A plain-English guide for Complete Home Filtration system owners. When to change, how to do it safely, what to watch for, and what to do if something doesn't look right. No jargon, no upsell — just the information you need.
Every 12 months is the standard recommendation — but your water quality and usage both affect the ideal interval. These are the signs to watch for between scheduled changes.
If you're noticing the chlorine smell from the tap or shower again, your carbon block filter (Stage 3) is saturated. This is the clearest sign that a filter change is overdue.
A blocked sediment filter is the most common cause of reduced household water pressure in CHF systems. If pressure is noticeably lower than normal, check the sediment filter first.
White deposits returning to taps, showerheads or glass indicate the resin filter (Stage 2) is losing effectiveness. Scale protection diminishes as the resin approaches capacity.
Even if you can't see obvious signs, filters degrade over time regardless of flow. Annual replacement is the safest approach — don't wait for performance problems before acting.
If you can see the sediment filter is brown or heavily loaded, change all three filters regardless of how long they've been in. A compromised sediment stage stresses the downstream filters.
One of the first things CHF owners notice when filters are fresh is how their skin and hair feel after a shower. If that benefit is fading, your carbon filter is likely saturated.
This covers the standard CHF 15" three-filter system. The process takes 20–30 minutes and requires no plumbing experience. You are not connecting or disconnecting pipework — just swapping cartridges inside existing housings.
You'll need your three replacement filter cartridges, the blue filter housing wrench that came with your CHF system, and a bucket or old towel for residual water. Optionally, some food-grade silicone grease for the O-ring seals is useful but not essential if the rings look fine.
Locate the bypass valve on your CHF unit — typically a lever or knob on the side of the housing bracket. Turn it to the bypass position. This diverts water around the filter system so you can work on it without cutting supply to the house. Open a tap inside briefly to confirm water is still flowing via bypass.
Press the small red pressure relief button on the top of each filter housing. You'll hear a hiss as residual water pressure releases. Place your bucket or towel underneath before opening the housings — there will be some water remaining inside each one.
Using the wrench, turn each housing counter-clockwise (left) to loosen it. Start with Stage 1 (sediment) — the housing closest to where water enters the system. Remove all three housings, catching water in your bucket. Take a moment to look at the old filters — the sediment filter in particular will show you how hard your water has been working.
Rinse each housing with clean water inside and out. Look at the rubber O-ring seal at the top rim of each housing — it should be pliable and smooth. If it looks dry, cracked or has lost its shape, apply a thin smear of food-grade silicone grease. A failing O-ring is the most common cause of leaks after a filter change.
Match each new cartridge to its correct stage — PW-F-PP5 sediment goes in Stage 1, PW-F-RES resin in Stage 2, PW-F-CTO carbon block in Stage 3. Sit each cartridge centred in the housing. The cartridge should stand upright and not lean to one side — a tilted cartridge can cause uneven flow and reduce filter life.
Thread each housing back onto the head by hand first, making sure it's not cross-threaded. Once hand-tight, use the wrench for a firm quarter-turn only — no more. Over-tightening is the second most common cause of leaks and makes the next change much harder.
Turn the bypass valve back to the filtration position slowly. Watch all three housings carefully for drips as pressure builds. Run your kitchen tap for 2–3 minutes — you may notice slightly discoloured water initially as new carbon particles flush through. This is normal and will clear quickly. Then check all housings again for any slow drips.
This is not about selling filters — it's about protecting the investment you've already made in your system.
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While you're here — need filters now?
PW Series compatible 3-filter set at introductory price $205. Ships Australia-wide.
View Replacement Filters →One email, 11 months from your last change. That's it.
PW Series compatible replacement filters — introductory $205 for a full 3-filter set. Ships Australia-wide.