Your home’s water filter is stuck, and you are trying to figure out how to remove it. The faucet seems clogged so you can’t turn on the water without getting sprayed by a waterfall of soap.
There are many different ways that this could have happened, but no matter how it came about there’s still an issue at hand now that your house is short one drinking water or worse yet – stinky rusty tasting tap-water! This article will show you how to remove a stuck water filter from your home’s plumbing system.
What makes a filter stuck?
A filter is stuck when it becomes clogged with mineral deposits. It’s most common to have this problem with the filter canister and cartridge, but can also happen due to a buildup of hard water minerals in the faucet.
If the filter is stuck, you might have a hard time removing it. If this happens, try turning the cap in order to loosen up any tight spots on your filter, and then use a wrench or pliers to gently twist off of it.
To remove a filter from a sink, first, turn off the hot water supply at the cold-water valve located on top of your kitchen sink or under your bathroom sink. Next, pour vinegar down into both ends of your drain pipe until you see bubbles coming up from the drain. Once those bubbles stop, turn on your hot water supply and let it run for a minute or two before flushing out the vinegar with cold water.
Finally, pour boiling water down into both ends of your drain pipe to break up any remaining mineral deposits left in your sink.
If the steps above do not work for you, then following the steps below
What to do when a whole house water filter housing is stuck
A stuck house water filter housing is frustrating and can lead to a number of unpleasant problems. If your whole house filter has become stuck it might be time to take action. The water filter housing may have become stuck because the whole house filter is leaking or has a faulty seal that you need to replace. There are a few ways to remove the water filter housing without requiring any tools.
Release pressure
When a whole house water filter housing is stuck, you should first turn on the system’s bypass valve before opening the canister. You then need to open faucets around your home to release pressure and loosen up any clogs that may be present.
In order to release pressure from the filter housing, turn on both cold and hot faucets.
Using hands
If the filter housing is stuck, you can use your hands to try and remove it. You must turn the cartridge slowly in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction in order for it to move. After a few tries, you should be able to loosen up the system so that water can flow through freely again.
Wrenches
A wrench can be used to loosen a stuck house water filter housing. It is important that the wrench has a large enough handle and that it fits tightly over the housing so that it can hold on while you twist and turn. There are two ways to remove a stuck whole house filter: using one wrench at a time, or by holding onto something solid such as furniture or plumbing pipes.
Use WD-40
If the filter case doesn’t come off by applying mechanical force, try using some WD-40 to drench the top of the filter housing. It can loosen up the case, but it also could damage O-ring inside. Always keep a few replacements handy for O-ring or if you are having difficulty unscrewing housing. If your filter housing is very difficult to unscrew, use a lisle strap wrench instead.
Tapping
When a whole house water filter housing is stuck, it can be difficult to remove without damaging the unit. There are two ways that this problem can be resolved: by using a hammer and chisel on the outside of the filter housing or by tapping with something like a screwdriver on the inside of the filter housing.
Applying Heat
If you are trying to remove the housing of a whole house water filter and it is jammed, try applying heat. Applying heat will help expand the filter, but be careful not to overdo it- you’ll damage the canister and change its shape. The key is to heat up the outside of the housing that has been jammed before using a rubber mallet or other object to knock out some of it.
How to prevent a stuck whole house water filter
In order to prevent a stuck whole house water filter, there are certain tips that can be followed. For example, the bottom part of the housing should be checked for o rings and it may have been over-tightened. If this is not done then you will find yourself replacing your current filters because they become too tight and their effectiveness decreases significantly with time.
When a house filter gets blocked, it can often be because an O-ring has been left from old filters or filters that had been taken out. One reason why this happens is if the bottom part of the housing was not checked for O-rings. To prevent this issue, make sure to check the housing before each use for any leftover o ring remnants.
A stuck whole house water filter is usually caused by a buildup of mineral deposits on the O-rings. If this happens, apply silicone grease to help create a perfect seal and then use WD-40 to loosen up the housing. Always keep some replacements in your toolbox just in case you have trouble unscrewing it.
Conclusion
If you need to replace your water filter, make sure that the housing is screwed onto the pipe firmly enough. If it’s not tight enough, then it will leak and cause more problems than necessary.
The first step is to unscrew the filter housing with a filter wrench. When you use this tool, it will help save your time and money because there are tips for doing so without getting stuck or breaking anything.
One way to prevent this issue from happening is by making sure there are no gaps between where your old filter was attached and where the new one goes on; if you do have a gap, just use some tape or silicone sealant in order to ensure that nothing leaks out of either side.
Mike Spencer
Hi Guys, Mike is a Mechanical Engineer who specializes in Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning. His love for humanity and his profession propels him to share useful and factual Information on this blog.