How often big blue carbon filter replacement? Know the right time!

Okay, so, I’ve been meaning to get around to this for a while now, and today was finally the day. I’m talking about replacing the big blue carbon filter in my house. I noticed the water pressure was getting a bit weak, and the water started to taste a little, you know, not so fresh. So, I figured it was time.

First things first, I went and turned off the main water supply to the whole house. You don’t want water spraying everywhere when you start messing with the filter housing, trust me. I may have learned it the hard way in the past.

Next, I grabbed that big blue wrench that came with the filter housing. It’s this giant plastic thing, and honestly, it’s a bit of a pain to use, but it gets the job done. I placed it around the housing and gave it a good twist. These things can get pretty tight, so I really had to put some muscle into it. Finally, it loosened up, and I was able to unscrew the housing the rest of the way by hand.

Inside The Filter

• The old filter was, well, let’s just say it was ready to be replaced.
• It was a dark gray, almost black, and definitely not the clean blue color it was supposed to be.
• I pulled it out and immediately noticed the difference.

I took the new filter, which I picked up a while back, just a standard big blue carbon filter, nothing fancy. And I have to say, it’s much better to get a high-quality one. I slotted it into the housing, making sure it was properly seated.

Then came the slightly tricky part – screwing the housing back on. I always find it a bit fiddly to get the threads lined up just right. But with a bit of patience, I managed to get it back on, nice and tight. I used the wrench again to give it a final tighten, just to make sure it wouldn’t leak.

With that done, I slowly turned the main water supply back on. I kept a close eye on the filter housing, checking for any leaks. Thankfully, it was all good. No leaks. And the water pressure? Back to normal, maybe even a bit better than before.

Now, I ran the tap for a few minutes, just to flush out any loose carbon or air in the system. At first, the water was a bit cloudy, but it quickly cleared up. And the taste? So much better. Clean and fresh, just like it should be. It’s generally said that you should change your carbon water filter every 3 to 6 months. But if you start to see the water flow slowing down, or taste and smell going bad, just change it.

So yeah, that’s my little adventure in filter replacement. It’s not the most exciting thing in the world, but it’s definitely one of those little home maintenance tasks that makes a big difference. And hey, at least I didn’t have to call a plumber, right? Saved myself a few bucks there!

Oh, and just a little tip, I would suggest that you buy the “Pentair Pentek NCP-20BB Big Blue Carbon Sediment” filter. This one’s good.

Anyway, that’s it for now. I just wanted to share this experience with you all. Hope it helps someone out there. Peace out!