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How often should you service your water filter system?
Most water filter systems need servicing every 6 to 12 months. The exact timing depends on the system, your water source, and how much water you use. The hard part is remembering when a service is due. Most households book the installation, then forget about the filters until the water tastes different or the flow starts to drop. This guide sets out the right intervals by system type, what a service covers, and how to stay ahead of the next change.
Key takeaways:
- Most residential filtration systems need servicing and filter replacement every 6 to 12 months
- Benchtop and portable filters generally need more frequent cartridge changes, usually every 3 to 6 months
- RO membranes last 2 to 4 years, depending on the quality of the source water and only if you replace the pre-filters every 6 to 12 months.
- Water softeners need regular salt top-ups, plus a full service each year
- Water2water tracks your service intervals and sends a reminder before the next service is due.
Interval depends on more than the system type
It depends on the type of system you have, the quality of your source water and how much water your household uses. Here’s a guide to the most popular residential systems.
| System type | Service interval | What the service covers |
| Under-sink sediment and carbon (e.g. Twin Filter System, Maxiflow) | 6 to 12 months | Cartridge replacement, system sanitisation and flush, fittings check |
| Reverse osmosis pre-filters | 6 to 12 months | Pre-filters replacement, membrane check, system sanitisation and flush, fittings check, re-pressurise RO water tank and check total dissolved solids (TDS) and rejection rates |
| Reverse osmosis membrane | 2 to 4 years | Membrane replacement, full system inspection, sanitisation and flushing |
| Whole-house water filter | 6 to 12 months | Cartridge replacement, housing inspection, flow check and system sanitisation |
| Water softener | 12 months | Salt and resin check, brine tank inspection, regeneration test. Most households also need to add salt every 1 to 3 months |
| Portable and benchtop | 3 to 6 months | Cartridge replacement, unit sanitisation and filter housing check |
Replacement cartridges vary by system type, and our water filter cartridge range shows the options available for the most popular residential systems. A system past its service date does not fail on the day. Its performance drops gradually as the cartridge becomes due for replacement. Perth adds chlorine to disinfect mains water, so once the cartridge reaches the end of its service life, chlorine taste and odour return. The NHMRC confirms chlorine residuals and by-products can produce distinctive tastes and odours.
Service intervals can also vary by location and water source. In Karratha, Tom Price, Paraburdoo and across the Pilbara and regional WA, higher sediment and mineral levels shorten the time between filter changes. Bore water systems usually need more frequent filter changes than mains-fed systems in Perth metro homes.
For the full overview of the main residential systems, our under-sink water filter guide explains the water quality issues each system addresses.
We service residential filter systems on 13-week, 26-week and 12-month schedules, depending on the type of system, water source and amount of water used. We will recommend the right servicing and maintenance frequency for your system when we install it.
What factors change your service interval?
For most Perth homes supplied by mains water, servicing every 6 to 12 months is appropriate. Three factors determine how often your filter system needs servicing: household size, quality of the source water, and system type.
Household size. Larger households use and filter more water. A family of five will typically need to replace their filter cartridges more often than a couple. High water-use homes should change their filters more frequently.
Water source. Mains water in Perth metro is consistent and predictable. Bore, dam and tank water carry higher sediment levels and contaminants for cartridges to collect. WA Health advises testing and treating bore water before it is used for drinking, and we will recommend the ideal filter change frequency to protect the quality of your water.
System type. Reverse osmosis systems have two different components that need changing at different frequencies. SSediment and carbon filters usually sit before the RO membrane, with a taste and odour cartridge often placed after it. Change all three every 6 to 12 months. The membrane usually lasts between 2 to 4 years before it should be replaced.
Seasonal variation. WA summers increase water use, and the heat lasts longer in Karratha and across the Pilbara. Filter systems may need more frequent servicing during summer than the calendar suggests. If a service is due before summer, it is worth booking before temperatures peak.
What does a service visit include?
A service visit covers more than swapping a cartridge. When we come out, we look at the whole system. Each visit includes:
- Filter cartridge replacement
- Housing, fittings and connection inspection
- Water flow check
- System sanitisation and flush
- Fan cleaning, where fitted
- Safety check
- Service log card updated
Our experienced team of plumbers and water filtration technicians carries out regular servicing and maintenance visits.
If you move into a home with a Water2water sticker on the filter system, the log card with the system shows the date of the most recent service and when you contact us to arrange a service, we can confirm what system you have, what filters it uses, the service history and the age of the system. The log card is also useful if you sell, so the new owners can see the full system history from day one.
How do you know when your system is due?
Putting the date the next service is due into your calendar is the best way to be sure. Don’t wait for changes in taste or water flow before booking a service. By the time chlorine taste returns at the kitchen tap and the water flow has slowed, replacement of the filter cartridges is almost certainly overdue.
If you have a Water2water filter system, we’ll send a reminder when your next service is due and take care of everything for you. You can book a service online, or if you are not sure when your system was last serviced, call us and we’ll let you know.
If you prefer to replace the filters yourself, we offer DIY Filter Replacement Kits that include replacement cartridges and a housing spanner. If you don’t have time to do it yourself or want total peace of mind when it comes to your drinking water supply, our servicing and maintenance visits include inspecting the plumbing fittings and filter housings, sanitising and flushing your system and updating the log card.
For a full view of the systems we install and service, and how each is maintained, see water filtration for your home.
Frequently Asked Question
Most residential filter systems need servicing and replacing the filters every 6 to 12 months. Portable and benchtop filters need changing every 3 to 6 months. Reverse osmosis membranes usually last 2 to 4 years before they need replacing. Exactly how often depends on your system type, the quality of your source water and how much water you use.
Over time, filter cartridges become less effective and need replacing. Chlorine taste returns and water flow drops. Replacing filters at the recommended intervals helps protect water quality and maintain system performance. If you have a Reverse Osmosis Filter System, changing the pre-filters regularly will also extend the life of the membrane.
Yes. Water quality varies across Western Australia and homes in Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Karratha, Tom Price, Paraburdoo and across the Pilbara often rely on bore or rainwater that has higher levels of sediment and minerals than Perth mains water. Filter cartridges need to work harder, and filter systems may need more frequent servicing to protect water quality. We’ll recommend the right servicing schedule based on your location and water source when we install your system.
Yes, many homeowners have the basic DIY skills needed to replace their own filter cartridges, and we offer DIY Filter Replacement Kits for most of our under-sink water filtration systems. Our full servicing and maintenance visits go a step further by including system flushing, sanitisation, inspection of fittings and updating the service history.
Want to stay ahead of your next service?
Call us on 1300 880 303 and your call will be answered in person by a member of our team. No automated systems, no buttons to press.
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