How to Choose the Right Water Filter Cartridge for Your System

Choosing the wrong replacement cartridge is one of the most common mistakes water filter owners make. Here's how to get it right every time.

Browse our replacement cartridge range, see our Benchtop Water Filters Guide, or call us on 1800 789 781 and we'll find the right match for your system.

Step 1: Know Your System

The most reliable starting point is your cooler or filter model. Check the label on the back or base of your unit. Most Awesome Water Coolers use our 8-stage KDF cartridge. If you're not sure, call us — we can identify the right cartridge from a photo or model description.

Step 2: Understand the Filter Types

• 8-stage KDF multi-stage: the most comprehensive option for our bottle-fed coolers. Removes chlorine, heavy metals, sediment, and bacteria; re-mineralises the water. Browse our 8-stage range.
• Ceramic: physical filtration of bacteria and protozoa. Used as a stage within multi-stage systems or as a standalone filter for gravity systems.
• Activated carbon block: removes chlorine, taste, and odour. Used in under-sink and inline systems. Browse our under-sink cartridge range.
• Reverse osmosis membrane: removes fluoride, nitrates, and the widest range of contaminants. Browse our Reverse Osmosis Guide.
• Sediment filter: removes physical particles. Often used as a pre-filter to protect finer stages. Browse our whole house cartridge range.

Step 3: Consider Your Water Quality

Australian town water is safe to drink but varies in hardness and chlorine levels. In harder water areas (Perth, Adelaide), sediment and ceramic stages clog faster — replace closer to 6 months. In softer water areas (Melbourne, Sydney), 12 months is usually fine. On bore or tank water, consider a more frequent replacement schedule and potentially a more comprehensive system.

Step 4: Buy Genuine

Generic cartridges may not fit correctly or meet the same filtration standards. Our genuine cartridges are tested for the contaminants listed on the packaging. Don't compromise on the one component that determines your water quality.

Frequently Asked Questions