How To Replace a Water Filter

A water filter helps remove harmful toxins from your water supply and can purify the water up to 99.9 percent in many cases. There are several kinds of home water filters that can be installed directly to your main water pipe (home water main) or to a single appliance, such as your refrigerator or kitchen faucet. Regardless of where your filter is installed, all water filters are replaced in a similar fashion.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdriver or wrench
• Replacement water filter

1. Turn off your water by shutting off the main water pipe valve in your home. This is critical if you are replacing a whole-house water filter, which is attached to the incoming cold water pipe.

2. Loosen the clamp or screw that secures the existing water filter to the filter housing, or that keeps the housing closed. Smaller water filters for a refrigerator simply clip to the plastic water pipe that runs from the sink, others will be contained inside the filter housing, which connects to the pipe or faucet head.

3. Detach the filter by twisting it and sliding it out of the housing. Follow the instructions on the replacement water filter package with regard to which direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, to turn the filter.

4. Insert the new water filter by sliding it into the housing, turning and locking the filter in place. Again, refer to the replacement filter's package instructions as they relate to your particular filter.

References

• Refrigerator water filters
• Whole house water filters

Resources

• Water filters