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How to Tell When Water Filters Need Replacing?

How to Tell When Water Filters Need Replacing?

By not changing the water filter, you are basically not getting the same quality water. But when is the best time to replace your filter? How to tell when water filter needs replacing? - Read more to find out.

The first home water filters became available for sale all the way back in 1750. Almost 300 years on the market and water filters are still going strong. And, why wouldn't they? They are such a great and practical invention that we can't help but feel thankful to have the upgraded version today. They remove all kinds of water impurities, improve the taste of the water and take care of our general wellbeing. But, in order for them to do their best job, they need a little help from us. Since water filters have an expected life span, we should ask ourselves - how to tell when water filters need replacing?

Regularly replacing the water filters is an important task that requires your attention. There is no one strict rule when to change different kinds of water filters, but as general guidance - they should be replaced once every 3-6 months. You can always keep track of when the last change was done, but in case it slips your mind - there are a few tell signs that will be able to help you out. Make sure to take notice of all of them, as you don't want to end up with a bad filter.

When Is The Right Time to Change the Water Filter?

The estimated life cycle of the water filters is usually measured in gallons of water. However, even with this guideline in mind, you still need to take additional precautions. The reason for this is there are various factors that might influence the ability of your water filter to actually filter your drinking water.
One example of this might be the quality of your water before filtering. If your tap water has a higher level of contamination, the water filter needs to work a bit harder to remove the impurities. Therefore, this is a situation where a water filter change might be required sooner rather than later.

Another example is hard water - water that is heavy with minerals. The presence of minerals serves as a cause for scale build-up - a cause that will eventually result in a clogged-up filter. Nobody wants that, right?

An extra tip on how to tell when a faucet water filter needs replacing - is the amount of water that your household uses. The recommended gallon measures show the average usage of water per household. If your family is using more water - you might need to make the change faster.

Signs as Clear as Water That Your Water Is No Longer Clear

Even if you take all of the above into consideration, some straightforward signs wouldn't hurt. Here they are:

1. Your Water Smells Strange

Strange smells in your water usually come from chlorine or sulfur. They are not pleasant, and they need to be removed.
A water filter that needs replacing is not always the cause for strange-smelling water. Several other factors can cause a bad odor in your drinking water. But, if replacing the filter fixes the problem, then in all probability, it was the contaminants accumulated in your filter that were causing the smell.

2. Your Water Tastes Strange

When you notice a strange taste in your drinking water, that metallic taste - you have to stop and consider a water filter change. This particular taste comes from hard water - water that contains a build-up of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals work towards building up the scale in your filter, which results in a funky taste.

3. Your Water Flow Rate Is Dropping

If the flow rate of your water drops, it is a sure sign that your water filter needs changing. The cause of the water flow rate change is the contaminants from the water that got stuck in your filter. These contaminants are causing a clog-up, which is the reason why water is not passing through, or passing through at a much slower rate.

4. Your Water Takes a Long Time to Filter

If your water filter is suddenly taking forever to filter your water, when it used to complete the task fairly fast - yes, it's another sign that it needs replacing. The prolonged time your water filter needs now to do its job just means that there is a clogging issue. Nothing you can't resolve with getting a new filter.

5. Your Water Has Floaty Bits or Black Mold

Surely, you wouldn't drink your water with bits and pieces floating around in it. Especially, when you know that those bits and pieces are a product of fungus. The fungus can be responsible for many health issues, so if you notice something floating in your drinking water - you have a bad filter. You should hurry and replace it.

6. Your Water Feels Slippery

We talked about hard water, but this is the opposite problem. Do a little test and try rubbing a drop of your water between your fingers. Does it feel slippery? If your answer is yes, your water is soft. Soft water is water that contains higher concentrations of sodium and potassium ions. Since your filter's job is to remove these - if your water is slippery - this filter needs replacing.

7. Your Water Filter Is Heavily Used

This one might seem like an obvious one, but more often than not, it happens that you forget when your last water filter change happened. As explained above, water filters do have expiration dates. If you have been using yours longer than recommended, it should be a fit for replacement.

Hopefully, all of these signs will help you figure out how to tell when water filters need replacing. Keep in mind that the regular replacement of water filters is ensuring the quality of your drinking water. So, if you notice any of the signs listed above, go ahead and replace your water filter.

FAQs

Should a Water Purifier Be Switched Off?

There are circumstances where your water purifier should be switched off. For example, when you are leaving the house for a longer period, like a vacation - it should be switched off. The same goes for when you are installing or cleaning it. It is also recommended that your water purifier is switched off during freezing water temperatures, hot water flows, or low water supply periods. It is important to note that you shouldn't switch off your water purifier during the night.

How Long Do Water Filters Really Last?

The durability of water filters usually lasts between 3 and 6 months. It all depends on the quality of the product you are purchasing, the correct installation of the water filter, the quality of the water that needs filtering, as well as on the amount of water your household is using.

What Happens if Water Filter Is Not Changed?

Not changing the water filter will result in its contamination. The water filter will become clogged and this will result in changing the taste and the odor of the water. By not changing the water filter, you are basically not getting the same quality water. So, if you want to ensure that your drinking water will remain free of contaminants, make sure you change your water filter on a regular basis.