How To Change A Filter

Knowing how to change a opposite osmosis filter is key if you desire to harness the benefits of these systems for years to come up. In this mail, we'll tell yous everything you need to know nearly doing this, including how often you should change your filter.

Why Should You Change Your Reverse Osmosis Filter?

A faucet used to illustrate the concept of "how to change a reverse osmosis filter."

Your reverse osmosis organisation contains filters designed to trap sediment and other undesirable contaminants. While much of these particles become done away (read more about that here), some will inevitably remain trapped in the filter. Eventually, the filter won't be as effective equally it should be.

When this happens, you'll discover the organisation becomes wasteful and does not purify your water adequately.

How Oft Practise You lot Change Reverse Osmosis Filters?

Our reverse osmosis systems in Phoenix come with either 4 or five stages of filtration. This is partially what makes them then advantageous over other methods of filtration, such as distillation.

Here'due south a breakdown of when each phase by and large needs to be replaced and the considerations you should brand.

Sediment Filters: Annually

Sediment filters trap large particles like dirt and even some chunks of calcification. You can get away with changing your sediment filter once a year every bit long as y'all accept a skillful water softener in identify to catch about of the larger mineral buildup.

If you don't have a softener, your sediment filter is likely working harder than it should every bit these products are not really designed to remove heavy amounts of minerals. As such, you'll need to cheque on it at least twice a year.

Larn more almost installing a water softener hither.

Carbon Filter: Annually

Carbon filters remove chlorine (which does pose some health risks, as we discussed in this article), some particles, and volatile organic compounds. They also remove particles that can make your water taste and scent funny.

You should change your carbon filter at to the lowest degree once a yr to ensure those same harmful contaminants are removed.

Polishing Filter: Annually

No, h2o polishing doesn't brand your water shinier. Rather, it's the removal of microscopic particles and contaminants that exist in very low concentrations. You tin can call up of information technology every bit the crucial "finishing touches" that ensure your water is fully clean and safe for y'all to drink.

How to Change the Filter on a Reverse Osmosis System

Now that you know how often to alter your opposite osmosis filters, let'due south discuss how you actually go about doing this. These instructions are general; make certain you refer to your filter's manual for specific directions.

Footstep ane: Larn the Right Replacement Filters

Replacement opposite osmosis filters aren't merely i-size-fits-all. To avoid damaging your filter's housing, purchase whatever filters the manufacturer recommends.

Once you purchase your replacement filters, keep them in the packaging until yous're set to use them. If you take the filter out prematurely, you lot'll observe that it traps dirt and air from its surroundings, which will reduce its lifespan.

Step 3: When You're Ready to Install, Wash Your Hands Thoroughly

You'll be placing the filter into a tight and damp space. As such, any bacteria yous transfer from your hands onto the filter will abound and fester. To avoid this, wash your hands thoroughly with water and lather before you remove the filter from its packaging and begin the installation process.

Step 4: Prepare the Contrary Osmosis System for Maintenance

You lot'll need to:

close off the h2o supply
shut off the valves leading to your organisation's storage tank and refrigerator (if applicable)
actuate the reverse osmosis featherbed valve (this volition allow water to continue flowing to your faucet, avoiding the filter)

It'due south also a good idea to identify a container (such as a shallow dish) underneath the filter housing. This will catch any h2o that happens to spill out of the system when you unscrew information technology.

Stride 5: Pinpoint Which Housing Contains the Filter You Need to Change

Most reverse osmosis units store the dissimilar types of filters in specific compartments. The exterior of each compartment should accept text indicating what lies inside. Later on y'all've identified which of the aforementioned filters needs replacing, detect the advisable compartment and fix for the next step.

Step 6: Unscrew the Compartment in Question

If the compartment'southward lid or base doesn't unscrew, check the owner's transmission to run into if there'due south another mechanism through which you're supposed to access the filter.

Depending on how tightly the compartment is screwed in, you may demand to use a dedicated wrench. Your reverse osmosis should have come with i accordingly-sized to fit effectually the housing.

Note About Changing Opposite Osmosis Water Filters

If you're looking to modify the bodily reverse osmosis membrane, you'll likely find that there's a dissever compartment resting horizontally above the others. Removing this membrane usually requires pushing on a tab, removing the tubing every bit it comes out, and then pulling the membrane out of that compartment. This membrane tin can often be fairly stuck in place; you might find it necessary to use a pair of pliers to get information technology out.

Other than this footstep (and, naturally, the reverse of information technology on the replacement side), not much differs when it comes to replacing the membrane vs other types of filters.

Footstep seven: Inspect the O-Rings

Near where each compartment screws in, you'll observe at least 1 or two o-rings, as well known as gaskets. At present'south a good fourth dimension to inspect each o-ring to meet if information technology has any tears or other types of damage. If you spot any damage, you lot'll want to replace the o-ring in order to avoid leaking.

If everything looks good, merely shop the o-rings in a rubber spot where they won't get lost or be subjected to impairment.

Pace 8: Remove the Existing Filter and Wash the Housing

The existing filter should very easily slide out of its housing. You can toss this in the trash (make certain you wait into your local disposal regulations so you lot throw it in the right bin).

Once the existing filter has been removed, requite the housing a good rinse. If y'all haven't washed this in a while, yous may discover all kinds of built-up grime inside. Yous tin remove well-nigh of this with a toothbrush if information technology's particularly caked on; you'll likely find, yet, that whatsoever debris comes out fairly hands with h2o pressure from your faucet.

If you lot employ any soap, make sure you completely wash it out before installing the new filter.

Step 9: Insert the New Filter and Set up the Housing for Re-Installation

Your new filter should slide correct into place. If it doesn't fit without you having to force information technology in, you've probable chosen the wrong-sized filter.

Assuming everything fits equally information technology should, still, your adjacent step is to prepare the housing for re-installation. This is fairly simple, for the virtually part; but apply a silicone lubricant to the o-rings and reinsert them into the appropriate spot.

Step 10: Reverse the Actions Taken in Step four

Once you've got everything back in place, you'll need to reactivate your water supply line and switch off any valves you used in step four. This will restore your reverse osmosis system to its operational country.

How to Change the Filter on Reverse Osmosis Systems: Decision

In this post, we answered several cardinal questions, including:

how often exercise y'all modify reverse osmosis filters?
how practice y'all alter filters on reverse osmosis systems?

If you're having trouble getting the job washed and live in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan expanse, we encourage you to become in touch with us at American Abode Water and Air. We've been servicing these types of systems for several decades now and would be happy to lend you a paw.

Oftentimes Asked Questions

Where do you purchase reverse osmosis filters?

Your local home hardware store should behave replacement filters. If yous purchased the filter from a company like American Abode Water and Air, they should as well exist able to provide you a replacement.

How frequently should you change a reverse osmosis filter?

Most internal filters should exist changed annually. If you lot don't have a h2o softener, you may desire to change them twice annually. As for the entire unit of measurement, yous shouldn't have to change information technology until around the 10-yr mark.

Are all reverse osmosis filters the same?

Nope! Those filters all target unlike things. A typically unit of measurement will have filters for sediment, dissolved organic compounds, and chemicals similar chlorine. It's this layering of filters that helps reverse osmosis filters attain 99% removal of

How do I tell if my RO membrane is bad?

You should get in the habit of replacing your reverse osmosis membrane roughly every six months. It won't be completely useless by that point just it volition likely exist rejecting lower amounts of contaminants than it should be.