Water Filter Cartridge Replacement and Servicing Guide

How to maintain your under-sink water filter system

Under-sink water filter cartridges need replacing every 6 to 12 months. Timing depends on how much water your household uses, the quality of your source water and the type of filter system. 

In Karratha, Tom Price, Paraburdoo and across the Pilbara and regional WA, higher sediment and mineral levels can shorten the time between filter changes. A servicing and maintenance visit covers more than simply replacing water filter cartridges. It includes sanitising and flushing the system, checking filter housings, fittings, and water flow, and keeps everything working efficiently.

When you install a water filter system, the water tastes better and it’s easy to stop thinking about the system after that. But the filter cartridge behind great-tasting water has a shelf-life. Over time, filters become clogged with the sediment and contaminants they collect, and the water gradually stops tasting as good as it did on installation day.

How often does a water filter cartridge need replacing?

Under-sink sediment and carbon cartridges need replacing every 6 to 12 months. Whole-house filter cartridges run on the same 6 to 12 month cycle.

Reverse osmosis (RO) pre-filters are usually a combination of sediment and carbon and follow the same interval. RO membranes last longer, typically 2 to 4 years, and need to be tracked separately from the cartridges. 

The quality of the water source can affect the frequency of filter changes significantly. Higher sediment and mineral content in the water can shorten cartridge life. In the Pilbara, including Karratha, Tom Price and Paraburdoo, systems work harder and cartridges need replacing more frequently.

During a routine service and maintenance visit, we replace all the filters connected to a filtration system, including any RO pre- and post-filters.

If you are not sure where your system sits, the installation guide covers what to expect from the service schedule for your type of filter system.

Three signs your water filter cartridge needs changing

A filter cartridge gives a few clues before performance and water quality drops. Here is what to watch for: 

• Taste. A carbon cartridge that is overdue stops reducing chlorine taste and odour. The water starts tasting the way it did before the filter was there.
• Flow rate. Sediment and particles accumulate in the filter media over time. When the cartridge fills up, the tap runs slower than it should.
• The calendar. The most reliable signal of the three. By the time taste or flow changes, the cartridge is already past its service life. The interval, not the change in taste or flow, is the best trigger for replacement.

If you are not sure when your system was last serviced, give us a call. We can check the log and work out what your system needs. We track the service history, so you don’t have to. That is the kind of thing we sort out every day. 

DIY cartridge change or a full service visit?

In Western Australia, homeowners can legally replace a water filter cartridge themselves, without a licensed plumber. The WA Government confirmed this as a permitted DIY task following plumbing regulation reforms in February 2024.

We offer DIY Filter Replacement Kits and replacement filter cartridges for customers who prefer to handle the cartridge swap themselves. If you are comfortable with the task and your system is accessible, changing the filters yourself is relatively easy.

What a DIY filter change does not cover is the system sanitisation, flushing, inspection of the filter housing and fittings and keeping an electronic service history log, which can be useful when it comes to selling your home. 

Our servicing and maintenance plans offer a simple, cost-effective way to keep your filters regularly replaced, drinking water tasting great and your system performing efficiently. We take care of everything, including automatic reminders when it’s time to change the filters.

What a service visit covers

When we come out, we look at the whole system. We check the filter housing, fittings, connections, and water flow. Before we leave, we sanitise and flush the system and update the log card, so the next visit has a clear service history to work from.

If you move into a home with a Water2water sticker on the filter system or water cooler, get in touch. Our asset records can help identify the system and check its service history. 

We have a long-serving team of plumbers and water filtration technicians, and their skill and experience make it easier to identify anything that needs attention beyond the cartridge replacement.

It’s the kind of service our customers tell us about often. Here’s what one Perth customer had to say:
“It was lovely to meet you and all the staff there and thank you for the great service you gave us. It was so good for us to be able to drop off our unit and pick it up later in the day, and the new water tastes wonderful. Thank you for the complimentary bits and pieces. We are really happy to have found you guys. We’ll be back.”

We’ll contact you when your next service is due, and we always do what we say we will do, when we say we will do it. You can find out more about our servicing and maintenance and book your next service online.

The cost of delaying a service

Without regular servicing and filter replacement, water filtration systems become less effective and drinking water quality can decline over time.

A routine service and maintenance visit includes filter replacement, system sanitisation, flushing, and inspection of the housings, fittings, and connections. It is far more cost-effective than dealing with preventable breakdowns, unexpected repair costs or interruptions to your filtered water supply.

Water2water has been servicing and maintaining water filtration systems across Perth and the Pilbara for over 25 years. Regular servicing helps identify small issues before they become larger, more expensive problems and ensures your system continues to deliver the water quality you expect.

Our automated service reminders make it easy to stay on top of maintenance and keep your system performing as it should.