Blog | Oz Filter Warehouse - Water Filtration Guides & Tips

Why does my tap water taste or smell like chlorine?

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Oz filter warehouse blog article

What we'll cover in this article.

This article explains why chlorine is used, why it may be more noticeable at certain times and how activated carbon filtration can help improve the taste and smell of mains water.

Why chlorine may still be noticeable once mains water reaches your home.

Why does my tap water taste or smell like chlorine?

How chlorine helps protect water as it moves through the public network.

Why is chlorine used in Australian tap water?

Why does the chlorine smell seem stronger at times?

Factors that can make chlorine taste or odour more noticeable.

How whole-house carbon filtration helps reduce chlorine, taste and odour.

How the Crystal Series reduces chlorine

FAQs

Common questions about chlorine and the solution.

Have you ever poured a glass of water from the kitchen tap and noticed a chemical taste or smell? Perhaps the water seems fine when it is cold, but the chlorine smell becomes more noticeable when you run a shower or fill the bath. Chlorine is commonly used to treat mains water across Australia. Its presence does not automatically mean there is a problem with your water supply. In fact, chlorine plays an important role in helping control microorganisms as treated water travels through reservoirs, pipes and public distribution systems. However, even when the water meets Australian drinking-water requirements, the remaining chlorine can still affect its taste and smell. Some households barely notice it, while others find that it changes the experience of drinking, cooking, showering and using water throughout the home. For households that want to reduce chlorine across more than one tap, a whole house water filter can treat the incoming water before it moves through the property.

Why does my tap water taste or smell like chlorine?

Before mains water reaches your home, it is treated by the relevant water authority or local provider. The exact treatment process varies between locations, but chlorine is commonly added to help control bacteria and other microorganisms. A small amount of chlorine may remain in the water after the main treatment process. This is known as a disinfectant residual. The purpose of this residual is to help protect the water as it moves through the public distribution network. Water can travel through reservoirs, pumping stations and many kilometres of underground pipes before reaching individual properties. Maintaining a disinfectant residual helps reduce the risk of microorganisms growing within that network. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines explain that chlorine is widely used in drinking-water treatment and may be maintained within distribution systems for this reason. This means a chlorine taste or smell at home is often a result of the treatment process rather than an indication that the water has become contaminated.

Why is chlorine used in Australian tap water?

However, there is a difference between water being considered microbiologically safe and water being pleasant to drink and use. Chlorine may serve an important treatment purpose, but some people still prefer to reduce the remaining taste and odour once the water enters their property.

Why does the chlorine smell seem stronger at times

Several factors can affect how strong the smell or taste appear:

How the Crystal Series reduces chlorine

The Crystal Series is designed for homes using microbiologically safe mains or treated water. Rather than filtering water at only one tap, the system is installed on the main incoming water line, allowing it to treat the water before it moves through the connected household plumbing.

Water first passes through a sediment cartridge, which helps reduce dirt, sand, rust and other suspended particles. It then moves through an activated carbon cartridge that helps reduce chlorine, chloramine and the unwanted taste and odour they can leave behind. Because this filtration happens where the water enters the property, it can improve the water supplied to connected kitchen taps, bathroom taps, showers, baths and appliances, depending on the installation design. This differs from a benchtop or under-sink filter, which generally treats water at only one outlet.

For households that notice chlorine when drinking, cooking or showering, whole-house filtration provides a more consistent approach. Instead of addressing the taste or smell at a single tap, the activated carbon stage helps reduce chlorine across the parts of the home connected to the filtered supply.

The Crystal Series is available in different sizes and configurations, allowing the system to be matched more closely to the household’s water use, flow requirements and filtration needs.

Better-tasting water throughout your home

Chlorine plays an important role in the treatment of Australian mains water, but the remaining taste and smell can still be unpleasant once the water reaches your home. A whole house water filter can help reduce chlorine before the water moves through the household plumbing, improving the water used for drinking, cooking, showering and other everyday purposes. The Crystal Series combines sediment and activated carbon filtration to help reduce chlorine, chloramine, unwanted taste and odour in microbiologically safe mains or treated water. For households that notice chlorine across several taps or fixtures, it provides a practical way to improve water quality throughout the home.

Looking for a reliable home water filtration system?
Explore The Crystal Alpine Series range and find out which home water filtration system suits your household.

Simple, effective and built for Australian homes.

FAQs

If you're new to water filtration or considering a system for your home, the answers below cover some common questions we hear.

The health effects of unfiltered water: Myths vs facts

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 01:45:00 GMT

Unfiltered water is often talked about in extremes. Some people see it as cleaner, more natural and better for the body, while others assume the only issue is how it tastes. In reality, untreated water can carry risks that are not always obvious, especially when it comes from rainwater tanks, bore water or other private water sources.

For Australian households using rainwater, bore water or tank water, understanding the facts is especially important. Water can look clear, taste fine and still contain contaminants that cannot be detected by sight, smell or taste alone. That does not mean every glass of unfiltered water is dangerous, but it does mean your water source should be taken seriously.

Separating myths from facts

The health effects of unfiltered water

'Raw' water is healthier

There is a growing idea that “raw water” is better because it comes straight from nature and has not been treated. While this can sound appealing, natural does not always mean safe. Untreated water from rivers, lakes, streams, rainwater tanks or bore supplies can be exposed to a range of contaminants before it reaches your glass. This may include bacteria, viruses, parasites, animal droppings, soil, organic matter, agricultural runoff or other pollutants from the surrounding environment. Many contaminants do not change the colour, smell, or taste of water, so it can seem perfectly clean while still posing potential health risks. This is why untreated water should not be romanticised as healthier.

Myth

Treated water exists for a reason

Water treatment is not about making water less natural. It is about reducing the things that can make water unsafe to drink. In Australia, the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines provide a framework for managing drinking water quality, including health-based concerns such as microorganisms and chemicals. New South Wales Health also notes that rainwater used for drinking should be free from harmful microorganisms and harmful levels of chemicals. For homes using rainwater, bore water or tank water, this is why treatment and maintenance matter. Safe drinking water depends on how the water is collected, stored, maintained and treated.

Fact

If water looks, smells and tastes fine, it must be safe

Clear water can still carry risks. While taste, smell and colour can point to a water quality issue, they cannot confirm that water is safe to drink. Some microorganisms and contaminants may be present without altering the appearance or taste of water. This is especially important for rainwater tanks and bore water, where contamination can happen before the water reaches your tap. If your home relies on a private water source, regular maintenance, testing when needed and the right treatment system are much more reliable than relying on your senses alone. For rainwater tanks, contamination can happen before the water even reaches the tank. Roofs, gutters and downpipes can collect leaves, dirt, insects, bird droppings and other debris, which may then wash into the water supply ( NSW Health , n.d.).

Myth

Microbial contamination is one of the biggest risks

When it comes to untreated water, one of the main health concerns is microbial contamination. This includes bacteria, viruses and parasites that can enter water through animal droppings, soil, organic matter or poor storage conditions. For rainwater tanks, contamination can happen before the water even reaches the tank. Roofs, gutters and downpipes can collect leaves, dirt, insects, bird droppings and other debris, which may then wash into the water supply. This is why tank maintenance and treatment are so important. Keeping the system clean helps reduce contamination risks, while filtration and UV treatment can add an extra layer of protection before the water is used for drinking.

Fact

Boiling water removes all contaminants

Boiling water can be useful, but it does not solve every water quality concern. Heat can help reduce microbiological risks, which is why boiling may be recommended in some situations. However, boiling is not the same as filtering or treating water for all contaminants. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines cover a wide range of health-related water quality factors, including microorganisms, chemicals, and physical characteristics, which explains why different risks require different treatment methods ( NHMRC , 2025). If the concern is microorganisms, boiling may help in some situations. If the concern is sediment, taste, odour or chemical contaminants, a suitable filtration system is usually needed.

Myth

Different contaminants need different treatment methods

Not all water quality concerns are the same, so they should not be treated in the same way. Sediment, dirt and fine particles need physical filtration. Taste and odour concerns may need carbon filtration. Microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses need a treatment method designed to target them, such as UV treatment.

This is why a staged approach can be useful for rainwater, bore water and tank water. Instead of relying on one method to do everything, each stage has a clear purpose and works together to help improve the water before it reaches your tap.

Fact

Filtered water strips out everything good

Some people worry that filtering water removes everything beneficial. In reality, filtration is about reducing the things you do not want in your water, not making it empty or unnatural. For rainwater, bore water and tank water, the bigger concern is often what may have entered the supply before it reaches your tap. This can include sediment, organic matter, unpleasant taste, odour and microorganisms that are not always visible. A well-designed filtration system targets specific water quality concerns. With The Bug Buster, each stage has a clear purpose, helping reduce particles and improve water quality before UV treatment targets bacteria and viruses.

Myth

Good filtration is targeted, not excessive

Filtration does not need to mean removing everything from your water. A good system is designed to target specific water quality concerns, so each stage has a clear job.

For example, sediment filtration helps reduce particles such as dirt, rust and sand. Carbon filtration can help with taste and odour, while UV treatment is used to target microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. This makes filtration a practical step for homes that want to improve water quality without relying on guesswork. The goal is not to make water “empty,” but to reduce the things that may affect its safety, clarity, taste and everyday use.

Fact

Filtration is only needed if your water tastes or smells bad

Taste and smell are common reasons people start thinking about water filtration, but they are not the only signs that water quality needs attention. Water can look clear and taste normal while still containing sediment, microorganisms or other contaminants that are not easy to notice ( NHMRC , 2025). On the other hand, water that has an unpleasant taste or odour may not always be unsafe, but it can make everyday drinking, cooking and cleaning less enjoyable. Filtration is about more than improving taste. It is about choosing the right treatment for the water quality concerns in your home, whether that is particles, odour, microorganisms or an added layer of confidence in the water you use every day.

Myth

A staged system can target more than taste and odour

Good filtration looks beyond what you can taste or smell. Different stages are used to target different water quality concerns, which is why a staged system can be more practical than relying on one treatment method to do everything. For example, The Bug Buster uses sediment filtration to help reduce dirt, rust, sand and fine particles before the water moves through the system. In the 4-stage models, carbon filtration also helps reduce taste and odour concerns. The final stage is UV treatment, which is used to target bacteria and viruses. The Bug Buster is designed to address both noticeable issues, such as particles, taste and odour, and issues that may not be obvious, such as microorganisms.

Fact

The Bug Buster

The Bug Buster is designed for Australian homes that want a practical way to improve household water quality. Instead of relying on one treatment method, it uses a staged system to target different water quality concerns.

The 3-stage models use sediment filtration to help reduce dirt, rust, sand and fine particles before the water reaches the UV stage. The 4-stage models include carbon filtration as well, which can help with taste and odour concerns.

The final UV stage is designed to target bacteria and viruses, adding an important layer of protection before the water reaches your tap. This makes The Bug Buster a practical option for homes using rainwater, bore water or tank water, as well as households that want a more complete approach to their water quality.

Our solution

Making informed choices about your water

Unfiltered water is a topic that often comes with a lot of mixed messages. Some claims make it sound healthier because it is more natural, while others focus only on the risks. The reality is that water quality depends on what is in the water, where it has come from and how it has been treated before it reaches your tap. The key is to understand the difference between myths and facts. Water can look clean and still contain contaminants you cannot see, smell or taste. Boiling can help with some microbiological risks, but it does not remove everything. Filtration is most effective when each stage is designed to target a specific concern.

That is where The Bug Buster offers a practical approach. With staged filtration and UV treatment, The Bug Buster helps improve household water quality by targeting sediment, taste, odour and microorganisms before the water reaches your tap.

FAQs

Still have questions? You might find the answer here.

Need replacement filters?

Get in touch to order service kits, filters and UV lamps anytime.

How to replace filters in your whole home water filter

adcast.nz@gmail.com (Ashika Clarke) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 20:00:01 GMT

Tools you'll need:

A filter housing wrench

This is used to unscrew the filter housings. One is usually included with your Bug Buster system.

You’ll need the correct sediment and/or carbon filters depending on whether you have a 3-stage or 4-stage system.

New replacement filters

This helps keep the housing O-rings sealed properly and prevents leaks. Use only a small amount if the O-rings appear dry.

Food-grade silicone lubricant

Handy for wiping out the filter housings and cleaning up any drips or spills.

A clean cloth or paper towel

Before you get started, make sure you have the following:

Access to the water mains and power switch

You’ll need to turn off both before starting to ensure a safe and smooth process.

A bucket or towel

Useful for catching any water left in the housings when you open them.

Video Step by Step

Video How-To

The Bug Buster system is designed to make clean, safe water simple, whether you’re using tank, rain, or bore water. But like any hardworking system, it needs a little upkeep to keep performing at its best.

The good news? Replacing the filters is quick and easy. With just a few steps, you can keep your water fresh, your flow strong, and your system in top shape, all without needing a plumber. In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to replace your filters so your Bug Buster can continue to deliver high-quality water you can rely on.

Instructions

How to replace your filter

Turn off the water and power

Before you begin, make sure your system is safely powered down. Start by switching off the power supply to The Bug Buster unit. Then, turn off the water supply at the mains or isolation valve.

This step ensures your system is safe to work on and prevents leaks or water pressure buildup during filter removal.

Step 1

Release pressure in the system

Before opening the housings, it’s important to release any built-up pressure. Start by opening a nearby tap that’s located after the system. This helps relieve water pressure inside the unit.

Then, press the red pressure release button on top of each filter housing. This step ensures the system is fully depressurised and safe to open.

Step 2

Remove the old filters

Once pressure is released, use the housing wrench to unscrew the filter housings. Carefully remove the old filters and set them aside.

Check the inside of each housing and rinse them out if there’s any visible sediment or build-up. Clean housings help your new filters work more efficiently.

Step 3

Check the O-ring

Before inserting the new filters, check the O-ring inside each housing. If it looks dry or worn, apply a small amount of food-grade silicone lubricant.

This will help to ensure the housings are sealed properly and prevent leaks.

Step 4

Install the new filters

Place the new filters into the housings, making sure they’re seated correctly.

Screw the housings back into place by hand, then use the wrench to give them a final tighten, but be careful not to overtighten.

A snug fit is all you need to keep everything sealed and secure.

Step 5

Restore water and flush the system

Now that your new filters are in place, turn the water supply back on slowly. Then switch the power back on to The Bug Buster unit. Once everything is running, open one or more taps in the house to flush the system. This helps release any trapped air and clears out fine carbon particles if you’ve installed a carbon filter. Let the water run for a few minutes until it flows smoothly and clearly.

Step 6

Safe water, made easy

Replacing your Bug Buster filters is a simple task that helps keep your water clean, safe and great-tasting all year round. With a few basic tools and a bit of time, you can take care of your system yourself and avoid unnecessary service costs.

Whether you’re using tank water, bore water, or rainwater, regular filter changes are key to protecting your household and getting the best performance from your Bug Buster.

FAQs

Here are some common questions homeowners ask about replacing filters and maintaining their Bug Buster system.

Blog | Oz Filter Warehouse - Water Filtration Guides & Tips

Why does my tap water taste or smell like chlorine?

What we'll cover in this article.

Why does my tap water taste or smell like chlorine?

Why is chlorine used in Australian tap water?

Why does the chlorine smell seem stronger at times?

How the Crystal Series reduces chlorine

FAQs

Why does my tap water taste or smell like chlorine?

Why is chlorine used in Australian tap water?

Why does the chlorine smell seem stronger at times

Several factors can affect how strong the smell or taste appear:

How the Crystal Series reduces chlorine

Better-tasting water throughout your home

FAQs

The health effects of unfiltered water: Myths vs facts

Separating myths from facts

The health effects of unfiltered water

'Raw' water is healthier

Myth

Treated water exists for a reason

Fact

If water looks, smells and tastes fine, it must be safe

Myth

Microbial contamination is one of the biggest risks

Fact

Boiling water removes all contaminants

Myth

Different contaminants need different treatment methods

Fact

Filtered water strips out everything good

Myth

Good filtration is targeted, not excessive

Fact

Filtration is only needed if your water tastes or smells bad

Myth

A staged system can target more than taste and odour

Fact

The Bug Buster

Our solution

Making informed choices about your water

FAQs

Need replacement filters?

Get in touch to order service kits, filters and UV lamps anytime.

How to replace filters in your whole home water filter

Tools you'll need:

A filter housing wrench

New replacement filters

Food-grade silicone lubricant

A clean cloth or paper towel

Access to the water mains and power switch

A bucket or towel

Video Step by Step

Video How-To

Instructions

How to replace your filter

Turn off the water and power

Step 1

Release pressure in the system

Step 2

Remove the old filters

Step 3

Check the O-ring

Step 4

Install the new filters

Step 5

Restore water and flush the system

Step 6

Safe water, made easy

FAQs

Need replacement filters?

Get in touch to order service kits, filters, and UV lamps anytime.