What Does a Whole House Water Filter Remove?
A whole house water filtration system is designed to filter water as it enters your property, before it reaches your taps, showers, bathrooms, kitchen and appliances.
Unlike a drinking water filter fitted to a single kitchen tap, whole house filtration provides filtered water throughout the home.
But what does a whole house water filter actually remove?
The answer depends on the filtration system, filter media and water conditions. Bright Water Plumbing & Gas provides filtration solutions designed for Perth water conditions, with systems capable of significantly reducing contaminants and substances including chlorine, PFAS, sediment and other impurities.
For households wanting additional drinking water filtration, a reverse osmosis (RO) system can also be incorporated to provide further contaminant reduction, including fluoride.
What Can Whole House Water Filtration Reduce?
A properly selected whole house filtration system can target a range of substances before water is distributed throughout your home.
Depending on the filtration configuration, this can include:
- Chlorine
- PFAS
- Sediment
- Dirt and suspended particles
- Unpleasant tastes
- Unpleasant odours
- Other impurities targeted by the filtration media
Bright Water’s premium filtration solutions can provide up to 99% chlorine reduction and up to 95% PFAS reduction, depending on the system, incoming water quality and operating conditions.
This means filtration isn’t limited to the water you drink. Water used for cooking, showering, bathing and general household use can also benefit from whole house filtration.
Does a Whole House Water Filter Remove Chlorine?
Chlorine is commonly used in public drinking water supplies as a disinfectant. Its purpose is important: it helps control potentially harmful microorganisms as water travels through the distribution network.
However, some households prefer to reduce the residual chlorine in their water once it reaches their property.
Bright Water’s applicable whole house filtration system can achieve up to 99% chlorine reduction.
Reducing chlorine can help improve the taste and odour of household water and may also make shower and bath water more comfortable for people who experience dry skin, dry hair or scalp irritation associated with chlorinated water.
Rather than filtering chlorine from one drinking tap, a whole house system treats the water entering the property.
Can a Whole House Water Filter Reduce PFAS?
Certain filtration technologies can significantly reduce PFAS, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals”, from drinking water.
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a large group of manufactured chemicals known for their persistence in the environment.
Bright Water’s applicable filtration solution can provide up to 95% PFAS reduction, subject to the filtration configuration, water conditions and correct maintenance.
For homeowners concerned about PFAS, it is important to choose a filtration system specifically designed and tested for the contaminants being targeted rather than assuming every household water filter provides the same level of reduction.
Does Whole House Filtration Remove Fluoride?
This is where the distinction between whole house filtration and reverse osmosis becomes important.
Standard whole house filtration should not automatically be assumed to remove fluoride.
For households specifically wanting to reduce fluoride in their drinking water, Bright Water can provide an applicable reverse osmosis (RO) filtration system capable of reducing fluoride by up to 98%.
RO filtration provides an additional level of treatment and is generally used for drinking and cooking water rather than being treated as a substitute for the main whole house filtration system.
A combination of whole house filtration and reverse osmosis can therefore provide broader filtration across the property while providing additional treatment at the drinking water point.
Does a Whole House Filter Remove Sediment?
Yes. Sediment filtration is an important part of a whole house filtration system.
Depending on the incoming water supply, sediment can include small amounts of:
- Sand
- Dirt
- Rust particles
- Pipe debris
- Other suspended material
The sediment stage captures these particles before the water progresses through subsequent filtration stages and before they circulate through the home’s plumbing.
Removing sediment also helps protect the other filtration media and allows the overall system to operate effectively.
Can Filtration Improve the Taste and Smell of Tap Water?
Yes. One of the differences homeowners often notice after installing an appropriate filtration system is an improvement in their water’s taste and odour.
Chlorine and other compounds can influence how tap water tastes and smells.
By reducing these substances, filtered water can provide a cleaner and fresher drinking experience without relying solely on bottled water or a filter attached to one particular tap.
Whole House Filtration vs Reverse Osmosis
Although both technologies filter water, they perform different roles.
Whole house filtration treats water entering the property and is designed to provide filtered water throughout the home.
Reverse osmosis provides a more intensive level of filtration at a specific drinking water point and can target substances that standard whole house filtration may not effectively remove, including fluoride.
For some households, the most comprehensive solution is therefore:
Whole House Filtration + Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System
This provides filtered water throughout the property while giving drinking and cooking water an additional filtration stage.
Why Filter Size Matters
Not all whole house water filtration systems are built the same. Filter size, housing construction, filtration media, system capacity and maintenance intervals can all differ significantly between systems.
Bright Water’s premium system features:
- 20-inch high-capacity filters
- Marine-grade stainless-steel housing
- Typical 12–18 month filter lifespan
- Filtration developed with Perth water conditions in mind
- Research and development undertaken in collaboration with Curtin University
When comparing whole house filtration systems, don’t look only at the initial purchase price. Consider the filter size, housing construction, replacement frequency, filtration performance and whether the system has been developed for local water conditions.
Designed With Perth Water Conditions in Mind
Water conditions vary considerably between locations, which is why selecting filtration technology should involve more than simply installing a generic filter.
Bright Water’s filtration solution has been developed with consideration for local Perth water conditions, including research and development undertaken in collaboration with Curtin University.
This allows the filtration configuration to be selected around the characteristics of the water it will actually be treating.
Whole House Water Filtration Across Perth’s Northern Suburbs
Bright Water Plumbing & Gas is based in Quinns Rocks and installs whole house water filtration systems throughout Perth’s northern suburbs.
Our priority service areas include:
Clarkson | Butler | Mindarie | Jindalee | Burns Beach | Ocean Reef | Quinns Rocks | Alkimos
We also service surrounding northern suburbs, so if your suburb isn’t listed, contact Bright Water on 0430 123 561 to check availability in your area.
How Often Do Whole House Filters Need Replacing?
Bright Water’s premium whole house filtration system typically requires filter replacement approximately every 12–18 months, depending on household water consumption, incoming water conditions and filter performance.
For many Perth properties, we recommend checking the system after approximately 12 months.
Bright Water also makes ongoing maintenance easier by managing filter replacement reminders. When your filters are approaching their recommended replacement period, we’ll contact you and can arrange a convenient time to service the system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a whole house water filter filter every tap?
When correctly installed on the property’s incoming water supply, whole house filtration treats water before it is distributed to the connected outlets throughout the home.
Does whole house filtration remove 100% of contaminants?
No. No filtration system should be assumed to remove every substance from water. Performance depends on the filtration technology, filter media, contaminant, water quality, flow rate and maintenance.
Can whole house filtration reduce PFAS?
Applicable Bright Water filtration systems can provide up to 95% PFAS reduction, depending on system configuration and water conditions.
Can a whole house filter remove chlorine?
Applicable Bright Water whole house filtration can provide up to 99% chlorine reduction.
Does whole house filtration remove fluoride?
Standard whole house filtration should not automatically be considered a fluoride-removal system. Bright Water can provide an applicable reverse osmosis system offering up to 98% fluoride reduction for drinking water.
Is reverse osmosis the same as whole house filtration?
No. Whole house filtration treats water entering the property, while an RO system typically provides more intensive filtration for drinking and cooking water at a specific point.
How long do Bright Water whole house filters last?
Bright Water’s premium system typically provides a 12–18 month filter lifespan, depending on household usage, incoming water quality and operating conditions.
Who replaces the filters?
Bright Water can provide ongoing filter replacement and maintenance. We’ll also remind you when your filters are due, so you don’t have to keep track of the replacement schedule yourself.
Choosing the Right Water Filtration System for Your Home
The best filtration system depends on what you want to reduce, your household water usage and the quality of the incoming water supply.
Bright Water Plumbing & Gas can assess your requirements and recommend an appropriate combination of whole house filtration and, where required, reverse osmosis filtration.
Whether you’re concerned about chlorine, PFAS, sediment, taste, odour or fluoride, the goal is to select filtration technology specifically suited to the substances you want to target.
For professional whole house water filtration, contact Bright Water Plumbing & Gas on 0430 123 561 to discuss a filtration solution for your home.