Compare whole-house water filters, reverse osmosis systems and water softeners to find the right water treatment solution for your Australian home.

Choosing a water filtration system should not begin with comparing brands or counting filtration stages.

The first question should be:

Does your home need a whole-house water filter, a reverse osmosis system or a water softener?

These three systems are designed to address different water concerns:

• A whole-house water filtration system improves the general-use water entering your home.
• A reverse osmosis system provides purified water for drinking and cooking.
• A water softener reduces hardness minerals that contribute to scale.

Some homes may only require one system. Others may benefit from combining two or all three.

This guide explains how each system works, what problems it is designed to address and how to choose the right solution for your household.

Start With Three Questions

Before selecting a system, consider the following questions.

1. Is drinking-water quality your main concern?

If your priority is purified water for drinking, cooking, tea and coffee, a reverse osmosis system will usually be the most suitable choice.

2. Do you want to improve water throughout the home?

If you want to reduce sediment, rust particles, chlorine taste or odour before water reaches your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry and appliances, consider a whole-house water filtration system.

3. Do you have a noticeable scale problem?

If you regularly see white deposits on taps, shower screens, kettles or appliances, your main concern may be water hardness. In this case, consider a water softener.

These issues can occur together. When they do, a combined water treatment solution may deliver better results than relying on a single system.

When Should You Choose a Whole-House Water Filter?

A whole-house water filtration system is installed at or near the main water entry point of the property.

It treats water before it is distributed to the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, hot-water system and other water-using appliances.

Unlike a small filter installed at one tap, a whole-house system is designed to improve water throughout the property.

What Does a Whole-House Water Filter Do?

Depending on the system and filter media used, whole-house filtration may help to:

• Reduce sediment and suspended particles
• Reduce rust particles from ageing water infrastructure or plumbing
• Reduce chlorine taste and odour
• Improve water used for bathing, washing and cleaning
• Reduce the amount of sediment entering appliances and plumbing fixtures
• Provide more consistent general-use water throughout the home

A whole-house system is a strong option when you want treated water available from multiple outlets rather than only from the kitchen drinking-water tap.

Who Should Consider Whole-House Filtration?

A whole-house water filter may be suitable when:

• You want filtered water in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry
• Your water has a noticeable chlorine taste or smell
• You occasionally see sediment, rust or other visible particles
• You want to reduce sediment entering your hot-water system and appliances
• Several people live in the home and multiple outlets are used at the same time
• You want a permanent alternative to installing separate filters at individual taps

The HGW-03 Whole House Water Filter System, for example, is installed on the main incoming water line and uses multiple filtration stages to improve general household water.

Can a Whole-House Filter Replace Reverse Osmosis?

Not completely.

A whole-house system is designed to treat large volumes of water while maintaining the flow required for showers, taps and appliances. Its primary role is to improve general household water.

A reverse osmosis system performs a different function. It provides more precise treatment at the kitchen drinking-water outlet and can reduce a broader range of dissolved substances.

For this reason, many households choose the following combination:

Whole-house filtration for general-use water and reverse osmosis for drinking water.

When Should You Choose a Reverse Osmosis System?

A reverse osmosis system, commonly called an RO system, is usually installed beneath the kitchen sink.

It uses a fine RO membrane together with pre-filters and post-filters to provide purified water for drinking and cooking.

What Does Reverse Osmosis Do?

A reverse osmosis system may help to:

• Provide high-quality drinking water
• Improve drinking-water taste and odour
• Reduce a broad range of dissolved substances
• Provide purified water for cooking, tea and coffee
• Create a convenient alternative to regularly purchasing bottled water
• Meet the needs of households seeking a higher level of drinking-water treatment

Compared with basic filtration products, reverse osmosis provides a more comprehensive drinking-water solution.

Who Should Consider Reverse Osmosis?

A reverse osmosis system may be the right choice when:

• Drinking-water quality is your main priority
• Filtered water will primarily be used for drinking and cooking
• You want a higher level of purification
• You are concerned about dissolved substances in your water
• Your household regularly buys bottled water
• You want convenient purified water directly from the kitchen

HG Pure Water offers reverse osmosis systems in different sizes and flow capacities.

The HGH-26 Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier features a compact tankless design, making it suitable for kitchens with limited under-sink space.

For larger households or customers requiring a higher purified-water flow rate, the HGH-24 Reverse Osmosis System may be a more suitable option. A remineralisation cartridge may also be available, depending on the selected configuration.

Why We Do Not Recommend a Basic Under-Sink Carbon Filter as the Main Solution

A basic under-sink carbon filter can help reduce chlorine taste, odour and selected substances that affect the way water tastes.

However, if you are investing in a permanently installed drinking-water system and want a more complete long-term solution, reverse osmosis will usually be the stronger choice.

Compared with basic carbon filtration, reverse osmosis offers:

• Finer filtration
• Reduction of a wider range of dissolved substances
• A more comprehensive drinking-water treatment process
• Greater suitability as the household’s primary source of filtered drinking water
• A more complete alternative to bottled water

For customers choosing between whole-house filtration, reverse osmosis and water softening, we generally recommend reverse osmosis as the core drinking-water solution, rather than relying only on a basic under-sink carbon filter.

When Should You Choose a Water Softener?

A water softener is designed to address hard water.

Hard water contains higher concentrations of minerals associated with scale formation. This is different from sediment, chlorine or drinking-water purification concerns and requires a dedicated treatment process.

HG Pure Water’s HGS-80 Premium Water Softener is designed as a whole-home solution for households experiencing hard water. Installed on the main water supply, it reduces hardness before water reaches bathrooms, hot-water systems, plumbing fixtures and household appliances.

What Are the Signs of Hard Water?

You may have a hard-water problem if you regularly notice:

• White marks on shower screens
• Scale around taps and showerheads
• White deposits inside kettles
• Scale build-up in dishwashers or washing machines
• Soap and shampoo that do not lather easily
• Water marks that quickly return after cleaning
• Frequent scale-related maintenance of hot-water systems or appliances

If these problems are significant, a standard whole-house filter will not usually address the underlying cause.

How Does a Water Softener Work?

Most residential water softeners use an ion-exchange process to reduce minerals associated with water hardness.

Softened water may help to:

• Reduce scale on taps and shower screens
• Reduce mineral build-up inside hot-water systems and appliances
• Improve the performance of soap and cleaning products
• Reduce white marks on bathroom and kitchen surfaces
• Protect selected water-using equipment
• Make scale-related household cleaning easier

Can a Water Softener Replace a Water Filter?

No.

A water softener is primarily designed to reduce hardness. It is not intended to perform the same role as a whole-house filtration system or a reverse osmosis drinking-water system.

A softener does not replace:

• Whole-house sediment and chlorine filtration
• Reverse osmosis drinking-water purification

If your home has both a scale problem and a drinking-water concern, consider:

Water softener plus reverse osmosis.

If you also want to reduce sediment, particles or chlorine throughout the home, consider:

Whole-house filtration plus water softening plus reverse osmosis.

Whole-House Filter, Reverse Osmosis or Water Softener?

The following guide provides a simple starting point.

Choose a Whole-House Water Filter When:

• Your main concern is general household water
• You want to improve water in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry
• Your water contains sediment, rust particles or a noticeable chlorine smell
• You want to reduce sediment entering your plumbing and appliances
• Drinking-water purification is not your only priority

Choose Reverse Osmosis When:

• Drinking-water quality is your main concern
• Filtered water will be used mainly for drinking and cooking
• You want a deeper level of purification
• General household water does not have a significant sediment or scale problem
• You want a permanent alternative to bottled water

Choose a Water Softener When:

• Scale is the most noticeable problem in your home
• White deposits regularly form on taps and shower screens
• You want to reduce scale inside hot-water systems and appliances
• You want better performance from soap and cleaning products
• Sediment and drinking-water concerns are secondary

Why We Do Not Recommend Filter Jugs as a Long-Term Home Solution

Filter jugs are inexpensive and do not require permanent installation. However, their capacity and treatment capabilities are limited.

Common limitations include:

• Small filtration capacity
• Frequent refilling
• Waiting for water to pass through the filter
• Limited convenience for larger households
• Frequent cartridge replacement
• No treatment of bathroom, laundry or appliance water
• No meaningful solution for hard-water scale
• Less comprehensive treatment than reverse osmosis
• Performance that depends heavily on regular cleaning and cartridge replacement

A filter jug may be useful as a temporary option for renters, travel or occasional use.

However, homeowners seeking a convenient, reliable and long-term water treatment solution will usually be better served by a professionally installed whole-house filter, reverse osmosis system or water softener.

When Should You Combine Systems?

Many households have more than one water concern.

For example, a home may experience:

• A noticeable chlorine smell
• Sediment or particles in the water
• Scale on taps and shower screens
• Concerns about drinking-water quality
• Scale build-up in hot-water systems or appliances

One system may not be able to address all of these issues.

Option 1: Whole-House Filtration Plus Reverse Osmosis

This combination is suitable when you:

• Want to improve general household water
• Also want purified drinking water
• Do not have a significant hard-water problem

How it works:

• The whole-house filter treats incoming general-use water.
• The reverse osmosis system provides additional treatment at the kitchen drinking-water outlet.

For many households, this is a practical and balanced combination.

Option 2: Water Softener Plus Reverse Osmosis

This combination is suitable when you:

• Have a noticeable hard-water and scale problem
• Also want high-quality drinking water
• Do not have a significant sediment or chlorine concern throughout the home

How it works:

• The water softener reduces hardness minerals.
• The reverse osmosis system provides purified water for drinking and cooking.

Option 3: Whole-House Filtration Plus Water Softener Plus Reverse Osmosis

This complete solution may be suitable when:

• Your water contains sediment, particles or a noticeable chlorine smell
• Your home also has a significant scale problem
• You want purified drinking water
• You are renovating or planning a complete home water treatment system
• You want each part of the system to perform a clearly defined role

In this configuration:

1. The whole-house water filter reduces sediment, particles and selected taste or odour concerns.
2. The water softener reduces hardness and scale.
3. The reverse osmosis system provides purified drinking and cooking water.

What Else Should You Consider Before Buying?

Household Size and Water Demand

Larger households generally require higher treatment and flow capacities.

When selecting a whole-house system, ensure it can support showers, taps and appliances operating at the same time without creating an unacceptable drop in water pressure.

When selecting reverse osmosis, consider whether the purified-water flow rate will meet your household’s drinking and cooking requirements.

Installation Space

Before ordering a system, check:

• Available space beneath the kitchen sink
• The location of the main incoming water line
• Whether a power supply is required
• Whether the system needs a drain connection
• Available space for the water softener
• Access for future cartridge replacement and servicing

Replacement Filters and Operating Costs

The system purchase price is only one part of the long-term cost.

Also consider:

• Whole-house filter replacement costs
• Reverse osmosis cartridge and membrane costs
• Water softener salt consumption
• Installation and servicing costs
• Availability of replacement cartridges
• Warranty and after-sales support

Choosing a system with readily available replacement components can make long-term ownership easier and more predictable.

Certification and Professional Installation

Products permanently connected to a household water supply should be suitable for their intended application and installed in accordance with applicable plumbing requirements.

Professional installation can help to:

• Reduce the risk of leaks
• Maintain appropriate water pressure
• Ensure the system operates correctly
• Provide suitable access for future servicing
• Protect the system and surrounding plumbing

Whole-house filters, water softeners and permanently connected reverse osmosis systems should generally be installed by a suitably qualified professional.

Choose the Right Water Treatment System for Your Home

Whole-house filtration, reverse osmosis and water softening are not competing versions of the same product.

They perform different jobs:

• Whole-house filtration improves general-use water throughout the property.
• Reverse osmosis provides purified drinking and cooking water.
• Water softening reduces hardness and scale.

For homeowners seeking a long-term water treatment solution, we generally do not recommend relying on a filter jug or a basic under-sink carbon filter as the primary system.

A more effective approach is to identify the actual water concerns in your home and choose the appropriate whole-house filter, reverse osmosis system, water softener or combination of systems.

HG Pure Water provides Australian households with:

• Whole-house water filtration systems
• Under-sink reverse osmosis systems
• Residential water softeners
• Replacement filters and consumables
• Professional installation and after-sales support

Not Sure Which System Your Home Needs?

Choosing the correct system depends on your water source, household size, available installation space and the water problems you want to address.

Contact HG Pure Water for help comparing your options and selecting a suitable home water treatment solution.

Phone: 1300 883 058
Email: info@hgpurewater.com.au
Showroom: 11/85 Whitehorse Road, Blackburn VIC 3130