Complete Home Filtration vs ShieldWater at a Glance
| Factor | Complete Home Filtration | ShieldWater |
|---|---|---|
| Australian design and suitability for local conditions |
Australian-founded and operated, with systems configured around the home, water supply and household requirements. |
Australian water filtration supplier offering whole home systems for different water sources and water conditions. |
| Whole home coverage |
Whole home filtration from the mains, with configurations addressing sediment, chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals and other quality concerns. Up to 50 L/min. |
Whole home filtration from the mains, with 10” and 20” systems available for different sizes and conditions. Up to 65 L/min. |
| Installation |
Complete Home Filtration manages professional installation through its licensed plumbing teams, with installation and service teams across Australia. |
ShieldWater supplies whole home filtration systems, with installation requiring a licensed plumber for connection to the mains water supply. |
| Cartridge cycle and ongoing cost |
6 to 12 months, depending on configuration and usage. Proprietary system cartridges are supplied for the configured system. |
Cartridge replacement requirements vary by system, cartridge and water usage. |
| 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. |
ShieldWater offers whole home systems with cartridges designed for hard water and limescale reduction. |
| Local service and aftercare |
Installation and service teams operate across WA, QLD, VIC, NSW, ACT and SA. Whole home systems generally carry a 2-year manufacturer warranty, with installation workmanship coverage applying according to the relevant terms and regulations. |
ShieldWater supplies replacement cartridges and whole home systems, with ongoing cartridge replacement required as dictated by the system and water characteristics. |
| 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. |
Published certification includes WaterMark certification for applicable whole home systems. |
Australian Design and Local Water Conditions
Complete Home Filtration
Complete Home Filtration is Australian founded and operated, with the whole home systems designed around Australian conditions. The CHF-6000 can be adjusted according to the property’s water supply, plumbing and household needs, with different cartridge and treatment media for different water needs.1, 2
ShieldWater
ShieldWater supplies whole home filtration systems for different water sources and conditions, including mains water, tank water and hard water. Its range includes systems marketed for hard water prone areas, like Western and South Australia.3, 4
Whole Home Coverage
Complete Home Filtration
The CHF-6000 treats water at the point where it enters the property, so filtered water can be supplied throughout the home. Depending on the configuration, treatment can include sediment, chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals, hardness and scale, with published flow rates varying between 32 and 50 L/min.2
ShieldWater
ShieldWater has several whole home configurations using different cartridge combinations for treatment requirements including sediment, chlorine, chloramine, PFAS and scale. Its larger 20-inch systems have published flow rates of up to 75 L/min, depending on the configuration. Shield Water doesn’t publish their independent laboratory performance results.5, 6
Installation and Who Does It
Complete Home Filtration
Once the appropriate CHF-6000 configuration has been determined, installation is performed by a licensed plumber on the property's mains water supply.
The system is positioned between the water meter and the first inlet tee-off into the home, with the installation requirements considered as part of setting up the system.2, 7
ShieldWater
ShieldWater supplies the filtration equipment, but the customer will need to arrange installation themselves. A licensed plumber is required to connect the system to the property's mains water supply.5
Cartridge Cycle and Ongoing Cost
Complete Home Filtration
CHF-6000 cartridges typically need replacing every 6 to 12 months. The interval will depend on the property's water quality, household water use and the cartridges installed.
Replacement costs depend on the configuration because different systems use different combinations of filtration and treatment cartridges.2, 8
ShieldWater
ShieldWater's cartridge replacement intervals vary by the cartridge type and operating conditions. Some cartridges have a published service life of up to 12 months, although heavier sediment loads and higher water use may mean they need replacing sooner.9
Softening and Hardness Handling
Complete Home Filtration
For homes with hard water, the CHF-6000 can be configured with cation-exchange resin to reduce calcium and magnesium, the minerals responsible for water hardness. Where the priority is limiting limescale rather than removing hardness minerals, scale-prevention media is another option.2, 10
ShieldWater
ShieldWater offers cartridges designed to limit limescale buildup. These provide scale control rather than conventional ion-exchange softening, so they do not remove calcium and magnesium from the water in the same way as a traditional water softener.4, 9
Local Service and Aftercare
Complete Home Filtration
Complete Home Filtration provides installation and services across WA, QLD, VIC, NSW, ACT and SA. Customers are also able to access filter replacement reminders, maintenance guidance and technician support.
The CHF-6000 comes with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty. Plumbing workmanship is covered for up to 7 years, depending on state requirements.2, 11, 12
ShieldWater
ShieldWater sells replacement cartridges for its whole home systems, so customers can purchase the appropriate replacements when their existing cartridges need changing. The replacement interval depends on the cartridge, water quality and household use.9
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 requirements.
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.2, 13
AquaStream
ShieldWater publishes WaterMark certification for its SHIELD water filtration system under licence WMK030064. Its product documentation also references AS/NZS 3497 for applicable systems.
Any certification and compliance claims regarding your filtration system should be checked against the specific process or product covered by the documentation, rather than assumed to apply to every product in the range.5, 14
Appendix
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/products/whole-home-filtration
- https://shieldwaterfilter.com.au/collections/whole-house-water-filter-hard-water
- https://shieldwaterfilter.com.au/products/10-x-4-5-whole-house-filter-cartridges-1-m-sediment-0-5-m-anti-scale-coconut-carbon-block-universal-2-stage-replacement-for-hard-water
- https://shieldwaterfilter.com.au/products/20-x-4-5-whole-house-twin-water-filter-system-scale-removal-cartridges-watermark-certified-2-stage-wall-mount-ideal-for-hard-water
- https://shieldwaterfilter.com.au/collections/all/whole-house
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/resources/installation-tips
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/resources/maintenance-guide
- https://shieldwaterfilter.com.au/products/20-x-4-5-whole-house-water-filter-cartridges-3-stage-replacement-antibacterial-washable-sediment-carbon-ideal-for-heavy-sediment-water
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/news-insights/hard-water
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/support
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/resources/chf-warranty
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/certifications
- https://shieldwaterfilter.com.au/products/10-x-4-5-whole-house-triple-water-filter-system-limescale-removal-3-stage-wall-mount-watermark-certified-ideal-for-hard-water-wa-sa-perth-2