Maintenance
Reverse Osmosis Upkeep: When to Change Each Filter
April 30, 2026 · 4 min read
An RO system quietly gives you bottled-quality water for years — as long as the pre-filters and membrane get changed on time.
A typical under-sink reverse osmosis system has three or four stages, and each one has its own lifespan. Skipping the pre-filters is what kills membranes early, and a membrane costs far more than a set of cartridges.
Typical replacement intervals
- Sediment pre-filter: every 6 to 12 months, sooner on well water
- Carbon pre-filter: every 6 to 12 months — this is what protects the membrane from chlorine
- RO membrane: every 2 to 4 years depending on incoming water quality
- Post-carbon polishing filter: every 12 months
Signs a change is overdue
- Noticeably slower fill at the RO faucet
- Taste or odor returning to the drinking water
- Storage tank that empties after one or two glasses
- Total dissolved solids reading creeping back toward your untreated water
One easy upgrade
If your RO sits downstream of a softener, the membrane works less and lasts longer, because it is no longer fighting hardness. Homes that pair the two almost always get more life out of every cartridge in the system.
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