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Whole House Filtration

What Contaminants Can Whole House Filters Remove?

Whole house filters are powerful, but they're not magic. Here's what they can and can't remove — so you set the right expectations.

H2OGeneration H2OSeptember 26, 2026
Whole house water filter removing sediment and chlorine from water

What Whole House Filters Can Reduce

  • Chlorine and chloramine taste and odor
  • Sediment, sand, rust, and particulate matter
  • Certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • Bad tastes and odors from the water source
  • Some specialty contaminants with the right media (iron, sulfur)

What Whole House Filters Don't Remove

  • Hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) — that's a softener's job
  • The full dissolved-contaminant range that reverse osmosis addresses
  • Dissolved solids that require an RO membrane

This is why whole house filtration is often paired with a softener, an RO system, or both. Each system has a job; no single system does them all.

How to Know What's in Your Water

You can't choose the right media without knowing what's in your water. A free test shows you exactly what's there so the system is matched to your actual conditions.

Start with a free water test to see what your filter needs to address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Depending on the media, a whole house filter can reduce chlorine, sediment, certain chemicals, and taste/odor. It does not remove hardness minerals or the full range of dissolved contaminants that reverse osmosis targets.

Not Sure What’s In Your Water?

Schedule a free in-home water test with Generation H2O. We’ll test your water, explain what we find, recommend the appropriate solution if one is needed, and provide clear pricing before you decide.

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