The Aquasana HealthShield is a whole house PFAS water filter certified by WQA for PFOA, PFOS and three other PFAS, plus VOCs, for 165,000 gallons. It needs no drain and doesn’t backwash, so it wastes no water.
The catch: It’s expensive to run: the tank lasts about 2 years and costs about $1,749 to replace. It isn’t certified for lead, and its chlorine figures are Aquasana’s own.
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Our verdict
The HealthShield (model WH-HS) is Aquasana’s newest whole-house filter. It goes on the main water line, so every faucet and shower gets filtered water. Water passes a 20-inch sediment pre-filter, then a single tank of layered activated carbon, then a post-filter. It doesn’t backwash and needs no drain, but it does need an outlet nearby for its filter-life indicator.
Its certification is what sets it apart. WQA certifies it to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA and PFOS together, plus PFNA, PFHxS and PFHpA, and for VOCs, a group of about 50 chemicals that includes benzene and trihalomethanes. It’s also certified to NSF/ANSI 401 for BPA and ibuprofen. Most whole-house filters we’ve checked carry no reduction certification at all; this one is certified for PFAS at every tap.
There are limits. It isn’t certified for lead, and WQA didn’t evaluate its chlorine or chloramine reduction: Aquasana tested those itself, at 97.4% and 97.5%. It’s also costly. The system is about $2,099 on Aquasana’s site, and the main tank needs replacing every 165,000 gallons or about 2 years, at about $1,749.
You want certified PFAS and VOC reduction for the whole house, including showers and laundry, and you can budget for a new tank about every 2 years.
You need certified lead reduction, or you only want chlorine taste gone. The Aquasana Rhino costs far less to run, though it isn’t certified.
How it scored
Contaminant reduction carries the most weight in the overall score. How we score filters
Contaminant reduction carries the most weight in the overall score. How we score filters
What it removes
Rows marked certified are WQA claims for the WH-HS; the figures are from Aquasana’s performance data sheet.
| Contaminant | Reduction | Certified to |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA and PFOS | >99.9% | NSF/ANSI 53 |
| PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA | >99.9% | NSF/ANSI 53 |
| VOCsabout 50 chemicals, including benzene and trihalomethanes | 99.8% | NSF/ANSI 53 |
| BPA, ibuprofen | 94.7% | NSF/ANSI 401 |
| Chlorine, chloramine | 97.4%, 97.5% | Aquasana’s testing |
| Lead, microplastics, fluoride | – | No claim |
On 8 October 2026, WQA listed the Aquasana WH-HS (point of entry) under NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA and VOCs, under NSF/ANSI 401 for BPA and ibuprofen, and under CSA B483.1 for structure. Aquasana’s data sheet says “WQA did not evaluate chlorine or chloramine reduction.” We found no HealthShield listing at IAPMO R&T or NSF International. It’s for cold, microbiologically safe water; Aquasana sells a UV add-on for wells.
What it costs to run
The main cost is the tank. Aquasana rates it for 165,000 gallons or about 2 years, and a replacement WH-HS-R tank is about $1,749 on its site, roughly $0.011 a gallon or $875 a year. On top of that, the 20-inch pre-filter needs changing every 2 months (or every 6 with Aquasana’s Low Maintenance pre-filter, a $174 option) and the post-filter every 6 months.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Certified by WQA for PFOA/PFOS and three other PFAS
- Certified for VOCs, including trihalomethanes
- No drain or backwashing, so no wasted water
- Filters every tap, showers included
What to know
- A $1,749 replacement tank about every 2 years
- Not certified for lead
- Chlorine and chloramine figures are Aquasana’s own
- Needs an outlet; 2-year warranty
What owners say
The HealthShield is new, and there are few owner reviews so far, so we haven’t summarized owner feedback yet. We’ll add it as more owners report back.
Specifications
- Model
- HealthShield WH-HS (replacement tank WH-HS-R)
- Type
- Whole-house, point of entry
- Media
- Layered activated carbon, single tank
- Filters
- 20″ pre-filter, post-filter
- Certifier
- WQA: NSF/ANSI 53, 401; CSA B483.1
- Capacity
- 165,000 gal, about 2 years
- Flow rate
- 5.7 gpm rated, 11.2 gpm peak
- Warranty
- 2 years or 165,000 gal; 90-day guarantee (Aquasana)
Alternatives worth considering
Aquasana Rhino
Aquasana Claryum Max Flow
SpringWell CF1
Common questions
Does the Aquasana HealthShield remove PFAS?
Yes. WQA certifies it to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA and PFOS, plus PFNA, PFHxS and PFHpA, at more than 99.9% in Aquasana’s data. See our PFAS guide.
Is it certified for lead?
No. Lead isn’t on its WQA listing or Aquasana’s data sheet. For certified lead reduction at the kitchen tap, the Aquasana Claryum Max Flow is certified by WQA for lead and PFOA/PFOS.
How is it different from the Aquasana Rhino?
The Rhino is a chlorine-taste filter rated for 1 million gallons, with no reduction certification. The HealthShield is certified for PFAS and VOCs but lasts 165,000 gallons, so it costs much more to run.
Does it remove chlorine and chloramine?
Aquasana tested it at 97.4% for chlorine and 97.5% for chloramine, but WQA didn’t evaluate those claims, so they aren’t certified.
How often does the tank need replacing?
Every 165,000 gallons or about 2 years, per Aquasana. A replacement WH-HS-R tank is about $1,749.
Can I buy it on Amazon?
We didn’t find it on Amazon. Aquasana sells it on its own site.
The bottom line
The HealthShield is one of the few whole-house filters we’ve found with certified PFAS reduction, and it’s certified for VOCs too. Buy it if PFAS is your main concern and you want it out of every tap, not just the kitchen.
Budget for the running cost: about $875 a year in tanks, plus pre-filters. If you need lead reduced too, add a certified drinking-water filter such as the Aquasana Claryum Max Flow. Compare options in our whole-house guide.
- Certifier listings: WQA, Aquasana Inc: WH-HS (Point-of-Entry) under NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA and VOC (as chloroform), under NSF/ANSI 401 for BPA and ibuprofen, and under CSA B483.1.
- Also searched: IAPMO R&T (Aquasana Inc, 11 files): no WH-HS listing. NSF International: only Aquasana's UV systems (NSF/ANSI 55).
- Maker documents: Aquasana's HealthShield product page, WH-HS performance data sheet ("WQA did not evaluate chlorine or chloramine reduction") and WH-HS warranty.
- Independent lab tests: None published with a named lab.
Sources
Prices as of October 14, 2026. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.