PUR makes everything from pitchers to faucet filters to full water purifiers. If you’ve noticed issues with your PUR filter, check out our guide on how to unclog a PUR water filter. But whether you’ve got a pitcher or a faucet attachment, knowing how to change a PUR water filter properly is something every owner should have down.
What makes PUR stand out is their MAXION technology, which uses activated carbon from coconut shells to strip contaminants fast. Learn more about what filtered water is and why it matters. And honestly, when you compare the cost of a replacement filter to buying bottled water every day, it’s not even close.
Here’s the thing, though. Over time, your filter collects gunk, and if you leave it too long, algae can start building up on the inner surfaces. That’s why learning how to clean a carbon water filter is essential. Once that happens, the filter stops doing its job and can actually make things worse.
So let’s walk through the ten steps to get your PUR filter changed the right way.
1. Soaking the New Filter
This procedure is very important as it marks the beginning of the cleansing procedure. Many excessive, corrosive, and degrading elements are stuck in the filter of a PUR water purifier.
Removing them requires softening them first.
To soften them, adequate measures are to be taken so that they could be removed with later processes. There are chances of some of the excessive material staying in the same place, which transfers these elements into the new filter as well.
People should avoid it at all costs. The steps mentioned below should be followed carefully and effectively.
The new filter is placed in a deep bowl filled with cold water. The bowl should be deep enough to let the water filter submerge completely, not letting even the slightest part get exposed to air.
On placing the filter in the water-filled bowl, leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. This lets out all the excessive carbon content present in the filter so it doesn’t intermix with your drinking water.
The submerging also makes sure the complete flow of water through the filter. This is a critical first step that shouldn’t be skipped.
2. Removing the Old Filter
Removing the old filter is necessary as already mentioned. It’s to make sure things don’t fall out of place and be sure to proper drinking water safety.
This old filter can be given for restoration to the company rather than throwing it away. The company can take a fee from you and return it, or take it from you for restoration and then selling it.
Every old filter is useful, but removing it properly is of utmost importance.
The water flow should be stopped before changing the filter. A little leakage in the system may flood your house.
To remove the old filter from the main device, initially take off the lid and put it aside. The pour tray, which is a plastic blue medium-sized tub, is taken out to access the cylindrical filter.
The filter is rotated in a clockwise direction to get it removed from the base. If it doesn’t budge, see our tips on cleaning water filters for maintenance ideas. Then the filter is pulled out through the pour tray so the used filter can be discarded.
3. Rinsing
This process is all about washing and rubbing the parts of the water filter. Make sure to use cold water, as reasons why hot or warm water shouldn’t be used are mentioned below.
The process is to be followed up regularly. Rinsing the filter can also be done without the need to replace it.
Cleaning of the filter kills the germs if done by cold water. For stubborn filters, see our guide on how to get a water filter unstuck. Normal water washes them off, but cold water is more effective in this case.
Germs and elements that are dangerous are intolerant towards both hot and cold water, but we’ve reasons not to use hot water.
Take out the filter after it completes fifteen minutes of undisturbed rinsing and hold it under the faucet. After this, the filter is rinsed thoroughly, changing the position of the filter constantly so that it completely gets the exposure to the cold or at least normal water at room temperature.
Once the filter is washed thoroughly, it should be shaken well enough to remove the excessive accumulation of water.
4. Secure It Into the Pour Tray
The filter, once cleansed and rinsed, needs to be attached at the spot where it fits. This is the trickiest part of the process because most people get confused about which direction to turn.
The new soaked and rinsed filter is put in the middle of the pour tray. Start screwing it in the clockwise direction until it secures a place inside.
Push the filter into the gap between the pour trays and push it down as much as it can go. This step should be completed before screwing the filter tight into the pour tray.
To check if it has fitted into the container perfectly, one needs to tap at the end of the filter to check if the filter falls out of the container. After this, the pour tray is put back at its place before the replacement of its lid.
For the people who are concerned if the filter was perfectly clicked into the tray, they can know it when the filter falls after being tapped at the end of the tray.
5. Reset the Device
The PUR water filter softens hard water through its carbon-based filtration technology. Technology has changed how the world is progressing, and water isn’t important for survival only.
Water is also important to quench thirst and provide some minerals. There are many necessary minerals in water that aren’t in the activated state.
They’re activated after the water comes in contact with carbon inside the filter. This makes sure the hardness of the water is gone and the water doesn’t feel overpowered by any particular mineral.
It’s just a process of balancing the odds out.
Older devices without sensors can only indicate that it’s time to change the filter based on bad-tasting water. Newer models have electronic displays along with an indication bar that shows when the filter needs changing.
At the time of need, a red light blinks to indicate that a replacement is necessary. If your light stays red, read about why your PUR water filter is blinking red after a filter change. Once the filter is replaced after following the necessary steps above, press the reset button on the device continuously for 5 to 10 seconds.
A green light will blink on the lid, indicating that the device has been successfully reset. It’s advised to avoid drinking water directly after resetting.
After the new filter is installed and the machine starts after resetting, discard the first one or two glasses of water. This means raw elements from the filter are eliminated.
6. Removal of the Screw
Every machine has a component that acts as the glue holding everything together. This makes sure that all the components of the system are held together perfectly without failure.
Components when dismembered or removed by mistake can cause a lot of problems in the working mechanism of any machine. The same goes for the PUR water purifier.
The screw is the most important component of the purifier, and if it’s lost, the system could fail or sometimes might not function at all.
There are two types of screws found in PUR water purifiers. The first is the rotating screw and the other is the pull-screw.
The names suggest the method for removal.
Observe the screw that looks like a cap keeping the filtration system attached to the faucet. Support or hold the filtration system during removal so that it doesn’t fall or break.
Slowly remove the screw in an anticlockwise direction until the faucet completely separates. After this, the filtration body is carefully lifted and placed on a towel to soak up any remaining water.
7. Opening the Top Cover
Unscrewing the major part dismantles the machine and allows you to access the filtration system used for water purification.
After removing the filtration system, hold it so that the top round end of the cylinder faces up. Turn the top cylindrical cover in an anticlockwise direction to remove it from its position and set it aside.
The tube-like old filter is pulled straight out of the filtration system and examined before disposing of it. After this is done, all that remains is to unbox the new filter and install it properly.
8. Install the New Filter
Installation of the new filter isn’t as difficult as it looks. While you can hire professionals, the process is straightforward enough to handle yourself.
Lacking confidence while replacing the filter of your PUR water purifier can lead to wrong placement, loosened grip, and other problems that can cause issues in the system. But if you know the procedure of replacing your filter, it’s effective as the professionals take a lot of money for this simple task.
Once the top cover is open, keen observation will guide you through the placement. Remove the new filter from its packaging and set it inside the filtration unit.
Put the narrow part of the filter down and the wider part with the logo facing upside. You can confirm the placement is correct if the filter sits loosely inside the system.
After this, put the top cylindrical cover back on and rotate it in a clockwise direction until you hear a click. You can verify by turning it upside down to check if the cover falls off.
If it doesn’t fall, the installation is correct.
9. Reattach the Filtration System and the Faucet
After the new filter is properly installed, it’s time to reassemble all the parts. The various components opened and set aside now need to go back into the purifier.
Fixing everything and putting everything back together is a difficult task. If you’re not following a guide and opening up the system, you need to have proper concentration so that you know what item to put where after fixing the filter.
Make sure you know the significance and position of each part before reassembling. Putting the wrong parts in the wrong place will cause the machine to fail.
Hold the filtration unit close to the faucet firmly with bare hands so it doesn’t fall or break. Screw it back into place securely.
After finishing, check for any external leakage or dripping by switching on the water flow. If the filtration unit doesn’t attach firmly to the faucet, you can use adhesive tape or a similar material to create a secure seal. You may also want to consider a kitchen faucet with a water filter built in.
Adhesive tapes should be firm or chemical methods can be used for the purpose.
There are also clay-type cement products that harden and provide a permanent solution to leakage. The clay blocks of cement have two components mixed like dough or clay.
Then they’re fixed on the spot without any adhesive and they harden to prevent leakage.
10. Remove the Residues
After fixing up the filter, turn on the cold water flow and let it run for about five minutes. This allows the remaining residues to flow out so the filter can work more efficiently.
After these five minutes, you can start using the filter for drinking water. These filters can handle up to 100 gallons of water, or about 380 liters, which lasts approximately three months. If you’re looking for alternatives, explore different water filter cartridge types.
Many newer PUR water purifiers have an ice maker as well. You may also want an inline water filter for your ice maker. These models require the utmost care while the filter is being changed.
The procedure to be followed after changing the filter is also difficult. This gives rise to the situation of remodeling the purifier only by professional help.
The parts inside are too complicated to be fixed by you.
The filter is common for both the ice maker and the purifier, so it has a more dynamic and co-dependent screw design. Be careful with the parts of these types of purifiers as repair costs may exceed the cost of a new unit.
PUR Water Purifiers and the Importance of Filter Cleansing
PUR water faucet filters are advised to be changed after every 100 gallons of water. This is approximately every two to three months.
This change is critical for the health of your family.
Water filters are nothing but a way to stop harmful microorganisms from entering the body of people. Tap water is a primary source of this problem, and hence PUR water filter cleansing or changing is very important. You should also consider the dangers of not changing your water filter on time.
When germs or carbon from old filters get into the body, they can cause diseases including nausea and vomiting. Health is a matter of concern when choosing and maintaining a water purifier.
Newer PUR water purifiers have light indicators that display the filter status. Some have digital screens that report all machine problems to the user.
Others beep when it’s time to change the filter.
These features make it easy for people to know when the filter has deteriorated without checking manually. Alternatively, you can explore a countertop water filter if you want a different setup. It’s quite disturbing that the modern man has no time to take care of such things.
But man has created the machine and it’s the responsibility of the machine to take care of the problems faced by humans due to this growing world. All the problems can be tackled once identified.
There can be times when things get out of hand but we can still make the better out of it at some point in time. We’ve to observe details in the working process of the machine.
Check your filter status regularly and replace the filter on schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
For faucet filters, PUR recommends swapping them out every 100 gallons, which works out to roughly every two to three months. Pitcher filters have a shorter life at about 40 gallons or two months. Your device's indicator light is the easiest way to know for sure.
That red light means your filter is done. It's reached the end of its life and you should stop using it right away. Pop in a new one following the steps in this guide, because a spent filter can actually let contaminants slip through into your water.
No, hot water is a no-go with PUR filters. Anything above 100 degrees Fahrenheit can damage the internal components, especially the activated carbon. Stick to cold water for both rinsing and filtering.
Don't worry, that's totally normal. The cloudiness comes from loose carbon particles in the new filter. Just run water through it for a few minutes and dump the first two glasses. It'll clear up once those loose particles get flushed out.
Final Thoughts
Once you've done this a couple of times, changing a PUR water filter becomes second nature. It's one of those small maintenance tasks that makes a real difference in what you and your family are actually drinking.
The biggest thing to remember? Don't put it off. A worn-out filter isn't just ineffective, it can actually let contaminants back into your water. Keep an eye on that indicator light and swap filters on schedule.
It's a small effort for genuinely cleaner water.
Change your PUR water filter every 2-3 months or 100 gallons for faucet filters, and every 2 months or 40 gallons for pitcher filters. Always soak the new filter in cold water for 15 minutes before installation, and discard the first two glasses of filtered water after a change.
