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FAQs

Are carbon filters reverve flushable
The short answer is no. Carbon filters cannot be reverse flushed to achieve regeneration. Once they reach their max. filtration capacity they need to be replaced. Some plastic inline filters on the market claim to be reverse flush-able, however in small print it clarifies that there is no flow direction and they can be used on both ends. Since most of those plastic inline filters integrate a small sediment disc made of poly-fiber, it may be true that with reverse-flushing some sediment on the poly-filter disc is pushed out on the other end, however this would be misleading information for the granular carbon that sits in the center, the reverse flushing would not regenerate the granular carbon filter.
How to store a wet filter cartridge when not in use?

Dry the carbon filter:

  • Let the carbon filter dry out completely before storing it in a cool, dry and well ventilated place protected from sunlight
  • Keep in mind to flush the carbon filter for 5-10 minutes and discard water prior to using it again
  • It is not recommended to use the filter beyond the max cartridge life of 3-6 months and/or max. filtering capacity of approx. 35,000 liters (depending on water quality)
  • The Silvershield carbon filter is silver-impregnated protecting the carbon from microbial growth, however it is advisable to check and visually inspect the filter for mould or other contaminants, as there is no gold standard that can be applied since the water quality fluctuates immensely where different contaminants captured could cause bacteria/mould growth after a while.
  • If you have any doubt, it is advisable to have a spare filer cartridge ready.
How often do I need to change the carbon filter?

The max. filter cartridge life depends on water quality and usage.  For mains water as an indicative figure:

  • WOMO Mini carbon filter: between 3-6 months or 35,000 L, whichever occurs first
  • WOMO Maxi carbon filter: between 6-12 months or 75,000 L, whichever occurs first
How do I know when to change the filter cartridge?

The first signs to look out for is a reduced water flow rate, taste or odour. This is the time, when your filter cartridge has reached max. dirt holding capacity and needs replacing. However, if you do not experience any of those above mentioned signs, then you should go by the max. cartridge life span specified for each filter cartridge, which shall not be exceeded due to bacteria and mould growth.

If you have a WOMO Mini and Maxi Filter which has a clear housing so you can visually check filter cartridge performance.

The filter cartridge can also change colour depending how much contaminants it has absorbed, this would indicate that a lot of dirt has been absorbed and the filtering performance is exhausted.

What can I do if my ceramic-carbon filter is blocked?

When using the ceramic-carbon filter for fresh surface water it is recommended to allow sediment in the water to settle before using the filter. A running creek or river can have have more sediment than water that stands still, which can cause the filter to block quickly. If you have walked through still water to set-up your suction hose, same applies, give the stirred up sediment time to settle to the ground. If there is no area where the water is still, it can help to put water in a bucket and let sediment sink to the bottom. However, if you still get a lot of sediment coming through, the outside ceramic can be sanded back with a very fine sand paper or brush and washed under clean running water to open up blocked filter pores. With saying this, with each clean ceramic material is also scrubbed off which thins the ceramic material to a point where the protective barrier against bacteria it damaged, so please be mindful not to brush or sand to much material off and also limit the cleaning cycle to max. two-three times. The carbon core has limited filtering capacity and cannot be washed, regenerated or back flushed, once the carbon core reaches filtering capacity it would need to replaced.