How Much Does a Whole House Water Filter Cost? (2026)

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Equipment costs by system type

System type	Typical equipment cost	Example
Basic cartridge-based whole-house filter	$300–$600	Big-blue dual/triple cartridge housings (e.g., iSpring WGB32B, ~$380 at Home Depot)
Mid-range tank system (city water)	~$1,150	SpringWell CF1 (observed Sep 2026; official page price not directly readable)
Premium tank system (city water)	~$1,998	Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000 (post-sale price, it was $999 all summer 2026)
Filter + salt-free conditioner combo	$2,094.10	Kind E-3000 (observed on kindwater.com)
Salt-based softener + filter bundle	$2,399–$3,295	US Water Systems Matrixx (10/15/20 GPM)
Configured well-water system (iron/sulfur)	~$1,500–$4,500	Sized to your lab results, see below
UV purifier add-on	~$750–$1,200	Aquasana ~$749 as a bundle add-on (third-party observed); US Water Systems Pulsar UV +$1,195

What drives the equipment price: tank size and flow rate (bigger homes need bigger systems), the media inside (catalytic carbon costs more than standard carbon), certifications (NSF-listed systems carry a premium), and whether softening/conditioning is included. A $300 cartridge system and a $1,100 tank system can both “filter your whole house.” The difference is how often you touch them afterward.

Installation: $0–$1,500+ depending on your house

These are point-of-entry systems. They get plumbed into your main water line, usually where it enters the house. Three scenarios:

DIY ($0–$100 in parts): If you’re comfortable cutting into your main line, soldering or pressing fittings, and your local code allows homeowner plumbing, the install kits that ship with most systems are genuinely complete. Budget a Saturday and $50–$100 in fittings, valves, and pipe.

Standard professional install ($300–$600): A plumber typically needs 2–4 hours for a straightforward install near the main shutoff with an existing loop or accessible pipe. HomeAdvisor reports plumber labor alone in the $300–$500 range for water filtration installs. This is what most buyers pay, and it’s a one-time cost.

Complicated install ($600–$1,500+): The price climbs when there’s no plumbing loop (the plumber has to cut one in), the main line is hard to access, you’re converting between copper/PEX/CPVC, or local code requires a permit and inspection (permit fees alone can run $50–$150). Salt-based softeners add cost too, they need a drain line and an electrical outlet near the install point, and adding an outlet can cost $150–$300 on its own.

Don’t let installation costs push you into an undersized system. Saving $150 on a smaller unit that starves your showers of flow is the most expensive “saving” in this category. Size the system to the house; pay the plumber once.

Annual maintenance: the number nobody budgets

This is where systems diverge wildly. It’s also where the 10-year math gets interesting.

System	What you replace	How often	Est. annual cost
SpringWell CF1 (tank)	Sediment pre-filter	Every 6–9 months	~$30–$40
Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000 (tank)	Pre-filter + annual post-filter	Pre-filter every 2–3 months	~$100–$120
Kind E-3000 (cartridge)	Cartridge stack	Every 6–12 months (third-party observed)	~$100/yr routine swaps (Kind’s stated figure); ~$800 TAC cartridge every ~5 yrs on top
Cartridge-based (big-blue)	Filter cartridges	Every 3–6 months	$100–$200
Salt-based softener	Salt + occasional resin care	Salt ongoing; resin every ~10 years	$60–$180/yr salt
UV add-on	UV lamp	Annually	$70–$150

Two things to notice. First, the tank systems’ main media (the million-gallon carbon bed) effectively never gets replaced on a homeowner’s timescale: roughly 6–10 years at normal household use. The annual cost is just the cheap sediment pre-filters. Second, the Aquasana’s ~$120/year versus SpringWell’s ~$40/year is an $800 difference over a decade. Real money, though smaller than it used to look next to the new sticker prices.

One caveat on the Kind figure, and it’s an important one: ~$100/year is the manufacturer’s stated average for routine sediment and carbon filter swaps, but the eSoft TAC cartridge is $799.99 every 3–5 years on Kind’s current maintenance schedule. The table above uses the realistic ~$4,700–$6,500 decade number. Budget for the spikes, not just the average — our Kind cost breakdown walks the full math.

The 10-year total cost of ownership

The summary table. Assumptions: professional install at $400 (mid-range of the $300–$600 standard range), maintenance at the annual figures above, no major repairs.

System	Purchase price (est.)	Installation (est.)	Annual maintenance (est.)	Replacement media	Expected lifespan (est.)	10-year total (est.)	$/year (est.)
3M Aqua-Pure AP902	$328–$370	$150–$300	$185–$235	AP910R replacement cartridge — $185, every 12 months or 100,000 gallons	10+ yrs (housing)	$2,332–$3,019	$233–$302/yr
3M Aqua-Pure AP903	$425–$545	$250–$600	$233–$299	3M Aqua-Pure AP917HD replacement cartridge — $233, 12 months	10–15 yrs	$3,005–$4,135	$300–$414/yr
3M Aqua-Pure AP904	$421–$490	$150–$300	$272–$316	AP917HD-S replacement cartridge — $272, every 12 months or 100,000 gallons	10+ yrs (housing)	$3,292–$3,947	$329–$395/yr
APEC CB1-CAB20-BB	$147–$153	$300–$1,000	$70–$90	FI-CAB20-BB GAC carbon cartridge (US price not found in sources checked) — price n/a, ~11 months at 300 gal/day	10+ yrs (housing)	$1,147–$2,053	$115–$205/yr
APEC CB1-SED20-BB	$137–$150	$300–$1,000	$0–$25	FI-SED20-BB pleated sediment cartridge (washable/reusable) — $54, washable/reusable	10+ yrs (housing)	$437–$1,400	$44–$140/yr
APEC CB3-SED-KDF-CAB20-BB	$471–$504	$300–$1,000	$200–$220	FILTER-SET-CB3-KDF-20BB (sediment + KDF85 + carbon 2-in-1) replacement bundle — $220, ~11 months at 300 gal/day	10+ yrs (housing)	$2,771–$3,704	$277–$370/yr
Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000	$1,998	$300–$600	$100–$120	Sediment pre-filter cartridges — $110, every 2-3 months per pre-filter cartridge Main tank replacement (EQ-1000R) — $645, 10 years or 1,000,000 gallons	10–15 yrs	$3,298–$3,798	$330–$380/yr
Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000-AST (whole-house filter + SimplySoft salt-free conditioner, no UV)	$1,773–$1,847	$300–$1,000	$100–$290	20-inch sediment pre-filter 4-pack (EQ-304-20, genuine Aquasana) — $30, 1-3 months Post-filter cartridge (EQ-PFC.35) — price n/a, Not verified Main filter tank replacement (EQ-1000R) — $645, 10 years SimplySoft salt-free conditioner tank replacement (EQ-AST-WH-C-R) — price n/a, About every 6 years	10–15 yrs	$3,073–$5,747	$307–$575/yr
Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000-AST-UV (whole-house filter + SimplySoft + UV purifier)	$2,077–$2,596	$300–$1,000	$140–$390	20-inch sediment pre-filter 4-pack (EQ-304-20, genuine Aquasana) — $30, 1-3 months Post-filter cartridge (EQ-PFC.35) — price n/a, Not verified UV replacement lamp (AQ-UV-L330C) — price n/a, 12 months Main filter tank replacement (EQ-1000R) — $645, 10 years SimplySoft salt-free conditioner tank replacement (EQ-AST-WH-C-R) — price n/a, About every 6 years	10–15 yrs	$3,777–$7,496	$378–$750/yr
Aquasana Rhino EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST (well-water filter + SimplySoft + UV purifier)	$2,697	$300–$1,000	$140–$340	20-inch sediment pre-filter 4-pack (EQ-304-20, genuine Aquasana) — $30, 1-3 months UV replacement lamp (AQ-UV-L330C) — price n/a, 12 months Well-water filter tank replacement (EQ-WELL-R) — price n/a, About every 5 years (well tank rated 500,000 gallons per manufacturer comparison tables) SimplySoft salt-free conditioner tank replacement (EQ-AST-WH-C-R) — price n/a, About every 6 years	10–15 yrs	$4,397–$7,097	$440–$710/yr
GE GXWH60T	$99–$130	$100–$250	$120	FXWPT replacement filter — $30, every 3 months or 15,000 gallons	10+ yrs (housing)	$1,399–$1,580	$140–$158/yr
GE GXWH70M	$206–$230	$150–$350	$64	FTHPM basic replacement filter (FTHTM and FTHLM alternatives also compatible) — $16, every 3 months or 15,000 gallons	10+ yrs (housing)	$995–$1,219	$100–$122/yr
Home Master (Perfect Water Technologies) HMF2SmgRFCC	$360	$250–$600	$130–$200	Multi-gradient sediment cartridge (SKU CFDGD2501-20BB) — price n/a, 6-12 months Radial-flow catalytic carbon cartridge (SKU CfRFgaCC-20BB) — price n/a, 12 months	10–15 yrs	$1,910–$2,960	$191–$296/yr
Home Master HMF2SMGCC	$325–$376	$300–$1,000	$150–$160	Multi-gradient sediment filter (25 to 1 micron) — $34, 6-12 months CFKDF85GCC-20BB catalytic carbon + KDF85 filter — $119, ~12 months	10+ yrs (housing)	$2,125–$2,976	$212–$298/yr
Home Master HMF3SDGFEC	$471–$504	$300–$1,000	$135–$215	Multi-gradient sediment filter (25 to 1 micron) — $34, ~12 months CFRFFE-20BB radial-flow iron reduction filter — $100, ~12 months GAC radial-flow carbon filter (replacement price not found in sources checked) — price n/a, ~12 months	10+ yrs (housing)	$2,121–$3,654	$212–$365/yr
Kind Water E-1000	$770–$980	$150–$300	$124–$200	Sediment + carbon replacement filter set (E-100R/E-200R) — $124, up to 12 months	10–15 yrs	$2,160–$3,280	$216–$328/yr
Kind Water E-2000	$1,082–$1,353	$150–$300	$395–$475	Replacement eSoft TAC conditioner cartridge — $799.99 every 3–5 years (Kind’s current schedule)	10–15 yrs	$3,950–$4,750	$395–$475/yr
Kind Water E-3000	$1,780–$2,094	$300–$600	$470–$650	Annual filter upkeep ~$100–$200 plus eSoft TAC conditioner cartridge — $799.99 every 3–5 years (Kind’s current schedule)	10–15 yrs	$4,700–$6,500	$470–$650/yr
Kind Water E-3000UV	$2,585–$2,680	$300–$1,000	$650–$920	Sediment + carbon + UV replacement lamp bundle (E-100R/E-200R/L…); plus eSoft TAC cartridge — $799.99 every 3–5 years (Kind’s current schedule)	10–15 yrs	$6,500–$9,200	$650–$920/yr
Kind Water WS-6000	$2,541–$2,800	$300–$600	$150–$250	WS-6000 replacement media/cartridges — current prices and intervals not found — price n/a,	10–15 yrs	$4,341–$5,900	$434–$590/yr
Pelican (Pentair) PC1000	$1,052–$1,299	$200–$600	$100–$156	PC1000-R carbon replacement media kit — $429, 5 years PC1000-R carbon replacement media (OEM, dealer) — $316, 5 years Sediment prefilter cartridge — $28, every 6-9 months	10–15 yrs	$2,252–$3,459	$225–$346/yr
Pelican (Pentair) PC600	$828–$1,049	$300–$700	$100–$180	5-micron sediment prefilter cartridge — $30, 6-9 months Catalytic carbon media bed replacement (service) — $350, 5 years	10–15 yrs	$2,128–$3,549	$213–$355/yr
Pelican (Pentair) PSE1800	$2,599–$2,700	$500–$1,200	$90–$136	PC600 carbon replacement media (carbon tank) — $329, 5 years NS-3 NaturSoft conditioner media — price n/a, no replacement	10–15 yrs	$3,999–$5,260	$400–$526/yr
Pelican (Pentair) PSE2000	$2,900–$3,099	$500–$1,200	$100–$156	PC1000 carbon replacement media (carbon tank) — $429, 5 years PC1000 carbon replacement media, OEM dealer price — $316, 5 years NS-6 NaturSoft conditioner media — price n/a, no replacement	10–15 yrs	$4,400–$5,859	$440–$586/yr
Pelican (Pentair) WF10-P	—	$800–$2,000	$120–$270	Sediment prefilter cartridge — $28, every 6 months Chlorine for chlorine feed (household bleach) — $30, refill every 2-3 months Carbon + iron filter media (both tanks) — $550, every 5 years	10–15 yrs	—
SpringWell CF+ Whole House Water Filter (7+ bathrooms, 20 GPM)	$1,737–$2,112	$300–$1,000	$40–$65	5-micron sediment filter cartridge — price n/a, Every 6-9 months Main tank media rebed (carbon + KDF) — price n/a, Every 6-10 years	10–15 yrs	$2,437–$3,762	$244–$376/yr
SpringWell CF1	$924–$1,144	$300–$600	$27–$40	5-micron sediment post-filter cartridge — $35, every 6-9 months Main tank media rebed (KDF + catalytic carbon) — $335, every 6-10 years (includes tank head)	10–15 yrs	$1,494–$2,144	$149–$214/yr
SpringWell CF4	$1,500–$1,800	$300–$600	$27–$40	5-micron sediment post-filter cartridge — $35, every 6-9 months Main tank media rebed (KDF + catalytic carbon) — $335, every 6-10 years (includes tank head)	10–15 yrs	$2,070–$2,800	$207–$280/yr
SpringWell CSF1 Water Filter + FutureSoft Salt-Free Combo (city water, 1–3 bathrooms)	$1,531–$2,321	$500–$700	$40–$70	5-micron sediment pre-filter (between tanks) — $20, every 6–9 months Whole-house filter media (carbon + KDF) — price n/a, 1M gallons / 10 years (manufacturer-rated tank media life) TAC conditioner media — price n/a, manufacturer: lifetime (no replacement needed)	10–15 yrs	$2,431–$3,721	$243–$372/yr
SpringWell CSF4	—	$300–$600	$27–$40	5-micron sediment pre-filter cartridge (~$40.18 two-pack) — $20, every 6-9 months Main tank filter media rebed (catalytic carbon + KDF) — current price not found — price n/a, 1,000,000 gallons or ~10 years	10–15 yrs	—
SpringWell FS1 FutureSoft Salt-Free Water Conditioner (1–3 bathrooms)	$1,450–$1,597	$300–$500	$20–$40	10-inch 5-micron sediment pre-filter — $20, every 9 months TAC conditioner media — price n/a, manufacturer: lifetime (no replacement needed)	10–15 yrs	$1,950–$2,497	$195–$250/yr
SpringWell FS4 FutureSoft Salt-Free Water Conditioner (4–6 bathrooms)	$1,960	$300–$500	$20–$40	10-inch 5-micron sediment pre-filter — $17, every 6–9 months TAC conditioner media — price n/a, manufacturer: lifetime (no replacement needed)	10–15 yrs	$2,460–$2,860	$246–$286/yr
SpringWell SS1 (32,000-grain salt-based softener)	$1,531–$1,800	$300–$800	$40–$100	Water softener salt, 40-lb bag — $7, about 1 bag every 4-6 weeks (meter-based regen, typical family)	10–15 yrs	$2,231–$3,600	$223–$360/yr
SpringWell SS4 Salt-Based Water Softener (4-6 bathrooms, 48,000 grain)	$1,684	$300–$1,000	$75–$150	Water softener salt (40-lb bags) — price n/a, Ongoing	10–15 yrs	$2,734–$4,184	$273–$418/yr
SpringWell WS1 Well Water Filter (1–3 bathrooms)	$2,003–$2,255	$500–$700	$40–$150	Spin-down sediment filter element — $100, up to 24 months Greensand (iron/manganese) filter media — $350, approx. 20 years	10–15 yrs	$2,903–$4,455	$290–$446/yr
SpringWell WS4 Well Water Filter (4–6 bathrooms)	$2,690	$500–$700	$40–$150	Spin-down sediment filter element — $100, up to 24 months Greensand (iron/manganese) filter media — $350, approx. 20 years	10–15 yrs	$3,590–$4,890	$359–$489/yr
US Water Systems Bodyguard Whole House Filtration + GreenWave Salt-Free Softener Alternative System	$2,180–$3,274	$400–$1,000	$194–$262	GreenWave SP3 media rebed kit (15 GPM, 10&#215	10–15 yrs	$4,520–$6,894	$452–$689/yr
US Water Systems Defender Whole House Reverse Osmosis System	$10,895–$16,395	$4,000–$6,000	$80–$300	5-micron prefilter cartridge — price n/a, every 6-12 months (manufacturer manual)	10–15 yrs	$15,695–$25,395	$1,570–$2,540/yr
US Water Systems Matrixx InFusion Iron and Sulfur Removal System	$2,983–$3,179	$500–$1,500	$200–$600	Hydrogen peroxide 7% (two 2.5-gallon bottles) — $85, refill 15-gallon solution tank approximately twice per year (per US Water)	10–15 yrs	$5,483–$10,679	$548–$1,068/yr
US Water Systems Matrixx Smart Metered Water Softener (MXX-100 / MXX-150 / MXX-200)	$1,296–$1,751	$300–$1,000	$50–$150	Water softener salt (40-lb bags) — price n/a, ongoing	10–15 yrs	$2,096–$4,251	$210–$425/yr
US Water Systems Matrixx Smart Whole House Backwashing Catalytic Carbon Filter (081-MXF-CX-200)	$1,596	$300–$1,000	$61–$98	Catalytic carbon media, 2.0 cu ft (US Water Carb-Cat @ $121.95 per 0.5 cu ft) — $488, 5+ years per manufacturer (&#x27	10–15 yrs	$2,506–$3,576	$251–$358/yr
Whirlpool WHELJ1	$297–$579	$200–$500	$0	—	10–15 yrs	$497–$1,079	$50–$108/yr
iSpring WDS150K	$315–$363	$300–$600	$308	FWDS150K anti-scale replacement cartridge (20 in. x 4.5 in., pack of 1) — $308, 12 months	5–10 yrs	$3,695–$4,043	$370–$404/yr
iSpring WF150K	$1,327–$1,989	$200–$600	$0–$10	—	10–15 yrs	$1,527–$2,689	$153–$269/yr
iSpring WGB12B	$102–$129	$300–$600	$50	FC25B carbon block replacement cartridge (20 in. x 4.5 in.) — $50, 12 months	10+ yrs (housing)	$902–$1,229	$90–$123/yr
iSpring WGB22B	$287–$370	$300–$600	$83–$100	F2WGB22B replacement set: FP25B sediment + FC25B carbon block (20 in. x 4.5 in.) — $100, 12 months	10+ yrs (housing)	$1,416–$1,970	$142–$197/yr
iSpring WGB32B	$420–$441	$300–$700	$114–$227	iSpring F6WGB32B filter set (1 sediment + 2 carbon block cartridges) — $114, 12 months	10+ yrs (housing)	$1,860–$3,411	$186–$341/yr
iSpring WGB32B-PB	$572–$750	$300–$600	$190	F3WGB32BPB replacement set: FP25B sediment + FC25B carbon block + FCRC25B lead-reducing (20 in. x 4.5 in.) — $190, 12 months	10+ yrs (housing)	$2,772–$3,250	$277–$325/yr
iSpring WGB32BM	$437–$483	$300–$600	$126–$210	F3WGB32BM replacement set: FP25B sediment + FC25B carbon block + FM25B iron &amp	10–15 yrs	$1,997–$3,181	$200–$318/yr

Estimates compiled from our 49-system research database, observed September 2026. Planning estimates, not quotes: your install cost and maintenance depend on local labor and your water. $/year = 10-year total ÷ 10.

The takeaway: at sale prices the upfront gap has nearly vanished — an EQ-1000 on sale costs roughly what a CF1 does to buy — but the decade still favors the CF1: about $800 less to own over ten years, thanks to the rebed schedule. Compare all 49 systems in the table above.

Costs people forget to budget

Water testing ($30–$100+): A basic panel from a state-certified or county lab typically runs $30–$100; comprehensive panels cost more. It’s the best money in this entire project. Buying a $1,500 system for the wrong contaminant is the error to avoid; the test is cheap insurance. Some cities publish free annual water quality reports for municipal water, start there.

Pre-treatment for well water: Iron, sulfur, and manganese often need their own stage (oxidation/filtration) before the carbon filter. A configured well-water setup can easily run $1,500–$4,500+ because it’s sized to your lab numbers, not bought off the shelf.

Salt, if you soften: Budget roughly $60–$180/year for salt (a 40-lb bag every 4–6 weeks at $5–$15 each, per 2026 industry figures), plus the small ongoing water and electricity cost of regeneration cycles. Not huge, but it’s forever.

Plumbing modifications: No existing loop, inaccessible main, or code-required backflow prevention can add a few hundred dollars to the install. Get the plumber’s quote before you order the system, not after.

Replacement media down the road: Tank media lasts roughly 6–10 years for most households, but “most” isn’t “all”. Very high sediment or chlorine levels exhaust media faster. Ask the manufacturer what a media replacement costs for your model so it’s not a surprise in year eight.

How to save money without buying junk

• Buy the right size once. Undersizing to save $150 upfront is the classic false economy. Low flow feels like a pressure problem, and you’ll live with it for a decade.
• Skip add-ons you don’t need. UV purification is great if you have bacteria concerns; it’s ~$750–$1,200 of decoration if you don’t. Same for conditioners on soft city water.
• Time the sales. The major brands run predictable sale cycles (holiday weekends especially), a few weeks of patience can save 10–15%. The Rhino’s $999 summer price is proof that waiting pays.
• DIY the install if you’re qualified. $300–$600 saved, but only if you genuinely know plumbing and your code allows it. A flooded utility room costs more than a plumber.
• Compare the 10-year total, not the sticker. Equipment pricing and maintenance schedules together dominate the long-run math, as the table above shows.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the cheapest whole house filter worth buying?
Around $300–$600 gets you a decent big-blue cartridge system (the iSpring WGB32B and similar sit right in this band at Home Depot). It works, but you’ll change cartridges several times a year, and the 10-year cost often lands near the tank systems anyway. Below ~$300, you’re mostly buying housings with undersized cartridges that clog fast.

Does a whole house filter increase my water bill?
Negligible for filtration, carbon systems don’t use water to operate. Salt-based softeners do use water for regeneration (typically around 35–65 gallons per cycle, with cycles ranging from every few days to weekly depending on water hardness and system settings). Measurable, but small next to household usage.

Are there tax credits or rebates?
Occasionally at the local level, some municipalities and water utilities offer rebates for water treatment equipment, particularly softeners in hard-water regions. Check your local utility’s website. There’s no broad federal credit for residential filtration as of this writing: a bill called the PURE Water Act (H.R. 1441), introduced in early 2025, would create a 20% federal tax credit for qualifying home water filters, but as of September 2026 it hasn’t passed, so don’t budget around it.

How long do these systems last?
The tanks and housings: manufacturers and industry sources commonly cite 10–20 years for quality systems with proper maintenance. The media inside: roughly 6–10 years for million-gallon carbon beds at normal household usage (manufacturers rate the media at 1 million gallons or about 10 years). Cartridge elements: months, by design. Warranties (lifetime, 10-year, limited lifetime) are a decent proxy for how long the manufacturer expects the hardware to last, but a warranty is a promise about defects, not a guarantee of lifespan.

Is financing worth it?
Some manufacturers offer payment plans. The math is simple: compare the total financed cost against the 10-year ownership table above. At typical promo rates it’s fine; at credit-card rates, save up instead.

What to budget

Budget $1,200–$2,500 all-in for a quality carbon system professionally installed, plus $40–$180/year in maintenance. Then do the 10-year math before you buy. At current prices, the SpringWell CF1 is the lowest long-term cost in the category at roughly $1,950 over ten years (~$195/yr), and a $50 water test up front is the cheapest insurance against buying the wrong equipment entirely.

How we evaluate: Cost figures below come from manufacturer-published prices and maintenance schedules, plus going plumber rates reported across home-service marketplaces. We haven’t hired plumbers in every zip code, local labor varies, so treat installation figures as typical ranges, not quotes. Prices were checked September 21, 2026, and they move: Aquasana ended a long-running half-off sale around September 12, 2026, which nearly doubled the Rhino’s sticker price overnight. Always verify before you buy.

Affiliate disclosure: purewholehouse.com may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. The price links in this guide are currently plain links to manufacturer and major-retailer pages, no affiliate programs are live yet, and any future affiliate links will be labeled as such. Commissions never change our numbers or our recommendations.

By the Pure Whole House Team