Top 5 Tips for Water Filters - How to change stuck water filters - Rainwater Harvesting

[@ColonyChristchurch]

Your "home-made" strap wrench saved me. I had to change the filters only to find the water filter canisters had been overtightened by a plumber. 8pm and I was pulling my hair out. Your video enabled me to get the job done. Many thanks!!!

[@GrantBurton]

Thats great news... Glad I could help. Were you able to put some silicone grease onto the o-rings so its easier to remove next time? Sometimes the o-rings bite and get stuck, even when not overtightened, or if there is still pressure in the system.

[@byronlaw6724]

Came here to find out how to unstick a stuck filter cartridge housing and got a really comprehensive run down on my filtration system. Thank you very much.

[@GrantBurton]

Hi Byron, it's a pleasure and thanks for the comment. Glad I was able to help.

[@tom3639]

The clever strap method starts at 23:45. Tried and works very well.

[@GrantBurton]

Hi Tom, yeah… it does work well. Thanks for the comment.

[@jky3889]

Easiest thing is to use a clamp-style oil filter wrench. My under sink housing was stuck and I tried various methods but it would not budge. Then remembered that I had a 4" clamping/swiveling oil filter wrench. Came off easy.

[@GrantBurton]

@@jky3889 Hi, Thanks for the info... that also sounds like a good idea, haven't ever tried it, but sounds like it should work. Hopefully it doesn't damage the plastic filter housing though.

[@user-by6dm1mx9r]

Fair play- the pressure in the taps trick did it

[@GrantBurton]

Good to hear you are all sorted out. It catches many people out when filters seem stuck but it's actually just pressure in the system making the filter housings difficult to open (it still catches me out every now and again, but not often... haha).

[@teachamericanhistory]

Concur with all the positivity in these comments. Problem solved.

[@GrantBurton]

Awesome, and thank you.

[@LynetteHession-zn6xj]

Thank you so much I tried to remove filter casing forgot to release tap water pressure in the house maybe I'll be able to change the filter thank you

[@GrantBurton]

You're welcome, and let us know if it worked for you.

[@joephu]

I have a belt strap tool that works well but what I find works fore is actually 2 filter wrench handles. I put them on opposite ends and use both hands to untwist

[@GrantBurton]

Yeah, using two filter spanners normally works well 👍

[@conradpaul6100]

Very nice video Grant. In this example using those two stage filters, what are the homeowners using the water for? And lastly , this system I am assuming is a back up rainwater system for instances when the municipal supply is offline as I see you can switch between the tank supplying the house and the municipal?

[@GrantBurton]

Hi Conrad, thank you. Generally speaking, it's being used as a backup water supply when the municipal supply is offline (as you describe), but not used as drinking water. Many people harvest rainwater in tanks ranging from 2.5kL to 10kL but I've seen some people will have a smaller 'reserve' tank, around 1kL, and fill that from the municipal supply.

[@timshawguitar]

You saved me with the strap wrench. Thank you sir!

[@GrantBurton]

It's a pleasure. 😁

[@yveslubanda6698]

Thank you very much! This was very useful! 😊

[@GrantBurton]

You're welcome and thanks 😁

[@donalddidonato7457]

Thank you very much, the info is very helpful !!!

[@GrantBurton]

Hi Donald, you are welcome and thanks for the comment.

[@BradsJardine]

Great Vid Mr Burton. 2 questions are you buying from Amazon to SA? Where are you getting those stainless steel brackets? Cheers

[@GrantBurton]

Hi Bradford, i haven’t purchased anything off Amazon lately but I used to buy a fair amount from Amazon a few years ago. I get the stainless brackets from one of the local stores in Port Elizabeth… Spilhaus. I should actually start making them myself.

[@davidjohnbrandt2158]

Great video!

[@GrantBurton]

Hi David, thanks very much 😁

[@lilmama4426]

I have followed all the steps (turn water supply off, bleed line, push red buttons for a while ) but still cannot get the housings to budge with two filter wrenches, rubber strap etc. The only thing i haven't tried is cutting the power to our well (new well owners so i am not sure if the pressure will drop etc). Will cutting the power to the well help? Thanks for the video.😊

[@GrantBurton]

Hi, it sounds like it could be one of two things... Your filters are either badly stuck OR there is still pressure inside/across the filter housings causing the housings to remain super tight. Did you close the valve before the filters and after that, release the pressure after the filters (e.g. by opening a tap)? If there is no valve before the filters, it may be the case where your well pump is holding and maintaining the pressure within the system... you may need to try turning off your well pump, then open a tap after the filters and let the water run out until it stops. Then there all the pressure should be gone and the filters should be more easily loosened. If all the pressure has been released and you still can't get the filter housings loose, it's likely that the o-ring seal is dry and sticky. Using something like hairdryer to heat up all around the filter cap can sometimes expand the cap and soften the rubber just enough to release. If you get it off, it's probably best to apply some food grade silicone grease to the o-ring before reinstalling the filter housing.

[@commess1]

what if you want o completely remove the filter?

[@GrantBurton]

Hi, I'm not sure I completely understand what you are asking... just unscrew the filter housing and remove the filter element, then replace it with a new filter element and screw the filter housing on again (or I suppose you could remove the old filter element and screw the filter housing on without anything inside of it... that will also still pass water through, but of course wont filter anything).