Water filters remove contaminants, but these drinking water systems are only effective if they stay clean. You should clean your filter about four times a year, as a basic guideline, but each model has its own requirements in the user manual. Below are the basic steps you need to take to clean your water treatment system.

How to Clean Water Filters

1. Shut Off the Water

The first step is turning off the water, as the water filter is connected to your plumbing. Once it’s shut off, check if the water treatment device has a pressure-release valve on it to let the pressure out of the system before you take it apart. It will be a button on the top or side.

2. Take Out the Filter

Your filter will need a special wrench to detach it from the system, or you will be able to unscrew it. Have a bucket or container underneath to catch any water that comes out. Once the filter is out, remove the netting around it, which is designed to keep the paper around the filter in place (this is common with carbon filters). Keep one part of the paper and netting attached so you don’t lose them.

3. Rinse & Soak It

The next step is to spray off the filter to remove the visible buildup. Pleated filters can be sprayed simply, but if you have a carbon filter, make sure you spray both sides of the paper, as well as the carbon filter underneath. If you have a pleated filter, shake excess water off of it, set it in its housing, and then soak it in an oxalic acid solution for 15 minutes. For carbon filters, soak it in a diluted bleach water solution (1 tbsp of bleach for a gallon of water) for up to 10 minutes. 

4. Reinstall It

Pour the acid (neutralize it with several spoonfuls of baking soda first) and bleach mixtures out, and rinse each filter in plain water to remove any traces. For pleated filters, pour water in the housing and replace the filter, then reattach it to the system. For carbon filters, use zip ties to secure the paper and netting back around the filter, clip off the excess lengths, and then attach them to the system. If there’s a pressure release button, turn the water on and allow it to fill, then press the pressure relief valve to let out the air before allowing filtered water to reach your house’s plumbing.

When you need help maintaining your water filter system, contact The Water Source in Wappingers Falls, NY, has over 30 years of experience selling, installing, and repairing drinking water systems in the Hudson Valley. They sell the most efficient products in the industry, as well as professional and courteous technicians. Learn about their residential services online, and call (845) 297-1600 to inquire about systems for your home.