How long does a water filter last?

[capehank]

In reading the description of a water filter, I was wondering how long a water filter lasts. The description said, 1 camping season. What constitutes a camping season?

Thank you in advance for your input.

[billyboy]

We use a pur filter on the sink faucet only. After every trip I remove it and shake out the water and put it in the freezer until next time. I also without thinking about it ,drain the hot water heater after each trip.

[myredracer]

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:

Filters should not be stored wet or damp. Especially carbon filters. They trap the contaminates in tiny pores in the charcoal. Left damp these can become breeding grounds for bacteria.

Carbon filters typically have KDF or silver in them which is designed to kill bacteria on the exterior of the filter cartridge, not inside it. KDF or silver won't kill 100 percent of biological contaminants and it takes only one single bacterial cell sitting inside a filter or water lines to multiply. Some think the KDF or silver will prevent bacteria and organisms from getting through, but not so.

High temps. in the summer are not good for filters. Some filters are breeding grounds for bacteria like paper element sediment cartdridges.

Not sure what the recommended practice is for RV-ers that go camping 1,2 or 3 weeks apart and have filters. Taking them out after each trip out to dry or put in the fridge can be a pain. We have 3 x 10" filter cartridges inside and taking them out is a nuisance. One of these days I'm to take a water sample into a lab to see how our filter setup is doing in the summertime.

That Camco filter above has a micron rating of 100 as shown here.. The screen strainer on a city water inlet has a #50 mesh sieve size that is equivalent to approx. 300 microns. They do make inline filters with a much smaller micron rating. At 100 microns it isn't doing much but will last longer. Our sediment filter is 5 microns. Also, that Camco filter isn't NSF certified and isn't complying with any standards (other than lead content) and you won't know how it really performs.

[DutchmenSport]

If you are referring to the simple in-line water filters you can purchase almost anywhere, even Wall Mart, they say "1 season".

I have found it depends upon the quality of the water. In time, they will begin to clog up and water flow will become very slow, very, very slow! When that happens, simply turn it around and force water through the other direction. This will break up the impacted gunk, and you can continue using it. Eventually, the filter will just not clean out any more, or will clog up extremely fast again. When that happens, the filter is pretty much dead.

I have had success with these simple filters. I had one last 3 years, and then I had one last 2 months. It really all depends upon the quality of the water being filtered and how much the begin to clog up.

[capehank]

Thank you so much for the input. I decided to change it every three months, just like the filter in my Keurig coffee maker.

[oldcat1]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
As a full time couple, we have a two stage filter. I change the cartridges every 3 months. I could probably go longer, but it is easier to make the changes on a schedule.

Before we were full-time and when I used the basic blue filters, I would change it a couple times a year. If I didn't use the rig for over 30 days, I'd install a new filter when we'd go out again.

I've always be unwilling to trust that nothing grew in the filter in a month. Better safe than sorry.

If I am not going to use my filter for a few weeks or more I drain it well, put it in a zip lock bag, and put it in the freezer. Like PawPaw said "better safe than sorry"

Safe travels.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

As a full time couple, we have a two stage filter. I change the cartridges every 3 months. I could probably go longer, but it is easier to make the changes on a schedule.

Before we were full-time and when I used the basic blue filters, I would change it a couple times a year. If I didn't use the rig for over 30 days, I'd install a new filter when we'd go out again.

I've always be unwilling to trust that nothing grew in the filter in a month. Better safe than sorry.

[dodge_guy]

Install new one at the beginning of the season. If you can camp year round then a year is good. If you see decreased water flow then it is time for a new one!

[Canadian_Rainbi]

MitchF150 wrote:
My filter is only connected in line to a specific faucet on the sink. The rest of the system is just what's in the tank or city water connection.

I've changed it once in 14 years... 😉

Guess I'm about due now, since it's been about 7 years just to say I did it.. 🙂

Really, the only time we use that faucet is for the morning coffee, so we probably put a gallon or two thru it on a long weekend trip about 5-6 times a year..

Anyway, haven't gotten sick, or died yet! 🙂 We always use our own water tank for water from home anyway, so no real worries... It's only a 30 gallon tank, so no big deal hauling it.

Good luck!

Mitch

Filters should not be stored wet or damp. Especially carbon filters. They trap the contaminates in tiny pores in the charcoal. Left damp these can become breeding grounds for bacteria.

We change our undersink filter every 6 months and our whole house filters (three stage; a paper sediment filter, carbon filter and ceramic filter) are not always in line and are drained and dried before being stored.

[myredracer]

Depends on micron rating.
Depends on physical size.
Depends on the filter type and what it is designed to remove/reduce.
Depends on ambient temp.
Depends on whether or not it is NSF certified.
Depends on source water quality.
Depends on source water pressure and filter flow gpm rating.

If talking about a basic exterior disposable inline sediment filter, replace it when the flow rate gets too low or annually, whichever comes first. These filters can have a high/coarse micron rating down to a low/fine micron rating and may or may not have a replacement interval rating (in total gal.). Rv-ers have a unique challenge with water supply if you travel around a lot because water quality can vary substantially. Do a google on "RV water filters" for lots of info. Filtration can be quite complex if you want to address chemicals, biological material, taste & odor, and other bad stuff that can be in water.

[doxiemom11]

We are full-time and on average change ours about every 3 months. We are usually on city water, but you will find that even city water varies as some areas have a lot of lime in the water. We have had a couple of times after using well water (at a forestry park) that there was a funny smell to the water and our shower and toilet flow was low. Checked the filter and there was "slime" in it. We got the bleach out and used it to purify our water system, the filter housing, the inside of our white water hose, the tank and all water lines. So - if you notice a smell or low pressure, check the filter.

[joelc]

Depends where you travel and what the water quality is like. I generally check mine every 6 months, BUT if I am in an area where I don't trust the water or I know it is high in iron (for example) it will need changing early. If in doubt carry spares and check when you want to. It only takes s short time.

[MitchF150]

My filter is only connected in line to a specific faucet on the sink. The rest of the system is just what's in the tank or city water connection.

I've changed it once in 14 years... 😉

Guess I'm about due now, since it's been about 7 years just to say I did it.. 🙂

Really, the only time we use that faucet is for the morning coffee, so we probably put a gallon or two thru it on a long weekend trip about 5-6 times a year..

Anyway, haven't gotten sick, or died yet! 🙂 We always use our own water tank for water from home anyway, so no real worries... It's only a 30 gallon tank, so no big deal hauling it.

Good luck!

Mitch

[ScottG]

The cartridges I buy say 10,000 gallons but it also depends on water quality.
I pulled into ta private CG one time and found the previous tenant had left me a used water filter laying on the picnic table along with a clear plastic cup full of water. They were both extremely rusty and the water was cloudy.
I thought that was a nice thing to do for a stranger.
We used out own water.

[lj2654]

I know on mine it says to change every three months. That is based on 24/7 usage though. I change ours out once a year and it seems fine.

[janstey58]

We typically change our yearly, however this year we had low flow in the shower all of a sudden on one trip, and found the filter to be totally clogged. It didn't make it through our camping season and we did have to change it. Hard water attacked it big time!