How long do the filters last?

Tap water sources are going to vary in terms of what kind of contaminants and how much of those contaminants are in the water. This means your RO filters will exhaust at different rates specific to your usage and water quality. The best approach is to use your pressure gauge, TDS meter, and total chlorine test strips to accurately monitor your filters to determine when they need to be swapped out.  

That being said, this is the general or average time frame for how long the RO/DI filters will last under normal use and reasonable tap water conditions. Use these timeframes only as a guideline or baseline, then adjust based on your particular system's performance. 

  • Sediment Filter: 6 -12 months
  • Carbon Block: No more than 12 months
  • DI resin: When 75% of the resin has changed color. This time frame varies drastically based on the particular contaminants in your water. 

When should I replace my RO/DI filters?

It is best to use your pressure gauge, TDS meter, and total chlorine test strips to frequently monitor your RO/DI filters on time. This ensures you do not accidentally allow contaminants through the RO/DI system because of exhausted filters but also ensures your not prematurely swapping out the filters, getting the most for your money. 

Sediment Filter: Use the pressure gauge to monitor water pressure through the sediment filter. When pressure drops, the filter is clogged up and needs replacing. If the filter starts to discolor but the pressure seems normal, go ahead and replace it anyway. Replacing your sediment filter often helps extend the life of downstream filters which are more expensive. 

Carbon Filter: Use chlorine tests strips to test for the presence of chloramines.  A carbon block filter can clog up as well which causes a drop in pressure but most likely the sediment filter is going to clog first. If 12 months has passed without a replacement, you probably should swap it out just to be safe. 

DI Resin: Your product water coming out of the DI filter should always read 0 ppm using a TDS meter, anything more and it is time to replace the DI resin. Color-changing DI resin provides a good visual indicator where you can see the gradual change in color as the resin becomes exhausted. Don't wait until 100% of the resin has changed color, always change it right around 75% color-change.

**Pro Tip: If your tap water (before filtration) measures with a TDS level below 100 ppm, your filters will probably last much longer compared to a situation where the tap water measures with a TDS level of 300 ppm or more. Additionally, if you produce 20 gallons of RO water each month, your filters will last much longer compared to producing 100 gallons each month.  

Watch Video To Learn More: How to Know When to Change your RO/DI Filters - Reverse Osmosis Maintenance

Which order do the filters go in my RO/DI?  Which filter goes first?

The following can be used to reference the order of the filters from left to right.

  • 4 stage: Sediment > Carbon > DI resin
  • 5 stage: Sediment > Carbon > Carbon > Mixed Bed DI resin
  • 6 stage: Sediment > Carbon > Carbon > Mixed Bed DI resin > Mixed Bed DI resin
  • 7 stage: Sediment > Carbon > Carbon > Cation DI resin > Anion DI resin > Mixed Bed DI resin

Labeling each canister upon installation is the best way to remember the order in which the filters go.  This is important for proper function and inserting them incorrectly will ruin the filters in some cases.

How do I replace the RO/DI filters?

Always turn off the water source before replacing the filters. Grab a towel and a bucket, you will spill water. Work in order from left to right, starting with the sediment filter.

  1. Use the wrench to loosen the canister
  2. Discard the remaining water and remove the old filter
  3. Insert the new filter
  4. Tighten the canister back onto the bracket/lid

The sediment and carbon filters do not have a top or bottom end, they can go into the canister either way. The DI canister, on the other hand, must be inserted correctly with the flanged end of the canister on the top. The canister has an arrow that should be pointing up, indicating the top of the canister.

If you are using refillable DI canisters, refill the canister with resin and pack it tightly before placing it back into your RO/DI system. All of the BRS replacement RO/DI filter kits are universal meaning they will work in any standard 10" RO/DI system on the market.