How to Change the Cartridge in Your My Water Filter Benchtop Reverse Osmosis RO 4000 System

In this article, we'll discuss how to keep your My Water Filter Benchtop Reverse Osmosis RO 4000 system in top condition. Making sure the cartridges are changed regularly is the key to getting that beautifully clean and purified water you bought it for in the first place. This guide will walk you through the whole process, step-by-step, so you can get it done without any problems.

The RO 4000 systems are designed to give you top-quality purified water using a few different filtration stages. It uses advanced reverse osmosis technology to get rid of all sorts of contaminants, including sediment, chlorine and other chemicals from your water. Whether you’ve got a model with the alkaliser cartridges or not, the basic principle is the same.

Inside, you've got multiple cartridges, including sediment and carbon filters and a membrane – all working together to make sure your water is clean and safe to drink.

Regular cartridge replacement is key to keep your RO 4000 running efficiently. As a general rule, your sediment cartridge and your carbon cartridges need to be changed over annually.

Now, here’s a clever trick you can use to get the most out of your carbon cartridges and save yourself some money. Instead of chucking both carbon cartridges out each year, you can replace one carbon cartridge with a brand new one each year, while rotating the other one from the back of the line to the front. This rotation maximises the life of the cartridges and keeps everything filtering efficiently.

Before we dive in, prepare your workspace and gather all your tools. Here's everything you need:

• Your replacement cartridges (one sediment, one carbon)

• An adjustable wrench

• A Texta or marker for labelling

• A bucket or a container to catch any drips

• A clean cloth or some paper towel for spills

Having all this on hand will make the whole process run smoothly.

First up, we need to get the lid off so we can get to the cartridges. Have a look at the unit and you'll spot two clips, one on each side. Just pull these clips off carefully, and the top should lift away, revealing all the inner components. Just be gentle with it so you don't damage anything.

Once the top's off, you'll see a row of cartridges inside. The first one in the line is your sediment filter – its job is to catch all the bigger bits of grit and rust. The next ones, usually in positions two and four, are your carbon cartridges. These cartridges are responsible for getting rid of chlorine and other chemicals. Knowing which is which is key, so if they aren't already numbered, now's a good time to use that Texta to label them 1, 2, 3 and 4 so you don't get mixed up.

Let's start with cartridge number one, the sediment filter. You’ll see little red clips holding the hoses in place. Pop the red clip off, then press down firmly on the collar (the little ring the hose goes into) and gently pull the white hose out. Once both hoses are disconnected, you can lift the old sediment cartridge out.

Grab your new sediment cartridge. Have a look for the flow direction arrow on the side – you want to make sure it’s pointing in the right direction. Pop it into position one, push the hoses back in firmly until they click into place, and then put the red clips back on to secure them.

Now for the carbon filters. This is where we do the rotation trick.

1.  Remove Cartridge #2:  First, disconnect and pull out the old carbon cartridge from position two, just like you did with the sediment filter.

2.  Move Cartridge #4 to #2:  Now, go to the cartridge in position four. This one has been polishing the water for the past year, so it's still in pretty good condition. Disconnect it, take it out and put it into position two. Make sure you get the flow direction right and connect the hoses securely.

3.  Install the New Carbon Cartridge:  Grab your new carbon cartridge. Take off any little plastic plugs on the ends, and install this new one into position four. This will be your "polishing" filter for the next year.

Before we put everything back together, we need to give that new carbon filter a good flush. This is a crucial step to wash out any loose carbon dust (called "fines") that can be left over from manufacturing or shipping. If you don't, your water might look a bit dark at first.

Once the new cartridge is flushed and the water is running clear, it’s time to reassemble your RO 4000.

1. Reconnect all the internal hoses as they were.

2. Carefully line the top of the unit up with the base. Make sure none of the hoses are getting pinched or twisted.

3. Gently press down on the top until it fits snugly back onto the base. If it doesn't sit properly, a cartridge might not be seated correctly, so just have another look.

4. Reconnect the gauge hose and pop the two clips back on the sides to secure the top.

5. If you have an alkaliser, now’s the time to reconnect the hose to it.

All done! But before you pour yourself a well-deserved glass of water, let's do a quick final check. Turn the water supply on and check all the connections for any signs of leaks. If you spot a drip, turn the water off and just re-check that the hose is pushed in firmly.

It's also a good habit to check the pressure gauge every now and then to make sure the system is running in its normal range. Catching any little issues early can save you a headache down the track.

• Swap out your sediment and one carbon cartridge every year using the rotation method.
• Always flush new carbon cartridges for 5-10 minutes before connecting them up for good.
• Regularly check for leaks and keep an eye on the pressure gauge.