How Often Should I Replace My Reverse Osmosis Filters

Categories: Blog, Reverse Osmosis

If you have a reverse osmosis water system or are contemplating investing in one, you might be wondering how often you should replace the filters.

RO systems have a filtration process to filter out contaminants in a few different stages, meaning that there are pre-filters, membranes and post-filters. Each of these will require replacement at some point in time.

Replacing your filters is important regular maintenance that should not be skipped. While it can be a bit of a hassle to replace your filters, it is an important step to keeping your water system functioning properly.

Let’s dig a little deeper.

So, How Often Should You Change Your Reverse Osmosis Filter?

The general advice is that your pre-filters should be replaced every 6 months, depending on your water hardness and system. You will also need to replace the membrane every 1 to 3 years.

We are aware these are still very extensive, differing time frames. The actual timeframe will very much depend on your water quality, the usage as well as manufacturer’s recommendations.

How To Tell If Your Filters Need Replacing

One way to keep track of your filters and whether they require replacing is by simply following the manufacturer's instructions. If they say every 6 months, then stick to this schedule. Decide at what point you prefer to replace your pre and post-filters and set yourself a reminder to do so every 6 months.

If you do decide to try stretch your filters, there are some obvious signs to watch out for that will let you know that it is time to replace your filters sooner rather than later. They include:

  • Unpleasant odour coming from your water.
  • Change in taste of your water.
  • Decreased flow rate.
  • If you’re in an area that usually has discoloured water, then increased discolouration can be a sign it’s time to change.

If the recommendation is between 6 and 12 months, decide when to replace your filters based on how much usage your RO system gets. With heavier use, lean towards every 6 months and with less usage, you can safely stretch to 12 months.

How To Tell If Your RO Membrane Needs Replacing

The membrane can be a little harder to gauge as it is dependent on so many factors. The membrane is the heart of your filter system as it does all the heavy lifting by removing minerals, pesticides, heavy metals and other nasties.

Whether you need to replace your membrane after one year or three years is going to depend on the overall usage of your reverse osmosis system, the water hardness in your area as well as the water quality. With fewer contaminants to eliminate, the membrane will last a bit longer. When your water quality isn’t the best, then the membrane will need to be replaced more often. Another factor to consider is if your carbon pre-filter has expired and doesn’t effectively remove chlorine, this can damage the membrane prematurely and cause a need for replacement.

Buying Replacement Filters

At Finerfilters, we not only sell new reverse osmosis systems, but we also sell any replacement filters or membranes you might need.

If you have questions about how often you should replace your reverse osmosis filters, simply reach out to our customer service team. They will be happy to answer any questions you might have and provide you with replacement options for your dedicated RO system.