The quality of the tap water that a person uses for domestic and food purposes is of great importance. This is due to the fact that a high concentration of metals, salts and other harmful substances adversely affects not only the operational life of household appliances and plumbing, but also human well-being and health. In order to purify the liquid, various water filters are used. With prolonged use, they become clogged and need to be replaced.
Structure and purpose
When buying water purification filters, the equipment is accompanied by detailed instructions for use and device. Do not neglect these data. Each cartridge has a certain period of operation, after which it ceases to fulfill its functions and pathogenic microflora actively develops in it.
If households use large volumes of water, the filter should be replaced more often than specified. If the volumes are small, you can wait. You should also monitor the speed of passage of water through the filter element. If the fluid cleans slowly, the filter is clogged and must be replaced.
To understand which way to unscrew the main water filter or how to remove the flask without a key, you need to familiarize yourself with the structure of the cartridges. There are several varieties of treatment systems that require replacement of components at the end of their life:
- filters for purification of cold tap water;
- reverse osmosis system equipment;
- mechanical cleaning systems.
The treatment system consists of the following parts:
- replaceable cylinder or rubber seals;
- filter head equipped with a pressure relief button;
- flask.
The cartridge has a cylindrical shape, made of polyethylene, cardboard, polypropylene and activated carbon. The main goal is the mechanical removal of contaminants, salts and metals, solid foreign particles from tap water. The inside is hollow, the filtered liquid is concentrated there. The upper and lower parts are equipped with rubberized rings.
When replacing a cartridge, wizards often face the fact that the water filter is not unscrewed. During operation, the bulb and lid stick to each other. In such situations, a special key solves the problem.
How to unscrew the water filter
The filter plays the role of a kind of sponge. It absorbs dirt and solid particles, poisonous substances, and therefore needs special care. Each manufacturer outlines the approximate terms of use. As a rule, the operational life of the filter does not exceed 8 months.
Before replacing, you need to prepare work equipment. To disassemble the water filter, a special key is required, which is included in the kit. If it was lost, you can purchase at any specialized store. The most important part of the preparatory work is the supply of water that will be needed to clean and wash an unusable filter.
First of all, you need to stop the water supply to the cleaning device. For this, a special crane is closed. If it has not been installed, the complete supply of water to the house or apartment is temporarily suspended.
The next stage is a complete pressure relief in the system. For this, the equipment is equipped with a special button, most often red.If it is not provided for in the model, just use any faucet on the mixer. To prevent active splashing of the liquid, the valve is opened gently and slowly.
Using a special key, the container is untwisted. If the parts are attached to each other, the whole process is complicated. Actions must be careful, otherwise the case may crack. Turns off the filter clockwise.
After complete removal from the device, the cylinder is removed. If the elastic bands located on both sides are well preserved, they can be reused. Before installation, they are thoroughly washed and dried. The flask is also thoroughly washed.
It is strongly discouraged to use store washing chemicals for washing.
A new coarse filter is mounted in a clean flask. The cylinder is secured with a wrench. Gradually, fluid is opened to the purification system. Carefully check the piping for leaks.
Possible problems and solutions
The keys for the water filter are not famous for their excellent quality and, despite their rare use, they often break. In this case, you can always buy a new puller, its cost in specialized stores ranges from 200-300 rubles. However, there is no guarantee that it will not break in a short time. Also available are special tools that can fully replace the removable key.
When replacing a cartridge in a cleaning system, several common problems are often encountered.
- After repeated twisting, the water still leaks. To solve the problem, it is necessary to re-disassemble the entire installation and carefully check the condition of the sealing gum, perhaps they still need to be replaced.
- If you can’t unscrew the cylinder and there is no special key, you need to use simple devices. For example, a regular leather belt or clothesline, a screwdriver or an unnecessary drill bit, a metal twig, a pipe length of 30-40 cm long, an old car timing belt are used as a stripper. In most cases, these devices can solve the problem.
After completion of work, it is forbidden to immediately use the incoming liquid. Approximately 10 minutes are required to continuously drain the water. This will allow you to clean the filter itself from dirt and dust. If these rules are neglected, poisonous substances will be deposited in the liquid, which will negatively affect the well-being and human health. At the end of the flushing, the filter is ready for use.
The demand for purification systems for tap water is growing markedly, since the quality of the water used plays an important role in human life. The liquid, enriched with impurities of salts and metals, contributes to the deposition of sand in the kidneys and the formation of tartar, brittle hair and nails, adversely affects the condition of the skin. To prevent these unpleasant phenomena, you need to monitor the water filter and regularly carry out preventive maintenance.
