Complete Home Filtration vs Waterdrop at a Glance
| Factor | Complete Home Filtration | Waterdrop |
|---|---|---|
| Australian design and suitability for local conditions |
Australian-founded and operated, with systems configured around the home, water supply and household requirements. |
Waterdrop sells its filtration systems to Australian households through its Australian website. |
| 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. |
Waterdrop’s range is primarily designed for point-of-use treatment, with under-sink and countertop systems filtering water at a specific tap. |
| Installation |
Complete Home Filtration manages professional installation through its licensed plumbing teams, with installation and service teams across Australia. |
Waterdrop's under-sink RO systems are designed for installation beneath the sink, with the X8, X12 and other RO models listed as requiring 30 minutes or less for installation. Countertop models don’t need installation. |
| Cartridge cycle and ongoing cost |
6 to 12 months, depending on configuration and usage. Proprietary system cartridges are supplied for the configured system. |
Its Australian range publishes filter lifespans from six months to 24 months for its RO systems, depending on the cartridge. |
| 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. |
Waterdrop offers separate water softeners, but its main filtration range is focused on drinking-water filtration and reverse osmosis. |
| 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. |
Waterdrop provides customer support through its Australian website and publishes product-specific warranty terms. Warranty periods vary between products, with individual RO systems carrying their own published warranty coverage. |
| 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. |
Waterdrop publishes certifications for specific filtration products and standards. Its Australian range includes products certified to NSF standards, depending on the model. |
Australian Design and Local Water Conditions
Complete Home Filtration
Complete Home Filtration is Australian-founded and operates in Australia, with systems designed around Australian homes, plumbing and water conditions. Water quality varies by location and water source, so differences like chlorine, chloramine and hardness affect the filtration approach required.
The system can be adjusted according to the property’s water supply and household needs, with different cartridge and media setups selected through an in-home water assessment.¹
Waterdrop
Waterdrop operates an Australian store with a range focused on drinking water filtration, including under-sink reverse osmosis, under-sink filtration and countertop systems.
Its Australian range includes the X8 and X12 under-sink RO systems, as well as other under-sink products. These systems are designed as point-of-use solutions instead of being configured around the property.²
Whole Home Coverage
Complete Home Filtration
The CHF-6000 installs on the mains before water is distributed throughout the home, filtering the property’s entire water supply.
It can include sediment filtration, granular activated carbon, and KDF-55 media, with options for water softening, scale prevention, heavy metal reduction, or chloramine reduction, depending on the system. The maximum flow rate ranges between 32 to 50 litres per minute, depending on your specific setup.3
Waterdrop
Waterdrop Australia’s current range is primarily designed for point-of-use filtration. Its under-sink systems connect to the cold-water line beneath a sink and provide filtered water through the existing tap or a dedicated faucet.
For example, the Waterdrop X8 is a tankless reverse osmosis system designed for under-sink installation. Waterdrop states that it uses nine-stage RO filtration, with a 0.0001 μm membrane.4
Installation and Who Does It
Complete Home Filtration
Complete Home Filtration manages the installation process through its technicians and partnered plumbers.
A licensed professional must install the CHF-6000 on the mains between the water meter and the first inlet tee-off into the home. The technician considers the installation requirements when determining the appropriate system setup for the property.3
Waterdrop
Waterdrop’s installation requirements depend on the product. Its X8, X12 and other under-sink RO systems are designed for installation beneath the sink, with Waterdrop listing installation times of 30 minutes or less for its current X Series. Countertop RO systems are listed as needing no installation.5
Cartridge Cycle and Ongoing Cost
Complete Home Filtration
The CHF-6000 uses high-capacity cartridges, and the technical specifications recommend replacement every 6 to 12 months, depending on water quality. 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
Waterdrop
Waterdrop's replacement requirements vary by system and cartridge. Its X8, for example, uses filters with published lifespans of 6, 12 and 24 months, while Waterdrop's FAQ lists different replacement cycles across its other RO systems. Replacement cartridges are sold separately through Waterdrop's Australian website.4
Softening and Hardness Handling
Complete Home Filtration
Complete Home Filtration can address hardness as part of the whole home system setup.
The CHF-6000 offers either a high-capacity water-softening resin cartridge or scale-prevention media as cartridge options. The ideal design depends on the property’s requirements.3
Waterdrop
Waterdrop's Australian guidance identifies reverse osmosis as one way of reducing calcium and magnesium, the minerals responsible for water hardness.
The X Series uses RO filtration to treat the water produced at the system, but this is a point-of-use treatment rather than whole home water softening across the property's plumbing.6
Local Service and Aftercare
Complete Home Filtration
Complete Home Filtration supports its systems with troubleshooting resources, maintenance guides, and fully qualified service teams across Australia.
The CHF-6000 includes a two-year manufacturer’s warranty on the system, as well as a plumbing workmanship warranty of up to seven years, depending on applicable state requirements.1,7
Waterdrop
Waterdrop Australia provides customer support through its Australian website and publishes product-specific warranty information. The X8 and X12, for example, are currently listed with two-year warranties. Waterdrop also publishes an Australian service policy covering its customer support and applicable consumer guarantees.8,9
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.
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.10
Waterdrop
Waterdrop also publishes certification information for individual products. For example, its X8 product information identifies NSF standards associated with the system.
As with Complete Home Filtration, the relevant question is what has actually been certified or assessed, and to which standard, rather than treating a certification as applying to the entire range.4
Appendix
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/products
- https://www.waterdropfilter.com.au/
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/products/whole-home-filtration
- https://www.waterdropfilter.com.au/products/reverse-osmosis-system-x8
- https://www.waterdropfilter.com.au/pages/frequently-asked-questions
- https://www.waterdropfilter.com.au/blogs/water-contaminants/what-is-hard-water
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/support/troubleshooting
- https://www.waterdropfilter.com.au/pages/service-policy
- https://www.waterdropfilter.com.au/products/reverse-osmosis-system-x12
- https://www.completehomefiltration.com.au/certifications