Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated: May 11, 2023
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Replacing the cartridge of a whole house water filter seems quite simple. You twist the housing, remove the old cartridge, and slide in a new one. Simple, isn’t it?
Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way. Many owners complain that their filter housing or cartridge is badly stuck. Unfortunately, it’s a common problem; but, it can be avoided by making a few simple changes.
Today, we shall go through a few solutions to help you with the hard-to-handle filter housings and cartridges. No more wrestling or wasting hours contemplating your next plan!
Key Takeaways
Whole house water filters work tirelessly to keep your family healthy. However, they require proper maintenance to stay at the top of the game.
Most cartridge-style units are easy to maintain and require periodic replacements of filters.
At times, due to excessive pressure build-up or debris accumulation, the sump gets stuck to the cap.
But no need to panic! We have a few ideas on how you can loosen it up without breaking anything.
You should not attempt to open a whole house water filter canister while it’s still pressurized. For one, it won’t be easy to open, and second, you’ll be inviting a big mess for yourself.
So instead, you should first turn on the system’s bypass valve. Then press the pressure release button on top of the filter (in case there is one) and hold it till you no longer hear the hissing sound of air and water rushing out, which means the system has been depressurized.
If you don’t have a bypass valve, you must turn off the main water supply. Then open the hot and cold faucets around the house to depressurize the water line. Even a little pressure in the plumbing will make it extremely challenging to open the filter housing.
A little extra manpower might do the trick. First, make sure your hands are dry and firmly twist the housing to the left side.
Most whole house water filter systems have a plastic housing wrench included in the package. It’s wise to get the right one for your unit if you don’t have it. Place the wrench as high as it slides on the housing to get maximum hold.
With your other hand, grab the pipeline to brace onto something while you use just enough pressure to loosen the housing.
If it’s still stuck, you can try out these popular ideas that have helped many homeowners.
When one doesn’t work, bring out another one! Use two plastic wrenches and slide them together – one on top of the other. Hold the wrench handles on either side of the housing and twist them both simultaneously.
The added force might be enough to loosen up the housing.
Some people swear by using a metal pipe and the two wrenches to help release a stuck housing.
Hold the two wrenches together and slide them onto the filter canister. Take a metal pipe of about 2 to 3 feet long and slide the hollow pipe onto the wrench handles.
Carefully use the pipe for support while you twist the wrenches to the left. The additional length is enough to give you more leverage.
A metal filter housing wrench is much more powerful and longer than the standard flimsy plastic ones. It is also readily available at local hardware stores. If you’ve broken a few plastic wrenches wrestling with your whole house filter, it’s time to move on to the solid stuff.
You don’t need to apply too much force, and there are fewer chances of breaking a metal wrench. If it still fails, use a pipe for more leverage.
A strap wrench is a heavy-duty wrench used to loosen up cylindrical and rectangular objects. It’s very simple to use. Just wrap it around your whole house filer housing, fix the attachment to the yolk, and attach a ½-inch socket wrench for some torque.
For more support, attach a pipe to the socket wrench.
A rubber strap wrench is a must-have tool that is inexpensive and has multiple uses around the house. If you are getting one specifically for your water filter, buy one that is 20% bigger than the circumference of your filter case to get more leverage.
The most common reason for a whole house filter to get stuck is the buildup of minerals from contaminated water. At times just a little tapping is enough to dislodge the debris, which makes it easier to loosen the housing.
Lightly tap using your hand or use a rubber mallet. Hit on the outside of the filter housing, near the rim.
If all else fails, it’s time to bring out your blow dryer. Applying heat to the plastic housing will help it expand and make it easier to remove. This is why your filters usually become harder to remove in fall and winter as temperatures go down.
Moreover, heat will help soften the hard deposits possibly stuck onto the threads.
The key is to heat the outside of the housing that is jammed. Once it is warm to touch, lightly tap it with a rubber mallet to knock out the housing.
Alternately you can pour warm water or use a warm towel compress directly onto the housing to help the plastic expand. But don’t overdo it, or it will damage the canister and change the shape of the connection point.
If the filter case doesn’t come off by applying mechanical force, use some WD-40 to drench the top of the filter housing. WD-40 will help loosen up the case, but it could also damage the O-ring. So, always keep a few replacements handy.
We have been repeatedly told to move the container towards the left to loosen it. But here is an interesting tip:
To break the tough deposits on the rim, slowly move the container right and then to the left. Do it repeatedly. Simultaneously, apply a little pressure from the bottom and push up the housing. The constant movement may help break down the hard deposits for easy removal.
Filter cartridges can get stuck or hard to remove due to multiple reasons. The most common reason is the buildup of minerals that forms a hard layer.
A stuck filter cartridge is way more troublesome to remove because of constricted space. But we have a few tricks up our sleeve to help you swim through the waters, literally.
Obviously, you must have tried this, but we tend to make a few common mistakes, so it’s better to try the correct technique using our tips. Move the filter cartridge clockwise and anticlockwise repeatedly, using your fingers to root it out.
Using needle-nose pliers allows you to pull out the cartridge easily out of the canister. The pliers grip the cartridge tightly, so you don’t have to cram your fingers in the tiny space.
Slowly twist the cartridge to loosen up the debris, then pull it out.
If you are still nowhere close to removing the stubborn cartridge, you need to bring out your secret weapon: the blow dryer. Since the filter is stuck at the bottom of the housing, apply a little heat down there and let the water deposits melt away.
Follow up by lightly tapping the housing on the floor or use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pull it out.
Replacing a whole house water filter shouldn’t be unmanageable as long as you change your cartridges on time. Here are some other tips to save you from the hassle of a stuck filter.
Perhaps the most obvious reason for a stuck filter is over-tightening the housing it in the first place. Best avoid that and only tighten as much as needed.
Every time you replace your cartridge, inspect the O-rings closely. Make sure they are positioned correctly and replace them with new ones if they are broken, inflexible, or have tiny nicks all over.
Using food-grade silicone grease on your O-rings not only helps create a perfect seal but also eliminates the need to tighten the filter too much. This little trick will save you from a lot of trouble at the time of replacement.
Each new whole house filter cartridge comes with a small O-ring on the bottom to help it sit perfectly in the channel. When you remove your old cartridge, make sure you remove the old O-ring too.
If it stays inside, you won’t be able to fix your housing properly. In fact you may overtighten it to compensate. Therefore, always check the bottom for leftover O-rings and remove them before putting in a new one.
If you have any questions about changing a stuck whole house water filter please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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Tried the rubber strap wrench, hammer, wd40, then plastic wrench. Nothing worked until I tried the hair drier, and by golly, calcium deposits shot off the seal threading, then I was able to break it loose w an angry twist of the plastic wrench.
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