Many households are installing water filters to assure they have clean drinking and cooking water. A popular filter system option for homes is the under sink water filter. It takes up space in the cabinet under the sink but is still conveniently out of the way. Like all filter systems, it will require occasional maintenance, and replacing the filter is a simple procedure.
Gather Your Supplies
You do not
need many tools. A filter wrench is recommended to make removing the canister
housings easy. The housings can be removed by hand or with another tool if a
filter wrench is not available. Towels or something else absorbent is also
recommended to wipe up any water that drips. New O-rings may be needed, so it
is good to have those on hand as well. You will also need a pressure gauge and
an air pump of some sort. A bicycle pump will work fine. Of course, you will also need your under sink water filter.
Turn Off the Water Supply
Before
removing any parts, turn off any valves that allow water to flow. Start with
the valve that supplies water to the cabinet. If you have a tank, turn off the
tank valve next. Also turn off any valves on the lines or pipe that connect
your system.
Bleed the Lines
Next, bleed
the lines to reduce water pressure and let out as much water as you can. The
easy way to do this is to turn on the faucet that connects to the water system
and let the water flow out. Turn the faucet back off after the water stops
flowing.
Change the Sediment Filter
If you have
multiple cartridges in your system, the first cartridge is the sediment filter.
Turn the cartridge housing to the left to loosen the housing. Remove the
housing carefully since there will still be some water inside. Remove the
sediment filter and pour out the remaining water. Rinse the housing if there is
still sediment at the bottom. Wash it if it still looks dirty. Inspect the
O-ring in the top of the housing. Replace
it if it is damaged. If it seems dirty, clean it
following the manufacturer’s
instructions. Place the new sediment filter inside the housing. Screw the
housing back onto the bracket. Tighten the housing until it is snug, but not so
tight that the O-ring is over-compressed.
Change the Carbon Filter
Nearly all
filters have carbon filters. If you have one filter on your system, it will
probably be a carbon filter. If you have more, the filters after the first are
likely to be carbon filters. The method for changing the carbon filter is
almost the same as changing the sediment filter. Follow the same instructions
until you get to the carbon filter removal. This time, you will need to inspect
the filter cartridge.
The filter
should have O-rings at each end of the cartridge. Make sure they are not still
in the housing. If they are, when you place the
new filter in the housing, there will be too many O-rings and the
housing and cartridge will not fit. This could make your system leak and not
filter correctly. Take note of the orientation of the carbon filter. Some will
have a specific up and down end depending on the filter system. If there is an
O-ring in the housing, remove it. Inspect the O-ring on the top of the housing
like before and pour out the water. Remove the wrapping from the new carbon
filter and place it in the housing in the correct orientation. Replace the
housing and tighten until snug.
Adjust the Tank Pressure
If your
system has a tank, check the tank pressure and adjust if needed. Remove the
valve cover from your tank. Make sure the tank is empty before taking a reading
to prevent false readings. Take a reading using a pressure gauge. Adjust the
pressure to the recommended psi by bleeding the air or adding air using a pump.
Take a final reading and replace the valve cover.
Turn the Water Back On
Open the
valves to let the water start flowing again. Start with the main water valve at
the back of the cabinet. Then open the valve on the tank and any lines on the
filter system. Check for leaks. Hoses can get bumped or pulled when changing a
filter. Tighten any loose hoses that are leaking. Allow the tank to pressurize.
Run the water for a few minutes to get rid of any air in the system and to
flush out any particles that may have been knocked loose or that will come off
the fresh filters. After that, check for leaks one more time.
Extra Maintenance
O-rings should be replaced at least once a year. They can become brittle or broken. They can also compress too much and no longer provide an adequate seal. They should also be washed with hot soap and water if they look dirty. The housings can also be sanitized by using diluted bleach. Make sure the bleach is completely rinsed off before placing the housing back on the system.
