Unpleasant Taste or Smell? The Ultimate Guide to Filter Water Quality
When to Replace Your Cartridge or Flush Your System to Eliminate Odours and Aftertaste
The whole point of a water filter is to remove unpleasant tastes and odours, so when they return, it's a definitive sign that your system needs maintenance. The problem usually points to an exhausted filter or need of more flushing.
Causes of Unusual Taste or Odour
| Symptom/Odour | Primary Cause | Solution |
| Chlorine/Chemical Taste | The activated carbon filter is exhausted and can no longer absorb the chlorine or chloramine used by your municipal water supplier. | Immediate Filter Replacement: Replace the carbon filter cartridge. Ensure you use a high-quality carbon block filter for maximum contaminant adsorption. |
| Metallic Taste | Can indicate high levels of dissolved solids, iron, or low pH that the filter media is no longer catching, or that is being leached from old plumbing. | Replace Filter: If it returns immediately, test your water for heavy metals or iron. A specialized iron or lead removal filter may be required. |
| Residual Preservatives/Manufacturing Residue: New filter cartridges, particularly carbon and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, often contain harmless preservatives or fine powder (carbon fines) leftover from the manufacturing and packaging process. If the system is not properly flushed, these compounds dissolve into the water, causing a sharp or metallic taste. | Extended System Flushing and Reservoir Cycling: Flush the System for an Hour: Run the filtered water tap continuously, or flush 2-3 full cycles of the RO storage tank (if applicable). This extended flushing forces a high volume of water through the new media, removing all residual carbon dust and chemical preservatives. |