A whole house water filter sits where water enters your home. Water passes first through a sediment cartridge that traps rust, silt and grit, then through a carbon block that reduces chlorine taste and odour. Optional stages add UV disinfection for tank water or scale control for hard water. Filtered water then flows to every outlet.
- Stage 1 sediment protects everything downstream.
- Stage 2 carbon reduces chlorine taste and smell.
- A bypass valve keeps water on during cartridge changes.
Stage by stage
| Stage | What it is | What it targets | Typical change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sediment (usually 5–20 micron) | Rust, silt, sand, grit | 6–12 months |
| 2 | Carbon block (or catalytic carbon) | Chlorine taste and odour; chloramine with catalytic carbon | 12 months |
| 3 (optional) | UV lamp | Bacteria and viruses in tank or bore water | Lamp yearly |
| 3 (optional) | Scale control | Scale build-up in hard water | 3–5 years |
Where is it installed?
On the main water line after the meter, usually on an outside wall, in a shaded or covered spot. A licensed plumber fits isolation valves and a bypass, so the system can be serviced without cutting off the house. See what installation involves.
What doesn't a whole house filter do?
Standard sediment and carbon stages don't remove hardness minerals, fluoride or dissolved salts. That takes reverse osmosis, which is used at a single tap. It's why our Mineral drinking tap is a kitchen add-on, not a whole-house stage.
Questions
Does a whole house filter remove fluoride?
No. Sediment and carbon stages don't remove fluoride. Reverse osmosis at a kitchen tap does.
What micron rating should a sediment filter be?
5 to 20 micron is typical for mains water. Tank systems with UV usually use 5 micron or finer before the lamp so the UV works properly.
- Standards Australia: AS 3497:2021 drinking water treatment units
- NSF: drinking water treatment standards
- Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, NHMRC
Written by the Whole Home Water team and reviewed against the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. General information only; your Home Water Check gives advice for your home.
Plumbing and installation details reviewed by a licensed plumber. See our editorial policy.