Two of Sydney's most popular water filtration solutions. One filters drinking water to hospital-grade purity. The other filters every tap, shower and appliance. Here is how to decide which, or whether you need both.
For Sydney homeowners deciding between a reverse osmosis system and a whole house filter, the honest answer is: they do different things. A reverse osmosis system under your kitchen sink removes everything, fluoride, heavy metals, dissolved solids, bacteria, from your drinking and cooking water. A whole house filter removes chloramines, sediment and microplastics from every tap and shower in the home. Neither one does the other's job. For comprehensive water quality, you want both. For the single highest-impact improvement per dollar, an under-sink RO system is the starting point.
, Jean-Paul Barbar, Licensed Plumber (Lic. 461511C), Filters For YouHere is how the two systems compare across the dimensions that matter most for Sydney homeowners.
| Feature | Reverse Osmosis (Under Sink) | Whole House Filter |
|---|---|---|
| Where it filters | One tap, your kitchen sink | Entire home, every tap, shower, bath, appliance |
| Removes fluoride | Yes, 93–96% removal | No |
| Removes chloramines | Yes | Yes |
| Removes sediment | Yes | Yes |
| Removes microplastics | Yes | Yes |
| Removes heavy metals & lead | Yes | Partially (depends on system) |
| Removes bacteria | Yes | No (not designed for this) |
| Removes dissolved contaminants (PFAS) | Yes | Partially |
| Improves shower water quality | No (kitchen tap only) | Yes, every shower in the home |
| Filters water for appliances | No | Yes, dishwasher, washing machine, hot water system |
| Installed cost (Sydney) | From $840 (Pure Plus+) | $3,150–$3,550 (Pure Home) |
| Annual maintenance cost | ~$420/yr (RO cartridges) | ~$200–$350/yr (whole house cartridges) |
| Installation time | 1.5–2 hours | 2–3 hours |
A reverse osmosis system is installed under your kitchen sink and connects to a dedicated tap. Water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane that blocks particles as small as 0.0001 microns, removing virtually everything from your drinking and cooking water.
A whole house filter is installed at your water mains, before water reaches any tap or appliance in your home. Every shower, bath, tap, dishwasher, washing machine and hot water system receives filtered water.
Yes, and for families who want comprehensive water quality across the entire home, combining both systems is the ideal setup. The two systems complement each other perfectly: the whole house filter handles the bulk filtration for bathing, laundry and appliances, while the RO system provides ultra-pure drinking and cooking water at the kitchen tap.
Jean-Paul can install both systems in a single visit, typically in 3–4 hours total. Many customers start with one system and add the second on Jean-Paul's return visit.
At the mains, protects every tap, shower and appliance. $3,150–$3,550 installed.
Under the kitchen sink, fluoride removal and ultra-pure drinking water. From $840 installed.
Filtered water throughout the home plus fluoride-free ultra-pure drinking water at the kitchen tap.
No. Whole house filters, including carbon and multi-stage systems, do not remove fluoride. Fluoride can only be removed by reverse osmosis (RO). If fluoride removal is important to you, you need an RO system under your kitchen sink. A whole house filter and an RO system can work together in the same home, and many Sydney families use both.
Reverse osmosis is significantly cheaper than a whole house filter. The Pure Plus+ 5-stage RO system is installed from $840. The Pure Home whole house system costs between $3,150 and $3,550 depending on installation conditions. RO systems also tend to have slightly higher annual cartridge costs (~$420/yr) compared to whole house filters (~$200–$350/yr), but the upfront investment is much lower.
Yes, and this is often the best setup for families who want comprehensive coverage. The whole house filter protects every tap, shower, bath and appliance from chloramines, sediment and microplastics. The RO system under your kitchen sink adds fluoride removal and ultra-fine filtration for your drinking and cooking water. Jean-Paul can install both systems, either in one visit or on separate visits.
A whole house filter is installed at the mains and filters all water entering your home, every tap, shower, bath and appliance. It removes chloramines, sediment and microplastics. Reverse osmosis is installed under your kitchen sink and filters only the water at that one tap to a much higher level, removing fluoride, heavy metals, dissolved contaminants and bacteria in addition to what a whole house filter removes. They serve different purposes and work well together.
No. A standard reverse osmosis system is a point-of-use system installed under one sink, typically the kitchen sink. It filters only the water dispensed from its dedicated tap. For filtered water at every tap and shower in your home, you need a whole house filter at the mains. Some customers also add a shower filter at specific showers for extra chloramine removal.
For most Sydney families, the ideal setup is a whole house filter (Pure Home, $3,150–$3,550) combined with a reverse osmosis system under the kitchen sink (Pure Plus+ from $840). This gives you filtered water for bathing, laundry and appliances, plus ultra-pure drinking water at the kitchen tap. If budget is a priority, start with an RO system for drinking water, it delivers the most significant health benefit per dollar spent. Book a free assessment and Jean-Paul will give you a personalised recommendation.
Jean-Paul offers a free assessment and will give you an honest recommendation based on your home, budget and priorities, no pressure, no upsells.
