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Water Filter Failure Causes Water Damage

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You are here: Home / Plastic Failure Analysis & Testing / Water Filter Failure Causes Water Damage

December 17, 2020

Water filters are pressurized containers that are molded using plastic. Pressure surges inside of water filters, caused by valves suddenly turning on and off, can cause water filters to crack and leak if they are not properly designed and manufactured. When water filters fail when no one is around to shut off the water, costly water damages can occur.

 A CASE STUDY

The following case study is the property of Plastic Expert Group and cannot be copied or distributed without prior permission. Our case analysis does not imply that this specific plastic failure will happen systematically. Every case is unique and should be treated accordingly.

 

PROBLEM: WHY DID THE PLASTIC WATER FILTER FAIL?

Water filters are pressurized containers that are molded using plastic. Pressure surges inside of water filters, caused by valves suddenly turning on and off, can cause water filters to crack and leak if they are not properly designed and manufactured. When water filters fail when no one is around to shut off the water, costly water damages can occur.

Bottom Blowout

 

QUESTION: WHY DID THE PLASTIC WATER FILTER FAIL?

The failure of plastic water filters can be caused by:

  • manufacturing defects in the part
  • design defect
  • improper installation
  • improper operation

 

ANALYSIS: FORENSIC FAILURE ANALYSIS STEPS TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF FAILURE.

Step 1: How did the part fail?

Analyze the fracture surface of the broken part to determine if the part failed by:

  1. Fatigue
  2. Creep rupture
  3. Chemical attack (environmental stress cracking)
  4. Stress overload
  5. Contamination

Step 2: Was the wrong plastic used?

Identify the plastic material by chemical analysis

Step 3: Was the design of the part defective?

Determine if there is a design defect using computer modeling and stress analysis

 
 

 

CONCLUSION: THE PART FAILED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN.

You will never see a propane tank cylinder with flat ends because a pressure tank with flat ends would be likely to explode! A water filter canister is under water pressure, and like a propane tank, should have a domed bottom. A flat bottom is a design defect. If the water filter housing had been designed with a dome bottom, it would not have failed.

Stress Analysis

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