Whole House Water Filters

Whole House Water Filtration for Mains and Rainwater Supply

Whole house water filters treats water at the point of entry to your property — before it reaches taps, showers, appliances, and hot water systems. Unlike undersink or benchtop filters that treat water at a single outlet, a whole house system protects every fixture in the home, reducing sediment, chlorine, organic compounds, and in UV-equipped systems, microbial contamination across the entire supply.

At PlumbingSales.com.au, we stock the complete Puretec whole house filtration range — Australia's leading brand in residential and light commercial water filtration. Whether you're on town mains, tank rainwater, or a property that switches between both, there's a Puretec system suited to your water supply and flow requirements. Browse online 24/7 with free shipping on all whole house filtration systems Australia-wide.

Choosing the Right Whole House Filter System

Puretec's whole house range is organised around three key variables: your water source, your required filtration stages, and whether ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is needed. Understanding these will help narrow down the right system quickly.

Water source — mains-connected properties draw from a treated municipal supply that typically contains chlorine and sediment but is microbiologically safe. Rainwater tank properties draw from an untreated source that may contain sediment, organic matter, and microbial contamination. Some properties use both, with an automatic switchover between tank and mains supply.

Filtration stages — single stage systems remove sediment and basic particulates. Dual stage systems add a second filter for finer contaminants, taste, and odour. Triple stage systems provide the highest level of filtration before any UV treatment stage.

UV disinfection — ultraviolet systems add a UV lamp stage that inactivates bacteria, viruses, and protozoa in the water without adding chemicals. UV is particularly important for rainwater tank supplies, bore water, or any application where microbiological safety cannot be guaranteed by the source alone.

Puretec WH Series — Mains Water Filtration

The Puretec WH series is designed for properties on town mains supply. These systems filter chlorine, sediment, and organic compounds from treated municipal water, improving taste, odour, and clarity at every outlet in the home.

WH1 — Single Stage Mains Filter The entry-level mains filtration option, available in 10" (WH1-30) and 20" (WH1-60) housing sizes. Suits smaller households or properties where basic sediment and chlorine reduction is the primary goal. The 20" housing offers higher flow rates and longer filter cartridge life, making it better suited to larger households or properties with higher daily water demand.

WH2 — Dual Stage Mains Filter Adds a second filtration stage for more comprehensive contaminant reduction. Available in 10" (WH2-30) and 20" configurations (WH2-55, WH2-60). The dual stage setup typically combines a sediment pre-filter with a carbon block or specialty filter for chlorine, taste, and odour. Recommended for households where water quality improvement across multiple parameters is a priority.

Puretec EM Series — Rain and Mains Water Filtration

The Puretec EM series is designed for properties on rainwater tank supply, or those with a combined rain and mains setup. Rainwater filtration systems address a different set of challenges to mains filters — sediment from roof catchments, organic matter, tannins, and the absence of any prior treatment or disinfection.

EM1 — Single Stage Rain & Mains Filter The EM1-60 provides single stage filtration in a 10" housing, suited to smaller properties on rainwater or combined supply where basic sediment removal is required.

EM2 — Dual Stage Rain & Mains Filter The most comprehensive non-UV rainwater filtration option in the EM range. Available across multiple configurations — 10" housings (EM2-60, EM2-75) and 20" housings (EM2-100, EM2-110, EM2-140, EM2-150) — allowing selection based on flow rate requirements and household size. The dual stage setup is recommended for most rainwater tank installations where microbiological risk is managed separately or the supply is from a well-maintained, low-risk catchment.

For rainwater tank installations where microbiological safety is a concern, the Puretec Hybrid E series with integrated UV disinfection is the recommended solution.

Hybrid-E6 — Dual Stage Rainwater Filter + UV (10") A dual stage filtration and UV system in a 10" housing for smaller rainwater-supplied properties.

Hybrid-E7 — Dual Stage Rainwater Filter + UV (20") The 20" dual stage rainwater UV system, providing higher flow rates for larger households on tank supply.

Hybrid-E7AMC — Dual Stage Rainwater Filter + UV (20") with AMC Cartridge As above, with an AMC (anti-microbial carbon) filter cartridge for enhanced contaminant reduction.

Hybrid-E13 — Triple Stage Rainwater Filter + UV (20") Triple stage filtration combined with UV disinfection in a 20" housing — the recommended solution for larger rainwater-reliant properties or those requiring the highest level of treatment from a tank supply.

Hybrid-E13AMC — Triple Stage Rainwater Filter + UV (20") with AMC Cartridge The top-specification rainwater filtration system in the Puretec range, combining triple stage filtration with an AMC cartridge and UV disinfection for comprehensive treatment of rainwater tank supply.

Puretec Basic WU-UV250 — Dual Whole House Filter with UV (20")

The Puretec Basic WU-UV250 is an accessible entry point into whole house UV filtration, combining dual stage filtration with ultraviolet disinfection in a 20" housing. It suits properties on mains supply where UV disinfection is desired without the higher specification of the Hybrid R range, or as a cost-effective upgrade from a standard dual stage mains filter.

10" vs 20" Whole House Filter Systems

Across the Puretec range, systems are available in 10" and 20" housing sizes. The key difference is flow rate and cartridge capacity.

10" systems suit smaller households with lower peak flow demand — typically 1–3 bathrooms. Cartridges are replaced more frequently due to smaller volume capacity.

20" systems deliver higher flow rates and longer cartridge life between replacements, making them better suited to larger households, properties with multiple bathrooms, or any installation where maintaining strong water pressure at multiple simultaneous outlets is important.

For most Australian family homes with 2 or more bathrooms, a 20" system is the recommended starting point.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a whole house water filter remove? Depending on the system, whole house filters remove sediment, chlorine, chloramines, organic compounds, taste and odour-causing substances, and in UV-equipped systems, bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. The specific contaminants addressed depend on the filter cartridge types and whether UV disinfection is included.

Do I need a UV filter for rainwater? UV disinfection is strongly recommended for rainwater tank supplies. Unlike mains water, rainwater is untreated and can contain microbial contaminants from roof catchments, gutters, and tank environments. A UV system inactivates these microorganisms without adding chemicals to the water.

What is the difference between 10" and 20" whole house filter systems? The housing size determines the filter cartridge volume, which affects flow rate and how long cartridges last between replacements. 20" systems offer higher flow rates and longer cartridge life, making them better suited to larger households or properties with higher water demand.

How often do whole house filter cartridges need replacing? Replacement frequency depends on the system, the cartridge type, and the quality and volume of water being filtered. As a general guide, cartridges in mains systems are typically replaced every 6–12 months; rainwater systems may require more frequent replacement depending on sediment load. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

Can a whole house filter be installed on both mains and rainwater supply? Yes. The Puretec EM series is specifically designed for properties with rain and mains supply, and the Hybrid E series adds UV disinfection for rainwater-reliant properties. These systems handle the variable water quality associated with switching between tank and mains sources.

Do whole house water filters require a licensed plumber to install? Yes. Whole house water filters connect to your property's main water supply line and must be installed by a licensed plumber in accordance with AS/NZS 3500 and applicable state plumbing regulations.

Related Categories

• Filters & Water Treatment — Full range of water filtration and treatment products
• Pumps — Water pressure pumps for rainwater and whole house systems
• Valves — Isolation and pressure control valves
• Flexible Hoses — Braided flexible hoses for filter connections
• Clips & Pipe Support — Pipe clips and brackets for filter installation

Shop Whole House Water Filters Online

PlumbingSales.com.au is an authorised Puretec distributor, stocking the complete whole house water filtration range for trade and consumer customers across Australia. With over 60 years of industry experience and a 4.9-star rating from more than 7,200 verified customer reviews, we're a trusted source for water filtration systems and expert product advice.

Free shipping on all whole house filtration systems to most areas Australia-wide. Same or next day dispatch on stock items. Click & collect available from 23-25 Marni Street, Dandenong South, Melbourne.

Not sure which system is right for your property or job? Call our knowledgeable team on 1800 341 972 or email [email protected] — we're happy to help you select the right Puretec system for your water source, household size, and flow requirements.