When Should You Replace a Whole Home Water Filter?
A whole home filtration system helps improve the water quality for the water throughout your home. It differs from a system that only filters water in a specific location, such as a filter that you add to your kitchen faucet.
We install a whole home filtration system at the main line where water enters your home. It can improve the taste, appearance, smell and safety of your water.
A whole home filtration system filters out a number of impurities, including sediment, chlorine, mercury and copper. If you have hard water, you can combine a water softener with a filtration system to get the best quality water.
How Often Do You Need to Replace the Filter?
There are general guidelines for the frequency of a filter change. However, the frequency can vary. When we install your system, we’ll discuss this type of maintenance with you.
The true answer to the question about filter change frequency “It depends.” Whole home filtration systems have several different types of filters that need to be changed at different times. In addition, there may be signs that filters need changing earlier than that.
Signs You May Need to Replace Your Water Filter
If you notice any of the following, you may need to change your water filter even if it’s outside the timeline for replacement. However, you might also want to give us a call since some of these things may also be caused by other issues, such as a problem with your hot water heater.
- Low water pressure
- Unpleasant odors
- Discolored or bad-tasting water
- Filter looks dirty
Outside of these issues with your water, you can rely on the guidelines for regular changes. You may be thinking of what is called the “prefilter” when it comes to your whole home system. However, depending on what type of system you have, there may actually be several different types of filters, and how often they need to be changed varies.
Prefilter
Also known as the sediment prefilter, this should be replaced every three to six months in most systems. As the name implies, this is the first filter, and you’ll find it after the shutoff valve for your water but before the water filtration system itself.
However, there are also types of filters that do not need to be changed as frequently. When we install a whole home water filtration system in your home, we’ll show you how to change the prefilter and let you know how often it needs to be done.
Postfilter
Not every type of whole home filtration system includes a postfilter. However, for those that do, this is an additional protection, trapping contaminants that the prefilter did not. If you have one, it usually needs changing at the six to 12 month mark.
There are other components to whole home water filtration systems that act in a filtering capacity as well, and they need to be changed from time to time.
Water Filtration Tank
How long these last vary based on usage, but they should be replaced every five to 10 years.
UV Lamp
Like the post-filter, this is an optional feature. You can add this feature if you’re concerned about viruses and bacteria in your water. The UV rays kill these contaminants. Your UV lamp has a bulb that you need to change whenever it goes out. It usually lasts for about a year.
Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
This is another water filter option. While it’s more common for a reverse osmosis water filter to be fitted under the kitchen sink, there are some whole-home systems as well.
These have several filtering components that must be changed at certain intervals. The pre-filter lasts for one to two years.
The RO membrane is the critical part of this type of system. How frequently it needs to be changed varies based on levels of contamination, but it’s usually every three to five years.
Other components that need to be changed regularly are specialty cartridges and postfilters. With both types, you can choose between filters that last for 1,000 gallons or one year and 2,000 gallons or two years.
Count on Benjamin Franklin Plumbing For All Your Water Filtration Needs
If you’re connected to Pensacola’s municipal water supply, your water is treated for safety. However, it can pick up contaminants on the way to your house. In addition, the chlorine used for disinfectant can affect the taste of your water.
At Pensacola Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we offer water quality solutions that protect your plumbing and will ensure your water looks, smells and tastes great. We can install a whole-home water filtration system for you or take a look at your existing system and let you know if it needs filter changes or other maintenance.
We pride ourselves on our punctuality. If there’s any delay, it’s you we pay. Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing today to discuss how our whole home water filtration systems can improve the quality of the water in your home.
