How to clean the filter?

Modern human life is surrounded by many household appliances containing all kinds of filters: a water purification filter, an air purification filter, aquarium filters, etc. But the proper operation of any filter requires careful maintenance and careful operation, so the question of how to clean the filter is always quite relevant .

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How to clean the water filter?

Water supplied to apartments and houses does not always meet sanitary and hygienic requirements. Even if the apartment has the latest pipes made of metal, then this does not guarantee the purity of the water that goes into faucets, dishwashers and washing machines.

Important! The path that water passes to the apartment often runs through pipes whose warranty has long expired. Over time, rust forms on the inner walls, debris appears and, in order to get rid of them, coarse water filters are needed. Such devices are installed on pipes in order to stop large particles in the water, and to prevent them from getting into the water supply. If the question of how to clean the water filter is not resolved in time, then installing it initially will not be advisable.

What can low-quality water lead to?

The ingress of large particles into the water leads to the risk of breakdown of plumbing equipment and household appliances:

• mixers - their service life decreases, leaks appear, hot and cold water mix poorly;
• electric kettles - the heating element burns out;
• dishwashers - operating life is reduced;
• washing machines - can not cope with large particles in the water, which leads to clogging and damage to the built-in filters, as well as burnout of the heating element.

Important! Given the fact that it is unlikely that you will want to change household appliances after a year or two, it is better to clean the water filter in a timely manner.

What are the filters?

The device of almost all filters has a similar structure. Inside the filter tube there is a mesh that helps filter out debris, pieces of rust, sand. Such water purifiers are placed on the inlet pipe at the very beginning of the wiring - where there is a distribution of supply to various rooms: toilet, bathroom, kitchen.

Important! All filters have special bends designed so that the debris and dirt do not clog the filter itself. They are called mud collectors. To prolong the life of the cleaner, sumps must be cleaned regularly.

According to the mechanism for removing suspension from water, filters are:

• Surface - during the passage of water, particles settle on the surface of the filter material.
• Depth - the so-called cartridge or disk filters. Water purification is carried out in a separate cell, leaving suspensions on the surface and inside the filtrate.
• Fill - water is purified by passing layers of granular materials of various structures.

Important! The operating technology of any of the listed devices is the same - regularly it is necessary to clean the filter from settled particles. The frequency of the procedure depends on the quality of the water passing through it, as well as on the technical characteristics of the filter. However, if you notice that the pressure has decreased or the water flows from the tap in a dark color, then perform an unscheduled cleaning.

In filling and depth filters, the filter material can be completely changed. Cleaning surface filters is easy even for the average user.

Surface filter cleaning

Cleaning the filter consists of several basic steps:

1. Shut off the water. If the filter is located after the opening tap, then turn the knob; if before, turn off the water;
2. Using a wrench, unscrew the outlet on the sump. This can be done using an adjustable wrench. If it is difficult to reach the filter installation site with an adjustable wrench, use a car spark plug. The lid may not immediately succumb, therefore apply a certain force (the lid does not loosen well if the sump is not cleaned regularly). If efforts do not lead to anything, then use engine oil: pour oil from the syringe into the place where the lid and outlet are connected, and after a few minutes make the next attempt.
3. Check the condition of the lid of the sump cover. Perhaps it will require a replacement. An expired gasket increases the risk of leakage from the pipe.
4. Remove the main part of the filter - the metal mesh. Rinse the net under the pressure of water. To clean clogged holes, use an old toothbrush.
5. Clean out the sump.
6. Reassemble the filter in the reverse order: insert the filter screen into the sump, place the gasket and insert the filter into the outlet. Wrench a cover.
7. Turn on the water to check for leaks and proper installation of the cover on the sump.
8. After turning on the water, no water drops should appear on the filter.

Important! For prevention, repeat the procedure every 3 months.

Cleaning the household water filter

Many people use a household water filter at home, as the water supplied to us through pipes contains a large amount of impurities. And the chlorine added to purify bacteria from water increases its content every year. From time to time, the filters become clogged and need to be replaced.

Usually they are replaced with new ones, but there are several ways to clean this type of water filter at home. One of the simplest methods looks like this:

1. Pour 700 g of ordinary rock salt into a container of water.
2. Bring the solution to a boil.
3. Immerse the filter in a pot of saline.
4. Boil the element in water for about an hour and a half.
5. Pull the filter out of the pan, rinse it.
6. Insert the item into place.

Important! Repeatedly carrying out such a procedure will be pointless, but the small savings are also pleasant.

Cleaning the drain filter in the washing machine

In automatic washing machines for collecting small debris: coins, loose buttons and other items that lead to clogging of the pump and drain hoses, a special filter is provided. This element also holds back dangerous details.

Important! If there are problems with draining the water, clean the filter immediately. In normal mode, it is recommended to clean the element at least every 30 washings.

To make it possible for you to do this yourself, manufacturers have provided access to the filter. Perform the work in the following sequence:

1. Locate the device — this is usually the lower part on the front of the machine, behind a rectangular panel, or behind a small door.
2. To unscrew the filter, rotate it a few turns counterclockwise.
3. Some machine models are supplemented with a fixing screw, so in this situation, unscrew the screw.
4. Before removing the filter, be sure to place a tray under the machine to collect water, otherwise a puddle will form on the floor.
5. There is nothing complicated in cleaning the filter element: simply remove the debris and rinse the element under running water.
6. Inspect and clean the hole in which the filter is located. Often dirt, wool from knitwear and other debris accumulate there.

Aquarium filter

Modern aquarium filtration systems, regardless of the brand of the manufacturer and the estimated volume, are similar to each other. To clean the aquarium filter, you need to understand what exactly you plan to accomplish:

• cleaning the filter elements;
• complex procedure, including cleaning of mechanical elements.

Important! The filter elements are cleaned regularly and also as they become clogged. Full cleaning is recommended only in cases where colonies of microorganisms or something else interferes with the normal operation of the equipment. Aquarium filter elements should not be cleaned to sterile cleanliness, since you can kill beneficial bacteria colonies that are involved in biological cleaning of the aquarium water, and thereby help maintain bio-balance in the aquarium.

Follow these guidelines when servicing the aquarium to properly clean the filter:

1. Clean as necessary.
2. Try to clean the filtration and aeration as little as possible. Dates and frequency are purely individual.
3. Do not clean elements with soap and other detergents, as you will completely kill the resulting flora.
4. Do not clean in hot water.

Well, now we start washing the cleaner:

1. Disconnect the filter from the network.
2. Remove the item and take it to the bathroom.
3. Disassemble the cleaner: disconnect the blocks with the filter element.
4. Remove the filter element from the container.
5. Disconnect the safety cap.
6. Disassemble it into two components.
7. Remove the motor by pulling it.
8. Disconnect the air intake adapter.
9. Rinse all disconnected items, including the filter motor.
10. Clean the inside of the mechanical block using a cotton swab.
11. Use a needle to clean the hole to clean the air supply adapter.
12. Assemble the device in the reverse order.
13. Install the cleaner in the aquarium.
14. Connect the device to the network.

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Air conditioner filter

The functioning of the air conditioner involves the free circulation of air. In the event of a malfunction, the filter may be clogged.

Important! Cleaners of modern air conditioners can be: mesh, pocket. If there is a pocket type device in the air conditioner, then cleaning the filter on your own will not work, as it is strictly forbidden to rinse it according to the instructions. If the device does not work with the required efficiency, then the device must be replaced. Cleaning strainers, unlike pocket filters, is not difficult.

In order to clean the filter yourself, you must follow this instruction:

1. Disconnect the appliance from electricity.
2. Unscrew the cover.
3. Remove the filter.
4. Wash the cleaner with a detergent (preferably with antiseptic properties, but without aggressive effect).
5. Rinse off any dirt with a sponge.
6. Dry the cleaned device.
7. Put the cleaner back in place.
8. Connect the device to the network and check its operation as a whole.

The property of mesh parts allows, without any harm to the quality of work, to periodically resort to such procedures, since neither washing nor drying does harm to them. It is not difficult to clean the filter in the air conditioner, it is only necessary to observe the technology and the sequence of operations. When conducting them, pay attention to the condition of the frames into which the filter unit is inserted, as well as the quality and structure of the rubber seals. If they are damaged or worn, replace.

Important! Experts recommend that preventive maintenance work on cleaning the mesh parts 1-2 times a month with the active use of the air conditioner, but the main guideline indicating the need for such an intervention is the deterioration of the device.

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Hood filter

The hood, like any household appliance, needs periodic maintenance. The biggest difficulty housewives face is cleaning the device of grease settling on the filter.

The cleaning process boils down to the following:

1. Unplug the device from the power outlet.
2. Carefully study the product passport, because for a high-quality cleaning procedure, the hood will have to be disassembled.
3. Remove the hood in the hood. In all devices, it is located at the bottom. Find the locking latches, bend them and, holding the lid with your hand, remove.
4. Remove the filter. For all models, the device of the cleaners is different: for some - the filters are inserted into special grooves, for others - they are fixed with special latches.
5. Prepare a container of warm water and soapy water. You can use a dishwashing detergent that does an excellent job with fat.
6. Place the removed cleaner in a container with soapy water and leave it for at least an hour.
7. After a certain time, start cleaning: use a soft brush and a special tool to wash grease from a fine mesh. With intensive movements, clean the device from contamination, paying attention to hard-to-reach places.
8. Rinse the part with running water.
9. Dry the cleaner naturally. You can not place it near a heat source: on the battery, near a gas burner, as this can reduce the efficiency of the entire hood and even cause its deformation.
10. Install the filter element in the hood in the reverse order.

Important! Promptly remove fat from the hood by washing the filter. Do not wait for the device to practically stop removing odor and steam.

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We hope that in this article you will find your type of filter, and clean it by doing a good job. Pure water and clean air to your home!