How To Change A Home Water Filter

Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated: Mar 14, 2022

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Almost all whole house water filters require a little scrap of maintenance every once in a while to perform at their best. Timely cartridge replacements usually practise the fob.

Only how do you practise that actually and how often practise you lot have to change filters? And what happens if y'all fail your duties? Don't worry, we've got you covered.

Contents

Whole business firm water filter replacement
- Tools & accessories needed
- Footstep-by-step instructions
- Video
- What if I'one thousand on a well?
Help, my filter housing is stuck!
How often to change a whole house water filter
What happens if you don't replace your filter?

Whole Firm Water Filter Replacement

Replacing a whole house water filter is affair of minutes equally long as you have all the necessary tools and accessories at hand and know what yous are doing. You don't? Well, then this will help you out:

Tools & Accessories Needed

Replacement cartridge
Housing wrench
Bucket
Bucket with soapy water (optional)
Household bleach (optional)

Stride-by-Footstep Instructions

Stride i is always to plow off the h2o supply. To do that, close the valve at the main water line or the inlet valve right before your filter in case you have installed an actress one. Information technology's also possible that the unit features a built-in valve that you tin close.
Open the nearest faucets or other outlets to drain as many of the remaining water every bit possible. Nigh of the water will exist out of your plumbing system once you run into a pregnant drop in period rate and pressure.
If yous also have an outlet valve, now is the time to close information technology. This volition end water from draining back from your business firm.
Press and hold the pressure relief push on each filter housing for a couple of seconds just to make sure that you are not dealing with overpressure.
Unscrew the (first) housing with the assist of the wrench. Accept an empty bucket at the set to collect spilling water.
Remove the quondam cartridge from inside the housing. Throw it in the empty bucket for now and remember to dispose it appropriately when you are done.
Optional: The housings are a typical component where dirt and leaner are likely to accumulate. Thus it is always a good idea to clean their within with soapy water or household bleach and a brush. Thoroughly rinse with plain h2o after.
Lubricate the housing's O-ring with food-grade silicone grease and make sure that information technology is seated level in place. If the O-band is not in skillful shape anymore, replace it.
Identify a new cartridge inside the housing and screw it back on. It should exist enough to tighten by paw – a properly seated O-ring will prevent any leakages.
At present you can slowly plow the water supply back on. Open all valves upstream of the system.
Check for leaks. Pay special attending to all housings that you just removed.
In instance of leaks, speedily turn off the water supply and carefully tighten any connections to stop the dripping.
Now yous can open up the h2o supply for adept every bit well equally all valves leading abroad from the unit of measurement.
Open several faucets to affluent the new cartridge for a couple of minutes (see manufacturer instructions). This will also assist to purge whatsoever air from your plumbing.
In one case h2o pressure and menstruation rate are dorsum to normal close all faucets and you are done!

Video

Too lazy; didn't read? Check out this video:

What If I'm on a Well?

This doesn't really thing. Irresolute a well h2o filter works exactly the same like replacing one on a city supply.

Help, My Filter Housing Is Stuck!

If your filter housing is stuck and y'all've already opened 1 or more than faucets to release some of the pressure inside of it and you've also used the force per unit area release button at the top, do not despair just yet!

At that place are a couple of things that might help:

Sometimes it is enough to tap on the filter head outside the thread.
Utilise a pilus dryer and accident hot air on the top.
Use the wrench and push information technology as far upwardly the housing as possible. With your free hand support the filter bracket. Endeavour to plough the wrench in clockwise direction (looking downward on the filter). If that doesn't help utilize some additional leverage like a tube. If you have a plastic wrench and information technology starts to bend you might crave a metal i. Another cool trick is to use ii plastic wrenches simultaneously.

Didn't exercise the play a trick on? Then information technology'due south probably best to remove the entire unit from the h2o line and carefully grip it in a vice. At present you tin can open the housing with brute force. If you are ill of your old filter, check out our whole house water filter reviews to find a new i.

How can you forestall this from happening again? Kickoff of all, make sure that the O-ring is intact and free from clay. If you lot find whatsoever cracks or other defects supercede the O-band. And then lubricate it with nutrient-course silicone grease equally nosotros've mentioned above. Too, make certain that its seat and the contact surface inside the head is clean.

How Ofttimes to Change a Whole House H2o Filter

How often you need to alter the filter(south) of your whole house organization depends on a couple of factors:

Their blazon, size and capacity (rated in gallons and/or months)
Feed water quality (more impurities volition decrease filter lifespan and therefore increase replacement frequency)
- Well vs. city h2o
- Sediment and iron content
- Water hardness
- Other impurities
How much water y'all use on a daily basis

Equally a full general dominion, virtually filters will last anywhere betwixt 1 and 6 months. Sediment pre-filters require the virtually frequent changes, whereas carbon filters have a higher life expectancy. Mail service-filters can last upward to 9-12 months.

Water Filter Cartridge

Helpful indicators are discoloration and unpleasant taste/odor every bit well as a driblet in h2o pressure level and catamenia rate which are hints that your filter has exceeded its chapters and is clogged.

You can too learn from the old cartridge. What condition is it in at the time of replacement? If it still looks make-new, perhaps use it for a flake longer. If it's super dirty and worn out, change before next time.

We also propose yous to consult your transmission or contact the manufacturer directly. The customer support volition requite y'all a more specific time frame.

What Happens If You Don't Replace Your Filter?

What happens if you don't modify your filter according to plan? It will lose its filtering efficiency. For instance:

An old sediment filter that is supposed to trap particles such every bit rust volition allow some of the contaminants to pass through, which volition and then stop upwardly in your drinking glass and also compromise the performance of your other home appliances. Worst case scenario: The lifespan of your water heater, washing car, dishwasher, etc. will be shortened.

What'south more, nigh water experts recommend to supercede cartridges at least once a year to prevent germs like bacteria and mold from growing inside of it. This is something y'all accept to avert at all costs to protect your health.

If you take any questions about how to change a whole house water filter, delight don't hesitate to get out a comment below!

About the Author Gene Fitzgerald

Gene Fitzgerald has been with BOS since the very beginning. She is caput of content creation and has fully immersed herself into the home water treatment industry but to get an practiced herself. Outside of BOS, Cistron loves reading books on philosophy & social issues, making music, and hiking.
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