Opting to use a water filter so that you can drink clean water rather than lugging around bottles is a great investment, plus it’s a lot better for the environment. This is what you need to know in order to make sure that your water filter replacement is done at the right time.
You don’t want to wait too long to replace your filter since unclean water can be dangerous, but you also don’t want to replace it too often, which leads to wasted money. Whether you have a carbon or osmosis filter, you will still need to replace them.
Here are some of our most helpful tips when it comes to making sure that your water filter is functioning at its best at all times:
Odor
Smiling something funky like chlorine or sulphur in your drinking water can be caused by a variety of different things. But if your water filter is no longer getting rid of these things, then you most likely will need to replace it.
Floating Bits Or Black Mold
Are you noticing more and more floating specks or even some black mold in your filtered water? Black mold is a type of fungus that can cause a myriad of health problems should you ingest it regularly. If you do find mold in your water, you will have to give the whole water unit a good cleaning out using disinfectants and remember to also replace the filter with a brand new one because mold spores will likely be in the filter as well. For added protection, make sure you wash your hands once you are finished handling your old filter to prevent contaminating your new filter when you put it in your system.
Slippery Feeling Water
If your filtered water feels slippery between your fingers, then this usually is a sign that the water is soft. If your water is normally soft (meaning it contains higher concentrations of sodium and potassium ions) even after it gets filtered, this is another sign that your filter is not doing its job properly and it needs to be replaced.
Metallic Tasting Or Scale Build-up
If this is what is happening to your water, then you have hard water. Hard water is caused by a build-up of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which leaves behind a scaly build-up on your water filter. Plus, if your filter water has started to taste a little metallic, then that is also a sign of hard water and it’s time for a new one.
Filtering Speed Is Slow
If your system is taking forever to filter water when it used to be faster, then it is likely getting clogged up and is ready to either be cleaned or replaced. For systems that use reverse osmosis, if the filters are old or not functioning well, it can take up to six hours to fill a standard tank. If the filter is new, it should only take two to four hours.