Water Filter Checklist

Credit: The Hansen Group

On certain pieces of Foodservice equipment you might have a water filter that reduces or removes contaminants from the water supplied to the unit for the best possible function of that unit. Some examples of these pieces of equipment might include steamers, combi ovens, ice machines, coffee/tea machine’s, etc. When you shut down that equipment for a period of time the contaminants/sediment that was previously captured in the filter cartridges can start to solidify and slow down or stop up the filter due to the lack of water flowing through the filter. We recommend checking the filter when starting up your units to make sure enough water will be supplied to the unit for proper operation. You can do this by checking the gauge that is on top of your water filter. The quickest way to do that is to make sure the water valve to the filter is on. 

Start up the piece of equipment and run it through the process of operation so that water is supplied to the unit. You can usually hear when the unit “calls” for the water to the unit. Normally the dial on gauge will be in the 20 to 80 PSI range on the filter. When water flows through the filter the dial should stay in the same range. If there is a sudden drop in the dial down towards the ten to zero RED area the filter cartridge should be changed out. 

If the filter does not have a gauge on it such as smaller ice machines, coffee/tea machines, you can still test the filter. Make sure the water valve to the filter is off. Disconnect the water hose on the right side of the filter. Slowly turn on the water valve to check the water flow. If the water comes out of the filter slowly or in small spurts you need to change out the cartridge.