of Aquasana vs Pelican whole house water filter.

Aquasana’s Rhino is available in two capacities. What you consider depends on your filtration requirements. First, there’s the 600,000-gallon capacity which will last for six years of water filtration in your home. Then, there’s also the 1 million gallon capacity, which will provide filtered water for ten years.

Like Aquasana’s Rhino, the Pelican whole house filter has two capacities (the 600k gallon and the 1 million gallons). This whole house filter is easy to maintain and install.

Filter Media

Aquasana Rhino house water filter system is made up of various filtration media in each stage of filtration. The two major filters are made from a mineral stone, copper, zinc, and activated carbon, responsible for trapping water contaminants through a process called adsorption. This system also has a pre-filter and a post-filter. Though there are no specifics on the materials used to manufacture these two filters, a granular activated carbon media is used for both.

Pelican is similar to the Aquasana house water filtration system in terms of its filtration media composition. It also uses different filter media for each filtering stage. There’s a 5-micron pre-sediment filter (for trapping bigger water contaminants), a granulated activated carbon media, which utilizes the adsorption process to draw contaminants to the surface of the filter, and a Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF) zinc-copper media (swapping electrons for harmful contaminants).

Contaminants They Are Capable of Eliminating

Pelican sediment pre-filter can remove rust and dust from the water at the initial filtration stage. Next, the water conditioner eliminates scale. The mineral stone and copper-zinc filter decrease the presence of chlorine and heavy metals. They also stop or prevent the growth of algae. Next, the activated carbon filter media gets rid of chemical contaminants such as herbicides and pesticides. Lastly, the post-filter eliminates any remaining sediment or organic compound in the water.

On the other hand, the water filtration system eliminates debris such as silt and sand through the sediment pre-filter in its first filtration stage. The second and third filtration stages eliminate chemical contaminants such as herbicides, chloramines, chlorine, and pesticides. Finally, the fourth filtration stage inhibits the growth of living organisms in bacteria and algae.

Performance

Aquasana whole house filter is NSF-certified for the removal of chlorine, so when you use this whole house filter, your water is guaranteed to taste better, thereby improving water quality. Aquasana whole house water filter offers good value for its price because the system combines a filter, descaler, and purifier. The system with a higher filter capacity (1 million gallons of water) is considered very durable for a water filter. It can enable the flow of clean water to your home at a rate of 7 GPM.

Pelican whole house water filter is also guaranteed to give you quality performance. It has NSF certification to standard 42 (for the removal of chlorine) and standard 61 (for material safety). The filter media of this water system is extensive. Pelican water filters do not just make your water taste better, but it also eliminates chemical contaminants and heavy metals. The average flow rate of this system is 8 GPM, which is higher than Aquasana filters. The peak flow rate of this system peaks at 12 GPM, which is incredibly high for any filter.

Filter Durability and Cost of Replacement Filter

Aquasana’s 600,000-gallon capacity filter is durable for six years, and the one million-gallon filter capacity is durable for ten years. These are for the key filters. Like Aquasana filter, Pelican’s 600k gallon capacity is durable for up to 6 years. The one million-gallon filter capacity costs more than $1000, lasting up to 12 years.

The other filters have a much shorter lifespan. For example, the sediment filters in both whole house water filters can be used for three months before requiring a replacement, while the post-filters have an average lifespan of 6 months.

In terms of the purchase cost of Aquasana vs Pelican whole house filters, Aquasana has the upper hand. This is because Pelican’s 600k gallon filter capacity is more costly than Aquasana’s one million-gallon filter capacity. However, Pelican’s one million-gallon filter capacity (though very expensive) can last you a couple of years longer than Aquasana’s one million-gallon capacity. You can replace their post-filters after 6-9 months. The cost of a new post-filter is just over $20.

Pros and Cons of Aquasana Whole House Water Filter

Pros and Cons of Pelican Whole House Water Filters

Countertop Filters

Filtration Media

Aquasana’s system contains a proprietary media called the Aquasana Claryum® filter. It’s a hybrid filter media, combining a catalytic carbon media, an activated carbon filter, a sub-micron filter, and an ion-exchange media.

Pelican’s countertop system uses carbon block media. It draws contaminants to the filter’s surface and stops them from passing through the tiny pores of the filter.

The Contaminants They Eliminate

Despite its relatively small size, the Aquasana countertop filter can eliminate 76 contaminants, which is impressive. These contaminants include asbestos, chlorine, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, VOCs, Chloramines, and herbicides.

Pelican’s countertop filter is also great in its own right. It can eliminate more than 60 contaminants, not as impressive as Aquasana’s system, but still top-notch. Some of these contaminants are PFOS, lead, cysts, chlorine, mercury, chloramines, and PFOA.

Performance

Similar to the house filter, Aquasana’s countertop filter offers excellent value for its price. It houses a 4-stage filtration capacity in one filter cartridge, which easily makes it one of the best countertop filters in removing contaminants. With a flow rate of 0.5 gallons per minute, you can have almost instant access to potable water. In addition, the countertop filter system has NSF/ANSI certification (Standards 42, 53, and 401 for the removal of chlorine and lead, respectively).

There is little difference in the Pelican vs Aquasana countertop filters when it comes to their performance. The Pelican system also has NSF certification to standards 42 and 53 (for removing chlorine and lead, respectively). This system also uses carbon media similar to Aquasana’s to eliminate contaminants. Its peak flow rate of 0.5 gallons per minute is slightly superior to Aquasana’s.

Filter Lifespan and Cost of Replacement Filters

The durability of Aquasana’s countertop filter depends on how you consume water. However, at a capacity of 450 gallons, it should be able to last you for about six months.

Pelican’s countertop system has a capacity of 450 gallons of water with its durability peaks at six months. The cost of replacing Pelican’s countertop filter system is a bit higher than Aquasana’s.

Pros and Cons of Aquasana Countertop Filter

Pros and Cons of Pelican Countertop Filter

Under-Counter Filters

Filter Media

Aquasana’s under-counter water system can be regarded as the larger version of its countertop water filter. It has three filter media, and each of them uses Aquasana Claryum® technology. This technology contains an ion exchange media, catalytic carbon media, activated carbon media, and sub-micron filter media.

Similar to Aquasana, the Pelican’s under-counter water system uses a 3-stage filtration system. The filter media comprises a 25-micron sediment filter and two catalytic granulated activated carbon filtration media. The pre-filter removes bigger contaminants such as rust and dust from the water by trapping them on its surface. The granulated activated carbon media removes chemical contaminants such as chlorine and heavy metals such as lead from the water through adsorption.

Contaminants They Remove

Aquasana always delivers when it comes to contaminant removal. Their under-counter water filter can eliminate up to 77 contaminants such as cysts, pesticides, ibuprofen, giardia, lead, cryptosporidium, mercury, herbicides, etc.

Once again, the Pelican’s under-counter water system isn’t quite as impressive as Aquasana’s system. It’s capable of removing just over 60 contaminants. It can get rid of contaminants such as VOCs, chemicals, and heavy metals. This water system has NSF certification for the removal of lead and chlorine.

Performance

Using Aquasana’s under-counter water filter guarantees you a significant upgrade in your water quality. It has NSF certification for Standards 42 and 53. It also has an improved flow rate compared to its countertop filter, which is 44% faster. Perhaps that’s why they named it “Max Flow System.” So with good water pressure, there won’t be a reduction in water flow.

Pelican’s system also has NSF certification, and it’s guaranteed to get rid of certain contaminants. In addition, it has a filter capacity of 1,000 gallons, which makes it relatively durable for this filter category. One notable fact about this water system is that it doesn’t eliminate beneficial minerals from your water supply, which can’t be said of whole house filters or reverse osmosis systems.

Filter Lifespan and Cost of Replacement Filters

Aquasana’s under-counter water filter system is easy to install and purifies city water for up to 6 months before it will require a replacement. Six months is the average durability of any filter in this category, so it’s on point. However, you may not need to wait for six months before replacing your filter. Once you begin to notice a reduction in water flow, replace your filter cartridge. This will cost you roughly $65 for a 3-pack replacement.

Pelican’s under-counter water system has a bigger capacity than Aquasana’s system, almost double its capacity. Its durability ranges from an average of 6 months and a peak of 1 year. The durability hugely depends on the rate of water consumption in your household. The cost of replacing the filter ranges from $50-$70, depending on the retailer you buy from.

Pros and Cons of Aquasana Under-Countertop Filter

Pros and Cons of Pelican Under-Countertop Filter

Shower Filters

Aquasana’s shower filter focuses on removing chlorine, which can be harmful to human hair and skin. Pelican shower filter also serves the same purpose, and it’s capable of eliminating up to 96% of chlorine from your water supply.

Filter Media

Aquasana’s shower filter is made up of two filtration media: a coconut shell carbon filtration media and a zinc/copper filtration media. The coconut shell carbon media utilizes the adsorption process for water treatment, while zinc/copper filter media utilizes Kinetic Degradation Fluxion to treat water pH and chlorine.

On the other hand, the Pelican shower filter uses a three stage filtration process, a granular activated carbon media, a zinc/copper filter media, and far-infrared emitting volcanic media. Every filtration stage plays a role in the improvement of water quality. Granular activated carbon media utilizes adsorption, zinc/copper utilizes Kinetic Degradation Fluxion, and far-infrared emitting volcanic media decreases the amount of negative ions in the water.

Contaminants They Remove

Aquasana’s shower filter can eliminate over 90% of chlorine from your water supply. In addition, its coconut shell carbon media improves the air quality of the water supply while you’re showering. It also improves the pH of your water, resulting in softer hair and skin after your shower.

Pelican shower filter can remove chlorine from water. In addition, it also eliminates odors and promotes the circulation of clean, fresh air while in the shower. All in all, its water treatment results in healthier hair and skin.

Performance

Aquasana’s shower filter comes with a proprietary upflow design, which prevents the filter media from clogging or channeling. This design also helps sustain a moderate water pressure and simultaneously enhances the time water comes in contact with the filter. This results in very high water quality. This filter is compatible with a majority of 2.5 GPM showerheads. It’s a great way to ensure your water flow remains to your taste.

Pelican’s shower filter has been verified by NSF/ANSI Standard 177 for effectively reducing the presence of chlorine after a third-party lab test. Though the system’s flow rate is slightly lesser than Aquasana, it’s still considerably impressive for a typical shower head filter.

Filter Lifespan and Cost of Replacement Filters

Aquasana shower filter can serve you for six months, which is typical of this category of filters. Replacing this filter will take nothing less than $40 from you. It is not cheap but affordable since you’ll only be doing it twice a year or so.

Pelican’s shower filter is slightly superior to that of Aquasana in terms of capacity. However, the cost of replacing this filter is more expensive than that of Aquasana. It will cost you roughly $50.

Pros and Cons of Aquasana Shower Filter

Pros and Cons of Pelican Shower Filter

Pros of Pelican Shower Filters

Takeaway on Pelican vs Aquasana

Deciding on a winner in our Aquasana vs Pelican debate is difficult because both water filter brands produce great and high-quality whole house water filters, countertop water filters, under-counter filters, and shower water filters. Both brands cover their products with a limited lifetime warranty and a money-back guarantee period. In addition, both brands provide excellent customer service that leaves their customers satisfied.

So which one will you choose? Considering all the aspects, we pick Aquasana as the overall winner because their filters seem to offer a greater value for their price than Pelican water filtration systems. Although the differences are slightly insignificant. Even if you pick Pelican water filter, you still pick a winner. Purchasing from any of them will significantly benefit your household.