Replacement Water Filters & Cartridges? What Type Do I Need?
This guide can help you find out what cartridge you need to replace or the type you would need to remove a specific contaminant. If you are still unsure of what your system needs, E-Mail us or call us at 1-800-955-8561.
Replacement Water Filters & Cartridges: Carbon Cartridges
Carbon cartridges are primarily used to remove taste and odor from chlorine present in all water from a public water system. Some carbon cartridges reduce or remove lead that can be present in water.
RO Cartridge Kits
These are replacement cartridges for reverse osmosis systems that include all the needed replacement filters for a system.
Carbon Block
Replacement cartridges for reverse osmosis (RO) and undersink systems. Carbon block cartridges remove chlorine, taste and odor reduction, and certain cartridges also remove lead from your drinking water.
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
GAC cartridges allows water to flow from one end through the length of the carbon media inside before flowing out the other end, maximizing the water’s contact with the media. These remove chlorine, taste and odor reduction, and can be effective and removing chemical contaminants.
KDF/GAC Replacements
These sealed KDF/GAC Systems typically last for 3 years before replacement is needed. Shown here are an under sink, counter top and ice maker model. These units are also replacement upgrades for discontinued NSA models.
Empty Refillable Canisters
Empty refillable canisters work exactly like the GAC cartridges above, maximizing the water’s contact with the media. Buying the canister and media separately allows you to refill the cartridges any time they need to be changed.
Replacement Water Filters & Cartridges: Sediment Cartridges
Sediment cartridges remove dirt, sand and rust commonly found in water that travels through aging pipes and come in a variety or style and micron sizes (pore size of the cartridge).
Pleated
Pleated filters are designed to have an increased surface area and longer life. These cartridges are washable & reusable, and come in a range of sizes and micron (µ) ratings.
Melt Blown
Melt blown polypropylene cartridges are designed for the removal of dirt, rust and sediment from water. These filters have graded density layers, meaning the outer layers are more porous, catching larger particles while the inner layers are a finer micron, catching smaller particles.
String Wound
String wound cartridges are designed for the removal of dirt, rust and sediment from water. These cartridges are rated for temperatures up to 125 °F. Polypropylene construction for excellent chemical resistance. No binders, additives, or lubricants to leach into the water.
High Temperature
High temperature string wound cartridges are designed for the removal of dirt, rust and sediment from water. These cartridges have stainless steel center tubes rated for temperatures up to 180 °F. Polypropylene construction for excellent chemical resistance. No binders, additives, or lubricants to leach into the water.
Reverse Osmosis Membranes
Residential Membranes
Membranes are designed to remove a range of inorganic contaminants and dissolved impurities including salt ions and other small, unfilterable molecules.
Commercial Membranes
Membranes are designed to remove a range of inorganic contaminants and dissolved impurities including salt ions and other small, unfilterable molecules.
Commercial membranes are designed for specific applications: Nano filtration, Tap Water, Brackish Water, and Sea Water.
Inline / Icemaker Filters
Inline Cartridges
These filters are often used as a Reverse Osmosis (RO) inline post filter. They clip on to the membrane housing and filter the water after the bladder tank, acting as a polishing filter. Other applications include: appliances, water coolers, coffee makers, and other low flow applications.
Ceramic Cartridges
Ceramic Cartridges
Ceramic water filters are an inexpensive and effective type of water filter, that rely on the small pore size of ceramic material to filter dirt, debris, and bacteria out of water. Doulton ceramic filter particles from the water but leaves oxygen and mineral contents unchanged, which gives water it’s spring-like freshness and taste (not "pure" but wholesome).
Replacement Lamps & Quartz Sleeves for UV Systems
Replacement UV Lamps
These are replacement lamps for Viqua brand ultraviolet water purification systems.
Our Lamps are shipped with superior packaging. When you order with us you can be assured that your parts with arrive in perfect working order.
Replacement Quartz Sleeves
These are replacement quartz sleeves for Viqua brand ultraviolet water purification systems.
Our Quartz Sleeves are shipped with superior packaging. When you order with us you can be assured that your parts with arrive in perfect working order.
Aries Filter Works Cartridges
Aries Specialty Cartridges
Aries makes a wide variety of cartridges that are available (listed to right) to handle a number of water problems. The cartridge housings are made of high-grade, injection molded plastic.
- Acid Washed Coconut Shell Cartridges
- Catalytic Carbon Cartridges for Chloramine & Hydrogen
- KDF55/Coconut Shell GAC Cartridges
- KDF85/Coconut Shell GAC Cartridges
- Phosphate/GAC Cartridges
- Phosphate Cartridges
- Calcor Cartridges
- Calcor/GAC Cartridges
- Fluoride Reduction Cartridges
- Arsenic Removal Cartridges
- High Purity Mixed DI Resin Cartridges
- Color Changing DI Cartridges
- Heavy Metals Removal Cartridges
Pentek Specialty Carbon Block Cartridges
Chloramine & Chlorine Removal
The Pentek ChlorPlus Series carbon block cartridges help reduce sediment while providing greater chloramine performance capacities than granular carbon. They also significantly reduce the carbon fines found in many granular canisters.
Ultrafiltration Cartridges
Ultrafiltration (UF) is a variety of membrane filtration in which hydrostatic pressure forces a liquid against a semipermeable membrane. Suspended solids and solutes of high molecular weight are retained, while water and low molecular weight solutes pass through the membrane. Ultrafiltration is not fundamentally different from microfiltration, nanofiltration or gas separation, except in terms of the size of the molecules it retains.
Everpure Cartridges
Residential Cartridges
These Everpure brand replacement cartridges are specifically for Everpure residential systems. Everpure systems all use easy to change cartridges, that are as simple to install as changing a light bulb.
Commercial Cartridges
These Everpure brand replacement cartridges are specifically for Everpure commercial systems. Everpure commercial systems have a wide range of applications: drinking water, coffee, icemaker, steam, and combination.
Hydrotech Cartridges
For Hydrotech Quick-Change Systems
We carry replacement Quick-Change cartridges for Hydrotech Pura Quick-Change reverse osmosis systems. The innovative PURA twist and lock design makes service simple. Twist off the old cartridge and twist on the new. No messy sump removal. PURA makes drinking water better and life easier.
For Hydrotech Systems
Replacement sediment and carbon block pre- and post-filter cartridges for Hydrotech reverse osmosis systems. We send the original Hydrotech instructions on how to change filters and sanitize the system with each order.
Replacement Water Filters & Cartridges: Watts Cartridges
For Watts Quick-Twist Systems
Replacement sediment, carbon pre-filter, GAC post-filter, and RO membrane for Watts Quick Twist systems. The Quick Twist system features easy to change cartridges that install and remove with a simple twist of the cartridge.
For Watts Kwik-Change Systems
Unlike conventional reverse osmosis units, filter housings are not required, so there’s no mess or fuss during cartridge replacement. These systems are ideal for busy consumers that don’t want to be bothered with complicated filter cartridge replacement procedures.
More Information on Replacement Water Filters & Cartridges
Water Filtration Systems Guide
Need to filter water but not sure about the differences between or applications of our systems? Use our Water Filter Systems Guide to find out which system is best for your filtration needs.
Drinking Water Contaminants
A list of water contaminants and their possible health effects. Click on contaminant link names for more detailed information about a specific contaminant.
View All Replacement Cartridges
View all of the replacement cartridges H2O Distributors has to offer.
Instructions on Replacing & Sanitizing
View a step-by-step guide on replacing your filter cartridges, cleaning and sanitizing the cartridge filter housings.
A boil-water advisory or boil-water order is a public health advisory or directive given by government or health authorities to consumers when a community’s drinking water is, or could be, contaminated by pathogens.
Learn how to make an emergency water filter for disaster situations out of some common items.
This method does work and can keep you heathly if clean potable water or a manufactured water filter system are unobtainable.
The Hydrologic Cycle (also called the Water Cycle) is the continuous movement of water in the air, on the surface of and below the Earth.
This cycle is the exchange of energy which influences climate. When water condenses, it releases energy and warms the environment.
90% of the garbage floating in the Earth’s oceans is plastic and less than 5% of all plastic is recycled.
The patch mostly consists of pelagic plastics, formed from plastic bags, plastic water bottles, bottle caps and styrofoam.
Hydraulic fracturing (sometimes referred to as fracking or hydrofracking) is a relatively new form of natural gas extraction.
The fluids used in the fracking process flow back to the surface, often entering the water table or polluting the drilling area, and sometimes improper disposal of waste water from the wells.
As our technology advances, so do new forms of pollution and contaminants that effect our environment and our health.
Read more about drinking water contaminants and their health effects.
Chlorine has long been recognized as an oxidative agent, meaning that it not only kills the germs in the water supply; it will damage any living tissue with which it comes in contact. And your skin, like the rest of your organs, is living tissue. But that’s not the only problem.
Since the discovery of its health benefits in the mid-1940’s, fluoride is often added to the public water supplies of industrialized countries in order to reduce the populations tooth decay, which is especially effective in low income communities, where good dental hygiene may be too costly.
Chromium-6 was found in the drinking water supply of the southern California town of Hinkley and brought to national attention by Erin Brockovich.
The EPA is reviewing effects of Chromium-6 after a recent report brought to light dangerous levels in a number of major US cities.
Giardia is a flagellated protozoan parasite that colonizes and reproduces in the small intestines of humans and other animals, which can cause giardiasis.
Symptoms of Giardiasis usually show after 3 to 4 days, and include gastrointestinal and constitutional problems.
Cryptosporidiosis is a disease caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum.
Since a outbreak in 1993 in Wisconson, new attention has been focused on determining and reducing the risk for Cryptosporidiosis from community and municipal water supplies.
What is reverse osmosis? What is a 4-Stage system? What are the components in a system? Visit our ‘How Reverse Osmosis Works‘ guide to find the answers.
Also see out list of contaminants RO removes and comparison chart for particle sizes to learn more about reverse osmosis.
What is ultraviolet light? Do I need to filter the water before the UV process? How exactly can light kill organisms?
Visit our ‘How Ultraviolet Purification Works‘ guide to find out how it works.
The typical water softener is a mechanical appliance that’s plumbed into your home’s water supply system. All water softeners use the same operating principle: They trade the minerals for something else, in most cases sodium. The process is called ion exchange. More…
Step by step instructions on installing replacement cartridges and sanitizing filter housings. It is highly recommended that you clean and sanitize your system once a year.
Need help installing your new RO system, how to perform maintenance, or how often to change your cartridges?
View our printable Reverse Osmosis Installation Guide to learn more.
Step by step instructions on making a connection with Quick-Connect fittings. Quick-connect fittings allow you to connect and disconnect tubing without the need of tools. For larger, plumbing size fittings read our using twist lock guide.
Step by step instructions on making a connection with Twist and Lock fittings. Twist-Lock fittings allow you to connect and disconnect tubing without the need of tools.
Step by step instructions on making a connection with SharkBite Push-To-Connect fittings. SharkBite fittings allow you to connect and disconnect pipes without the need of using PVC glue or welding copper.
Need to filter water but not sure about the differences between or applications of our systems?
Use our Water Filter Systems Guide to find out which system is best for your filtration needs.
Need to replace your system’s cartridges but not sure what type is best for your system?
View our Cartridge Replacement Guide or contact us to find out what you need.
View a chart comparing the specifications of all the reverse osmosis systems we sell on this site. All bladder tanks are NSF certified.
The size of your water softener depeneds on the total grain per day that need to be removed.
This is determined by the number of people in your household, grain per gallon (GPG) hardness and the amount of Iron present in the water.
A micron is a unit of measurement for how small of particles a filter will catch. The lower the micron size, the tinier the ‘holes’ in the filter cartridge are that allows water to pass through, ranging from 0.1 absolute to 150 microns.
Use our Pore Size Efficiency Guide to find out what micron size to use.
Pleated sediment cartridges remove dirt, rust and sediment from water while providing an increased surface area and longer life. Pleated filters down to 5 microns are washable and reusable.
Use our Pleated Sediment Cartridge Comparison to find the filter cartridge you need.
Aquariums need three types of filtration to maintain a healthy environment for freshwater, saltwater or amphibian aquariums (sediment filtration, carbon filtration, and removal of biological contaminants).
When traveling around the state or the country in a RV you might not always know where you will be getting the water from or what might be in it. Water that is stored in a RV holding tank will not stay potable for long and can become a breeding ground for algae and bacteria.
Chemicals added to public water supplies, like chlorine, can be harmful to the living cells of plants.
When brewing beer with tap or bottled water, chlorine and chloramine present in the water can combine with malt phenols in the wort to create a compound called chlorophenol, which can give the beer a medicinal taste.
View our Filtered Water for Home Beer Brewing guide.
Bottled water requires a lot of resources to manufacture and ship, and costs a lot more than reverse osmosis water.
Use our Bottled Water Cost Calculator to find out how much of an impact you have on the environment.
