Water filter manufacturers provide detailed information about the whole house water filter in the manual. The whole-house filter replacement decision depends on various factors, including filter type, material, and water quality.
The whole-house filter replacement may seem costly and confusing. No wonder you asked, “How often to change whole house water filter?” Periodic system maintenance increases the life of your whole-house water filter.
Read the article below to understand when do you need to replace the whole-house water filter:
Key Takeaways
- The decision to replace depends on the type of your whole-house water filter.
- It depends on your water quality.
- It depends on your water usage.
- It also depends on the quality of your filter.
- You may need to replace the whole-house water filter if you do not ensure periodic system maintenance.
What Is a Whole Home Water Filtration System?
A whole-house water filtration system is responsible for filtering the main water supply of your house. Whole-house water filtration systems are pretty popular and effective in certain areas.
Luckily, whole-house water filters remove all the major contaminants from water, such as chlorine, bacteria, and sediments. So, your water will not have a bad odor and taste after passing through your whole-house water filtration system.
Usually, homeowners observe that their whole-house water filtration systems remove cadmium, mercury, and copper from water. You can install whole-house water filtration systems due to different reasons. The contaminants and impurities in your local water supply affect the life of your whole-house water filtration system.
Factors that Influence How Long a Whole House Filter Lasts
Various factors affect the life of your whole-house water filtration system. These factors influence your whole-house water filtration decision:
Filter Type and Material (Filter Media)
Your whole-house filter maintenance depends on its type and usage. For instance, the whole-house water filter maintenance is affected by the replacement of the sediment filter cartridge.
Your Water Quality
You likely have low-quality, hard water in your area. Your whole house water filter may need maintenance more often due to the presence of hard minerals and sediments in your water.
Your Daily Water Usage
Your daily water usage affects the life of your whole-house water filter. It is basically a maintenance issue. You have to replace filters and valves whenever they get clogged. For instance, you can replace the sediment filter after every three months or whenever you feel that it is clogged.
Overall Filter Quality
The overall filter quality affects the performance of your whole-house water filter. Cheap or affordable water filters get clogged or damaged easily. If you are looking for a whole-house water filter, you should buy an expensive or high-quality water filter.
System Maintenance
No matter what type of whole-house water filter you get, it will require system maintenance. System maintenance affects the life and performance of your whole-house water filter. Periodic system maintenance makes sure that your whole-house water filter remains effective and efficient.
How Often to Change Whole Home Water Filters
Your whole-house water filter can carry different forms of filters, such as the sediment filter and the sub-micron-post filter. These filters require maintenance or should be replaced after a certain period.
The average whole-house water filter contains a pre-sediment filter. You can replace it after every 3 months, and in some cases, people replace the pre-sediment filter after every 6 months.
The periodic maintenance schedule for a sub-micron-post-filter is different. Some people replace it after every 9 months. Based on its condition and performance, you can replace it after every twelve months.
Reverse osmosis whole-house water filter systems
The maintenance period of your whole-house reverse osmosis system varies from other whole-house water filtration systems. Usually, people replace filters in their reverse osmosis whole-house water filter system after every 6 months.
It really depends on the condition of your reverse osmosis whole-house water filters. You can replace the filters after every 9 to 12 months.
Ion exchange whole house water filters
You may think about changing the ion exchange whole house water filter after 1 to 3 years. Your ion exchange whole house water filters may need little maintenance after a long time. They are typically classified as ‘water softeners.’ You need to check the salt level in your water softener after every two weeks.
KDF filters
KDF filters require little maintenance, but they are highly effective as they remove heavy metals from your water. Your KDF whole-house water filter should be replaced after 1 or 2 years.
Catalytic-activated carbon filters
Usually, homeowners do not worry about catalytic-activated carbon filters in their whole-house water filters. That’s because they need less or no maintenance at all. Still, it is advisable that you replace the catalytic-activated carbon filters after 12 to 18 months.
Sediment Pre-Filter
You should check the sediment pre-filter of your whole house water filtration system after every three months. Based on the water quality, you can replace the filter after every 3 or 6 months.
Post-Filter
Generally, people check their post-filters after every 6 months. You can replace the post-filters after every 6 to 12 months.
Filtration Tanks
The whole-house filtration tanks need little maintenance. Generally, high-quality water tanks last long. They can last for at least 5 years. You only need to change them when they get damaged or leaked. Generally, water professionals change filtration tanks after 5 to 10 years.
UV Filter (Lamp)
You have to know the lifespan of the UV filter in your whole house water filtration system. The UV filters (lamp) last for at least 6 months. So, you can change the UV filter after 6 to 12 months.
Ultrafiltration
You get ultrafiltration in your whole house water filtration system because it eradicates bacteria and viruses from your water. Based on the condition of your water filter, you may think about changing your ultrafilter after every 6 to 24 months.
Salt-Free Water Softener Filtration Tank
The salt-free water softener filtration tanks have a long life. They can work effectively for over 6 years. So, you may think about changing them after 6 years.
When It’s Time to Change a Whole Home Water Filter
It depends on various factors, including the filter type, water usage, and water quality. Usually, water professionals ask people to check their whole house water filters after every 3 to 6 months.
It does not necessarily mean that you have to change your whole home water filter after 3 months. Certain durable water filters last longer than other filters, and they need little maintenance.
Suppose you have a whole-house ion exchange water filtration system. Your whole house water softener needs little maintenance. So, you should check the salt level in your whole-house water softener after every 2 weeks. But you do not need to replace the whole-house water softener after 2 weeks.
Homeowners become worried when they notice hard water coming out of their whole-house water filtration systems. Do not worry. You may not need to replace or change your whole-house water filter.
The problem can be solved with little periodic maintenance. You just have to make sure that your whole-house water filter is not damaged, leaked, or clogged. As a rule of thumb, you should read the manual while installing the whole-house water filter.
That’s because it ensures that your whole-house water filter is properly installed. The manufacturers provided detailed information about the warranty policies in the manual. You may not need them, but you should read them.
Generally, your whole-house water filtration system can last for a long time. So, you should not think about changing the entire system without a valid reason before 5 years.
Where Is the Whole Home Water Filter Located?
The whole-house water filtration system is installed near the main water supply of your house. The main water supply shut-off valve is located close to your whole-house water filter.
Sometimes people install their whole-house water filters in their garage because that’s where their main water supply is located. In short, the location of your whole-house water filter depends on the location of your main water supply and the shut-off valve.
How Often To Change Whole House Water Filter – Final Thought
The decision to change whole-house water filters depends on various factors, including the type of filter and your water usage. Homeowners should carefully read the manual while installing their whole-house water filtration systems.
There is nothing wrong with seeking professional help, but you may worry about the cost. Generally, you should check the whole-house water filters after every 3 or 6 months.