There are two ways to clean your spin out filter. The first is the most common and is referred to as "purging". Purging is required when there is an abundance of sediment in the chamber of your spin out filter and it is affecting the flow of water. If you do not regularly purge your spin out filter when it becomes full, it could get backed up and require you to disassemble the whole product to clean it. Fully cleaning the spin out filter could also just be a personal preference.

In this blog, we will go through the various steps on how to purge your spin out filter and how to fully clean it.

Purging your spin-out filter

Like we said before, purging is the act of removing the unwanted buildup of sediment from your filter chamber.

To successfully purge your spin out filter, simply turn open the ball valve attached at the bottom of the drain port. This will allow the water and sand to drain out, and that is it! 

If you find that there is still a lot of residue in your filter, you might benefit from fully disassembling your spin out filter and cleaning it. 

Cleaning your spin-out filter

Step 1: 

Close the shut-off valve that controls the flow of water to the system. This would be on the inlet side of the filter unit.

Step 2:

Open a nearby faucet on the outlet side where the filtered water comes out to relieve the pressure from inside the filter unit.

Step 3:

Make sure you have some type of bowl or cup to catch the remaining water in the filter. Then, turn the purge valve at the bottom of the filter to open it. Proceed to drain the water from the filter bowl. Then loosen the clear filter bowl by hand, turning counter-clockwise (use a strap wrench if necessary).

Step 4:

Remove the mesh filter from inside the filter body. 

Step 5: 

Remove the O-ring and wipe it and the seating groove clean. Then, clean the filter with warm soapy water and a brush. Make sure to rinse it after with clean water or a water and vinegar solution. 

Note: Some filter manufacturers have recommended changing the O-ring each year. However, we have not found this to be necessary. We do suggest keeping a replacement O-ring on hand in case they deteriorate over time or get damaged.

Step 6: 

Next, clean the white PVC filter head and clear filter bowl with warm soapy water and a brush. Then rinse with clean water or a water and vinegar solution.

Optional - If you choose to sanitize your spin-out filter, prepare a sanitizing solution using 1 gallon of clean water in a clean bucket. Add 1/3 teaspoon of unscented household bleach to the water. Add 1 cup of this sanitizing solution to each filter housing bowl (lower part). Install the housing bowl with the sanitizing solution, without the mesh filter element. Open the shut-off valve and allow the filter unit to fill with water. When water starts to flow out of the faucet on the outlet side of the filter unit, close the shut-off valve on the outlet side. Allow water and bleach to contact the housings, lines, and faucet for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the filter housing bowl using the procedure described above: shut-off the valve, remove the filter bowl, and discard the sanitizing solution down the drain. Then, rinse with clean water or a water and vinegar solution before reassembling. 

Step 7:

Lubricate the O-ring on the mesh filter with an FDA or NSF-61 approved silicone O-ring grease, then reinstall the mesh filter element into the filter body (see photo to the right).

Step 8: 

Lubricate the large filter bowl O-ring (see photo below) with an FDA or NSF-61 approved silicone O-ring grease, then reinstall the clear filter bowl turning it clockwise by hand.

Step 9: 

Close the purge valve and open the shut off valves in the inlet side and run water through the cleaned filter to a close by drain for 5 minutes to flush all the sanitizer and water and vinegar solution out.

Step 10:

Close the faucet on the outlet side and check for leaks with the filter unit pressurized.

Then you're done!

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