Complete Home Filtration vs Aquasana at a Glance
| Factor | Complete Home Filtration | Aquasana |
|---|---|---|
| Australian design and suitability for local conditions |
Australian-founded and operated, with systems configured around the home, water supply and household requirements. |
Aquasana is an American company, with its specifications based on US regulations and installation requirements. |
| Whole home coverage |
Whole home filtration from the mains, with configurations addressing sediment, chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals, hardness and scale. Up to 50 L/min. |
Whole home filtration from the mains, with the Rhino WH-1000 addressing chlorine and other contaminants. Up to 26.5 L/min. |
| Installation |
Complete Home Filtration manages professional installation through its licensed plumbing teams, with installation and service teams across Australia. |
Licensed plumber installation required. Aquasana's international dealer information lists an Australian dealer and leaves finding a plumber up to you. |
| Cartridge cycle and ongoing cost |
6 to 12 months, depending on configuration and usage. Proprietary system cartridges are supplied for the configured system. |
Aquasana recommends replacing the pre-filter every 2 months and the post-filter every 6 months. Replacement requirements vary depending on the configuration used. |
| Softening and hardness |
Hardness can be addressed within the whole home system configuration, including softening resin and scale-prevention options depending on the system selected. |
You can address hardness with Aquasana's SimplySoft water softeners or conditioning systems, which can be used alongside whole home filtration. |
| Local service and aftercare |
Installation and service teams operate across WA, QLD, VIC, NSW, ACT and SA. Whole home systems carry a 2-year manufacturer warranty, with installation workmanship coverage applying according to the relevant terms and regulations. |
Aquasana's published 10-year Rhino warranty applies to US residences only and does not cover Australian installations. |
| Certifications |
Published certification and manufacturing credentials include WaterMark certification, NSF-related testing/assessment and ISO 9000-accredited manufacturing requirements, with the applicable scope depending on the product and standard. |
The Rhino WH-1000 has been tested to NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine reduction, while the tank is certified for materials safety. |
Australian Design and Local Water Conditions
Complete Home Filtration
The Complete Home Filtration system was designed specifically for Australian homeowners, including Australian plumbing requirements and the different water conditions found across the country. The system can be configured to suit the property’s water and household requirements, with options chosen based on the water supply's needs.
Depending on the setup, this includes sediment filtration, granular activated carbon, KDF-55, water-softening resin, scale-prevention media, heavy-metal reduction and chloramine removal. The CHF approach is to design the system around the home instead of treating every home like it has the same water.1
Aquasana
Aquasana is an American company. Its specifications use US measurements and refer to US installation requirements and plumbing codes. Its products are available to Australian customers; however, its published specifications are based on US product requirements rather than Australian water conditions.
The standard Rhino WH-1000 is designed for general whole home chlorine reduction, while the Rhino Chloramines and Rhino Max Flow provide different treatment or flow capacities for homes with different requirements. It would be up to you to determine the right system for your home, likely by conducting your own in-home water tests.2
Whole Home Coverage
Complete Home Filtration
The CHF-6000 is installed on the mains before water is distributed throughout the home, allowing the system to treat the entire property’s water supply.
The system can be tailored with sediment filtration, granular activated carbon and KDF-55 media to suit different water-quality requirements. The maximum flow rate is 32 to 50 litres per minute, depending on the configuration.3
Aquasana
Aquasana’s Rhino WH-1000 is also a point-of-entry system, with a published flow rate of 7 gallons, or about 26.5 litres per minute.
Aquasana also offers other Rhino setups for different whole home requirements, including the Rhino Max Flow and Rhino Chloramines. These are separate system configurations, not additional features of the standard WH-1000.4
Installation and Who Does It
Complete Home Filtration
Complete Home Filtration manages installation through licensed plumbers trained in its systems. Installation requirements depend on the property’s plumbing layout and available space, with common locations near the water meter, on the side of the home, or inside a garage.5
Aquasana
Aquasana recommends professional installation by a licensed plumber. Its installation guidance requires the system to comply with applicable state and local plumbing requirements, while its installer locator connects customers with independent contractors in the United States rather than an Aquasana-employed installation network.6
Cartridge Cycle and Ongoing Cost
Complete Home Filtration
The CHF-6000 uses high-capacity cartridges, and replacement is recommended every 6 to 12 months, depending on water quality and usage. Complete Home Filtration also notes that maintenance intervals may need to be adjusted based on a qualified technician's advice.
Ongoing cost depends on the cartridge type for the property and the replacement schedule needed for that water supply.3
Aquasana
The Rhino WH-1000 uses a long-life main tank rated for 1,000,000 gallons (~3,785,411.8L) or up to 10 years. The system also uses replaceable pre- and post-filters. Aquasana specifies replacement of its standard 20-inch pre-filter every two months and its post-filter every six months.
Ongoing maintenance requirements therefore depend on the configuration and the replacement components used.7
Softening and Hardness Handling
Complete Home Filtration
The CHF-6000 can be set up to address either water hardness or scale. The system can use a high-capacity cation-exchange water-softening resin when mineral reduction is desired, or scale-prevention media when the primary issue is scale control.
Choose the setup based on the property’s water quality and treatment requirements. An in-home water consultation allows our experienced water technicians to guide you through the process.3
Aquasana
Aquasana offers hard water treatment via its SimplySoft water softeners and salt-free water conditioner. SimplySoft uses ion exchange to reduce minerals, while the salt-free conditioner uses scale control media to prevent scale without removing minerals.
Both are separate treatment options that can be used with Aquasana’s whole home filtration.8,9
Local Service and Aftercare
Complete Home Filtration
The CHF-6000 includes a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty on the system, with plumbing workmanship covered for up to 7 years depending on state regulations.
Complete Home Filtration offers support for filter replacement, troubleshooting and ongoing maintenance, with professional service teams operating all across Australia.10
Aquasana
Aquasana’s warranty covers the WH-1000 main tank for 10 years or 1,000,000 gallons. The installation kit and pre- and post-filter housings have separate 12-month warranty periods, while replacement filters are excluded.
The warranty is restricted to single-family residences in the United States.11
Certification and Scope
Complete Home Filtration
Complete Home Filtration publishes several certifications and manufacturing credentials across its products. These include WaterMark certification, testing against relevant NSF standards and ISO 9000-accredited manufacturing.
For the CHF-6000, the documentation identifies the WaterMark licence as WMK023341 and also provides information about NSF testing and assessment through IAPMO, along with its manufacturing requirements on its certifications page.
The important distinction here is the scope of the credential. A certification or standard may apply to a specific system, component, or manufacturing process, so check the product and assessment rather than assuming every credential applies to the full range.12
Aquasana
Aquasana also publishes several certifications and testing credentials across its water filtration products.
For the Rhino WH-1000, Aquasana states that the system is independently tested to NSF/ANSI 42 for the claims specified on its Performance Data Sheet. The tank is also tested and certified by WQA under NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 for materials safety. Aquasana specifically notes that the WQA certification does not certify contaminant reductions.
Importantly for Australians, Aquasana does not have a WaterMark certification. If a water filter connects permanently to your home's water supply, Australian plumbing regulations require it to be WaterMark certified. By law, a licensed plumber is not permitted to install a system without a WaterMark, but consumers are still able to purchase the system online.
As with other filtration products, the real question to be asking is what’s actually been tested or certified and to what standard, instead of just counting the number of credentials published.13
Appendix
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/news-insights/best-water-filtration-system-for-hard-water
- https://www.aquasana.com/whole-house-water-filters/rhino/uv-filter/probypass-100403370.html
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/products/whole-home-filtration
- https://www.aquasana.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-aquasana-Library/default/dw8728cc13/PDF/WH-1000_Install.pdf
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/resources/faqs
- https://www.aquasana.com/locate-an-installer
- https://www.aquasana.com/water-filter-replacements/whole-house-pre-and-post-filter-replacement-bundles/20in-pre-filter-replacement-3-pack-and-post-filter-replacement-bundle-100237253.html
- https://www.aquasana.com/water-softeners/simplysoft-40000-grain-water-softener-100381840.html
- https://www.aquasana.com/whole-house-water-filters/salt-free-water-conditioner-100365583.html
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/build-with-us
- https://www.aquasana.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-aquasana-Library/default/dw5ddefa5c/PDF/WH-1000_Install.pdf
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/certifications
- https://www.aquasana.com/system-performance-data-sheets.html