RO maintenance

RO Filter Change Schedule: What to Replace at 6, 12 and 24 Months

RO maintenance gets confusing because different cartridges age at different rates.

Quick take

Treat published intervals as starting points, then adjust for feed-water quality, usage and actual system performance.

Sediment prefilter

Typical replacement is around 6–12 months. Heavy sediment can shorten that dramatically.

Carbon prefilter

Typical replacement is also around 6–12 months. Carbon protects the membrane from disinfectants and can affect taste.

RO membrane

Many residential membranes last roughly 18–36 months, but feed chemistry, pressure and pretreatment can move that range significantly.

Post-carbon and remineralization

These are commonly changed around 6–12 months depending on design. Brand-specific proprietary systems should follow the exact cartridge schedule.

Sources

Research basis