RO water purifier maintenance: filters, membranes and service intervals

An RO purifier keeps working invisibly until it doesn't — and by then you may have been drinking under-filtered water for weeks. The parts wear on a schedule, so it pays to track them.

The parts and their typical lifespan

• Sediment (pre) filter: every 3–6 months — it protects everything downstream and clogs first.
• Carbon filter: every 6–12 months — removes chlorine and odour.
• RO membrane: every 1–2 years depending on water hardness — the heart of the system.
• UV lamp (if fitted): about once a year — it stops disinfecting long before it stops glowing.

Signs something's due

• Slower water flow or a smaller purified output than usual.
• A change in taste or a faint smell.
• The purified-water tank taking much longer to fill.
• The service-reminder or filter-change light, if your model has one.

Cost and the AMC question

Filters run roughly ₹300–₹800 each; a membrane ₹1,500–₹3,000. Because these recur predictably, a purifier AMC that bundles consumables is one of the few AMCs that reliably saves money over buying parts individually — as long as it actually includes the membrane.

Keep a note of what was changed and when, so the next technician (or the next you) isn't guessing whether the membrane is one year old or three.

Your Home Docket keeps all of this in one place — every appliance, its warranty, its service history, and a reminder before the next service is due, shared with your whole family. It's free. Create yours in a couple of minutes.