We all know how important it is to have a whole-house water filter. It helps us filter the water much more efficiently and is also responsible for enhancing the durability of other home water appliances. Apart from this, we cannot delay the changing/replacement of the whole house water filter because it helps us maintain the water quality of the whole house.
On every part of the earth, water quality is deteriorating daily. The whole house water filter is equipment that saves us from all the water-related risks, apart from solving the other issues with water. So whenever there is something wrong with your water filter, you can easily hire a plumber to make an inspection. But it can be a very hectic and costly task. So to save you from all the hustle, we will discuss how you can efficiently change a whole house water filter in simple steps.
What Are the Necessary Components to Keep in Mind While Changing the Whole House Water Filter?
There are a few specific instructions or requirements that you should fulfill before deciding to change the whole house water filter by yourself.
The first requirement is proper knowledge of your house’s plumbing systems. It should be one of the most important requirements on your checklist before you move further in the process. Apart from this, ensure all appliances or water taps (of all the houses) are off. You can also do this by simply preventing water flow from the main water supply and using the shut-off valve option. Furthermore, ensure that all the pipes in your house are fully empty or there is no remaining water. This will help you to work efficiently without thinking more about the water supply or leakage.
You should also have some basic plumbing tools that help you perform your task more easily and conveniently. For example, adjustable wrench, filter wrench, Silicon grease, rags/extra cloth, bucket, replacement cartridge, etc. You can also take a bucket with soapy water and household bleach, which will help you clean the nearby places. This is optional because replacement does not require cleaning the nearby places of the pipe, but if you want, you can keep these requirements to yourself to clean the pipe.
Step-by-Step Process to Remove or Change the Whole House Water Filter
Changing a whole house water filter can be complex if you don’t have any machinery knowledge. But here, we will go through this process in a step-by-step process so that it would be easier for you to understand.
Apart from this, if you have the instruction manual, you can also go through it to learn more about the manufacturer’s or brand’s specifications. The instruction manual will be provided along with the whole house water filter packaging, so you don’t have to search anywhere or ask the manufacturer for other details.
Below are the step-by-step instructions to perform the process:
- Step 1
As mentioned earlier, turn off the water supply, and make sure all the taps, as well as the valves, are closed. After this, ensure you have emptied or drained all the remaining water from the taps. Next, open the nearby faucet and let it run until and unless it has no water supply.
Note: If you have an outlet valve, make sure you close it, as it will help you to stop the draining back of the water supply in the house.
- Step 2
With a wrench’s help, unscrew the first housing. Now dispose of everything by placing a bucket underneath. This part may have a lot of dirt on it because it is one of the most typical components of your plumbing system. There is a huge probability that it would have several bacteria, so make sure you are using gloves. Apart from this, you can also use household bleach or soapy water to clean it properly.
Note: Cleaning is an optional process that varies from customer to customer. Although, the cleaning will help you to make your upcoming steps much easier.
- Step 3
With the help of food-grade silicone grease, lubricate the O-ring properly. If you believe the older one needs to be in better shape or has gone rusty, replace it. Even if you use it for temporarily, make sure you change it with the other one very soon.
- Step 4
Now, at the housing, place the new cartridge and screw it back properly. Tighten it until and unless they are properly sealed. Ensure you are tightening properly because under-tightening and over-tightening can cause leakage and other issues in your plumbing system.
- Step 5
We are all done with changing the whole house water filter, but there is still some task. Turn back the water supply to verify if you perform the job well. Open all the valves, and check properly for any leakage. Keep the water running for about 1-2 minutes to check for any leakage properly, and also pay attention to all the housings.
- Step 6
If there is no leakage, you have successfully replaced the whole house water filter. But if it does, then make sure you are performing the whole process again and making the connections at the housing very properly. Understand your mistakes while you properly inspect every housing.
We hope the above step-by-step process is understandable and you will only have to invest a little bit of time in replacing the whole house water filter. Keep the above things in mind and all the necessary equipment while performing the replacement process. This will automatically help you to perform the task in a few minutes, and you will not have to stick with the same task for the whole day.
Also Read:- Tap Water vs Bottled Water: Which One is Healthier?
How Often Shall I Replace or Change the Whole House Water Filter?
Changing a whole house water filter depends on several factors, for example, the brand, flow rate, capacity, equipment size, the water quality in your area ( which varies from one part to the other), water usage, etc. So there is no universal period or month in which we can suggest you replace or change the whole house water filter.
But you should inspect it periodically once in about six months to know whether you should change the water filter. Apart from this, asking the manufacturer about the replacement or changing of the whole house water filter initially is the best option to perform this process.
Most post-filters can work for about 9 to 12 months and do not require maintenance or any changes. In conclusion, we recommend you change the water filter every six months, or you can inspect it to see if it is working properly. If you believe the water filter’s efficiency is not good, you can replace it with a new one. If you want to know more about the specific time frames, then you can call the customer care center of the manufacturer and ask them by providing the details of your equipment and the model number.
What Would Happen if I Did Not Change the Whole House Water Filter?
Changing the whole house water filter is one of the most important tasks and a component of having a water filter at your house. Because if you are not changing the water filter, you are getting the same quality water supplied to your house. For example, if you had installed the whole house water filter to solve the problem of high magnesium content, then that means you are getting the same water. This is because your water filter is of no use. So to prevent this, make sure you are periodically checking the functioning of whole house water filters and replacing it periodically.
As mentioned in the above sections, your whole house water filter helps enhance your water appliance’s durability, like a washing machine, water heater, etc. But, if you don’t change the whole house water, you will also not get these additional advantages.
As a concluding statement, not changing the whole house water filter not only puts your health in danger but also negatively impacts the other water appliances at your house.
FAQ’s
Removing a whole-house filter for whatever reason may come with a few challenges. We’ve highlighted some of the questions many face when trying to remove this filter with their answers.
Do I need professional help to change a whole house water filter?
We recommend you hire professional help to change your whole house water filter if it is one of the easiest tasks that can be performed, even when you have machinery knowledge. Then, you have to follow the above mentioned step to step guide, and you’re done with your task. But if you don’t have time, we recommend hiring professional help.
Why should I keep the tap running for about 1-2 minutes after changing the filter?
It is not a mandatory process, but we recommend you perform this because it will help you better know about the leakages. Then, if there is any leakage, you can instantly work on your mistakes to avoid further damage. Apart from this, the filter is new, so keeping the tap running will help you clean the filter and clear all the debris.
How often shall I change the whole house water filter?
Changing a whole house water filter depends on several factors in this article. We recommend you check every 3 to 6 months to get a better idea of changing the filter based on its efficiency. Furthermore, you can always call the customer care center or the manufacturers to learn more about this.
What tools and supplies will I need to remove my whole-house water filter system?
While the tools will vary depending on the type of filter unit and its installation method, some standard tools include filter housing wrench(s), an empty bowl, PVC, similar piping material as the main water line, and fittings.
What do I do with the removed filter unit?
Sell or donate units still in good condition and dispose of damaged systems. Ensure you follow locale guidelines for the disposal or recycling of electronic waste.
How do I safely disconnect electrical connections?
Some systems have accompanying electrical connections powering the control panel or pump. Where this is the case, turning off the power supply to the unit before detaching the wires is critical.
Conclusion
Whether the water supply in our house is from the well water or the municipality, we always want to ensure that the water we consume is of the best quality. And that is why the whole-house water filter has become the most demandable water equipment in today’s world. Therefore, installing and changing the whole house water filter in a periodic manner is a very important task for water filter owners.
This article talked about how you can easily change the whole house water filter so that you don’t have to invest a lot of money and time in hiring a plumber. We hope that the article helped you provide the knowledge and that you will use it wisely to perform this process.