The lifespan of the Stefani filter cartridge depends on the quantity, but also on the quality and hardness of the water passing through the filter. The higher the degree of contamination (pesticides, chlorine, heavy metals, etc.) in the tap water, the shorter the lifespan of the cartridge. In urban areas, The cartridge generally lasts about 6 months.

To maintain proper cartridge function, you must:

• Carry out preventive maintenance, assessing the quantity and quality of water to be purified : Note the day the cartridge was installed to know when to replace it (every 500L or every 6 months of use).
• Clean the cartridge regularly with clean water, but do not turn it over so that no contaminated water gets inside.
• IMPORTANT Do not use any chemicals or household products to clean the cartridge.

How should the water filter be cleaned?

We recommend cleaning the exterior frequently with a synthetic microfiber cloth exclusively dedicated to washing the water filter.

For the interior, two solutions : Wash the fountain thoroughly in the shower or bathtub without using any detergent whatsoeverThe other solution is to gently rub the inside of the water filter, either with hands previously washed well with soap or with a synthetic dish brush. dedicated only to the water filter (It is not necessary to rub the inside vigorously as this may damage the water filter.

• For earthen water filters cooked limescale deposit inside the water filter is not a problem, do not try to scrape or rub as this may damage the pottery.
• For plastic water filters After removing the filter cartridge, you can wash your fountain with vinegar or other products of your choice.

Why might filtered water taste different?

Terracotta filters will have a characteristic taste at the beginning of their use that will gradually disappear, generally within a month of use. To reduce this taste, you can, as in Brazil, soak your terracotta water filter for 3 days in a basin of water, changing the water several times. In any case, during this first month of use, it will be good to use the entire contents of the water filter so that the taste disappears as quickly as possible. A characteristic odor will remain for any terracotta product that resembles the smell of a well, cellar, or even an old barrel.

It is recommended to throw away the first 12 liters of filtered water before consumption.

Stefani cartridges should not be shaken, as the activated carbon inside can become even smaller, causing more of it to come out of the cartridge with the water. If this happens, it will not be a problem, as it is not harmful to health and the purification process will not be affected. However, the cartridge's lifespan may be reduced, as you will have less activated carbon inside.

What to do with the first liters of filtered water?

The first 12 liters of filtered water, for each cartridge, should not be consumed, as they are used to clean the filter and activate the cartridge.After the first 12 liters filtered for each cartridge, you can start drinking pure and healthy water.

Why might there be black spots on the ceramic wall of the filter cartridge?

These black spots correspond to activated carbon residues which are completely harmless to health.

Why can green stains appear on the ceramic wall of the filter cartridge for plastic water filters?

These green spots are caused by green algae. To avoid this problem, never expose your plastic water filter to direct light. Instead, place it in a dark location. If this isn't possible, you can place a clean kitchen towel over your fountain.

To eliminate these green algae as well as possible, you simply need to gently brush the body of the filter cartridge with a toothbrush dedicated solely to your water filter.

How does colloidal silver help sterilize water?

Stefani Sterilizing Cartridges (Triple Action) are made with an internal coating of colloidal silver, creating protection against bacteria. This coating has the function sterilization and eliminates bacteria in water, making it safe for consumption.

What are the filtration stages of Stefani filter fountains?

• First step: Water flows through the microporous ceramic filter wall, which retains solid particles and impurities.
• Second step: The inner layer of colloidal silver sterilizes the water, leaving it virtually bacteria-free.
• Third step: In this stage, the water flows through the activated carbon, which guarantees high efficiency in reducing odors, tastes and the amount of chlorine present in the water, making it crystal clear and healthy for consumption.

If water is stored in a terracotta fountain, the water becomes colder due to the characteristic porosity of clay which promotes temperature exchange, ensuring the natural cooling of the water.

What are the benefits of Stefani water filters?

Excellent value for money. Easy to handle and maintain. They do not require an electrical connection. You do not need to boil water before consumption. Easy installation. Terracotta filters cool water up to 5ºC below room temperature without the need for electrical energy due to the heat exchange properties of terracotta.

My filter cartridge is no longer filtering, why?

Replace each filter cartridge every 500L or six months of useIf the filtered water contains excess particles, the micropores in the ceramic wall of the cartridge may become clogged and the cartridge may stop filtering. Therefore, you can try gently brushing the filter cartridge with a toothbrush dedicated to this purpose. If after this, the filter cartridge continues to no longer filter the water, it must be replaced.

What are overflow valves used for?

As with a water tank, overflow valves prevent stored water from leaking. When it comes to water filters, they serve a dual purpose, as they also double the storage capacity, allowing both the top and bottom parts of the filter fountain to remain full.

For water filters that contain several anti-overflow valves, great care must be taken during assembly to ensure that they are oriented inwards without being able to touch each other. : these anti-overflow valves must float freely in the water.

There is black dust coming out of the cartridge, is this normal?

In ceramic dechlorination and sterilization cartridges, it is normal to find grains of activated carbon at the bottom. This happens because the activated carbon inside the cartridge is not compressed, it is granular and comes out of the cartridges after the first few liters of filtering. In any case, This is completely normal and not harmful to your health.

I see whitish floating particles in my water filter, is this normal? ?

Water is a polymer, so it's perfectly normal for kaolin particles to float on the surface or settle to the bottom of reservoirs. These floating kaolin particles are completely harmless.

I observe particles whitish on the exterior wall of my terracotta fountain, is this normal? ?

After a while, mineral inflorescences will inevitably appear around the edges of your Stefani terracotta water filters. This is normal. These are the minerals in the water that are attracted by the earth's gravity. These crystals naturally crystallize on the surface of the pottery. You can reduce these mineral inflorescences by washing your Stefani filter fountains weekly with a wet synthetic microfiber cloth (wash and rinse).