If your whole house sediment water filter is leaking from the top:
Clean the filter housing.
Replace the filter cartridge and O-ring if needed.
Use Teflon tape on housing threads.
If the sediment filter leaks from the pressure-relief button:
Check the state of the O-ring.
Clean or replace it if needed.
Apply silicone grease on the O-ring.
Reseat the O-ring properly in its groove.
If the leak is at one of the fittings:
Tighten the fitting.
Finding Out Why Your Sediment Filter Is Leaking
First things first – you need to know exactly why your sediment filter is leaking before taking any further steps. Don’t just blindly attempt to perform different maintenance procedures, hoping that one of them will fix the problem. You risk making things worse by doing that.
Check Filter Housing
The most common source of sediment water filter leaks is the housing. You should start by inspecting it – but make sure to shut off your water supply first! Release the pressure from your filter and drain any water in a bucket. Now you’re ready to take off the housing.
If your filter came with a specific wrench intended for removing the housing, only use that. You risk damaging your housing by using other tools. You might need to apply some force to free the housing if it’s been a while since you last opened it.
Inspect Filter Cartridge
You should replace your filter cartridge regularly as prescribed by the manufacturer. This should typically be done once every 3-12 months for most models on the market. If you delay this too much, your filter could get clogged and start leaking as water can’t pass through it.
Pay attention to the recommended filter replacement times and make sure to follow all of the manufacturer’s guidelines when replacing the cartridge.
Inspect Rubber O-Ring
The O-rings that seal the inputs and outputs of your filter get worn out over time and will eventually need to be replaced.
Sometimes the O-ring could just be dirty, which can compromise its ability to seal off the openings correctly. In this case, fixing the issue is as simple as cleaning around the ring. Otherwise, look into replacing any damaged rings.
Hox to Fix Sediment Filters Leaking from the Top
If your sediment filter is leaking from the top, you will need to perform a more thorough inspection to find out where the problem is coming from and address it properly. This guide should work for most models.
1. Close Water Main
Always start by shutting off the water supply in your home. Ideally, do that directly at the main shutoff valve. Otherwise, at least ensure that there is no water flowing to the filter. Once you’ve done that, you should drain the filter completely. This will prevent any unpleasant water spills once you’ve started taking it apart.
Drain your plumbing as well. This includes the sections immediately before and after the water filter. This might be tricky to do in some plumbing configurations, but it will spare you a lot of trouble once you start disassembling the unit.
2. Remove Filter Housing
Use the wrench included in your filter package (if there was one provided) to unscrew the filter housing. You may need to use a little more force than you expect, especially if it’s been a long time since you last opened it.
3. Clean Filter Housing
You only need warm water, soap, and a soft brush to clean your housing. Don’t use any abrasive chemicals or hard brushes as they could scratch or damage the surface of the housing.
4. Replace O-Ring
Check if any O-rings need to be replaced and swap them out if that’s the case. Otherwise, at least lubricate the rings with food-grade silicone grease. Make sure the ring fits snugly into its spot afterward.
5. Replace Filter Cartridge
Since you probably haven’t taken your filter apart in some time, now is a good time to replace the filter cartridge. This should be done at least once a year for most models. Some models require more frequent replacements – in some cases you have to swap out the cartridge every few months.
6. Use Plumber’s Tape
If there are any leaks originating from your pipe treads, you can use plumber’s tape to seal those. You don’t need to apply too much – one or two layers should be more than enough in most cases. If there’s a bigger gap than that, this usually indicates more serious damage and could call for replacing the pipes completely.
7. Reinstall Filter Housing
Put the housing back into place. Simply follow the procedure you used to remove it, but in reverse. Screw it in tightly but don’t apply too much pressure or you could damage it.
8. Pressurize System
Don’t turn on the water fully right away. For a start, turn it to about 25% to give the system time to pressurize properly. If you open the water main completely all at once, the resulting pressure shift could cause damage to your filter, or at least dislodge the cartridge.
9. Check for Leaks
Leave the water running for a few minutes and inspect the filter for any leaks. Pay attention to the areas you just worked on, especially if you replaced or repaired any parts.
Whole House Water Filter Leaking from Pressure Relief Button
If your filter is leaking from the pressure relief button, this is most often caused by a build-up of dirt or a damaged/misplaced O-ring. In both cases, it’s a relatively simple issue to fix.
Misplaced O-Ring
If the issue is with the O-ring, you’ll want to shut off the main water supply, remove the housing, and take out the affected O-ring. Lubricate it with food-safe grease and put it back in place. If the ring has been damaged too much, you may want to replace it altogether. Then simply screw everything back together.
Dirt
If any sealings become clogged up with dirt, this could lead to the development of small leaks that will grow over time. Take out all O-rings and inspect them for grime and debris. Clean them thoroughly, grease them as described above, and put everything back together.
Leaking Fittings
Leaking fittings are a more serious issue that should be addressed immediately. Otherwise, you run the risk of the problem getting more serious as time proceeds and potentially leading to a flood.
Inspect all fittings and make sure they are tightly screwed in
Don’t apply too much force when screwing any fittings to avoid damaging them
Once you’ve fastened everything properly, leave your water running for a while and look for signs of new leaks
Regular maintenance of your sediment filter is important for preventing leaks and maximizing its service life. How often you’ll need to maintain it depends on your water usage habits and the size of your household. But you should take some time at least every couple of months to ensure everything is in order.
Replace Filter Cartridges According to Schedule
The most important thing when using a water filter is to observe the recommended cartridge replacement times and stick to them as best as possible.
Every manufacturer will have different guidelines in this regard. But in general, you should replace your cartridge at least once a year. In some cases, you might need to do it as often as every three months. This is especially true for large households.
Cleaning
Clean your filter every few months as well. You don’t need to use any special cleaning agents for that – in fact, that’s discouraged as they could potentially damage the system. Warm water and soap are more than enough for this purpose. For scrubbing, use a soft brush and a piece of cloth.
Make sure to cover all parts of the housing, both on the inside and the outside. Always take safety precautions when you’re about to clean your system, like shutting off your water supply, relieving the pressure, and draining your pipes.
O-Ring Maintenance
Perform regular maintenance on your O-rings as well. Clean and lubricate them if they get dirty or dislodged, and replace them once they get damaged too heavily.
Also, keep a supply of spare O-rings handy – they can last a long time in their original packaging, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for bulk discounts.
If you have any questions about sediment filter leaking please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
Gene Fitzgerald is one of the founders of BOS and currently head of content creation. She has 8+ years of experience as a water treatment specialist under her belt making her our senior scientist. Outside of BOS, Gene loves reading books on philosophy & social issues, making music, and hiking.
Learn more about Gene and the rest of the BOS Team.
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Leave a Comment:
Dion Moore says
January 13, 2024
So my pressure relief valve on the top ( red button ) is leaking, I have no clue on how to repair the leak, don’t notice a way of getting the housing apart to find/fix the issue. Not finding much help online either (UGH) Help ??!!
