Ah, the dreaded full service. This is when a technician comes in, pokes at the tubing, and charges you for the privilege. Most manufacturers recommend a professional inspection every 12 months.
That’s the industry standard. But be honest: have you ever actually done that? I haven’t. I just wait until the water starts tasting funny, then I panic and call a friend who knows a guy.
Do yourself a favor: schedule it once a year. It’s cheaper than replacing the whole system because you let a little algae grow in the tubing. Algae in your water is like finding a spider in your salad. Technically possible, but gross.
The “Vibe Check” Method
If you don’t want to read the manual (none of us do), just do a vibe check once a month. Look at the display. Is there an alarm? No? Good. Walk away.
Then, twice a year, look at the pre-filter. Is it brown? Change it. Is it white? You’re fine. It’s like checking the milk in your fridge. If it smells fine, drink it. If it smells like death, toss it.
For the love of all that is sterile, do not let the system sit dry for more than a week. That’s like leaving a wet towel on the floor. You’ll come back to a science experiment.
