Before estimating the best time to change your RO membrane or filters (RO filter plant life span), keep the following things in mind-

~ Impurity level in the input water.
~ The hardness of the incoming water, measured in TDS (total dissolved solids).
~ How much water does your RO purifier purify?
~ If the water contains a lot of contaminants, has a lot of TDS, or you use your RO purifier to purify a lot of water, the filters and RO membrane will need to be changed frequently.

The RO membrane and filter replacement plan outlined in the following paragraphs is for a typical Indian household with 4-6 family members.

Every 3–4 months, the RO pre-filter (located outside the RO water purifier) should be replaced. Depending on the quality and quantity of purified water, the replacement interval can be shorter or longer. The Sediment Filter and Carbon Filter, among the other pre-filters, should be replaced every 6-12 months, depending on how much water you purify and how excellent or poor the input water is. However, this is only an average, to determine the exact time to change them, we must examine each filter separately.

When Should You Replace Your Sediment Filter?

~ The sediment filter removes sediment and silt from the water, preventing your carbon filter and RO membrane from being clogged prematurely.
~ Because the amount of sediment in the input water varies every home, there is no "one size fits all" answer for how long it should last.
~ It's critical to keep the pressure pouring into the membrane as high as possible, and since the sediment filter is only a few hundred rupees, it's always a good idea to replace it on time. If the sediment filter is not replaced on a regular basis, dirt will enter the RO membrane and clog it, reducing the efficiency and life of the membrane.
~ The Carbon Filter and RO Membrane should last a long time if you maintain your Sediment Filter appropriately.
~ Sediment Filter should be changed at least once a year, according to our recommendations.

When Should You Replace Your Carbon Filter?

~ The carbon filter (also known as the Activated Carbon Filter) eliminates chlorine and other organic pollutants from the water from the sediment filter. The water is additionally filtered through a carbon filter, which removes the bad odour and taste.
~ Chlorine in the water shortens the life of the RO membrane. Chlorine and other organic contaminants are absorbed by the activated carbon filter, which extends the life of the RO membrane. To extend the life of the RO Membrane and prevent undesirable odour and taste in the filtered water, it is critical to change the Carbon filter at regular intervals.
~ At least once a year, we recommend replacing your carbon filter.

When Should You Replace Your RO Membrane?

~ Any RO water purifier's RO Membrane is the most important component. The RO Membrane is the filter that does all of the work; the Sediment Filter and Carbon Filter just serve to prepare the water for the RO membrane so that it does not get damaged.
~ If the sediment and carbon filters are properly maintained and replaced at the appropriate intervals, the RO membrane will only need to be replaced after purification of 4,000 to 6,000 litres of water.
~ Depending on the TDS of the input water, the RO membrane may expire sooner or later. The RO membrane will be replaced based on the amount of water consumed, the quality of the input water, and the efficiency of the sediment filter and carbon filter.
~ RO Membranes typically last approximately 2-3 years, although we've seen them last up to 5 years. If you have really hard water or if you never cleanse the membrane, your RO membrane may perish sooner.
~ Checking the TDS level of purified water is the best approach to determine when your RO membrane needs to be replaced. To determine the TDS level, you'll need a TDS metre like this one. We recommend purchasing a digital TDS metre if you don't already have one to easily determine the TDS in water.
~ When the TDS starts to rise, you'll know your RO membrane is going to fail. Because this can happen unexpectedly, we recommend replacing the RO membrane every 2-3 years.