Owner Support

How To Change Your Kinetico Water Softener Prefilter

Learn The Best Practices To Maintain Your Kinetico Water Softener’s Performance.

Your Kinetico Softener PreFilter should be changed annually.

If you would like us to come change your filters, just give us a call at (515) 277-6250.

STEP 1: Put Your Water Softener In By-Pass

Locate the by-pass valve installed with your water softener. When in service, your Kinetico by-pass should show a green section at the opening of the dial. Turn the handle of the by-pass valve so the dial shows the yellow section in the opening. Your system is now in the by-pass position.

Note: there are many by-pass valve styles. Yours may not be as described here.

STEP 2: Set Up To Depressurize System

STEP 3: Depressurize The Water Softener And Pre-Filter

Locate the grey 3/8" valves, located at the head of the pre-filter and near the water softener connector tubes that join the water softener to the pipes. Turn the Bottom valve to the open position to depressurize your system. Water will come out of the tubing. Once it slows down or stops, open the Top valve. Keep both the valves in the open position. This should reduce water spillage and make it easier for you to turn the filter housing. Wait at least one minute before proceeding.

Note: Your valves may be behind the connector tubes that connect to the filter housing depending on the installation.

STEP 4: Remove The Filter Sump

After your system has depressurized for a minute or longer, remove your filter housing sump by turning it clockwise with two hands (when viewed from above). This may take some effort if you do not have the valves and tubing to depressurize your system and the housing is tightly sealed. You may also have a sump removal wrench that was left during install, to make it easier.

Note: Take care as the housing sump will be full of water.

STEP 5: Remove The Used Filter Cartridge

STEP 6: Inspect And Clean Your Sump

After discarding the water in the sump housing, look inside and see if sediment or anything has been collected at the bottom. Clean the sump, if needed. Before you insert a new or clean cartridge, check to see if your sump’s seal and O-ring are in good condition. If necessary, lubricate the O-ring at the top of the housing with a silicone lubricant. Do not use petroleum jelly or other lubricant as it can void your warranty. Each filter comes with a small packet of silicone lubricant.

STEP 7: Install The New Or Clean The Filter Cartridge

STEP 8: Install The Filter Sump

STEP 9: Close The 3/8" Valves that you opened in step 3

STEP 10: Set Your By-Pass To "In-Service"

Return to the by-pass valve and turn the handle until the green section shows on the dial. The system is now in the “service” position. Be sure to check your prefilter for a leak.

Note: If you notice water dripping from the housing, you may need to further tighten the filter housing, or something could be preventing the housing from sealing properly. Check that the filter cartridge is firmly in place and that the O-ring is not obstructing the seal.

How To Change Your Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station® Filters

Learn The Best Practices To Maintain Your Kinetico Drinking Water System's Performance

Your Kinetico K5 drinking filters should be changed annually or every 500 gallons, whichever comes first. If you would like us to come change your filters, just give us a call at (515) 277-6250.

LEARN BEST PRACTICES: Drinking Water System Performance

The Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station® is designed so you know when your filters need to be changed. The PureMometer® (located at the top of the K5 above the MACguard® postfilter) has a blue gauge that shows you how much filter capacity remains. When the gauge is about ¾ of the way up, your postfilter is at full or near-full capacity. When the gauge is less than halfway, your filter is close to the end of its useful life, indicating the need for a filter change soon.

Check the PureMometer periodically; it will alert you when a filter change is impending. The lower the blue gauge sits in the window, the less time you have before your filters run out of capacity. If the gauge is at or near the bottom of the window, you can be proactive and change your cartridges before the flow of water at the faucet significantly slows or shuts off.
You can also wait to change the filters until the flow of water at the faucet stops or slows considerably. To verify a filter change is indeed needed, check the PureMometer. Slow or no water flow plus the blue gauge at the bottom of the window indicate the need to change the filters.

All Kinetico drinking water filter cartridges are designed and rated to filter 500 gallons of water. When the PureMometer indicates the postfilter needs to be changed, all the K5 filters should be changed at the same time.

Note: We suggest keeping a replacement set of filters on hand so you never have to go without reverse osmosis water because you are unprepared for a filter change.

Change Your K5 System Filters

Step 1: Turn Off Your Kinetico K5 Water System

Step 2: Depressurize The System

Drain the dedicated faucet that is connected to your K5 Drinking Water Station. With the faucet in the open position, wait until the water has all drained and you see only a drip coming from the faucet. (If the system has already shut off the flow of water at the faucet due to low filter life, no water will flow.) Turn the faucet to the off position.

Note: If water continues to flow, then the correct valve for the RO feed has not been turned off.

Step 3: Remove The Side Panel Of The K5

Open the side panel of your K5 Drinking Water Station. If you have not already done so, look at the filter cartridges in your system and verify you have the correct replacement filters. Remember, all filters should be replaced at the same time, but you do not need to replace the reverse osmosis membrane during a filter change.

On the inside of the side panel, there is a guide that displays where each of your filters should be placed in the unit. Use this guide to make sure you place each filter cartridge in the correct location.

Note: Many K5 systems don’t have a side panel or “enclosed case,” in this case skip to step 4.

Step 4: Replace Your Filter Cartridges

Turn the old cartridge in the system counter-clockwise, about a quarter to a half of a turn. Make sure you turn the cartridge enough so the ridge at the top of the cartridge moves to the notched opening. Once there, pull down to remove the filter cartridge. Take care as the cartridge will be full of water, and the system will dribble a little water when the cartridge is removed. Once you have removed the filter, replace it with the new one that matches the color coding. To do so, make sure the ridge at the top of the cartridge fits in the notched opening, and then turn clockwise until it locks in place.

Repeat this step for each of the filters in your Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station.

When replacing the MACguard postfilter, you need to make sure that the small hole at the top and center of the cartridge engages with the blue PureMometer pin on the system. When properly aligned, insert the cartridge and push it up. The blue gauge of the PureMometer will move about ¾ of the way up in the window. You should feel when the filter has been inserted fully, making it so you can turn and lock it in place.

Note: You do not need to replace the Reverse Osmosis membrane.

Step 5: Replace The Side Panel To Secure Your K5

Step 6: Turn The Water To Your K5 Back On

Step 7: Flush The System

After replacing your cartridges, it is important to allow about one half of a storage tank of water to run through the unit. To do this, ensure you have turned the water to the unit back on. Slowly open the K5’s dedicated tap. The water may sputter because air has entered the lines and the system during the filter change process. Let the water flow from the faucet, for about 1-2 minutes until the water is clear and the stream of water is steady, then shut the faucet off.Now you can begin drinking your great-tasting, clean reverse osmosis drinking water again.

Learn More About The Kinetico K5 Filter Cartridges

The Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station (pre-2024) uses three standard filters - one to remove chlorine, another to remove contaminants such as metals and nitrates, and one more to eliminate additional compounds that could result in foul tastes and odors. The Standard Filter Cartridges include two sediment prefilter options, the reverse osmosis membrane and a postfilter.

The Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station with VOC Guard (Starting in 2024) consists of the 3 standard filter cartridges, plus the VOC Guard Filter, which reduces volatile organic compounds like pesticides, paints, cleaning supplies, and other chemicals that may be in your water.

Note: If you purchased your unit prior to 2024 but would like to add the VOC Guard filter just let us know and we can help get it added to your Kinetico system. There’s no extra cost to set up, just pay for the filter each year.

Sediment Prefilter

The Sediment Prefilter cartridge is designed to reduce sediment content during the pre-filtration stage. It is commonly used for well water supplies.

High-Capacity Carbon/Sediment Prefilter

The High Capacity Carbon/Sediment Prefilter cartridge is designed to reduce sediment and chlorine content during the prefiltration stage. It is most generally used for municipal water supplies or in cases where water is treated with chlorine.

K5 Reverse Osmosis Membrane

The reverse osmosis membrane is the heart of the K5 Drinking Water Station and its design is exclusive to Kinetico. It is not a FlexFilter and does not need to be replaced regularly like FlexFilters. In fact it carries up to a 10 year warranty.

Taste And Odor Postfilter

The K5 Drinking Water Station’s postfilter reduces tastes, odors, and aesthetic chlorine before water is consumed to ensure it tastes great.

Purefecta® Guard

The Purefecta® Guard cartridge generates biopure drinking water by significantly reducing 99.99999% of bacteria and 99.99% of viruses.

VOC Guard

Our VOC Guard significantly reduces volatile organic compounds like pesticides, paints, cleaning supplies, and other chemicals that may be in your water.

Note: VOC Guard filter cartridge now comes standard with every K5 Drinking Water Station

Mineral Plus

The Mineral Plus is an additive cartridge that lets you add what some consider “beneficial” minerals such as magnesium and calcium to your treated drinking water. It can also add some “taste” back into the highly purified water.

Note: It’s our belief and most studies will support that the “healthy” minerals our body needs primarily come from the food we eat, NOT from drinking water. We don’t push or try to sell this filter as a health benefit, however many of our customers do use it and prefer it based on their own preferences.

Dechlorinator Carbon Swap/Media Rebed

Chlorine is used as a disinfectant to kill bacteria in city water and some well water applications. Although chlorine has its benefits, it can also break down the media in your softener over time (in fact, chlorine can cut the life of a water softener in half!). Maintaining healthy carbon media in your system will protect your family and home from the harmful effects of chlorine: Dry skin/hair, faded clothes, drying out of rubber seals in fixtures and appliances, etc.

Kinetico recommends the replacement of the carbon media in your dechlorinator to ensure your home continues to have the best possible water.

Carbon Media: Recommended replacement every 3-4 years for optimal performance.

This service is performed on-site and is completed in approximately 90 minutes.

If you haven’t had your carbon changed in the last four years, call us to schedule your service.

Water Analysis Request

Schedule a Free Water Analysis with one of our Bright Water Home Services experts

Owner Support

How To Change Your Kinetico Water Softener Prefilter

Learn The Best Practices To Maintain Your Kinetico Water Softener’s Performance.

How To Change Your Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station® Filters

Learn The Best Practices To Maintain Your Kinetico Drinking Water System's Performance

Change Your K5 System Filters

Learn More About The Kinetico K5 Filter Cartridges

Sediment Prefilter

High-Capacity Carbon/Sediment Prefilter

K5 Reverse Osmosis Membrane

Taste And Odor Postfilter

Purefecta® Guard

VOC Guard

Mineral Plus

Dechlorinator Carbon Swap/Media Rebed

If you haven’t had your carbon changed in the last four years, call us to schedule your service.

Water Analysis Request

Schedule a Free Water Analysis with one of our Bright Water Home Services experts

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