General Guides

How to Open Water Filter Without Wrench? (Step by Step Guide)

There are times when you would come across a situation where you would find that the water filter has got clogged. It might be clogged too much and needs to be replaced. Is it possible to open the water filter without a wrench? Let us try checking out a few options that can be helpful. 

There are options available that can be helpful in letting you open the water filter that has been stuck and cannot be cleaned. 

man opening RO filter with wrench

How to Open a Water Filter Without a Wrench?

It is a good option to improve the quality of your drinking water or even industrial water with the use of a water filter. You may need to replace the cartridge of the filter. 

Key Takeaways:

  • Never attempt to open the filter when it is under pressure. Release the pressure in the filter and in the entire system
  • Take care when opening the filter so that you are not damaging it. 
  • Use the WD 40 for cleaning the filter.

Here are a few tips on helping you in how to open the water filter without a wrench. 

Remove the unwanted paint 

The screws on your filter may have been painted. This is done to help you in keeping them more attractive and consistent. But, the paint may work as the adhesive in many of the cases. The adhesive action of the paint makes it difficult to dislodge from the slots. 

Peel back the paint to help you remove the screws easily. You can use any paint remover if needed. That can help you take care of the screws and remove it rather easily.  

Heat the surroundings of the screws

The screws in the filtration system can be easily removed using the principles of thermodynamics. Heat the screws and their surrounding areas. You can soak them in hot water. The screws will begin shrinking as they cool down. That would make it rather easy and simple to remove them. Make sure that there are no plastic parts around the screws before applying the heat here. 

Blue a nut to the screw

If you find the screw too stubborn, how about attaching a hexagonal nut to the screw head? You can use super glue for the purpose. This can be a good idea to help you in using various tools and methods for removing the screw on the water filter. 

Which Direction to Unscrew a Water Filter?

Remember the phrase “Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty”? That is precisely what makes it a good option to help you in loosening and to tighten the screws. You would need to unscrew in the left direction to loosen a screw on the water filter. In sharp contrast, you will turn in the right direction to tighten the water filter. 

The directions remain standards in the case of most of the threaded objects or threaded joints. Any of the threaded joints would be relaxed or tightened by rotating them in the left or right direction. Keeping the above mnemonic would be practical to help you in unscrewing them efficiently. 

How Do You Unscrew a Tight Water Filter?

If you tried all the above methods to help you fix the tight water filters more effectively and efficiently. A few of the tips that can prove to be quite helpful and practical can include:

  • Turn off your water supply:  The water supply can be turned off with the shut-off valve. A few of the filters may not have shut-off valves. In such cases, you are expected to turn off the entire water supply. 
  • Relieve the pressure from the water lines: Turn on the faucet until it is entirely on. Let the water flow out until the pressure is released. 
  • Shut off the Water Valve After the Water Filter: Make sure that the water shut-off valve has been turned off properly. This will be helpful in letting you avoid running the water from your home. 
  • Release pressure in the housing: The water filter system is equipped with a pressure relief button. Turn it off and release the pressure completely.

It should now be easy to remove the water filter housing and perform any of the tasks that you may be looking to address.

How to Prevent the Stuck Water Filter?

Preventing the stuck filters would be easy with regular maintenance. A proper maintenance schedule includes changing the cartridges at regular intervals and greasing the O rings. Keeping the water filter warmer can be one of the best options. 

The possible fixes that can prove to be handy in letting you prevent the possibility of stuck water filters can include 

Changing the cartridges quite regularly

The impurities and contaminants in the filter can be what would make it get clogged and stuck. That is exactly why it is essential to clean up the cartridges at regular intervals and even replace them if needed. Regular maintenance of the water filter assumes a lot of essence and efficacy in handling your water filter and keeping it safer. 

Grease the O rings

The dry and cracked O rings can be one of the possible concerns and can cause the issue of stuck water filters. We tend to ignore replacing the O rings well ahead of time, and you would end up facing severe issues with your filter. Make sure that you are changing the O rings at least once every year. 

Prefilter the water if it is heavily contaminated 

If your water supply is heavily contaminated, it is advisable to use a prefiltering option. I would advise installing a sand or spin-down filter before the whole house water filter. This will help prevent the possibility of the debris being stuck inside the cartridges. 

Keep the filter warm

Avoid the formation of ice inside the water filter. The lack of ice will mean there is no question of any sticking. The cold weather can damage the filters, and that is why it is highly recommended to keep them as warm as possible. 

FAQs

Which way do you loosen a water filter?

Most of the water filters are easily loosened by turning them to the left. The best way to remember the right direction would be to remember the mnemonic righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.

The Parting Thoughts

It can be quite irritating to find a screw on the water filter tight or stuck. It would render the repairs and replacements quite an aa difficult task as such. The tips and ideas that we have outlined in the above discussion are handy enough for most of your individual requirements. 

About the author

Atish Ranjan

Atish Ranjan is the founder of WaterBrower. The water-related problems faced by him in his childhood led him to take this kind initiative to help many others who might be facing similar problems. He has been into research and water testing wherein he has found great water treatment solutions in different regions of the world. This blog is about everything that he has learnt during this study. Hope it helps many:)

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