How To Change Your Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station® Filters
Learn the best practices to maintain your Kinetico drinking water system's performance.
The Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station® is designed so you know when your filters need to be changed. The PureMometer® (located at the top of the K5 above the MACguard® postfilter) has a blue gauge that shows you how much filter capacity remains. When the gauge is about ¾ of the way up, your postfilter is at full or near-full capacity. When the gauge is less than halfway, your filter is close to the end of its useful life, indicating the need for a filter change soon.
All Kinetico drinking water filter cartridges are designed and rated to filter 500 gallons of water. When the PureMometer indicates the postfilter needs to be changed, all the K5 filters should be changed at the same time.
Learn more about the Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station
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How do you know when to change your K5 Filters?
We suggest keeping a replacement set of filters on hand so you never have to go without reverse osmosis water because you are unprepared for a filter change.
Learn more about the Kinetico K5 Filter Cartridges
The Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station uses three standard filters - one to remove chlorine, another to remove contaminants such as metals and nitrates, and one more to eliminate additional compounds that could result in foul tastes and odors. The Standard Filter Cartridges include two sediment prefilter options, the reverse osmosis membrane and a postfilter. The Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station with VOC Guard includes the 3 standard filter cartridges, plus the VOC Guard Filter, which reduces volatile organic compounds like pesticides, paints, cleaning supplies and other chemicals that may be in your water.
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Sediment PrefilterThe Sediment Prefilter cartridge is designed to reduce sediment content during the prefiltration stage. It is commonly used for well water supplies. |
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High Capacity Carbon/Sediment PrefilterThe High Capacity Carbon/Sediment Prefilter cartridge is designed to reduce sediment and chlorine content during the prefiltration stage. It is most generally used for municipal water supplies or in cases where water is treated with chlorine. |
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K5 Reverse Osmosis MembraneThe reverse osmosis membrane is the heart of the K5 Drinking Water Station and its design is exclusive to Kinetico. It is not a FlexFilter and does not need to be replaced regularly like FlexFilters. |
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Taste And Odor PostfilterThe K5 Drinking Water Station’s postfilter reduces tastes, odors and aesthetic chlorine before water is consumed to ensure it tastes great. |
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Perchlorate GuardThe Perchlorate Guard cartridge significantly reduces perchlorate in water. Perchlorate is a byproduct of certain forms of manufacturing, but it can also occur naturally. |
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Purefecta® GuardThe Purefecta® Guard cartridge generates biopure drinking water by significantly reducing 99.99999% of bacteria and 99.99% of viruses. |
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VOC GuardOur VOC Guard significantly reduces volatile organic compounds like pesticides, paints, cleaning supplies and other chemicals that may be in your water. * VOC Guard filter cartridge comes standard with the K5 Drinking Water Station with VOC Guard. |
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Mineral PlusThe Mineral Plus is an additive cartridge that lets you add beneficial minerals such as magnesium and calcium to your treated drinking water. |
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Arsenic GuardThe Arsenic Guard cartridge is specifically designed to reduce arsenic (AS III) in water. |
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Chloramine GuardThe Chloramine Guard cartridge is designed to significantly reduce chloramine, a chemical compound made of free chlorine and ammonia. Chloramine is used to treat approximately 1/3 of US municipal water sources. |
Filter Change Alerts
- Check the PureMometer periodically; it will alert you when a filter change is impending. The lower the blue gauge sits in the window, the less time you have before your filters run out of capacity. If the gauge is at or near the bottom of the window, you can be proactive and change your cartridges before the flow of water at the faucet significantly slows or shuts off.
- You can wait to change the filters until the flow of water at the faucet stops or slows considerably. To verify a filter change is indeed needed, check the PureMometer. Slow or no water flow plus the blue gauge at the bottom of the window indicate the need to change the filters.
When your K5 filters need to be replaced, contact your local Kinetico dealer to schedule a system sanitization and filter change. Having a Kinetico water expert perform the service ensures your system will be properly cared for.
Contact Your Local Kinetico Dealer to
Schedule a Water Test or Filter Change
If you prefer, you can perform the filter change on your own by following the steps below.
We suggest ordering your filter replacements in advance so your family does not go a day without reverse osmosis water.
Changing Your K5 Filters
Periodic replacement of filters is part of the normal maintenance required by your system to keep it operational. You should replace the filters each year or when the flow of reverse osmosis water slows or stops completely, whichever comes first. You may also need to change your filters in the event of a boil order or other events that can compromise your filters.
When it's time to change your filters, make sure you have a set of Kinetico K5 Filter Cartridge replacements on hand.If you want to change the FlexFilters (auxiliary cartridges) you are using, this is the best time to do so. We suggest having your water tested by the local Kinetico water expert prior to making any filtration changes.
Check the PureMometer
Check your drinking water system’s PureMometer to see if the gauge is low indicating the MACguard Filter has shut off. If the water from the faucet is slow or has stopped, and the PureMometer is low, you need to change your filters.
Perform a System Sanitization
If you choose to change the filters on your own, you will need a sanitization kit, available from your authorized, independent Kinetico dealer, to sanitize the system.
For starters, wash your hands thoroughly, and do not touch any K5 internal mechanisms or parts. Follow the instructions provided with the sanitization kit to disinfect your system.
Change your Filters
Step 1: Shut off the water to your K5
Locate the on/off valve that controls the water flow to your drinking water system. Turn the valve to the off position. Warning - if you don’t shut off the water supply to the system, your home (and you) will get wet.
Step 2: Depressurize the system
Drain the dedicated faucet that is connected to your K5 Drinking Water Station. With the faucet in the open position, wait until the water has all drained and you see only a drip coming from the faucet. (If the system shut off the flow of water at the faucet, no water will flow.) Turn the faucet to the off position.
Step 3: Remove the side panel of the K5
Open the side panel of your K5 Drinking Water Station. If you have not already done so, look at the filter cartridges in your system and verify you have the correct replacement filters. Remember, all filters should be replaced at the same time, but you do not need to replace the reverse osmosis membrane during a filter change.
On the inside of the side panel, there is a guide that displays where each of your filters should be placed in the unit. Use this guide to make sure you place each filter cartridge in the correct location.
Step 4: Replace your filter cartridges
Turn the old cartridge in the system counter-clockwise, about a quarter to a half of a turn. Make sure you turn the cartridge enough so the ridge at the top of the cartridge moves to the notched opening. Once there, pull down to remove the filter cartridge. Take care as the cartridge will be full of water, and the system will dribble a little water when the cartridge is removed. Once you have removed the filter, replace it with the new one that matches. To do so, make sure the ridge at the top of the cartridge fits in the notched opening, and then turn clockwise until it locks in place.
Repeat this step for each of the filters in your Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station.
When replacing the MACguard postfilter, you need to make sure that the small hole at the top and center of the cartridge engages with the PureMometer pin on the system. When properly aligned, insert the cartridge and push up. The blue gauge of the PureMometer will move about ¾ of the way up in the window. You should feel when the filter has been inserted fully, making it so you can turn and lock it in place.
Note: You do not need to replace the Reverse Osmosis membrane.
Step 5: Replace the side panel to secure your K5
After you have changed each of your filters, replace the side panel back on your K5 unit. Be sure to line up the panel so the magnets engage.
Step 6: Turn the water to your K5 back on
Go back to the water shut-off valve for your K5 unit, and slowly turn it to the ON position, checking the filters for any leaks. If you detect any leaks, shut the water off again and tighten the filters a little more. Then turn the water back on. The K5 faucet will not dispense any water until the water shut off valve is open.
Step 7: Flush the system
After sanitizing the system and replacing your cartridges, it is important to allow two storage tanks of water to run through the unit. To do this, ensure you have turned the water to the unit back on. Slowly open the K5’s dedicated tap. The water may sputter because air has entered the lines and the system during the filter change process. Let the water flow from the faucet until the stream of water stops. Wait several minutes for the system to make more water and fill the storage tank, and then flush the system a second time before consuming any of the water.
Now you can begin drinking your great-tasting, clean reverse osmosis drinking water again.
If you have questions about maintaining your Kinetico K5, contact your local Kinetico dealer for help. You can also refer to the owner’s manual for assistance.
Contact Your local Kinetico water expert for help