Abstract: An appliance is provided including a fluid flow path and a filter receiving portion. The filter receiving portion comprises an installation assistance feature and is configured to receive a water filter such that it is fluidly connected to the flow path. One or more water filter sensors are included that sense when the water filter is in a first position relative to the filter receiving portion so as to enable initiation of an installation procedure to cause the water filter to move to the installed position. The installation procedure utilizes no the installation assistance feature. At least one controller is provided that receives an indication that the water filter is in a first position and causes, based on the indication, activation of the installation assistance feature to reposition the water filter from the first position towards the installed position.

Abstract: A water filter system having a housing for a plurality of serial-flow connected filter cartridges with distinct filtering characteristic related to the direction of flow of water being filtered. Each filter cartridge has a membrane wrapped activated carbon filter body. One of the filter bodies includes a heavy metal bacteriostat. The cartridges are each releasably retained in a manifold by keyed connectors including rotatable locking rings. Each cartridge having a distinct filtering characteristic includes a keying structure to ensure that the cartridge can only be connected to the manifold for placement in proper serial-flow relationship in the system. The filter system includes a spent filter cartridge indicator. The filter system is particularly suited for countertop placement and connection to a faucet.