Depending on the water quality in your home standard sediment water filters can last between a couple of weeks or as long as six months. Replacement of an old water filter is done either on a schedule or when reduced water supply is noticed.
A sediment filter simply traps particles of dirt and debris while allowing water to pass through, but as the filter’s pores become filled a significant reduction in flow will be noticed. My own home is cursed with high iron content from a shallow well and; depending on the season, can become clogged in only a few weeks.
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Steps for replacing the water filter
- Shut off the water on the supply side of the filter. If there isn’t a valve directly before the filter find the main shut off.
- Open a faucet and relieve the water pressure from the line(or the filter casing will be very difficult to turn off).
- If there is a second shut off valve on the downstream side off the filter close that as well.
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Placing a bucket under the water filters casing, twist and pull on the casing. Let the casing and filter fall into the bucket. - An optional step is to flow the line with a bucket directly under the opening of the filter body. Because the filter will slow the water’s velocity a few full flow bucket fulls can remove scale and sediment from the section of piping between the filter and well/water supply.
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Insert the new filter with the open end up and replace the casing, twisting into place. - Keep the valve downstream of the filter closed, quickly open the supply side valve to help seal the casing.
- (optional)Put a sticky note on the filter’s casing as a reminder of when it was last changed.
