How often a filter needs changing depends on many factors, including usage and type of filter. Most Borg & Overström customers will need to change their 3M filters between 6 and 12 months. Water filters have a capacity of 4000 litres which would last 12 months, based on a throughput of 10 litres per day.
As a rule of thumb, replace the cartridge filter as soon as you can detect the contaminant by taste or smell. The filter should also be replaced as per the expiry date of the filter stamped by the manufacturer. Once the filter is opened, it should compulsorily be changed within 6 months even if it is not used.
In general, a water purifier can be expected to last between 5 and 10 years before requiring replacement. However, this estimate can vary depending on the factors discussed above. For example, a high-quality water purifier that is used frequently and maintained properly can last up to 10 years or more.
A revolutionary new product from 3M tells workers when they need to replace the filter using a colour changing indicator bar. This visually tracks the course of organic vapours as they travel through the filter, giving wearers plenty of warning that it is coming to the end of its life.
Cleaning and storage
The product MUST NOT be immersed in water/liquid during cleaning. The plastic components of the filters may be wiped with a 3M™ Face Seal Cleaner 105.
Look for changes in the taste, odor or color of your tap and drinking water, as any of these could indicate that your filter needs early replacement or your system needs service. The same is true any time there's a water service interruption or a “boil advisory” issued for your area.
Most household drinking water filters last between 6 to 12 months and need to be changed to maintain effectiveness. However, some filters like those in pitchers have shorter lifespans and may need to be replaced every 1 to 2 months. On the other hand, some whole house water filters can last between 5 to 10 years.
As consumable products, they deteriorate and need to be replaced after a certain amount of time to ensure that they are always producing high quality chilled, boiling, and sparkling water.
Reduced Efficiency: As filters get clogged with contaminants, their efficiency in removing impurities decreases. This means you might be drinking water that's no cleaner than the normal tap water or in some cases, even worse.
Our filters are tested to last their full lifetime: For 1” HVAC air filters, that means three months. For 4”, 5” and 6” deep pleat filters, that means 12 months. For Room Air Purifier filters, that means 6 to 12 months, depending on the type of filter.
Although the 6-month change is standard, the actual lifetime of your refrigerator water filter depends on how many contaminants go through your refrigerator and how much water you and your family consume from the refrigerator supply on a daily basis.
While the outside filter body of encapsulated filters can be wiped down for cleaning and disinfection, do not attempt to clean the filter media inside the filter body.
Dispose of P-Series filters after 40 hours of use or 30 days, whichever is first. For guidance on filter replacement frequency, visit 3M.com/filterchange.
The difference between 2091 and 2097 filters
The 2091 filter cotton is mainly used to reduce the odor of organic vapor and protect ozone gas below the occupational exposure limit concentration; the 2097 filter cotton, in addition to protecting dust, also has an activated carbon layer inside.
Finally, some water filters have an expiry date added as a sticker label. If you've regularly used your water filter and it's now past the expiry date, it's time to order a replacement. Similarly, some water filters also have a visual indicator that will tell you when the cartridge has been fully used up.
The Best Water Filters
We found the iSpring RCC7 is the best under-sink option for most people. It scored at the top for contaminant removal and taste and is relatively inexpensive to operate. Our favorite pitcher is the ZeroWater 10-Cup 5-Stage Pitcher. It scored well for both taste and contaminant removal.
Contaminants Build Up, Hampering Filter Effectiveness
If consumers continue to drink the water directly at this point, they may unknowingly ingest harmful impurities that can negatively impact their health.
In short, no, unused water filters do not expire. There is no set shelf life for water filters, as long as they're not exposed to any moisture. That's the key — moisture is what makes water filters work, and without that, they're sitting pretty and ready for use at any time.
Under-sink water filters can deliver cleaner, better-tasting drinking water the old-fashioned way: from a spout. They're more effective at removing lead, chlorine, and other contaminants than popular refrigerator filters and water filter pitchers.
If your home will be unoccupied for more than a month, there are several things you can do. First, you can turn off your home's water so the filtration unit doesn't receive any more water. You should also turn off the Clean Rinse function so the same water isn't filtered every 14 days.
An expired water filter may no longer effectively remove contaminants, compromising the quality and safety of your drinking water. It can result in poor-tasting water and potentially expose you to harmful substances.
So, when water runs through the saturated filter, it will not filter efficiently. This means that some of the bacteria and other impurities will stay in the water, contaminating it. Drinking water with bacteria can lead to vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, cramps, fatigue, fever, and even fatal condition.