Water Filters - need help

[becker]

I have a 2008 Monaco Dynasty Motorhome. I am trying to change filters in my water system. I opened up the canisters and there was no filters inside either one of them. I bought the coach new and this is the first time I am changing them so I assume they were never there originally.
My question: When you first open the maintenance door and first view the filters, which one is the primary sediment filter and which one is the secondary carbon block filter (the one on the left or the one on the right)? Because it is so congested where the filters are, I cannot ascertain which is the water in flow and which is the out flow. The manual says the "Five Micron Sediment Filter" should go into the first stage and the "Five Micron Carbon Block Filter" goes into the Secondary Filter. The problem is I don't know which is which.

Can anyone who has a coach like mine help"? Thanks.

Becker

[down_home]

I didn't intend my reply to seem ike it was from Beccker. I can't seem to edit it though.

Dave

[down_home]

becker wrote:
Thank you all..... problem solved. I did what K Charles suggested and it worked great. Actually I had them in correctly but I needed some verification. I have the filter bowls numbered now so I won't have to guess. I removed the bowls and turned the water on. The bowl that started gushing water was the primary. Just like K Charles said.... simple.
I put the "Five Micron Sediment Filter" in the primary bowl and I put the "Five Micron Carbon Block Filter" in the second bowl. The next time I change them, I am going to use what randallb suggested. I got the ones I used at Lowes. I assume they have what randallb uses.

What started all of this is we have an extended trip scheduled for Big Bend the first part of March 2014. Several friends of ours who have camped there for years said the water had problems (minerals, etc) and they don't drink it, so I thought I would get a "leg up". Where ever we camp one of the first questions I ask is about the water. Years and years ago we ran into a really bad situation where the campground water was concerned. Don't want to go through that again. That taught us a lesson. Now we carry our drinking water from home with us in 5 gallon containers.

Thanks again each of you.

That'll work out great. The carbon block will get sulfur too. I haven't seen a five micron at Lowes except undercounter, but times change. They are available on line/ The filters will tell you on the label what they will taake care of. Using really questionable water get the secondary filter with the capability og getting guardia and so on. Five micron is samll and rate of flow won't be a great as the 25 micron job from Lowes but you will have safer water. And it will tast great. One micron or smaller flow even lessfor the same size filter but. Wife carries several of the little bottles of water, which takes up space, just in case or when we go somewhere away from the RV. Should just bottle the water from the taank it taste aa whole lot better. I didn' read the posts in between but CW sell as santizing kit, that takes a bit but wwill clean the tank of any dirt and nasties. I put a little chlorine back in the tank from the bottles CW sells. It certainly does not smell nor taste anywhere as bqad as city or chlorinated well water.You'll be surprised at all the mud etc, if you use much water that the first filter and even the second trap. Our favorite destination in Michigan uses well water than when several are in the cmapground is nothing more than thin mud. It will load up the little in line filters in a day and certainly no more than two. I've talke with and seen some have difficulty connecting the hose to the coach becaause of grit and dirt on the connection from never using filets. Amazing that they take a mud shower. Take the filter housing with you to Lowes, since I cannot see what size you have.

Becker

[sfischer]

We put a some Clorox in our filters when the MH is in storage so nothing "grows"

BeaPA, I would bet that one of your filters does in fact filter chlorine so that bit of Clorox in your filter container is not really helpful to your water system. Plus, unless you've sanitized your entire water system by running Clorox thru the entire system, you're really not doing much to combat growth of unwanted organisms in your system.

[Stim]

My home is on a well and I have a whole house filter and a filter on the fridge ice maker/drinking water.
I buy the filters at Walmart in the 2 pack and they are cheaper than the home improvement stores.
With the carbon filter I have excellent tasting water!!!

[Bea_PA]

We put a some Clorox in our filters when the MH is in storage so nothing "grows"

[randallb]

Becker,
I have never seen the fine filters at the big box stores. I use online sources for my filters. One thing to be sure of is that your housings do not crush the filters. Some of the GE filter housings run a little small in the diameter and the filter OD hits the wall of the housing prior to the gasket seating on the bottom. If this occurs in your housings you need to order Hydronix SCMB-2510 charcoal filters. All the other charcoal filters have grown a bit in diameter for some reason.
Randy

[becker]

Thank you all..... problem solved. I did what K Charles suggested and it worked great. Actually I had them in correctly but I needed some verification. I have the filter bowls numbered now so I won't have to guess. I removed the bowls and turned the water on. The bowl that started gushing water was the primary. Just like K Charles said.... simple.
I put the "Five Micron Sediment Filter" in the primary bowl and I put the "Five Micron Carbon Block Filter" in the second bowl. The next time I change them, I am going to use what randallb suggested. I got the ones I used at Lowes. I assume they have what randallb uses.

What started all of this is we have an extended trip scheduled for Big Bend the first part of March 2014. Several friends of ours who have camped there for years said the water had problems (minerals, etc) and they don't drink it, so I thought I would get a "leg up". Where ever we camp one of the first questions I ask is about the water. Years and years ago we ran into a really bad situation where the campground water was concerned. Don't want to go through that again. That taught us a lesson. Now we carry our drinking water from home with us in 5 gallon containers.

Thanks again each of you.

Becker

[randallb]

K Charles has answered your question but I would like to add a bit of advice. Run a 1 micron sediment filter in your primary housing and a .5 micron charcoal in the secondary. This will give you the best filtering and best tasting water you can get with out getting very fancy with your filter system. I ran a 2.5 x 10 set up in our Class A based on my experience with the well system at the house. At the house I change out my 1 micron 2.5 x 10 sediment filter monthly and the .5 micron 2.5 x 10 charcoal every other month. In the RV I just pulled them out when we would return from a trip so the sediments would not start to decompose and cause an odor issue. Our water at home has a bit of sulfur in it and this filter combo along with a softener keeps the odor out and gives us unbelievable drinking water. I pay $3.00 each for the sediment and $9 for the charcoal. Occasionally the charcoal filters are on sale for $5-$7 and then I pick them up 10 per order.
Randy

[down_home]

If it is a standard 10 inch cannister any ten inch filter shoudl fit itou can get them at Lowes or CW. It has a seal at each in or rubber washer. It doesn't matter which end is up or down.
Lowes sell ten inch shole house cannister filters that are simply media for sediment, least expensive and a couple of intermediate levels. Thye have a charcoal, silver, and media wrapped 25 micron filter also that gets the sediment and chlorine and a bunch of nasties. It cost the most. Perhaps the first filter with simple media to get th bulk of sediments and the charcoal in the second. Change out the first when it loaded and the seocn perhaps two or three filter changes down the road depending on the amount of water though the system and load of sediment etc. Or the good filter primary and a up to or down to .5 micron ceramic secondary filter that will get all the bugs. They cost more and the only place I've seen the standard ten inch ceramic filters, is on the net. they can get right pricey.

[BobandShaz]

Just something else to break. Looks like you have had your home a few years.

[jerseyjim]

Just for the sake of argument...I don't have water filters. Never did. Well, my 2001 motorhome came with a under-the-kitchen-sink filter, but the first time I winterized my mh I had to remove it, installed the supplied "jumper"pipe...and never put the filter back.
Travel from NJ to Florida numerous times, and NJ to California 4 times. Sometimes the water tastes different, but never had problem with getting sick or any "deposits" (say from "hard" water or anything else) in the water system.

If filters give you peace of mind, go for it.

Just FWIW.

[K_Charles]

Turn the pump one with the canisters removed. The water will come out of the first stage.

[lanerd]

Can you remove one of the hoses to the filters ? If yes, do so and turn on the pump. if water comes out of the hose, then that filter is the primary...if no water comes out then it is the secondary.

Hope this helps.

Ron