Water Filtration FAQs
The questions we get asked most often, answered properly. If yours is not here, call 0421 601 540 or ask us directly. We will give you a straight answer whether or not it leads to a job.
Choosing a system
Whole-house or under-sink: which do I need?
They solve different problems. A whole-house system treats every outlet, so your showers, washing machine and hot water system get filtered water too. That is what you want if the issue is chlorine smell in the shower, sediment, or scale damaging appliances. An under-sink system treats one tap and is what you want if the issue is specifically the taste and quality of what you drink and cook with. Plenty of homes end up with both: a whole-house unit at the main and reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink.
Is reverse osmosis right for every home?
No. Reverse osmosis strips out the widest range of dissolved contaminants, which makes it the right answer where the water has a real problem: high dissolved solids, nitrates, a bore supply. On good Sydney town water, a well-specified carbon block often gets you most of the benefit for a lower installed cost, with cheaper cartridges and no water sent to drain. We will tell you when RO is overkill for your situation.
What if the system does not fix what I wanted fixed?
Then it was specified wrong, and that is on us. This is why we ask what is actually bothering you before quoting: taste, smell, staining, scale and health concerns each point at different treatment. Where the cause is not obvious we recommend testing first rather than guessing at a system.
Do you install commercial systems?
Yes: cafés, offices, medical practices, gyms, childcare and food premises, both new installations and servicing of existing equipment. Commercial work often involves additional requirements such as backflow prevention, which we cover on our approvals page.
Costs
How much does water filter installation cost in Sydney?
Installed prices generally run from about $850 for a basic sediment filter to $6,800 and beyond for an advanced multi-stage system. Our pricing guide breaks that down by system type, and separates equipment, labour and annual cartridge cost. Your own number depends on your water and your plumbing, so we quote a fixed installed price after looking at the property, with the ongoing cartridge cost shown alongside it. A cheap system with expensive proprietary cartridges is not cheap over five years.
Are there extra costs after the quote?
Only if you approve them. If we find something on site that was not reasonably apparent when we quoted (corroded pipework, no isolation valve, insufficient space), we stop, explain it, and give you a price before doing anything. See our Terms of Sale.
Am I committing to anything by asking for a quote?
No. Quotes are free, there is no obligation, and we do not do high-pressure sales. If the honest answer is that you do not need a system, we will say so.
Installation day
How long will it take?
An under-sink filter is generally 1 to 2 hours. Under-sink reverse osmosis is 2 to 3 hours, because of the storage tank, the dedicated tap and the drain connection. A whole-house system at the main is typically 3 to 5 hours.
Will my water be off?
Briefly, and only while we cut in. For an under-sink job we can usually isolate just that fixture. For a whole-house install the main goes off for part of the day. We will tell you roughly when so you can plan around it.
Do I need to be home?
Someone aged 18 or over needs to be at the property. At the end we will show you where the isolation valve is, how to change the cartridges, and what to expect from the system.
Do you make a mess?
We drop sheets, we clean up, and we take the packaging away. Under-sink work means emptying the cupboard. If you can clear it before we arrive, that speeds things up.
Living with the system
How often do cartridges need replacing, and what does that cost?
Sediment and carbon cartridges typically run 6 to 12 months; reverse osmosis membranes 2 to 3 years. Your water decides it more than the calendar does. Properties on tank or bore water go through sediment stages faster. We tell you the cartridge cost at quote stage precisely so this is not a surprise later, and we can remind you when yours are due.
Can I change the cartridges myself?
On most under-sink and whole-house systems, yes, and doing so does not affect the warranty on our installation labour provided the system is not otherwise altered. We will show you how on the day. If you would rather not, book a service visit and we will do it.
Will a filter drop my water pressure?
Not noticeably, if it is sized correctly and maintained. If pressure has dropped, the usual cause is a loaded cartridge that is due for replacement.
My filtered water tastes different from before. Is that normal?
Immediately after a cartridge change, yes. Run the tap for a few minutes to flush the new media. If a change in taste appears gradually over months, that is usually the cartridge reaching the end of its life. If it appears suddenly and does not clear, call us.
Warranty and service
What is covered?
Lifetime warranty on our installation labour, and the manufacturer's product warranty on the equipment, typically 3 years on what we supply. Full detail, including what is not covered, is on our Returns & Refunds page.
Something is leaking. What do I do?
Turn the water off at the isolation valve, or at the meter if you cannot find it, then call 0421 601 540. If it relates to work we did, we treat it as a priority.
Will you service a system another company installed?
Yes. We will also tell you honestly if the existing installation has a problem, and what it would cost to fix, before doing anything chargeable.
Where you work
Do you cover my suburb?
We install across Sydney Metro, Greater Sydney and regional NSW. The full list is on our service areas page. If you are well outside the usual area, any travel component appears on the quote before you accept it, never afterwards.
Are you licensed?
Yes. NSW Licensed Contractor and Qualified Supervisor No. 358626C. We use WaterMark-certified components as the National Construction Code requires, and issue a Certificate of Compliance where the work calls for one.
Still stuck? Call 0421 601 540, email quote@waterfiltration.sydney, or send us the question.