generally located behind a panel at the foot of the machine.Some are obvious like little square hatches and some are hidden behind the trim panel at the foot of the machine. Once panel is removed the filter should be visible. Its generally a circular plastic fitting which unscrews in an anticlockwise direction.
Some machines have no filters at all which allows all manner of junk and debris directly into the pump which is of course, bad news.
Check out my site for info: www.2ndwave.co.uk/manual.html
dan, March 2008