How to Remove Chlorine From Water: 3 Practical Options
Article Summary: Carbon filters reduce chlorine taste and smell. Choose an under-sink RO system for a new drinking-water setup, or find compatible replacement filters for a system you already own. Boiling and standing can reduce free chlorine, but are unreliable for chloramine. This guide explains safety, treatment options, and how to choose the right product.
Chlorine in Drinking Water: Why It’s There and What It Means
Water utilities use chlorine or chloramine to kill harmful germs and protect water as it travels through pipes. These disinfectants can leave a taste or smell you would rather avoid.
Is it safe? The CDC considers chlorine and chloramine levels up to 4 mg/L (4 ppm) safe for drinking. That is not a measurement of your home’s water. Taste or smell alone cannot tell you the concentration.
Disinfection byproducts are separate chemicals that form during treatment and can pose health concerns at elevated levels. Check your utility’s annual water-quality report for disinfectant and byproduct results. For a specific concern at your tap, ask your supplier about appropriate testing and choose treatment with the relevant reduction claim.
3 Practical Options for Reducing Chlorine
Does your drinking water have an unpleasant chlorine smell or taste? Carbon filters can reduce both. If you need a new drinking-water system, explore our under-sink RO systems. If you already own a filtration system, find the carbon replacement filter designed to fit it. The third option—letting water stand or boiling—has practical limits explained below.
1. Under-Sink RO Systems
Every under-sink RO system we sell includes carbon filters to remove chlorine and improve taste and smell. Its RO membrane reduces additional contaminants. Choose this option when you want more than chlorine reduction alone.
2. Carbon Replacement Filters
Already have a filtration system? Use our Replacement Filter Finder to find carbon filters that fit your brand and model. Choose the appropriate chlorine- or chloramine-reduction claim.
3. Let Water Stand or Boil
Leaving an open pitcher in the refrigerator for 24–48 hours can reduce free-chlorine taste and smell; boiling can speed chlorine loss. Neither guarantees complete removal or reliably treats chloramine. See the detailed answers below.
Does Boiling Water Remove Chlorine?
Boiling can reduce free chlorine by speeding its dissipation, but it does not guarantee complete removal and is not a reliable household method for reducing chloramine. There is no universal boiling time that guarantees chlorine-free water.
This is different from boiling to kill germs. Follow CDC guidance and local advisory instructions for microbial disinfection. See the WQA chloramine fact sheet for treatment background.
How Long Does Chlorine Take to Evaporate?
There is no single evaporation time that guarantees chlorine-free water. The EPA home water treatment guide recommends leaving an open pitcher in the refrigerator for one to two days (24–48 hours) to reduce chlorine taste and odor. This is taste-and-odor guidance, not a guarantee of complete removal. Results depend on water conditions and the container, and this approach is not reliable for chloramine.
Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Chlorine?
Yes—household reverse osmosis systems commonly reduce chlorine through their carbon filters. The RO membrane handles additional dissolved contaminants; chlorine reduction is primarily the job of the carbon stages. Check the specific system’s reduction claims and replacement schedule. For chloramine, choose carbon treatment explicitly rated for chloramine reduction.
RO may suit households that also want to reduce dissolved salts or other specified contaminants. Compare the model’s documented performance and ongoing filter, membrane, and water costs. Read more about what RO can reduce and the advantages and disadvantages of RO.
PuROTwist 4000: Better-Tasting Water at Your Sink
Made in the USA, with a water-saving RO design and easy filter changes for better-tasting drinking water.
Made for Everyday Drinking Water
- Water-saving design: a 1:1 wastewater ratio—about one gallon sent to the drain per gallon of treated water, under rated conditions.
- Up to 75 gallons per day: four-stage filtration for drinking and cooking water.
- Broader treatment: carbon filtration for chlorine taste and smell, with chloramine and PFAS reduction filtration.
- Simple upkeep: twist-off, quick-change filters.
- Complete setup: includes a designer chrome faucet, tank, and installation kit.
Questions? Our US-based team can help.
Questions Before You Buy?
Is an under-sink RO system right for me?
Consider RO if you need a new drinking-water system and want chlorine reduction plus treatment for additional contaminants covered by the model’s claims. Check cabinet space, faucet installation, and the filter-replacement schedule. If you already own a filtration system, find compatible replacement filters by brand and model.
What does installation involve?
The PuROTwist 4000 includes a designer chrome faucet, storage tank, and installation kit. Review the RO installation guide, product manual, and local plumbing requirements before ordering.
Will it fit under my sink?
Measure the available cabinet space and compare it with the system and tank dimensions. Allow access for filter changes. Check the PuROTwist product specifications or ask our team for help.
How often do filters need replacing?
ESP lists PuROTwist PT4000T75 sediment and carbon filters for replacement every 12 months, and its membrane every 24 months. Follow your model’s instructions and account for water quality and usage. See our RO maintenance guide and filter-replacement instructions.
How much water does RO use?
RO produces a reject-water stream, and efficiency varies by system. ESP lists the PuROTwist 4000 with a 1:1 waste-water ratio. Check the model’s specifications and operating requirements when comparing systems.
Chlorine vs. Chloramine: Why the Difference Matters
Chloramines form when chlorine reacts with ammonia. Monochloramine is the form commonly used for drinking-water disinfection. It persists longer than free chlorine in distribution pipes, which helps utilities control germs as water travels to homes.
A filter that reduces chlorine is not automatically suitable for chloramine. Choose a filter with a documented chloramine-reduction claim, and follow its flow, capacity, and maintenance limits. Check your supplier’s current water-quality report to identify the disinfectant in your water. CDC explains how these disinfectants differ.
Browse chloramine-reduction filters. Check the product’s reduction claims and compatibility before choosing.
Find the Right System or Replacement Filter
Need a new drinking-water system? Shop our under-sink RO systems. Every system we sell includes carbon filters for chlorine removal, plus an RO membrane to reduce additional contaminants.
Already own a filtration system? Use the Replacement Filter Finder to select your system type, brand, and model and find matching parts. Check the cartridge’s reduction claims and compatibility before ordering.
Need Help Identifying Your System?
Don’t know your model? See our RO system identification guide or ask our team for help.
More Chlorine-Removal Questions
Is chlorine in drinking water bad for your health?
Chlorine helps protect drinking water by killing harmful germs. The CDC considers chlorine and chloramine levels up to 4 mg/L safe for drinking. Disinfection byproducts are separate chemicals that can pose health concerns at elevated levels; check your utility’s annual water-quality report for results.
If you prefer to reduce chlorine in your drinking water, every under-sink RO system we sell includes carbon filters for chlorine removal. Already own a filtration system? Find compatible replacement filters by your system’s brand and model. For specific byproduct concerns, check the product’s documented reduction claims.
Why does my tap water suddenly smell more like chlorine?
Your utility may have changed its treatment. Some utilities temporarily switch from chloramine to chlorine to help control biofilm in distribution pipes. A stronger smell alone does not establish an unsafe chlorine level. Check your supplier’s notices or contact it about a noticeable change in taste or smell. The CDC explains why utilities switch disinfectants.
Does boiling water make it safe to drink?
To kill disease-causing germs, the CDC recommends a full rolling boil for 1 minute, or 3 minutes above 6,500 feet. Let the water cool before use and follow local advisory instructions.
This is disinfection guidance, not a guaranteed chlorine-removal time. Heating can reduce free chlorine, but boiling is not a reliable household treatment for chloramine or other chemical contamination.
Can Reverse Osmosis Remove Chloramine?
An RO system can reduce chloramine when it includes carbon treatment specifically designed for that purpose. The RO membrane alone is not a reliable solution. Activated carbon can break down chloramine, but the reaction is slower than for free chlorine, so filter design, capacity, and contact time matter. Catalytic carbon is one option; check the filter’s documented chloramine-reduction claim.
ESP offers the Omnipure Q-Series Q5629 carbon block filter with chloramine reduction. Confirm compatibility and operating limits with our support team. See the WQA chloramine fact sheet for treatment background.
Browse chloramine-reduction filters. Check the product’s reduction claims and compatibility before choosing.
How can I tell whether my water contains chlorine or chloramine?
Check your water supplier’s latest water-quality report or contact the supplier to ask which disinfectant it uses. Confirm whether the supply contains free chlorine or chloramine before choosing treatment. Chloramine requires a filter specifically rated for chloramine reduction.
How do I find the right carbon replacement filter for my system?
Use our Replacement Filter Finder to select your system type, brand, and model and find matching parts. Check the product’s chlorine or chloramine reduction claim. Keep the part number on your existing cartridge handy, and ask our team if you need help confirming compatibility.
How do I know when to replace a chlorine-removal filter?
Follow the manufacturer’s replacement schedule and rated gallon capacity, replacing the cartridge when either limit is reached. The correct interval depends on the model, water use, and water quality. For an RO system, check our filter-maintenance guide and your system’s instructions.
Ready for Better-Tasting Drinking Water?
Find an under-sink RO system with carbon filtration for chlorine removal and treatment for additional contaminants. Compare your options or let our team help you choose.
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