Water Filter

[allenm]

Anyone have any thoughts on how long water can sit in an under-sink filter between camping trips without becoming a health problem?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

-Been There Done That Dept-

Remove filter
Add three drops of water purifier IODINE
Assemble

Run an few quarts of fresh tank water through the filter before re-using. Iodine kills moss, bacteria, amoeba, protozoa, and keeps working for years. Follow directions on label for dosage. If you won't hurt you if you purify water in a drinking glass it won't hurt you in a filter, especially one that gets a flushing.

Quicksilver, is stored with 1.15 pints of purified iodine in the filled water tank, throughout the system including pump lines and faucets. But when I go to use it, it sure gets one heck of a flushing. Iodine is far and away easier on pumps and seals than chlorine bleach, plus it is far more potent and long lasting. I scribbled a reminder YODO/IODINE on post-it-notes for the sink and shower, especially to remind the kids.

[John_Wayne]

Read an article in an RV magazine about this and they recommended taking it out between trips putting it in a sealed bag and keeping it in the refrigerator. No drying it out just leave the water in it and put it in the frig.

[myredracer]

allenm wrote:
Anyone have any thoughts on how long water can sit in an under-sink filter between camping trips without becoming a health problem?

Unless you keep your AC running 24/7 between trips, it can get pretty warm inside. Many filters list a max. temp. which can easily be exceeded in the summer - check the specs. It's a pain, but the best thing would be to remove it and store it in the fridge. Just don't put it in the freezer. As mentioned, heat + moisture = bacterial growth. Some filters have KDF or silver in them, but this only kills bacteria on the surface of the filter cartridge, not inside it.

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[allenm]

awjoker wrote:
Moisture + heat = bacteria. Depends on your climate, in my opinion.

Good point - I'm beginning to think a water filter should be dried out if the camper isn't going to be used for say a month.

From what I read drying out isn't recommended because charcoal will loosen and come out for for awhile when it is reused. I'll just let it run a couple minutes until it clears. Better that than getting swamp fever!

[awjoker]

Moisture + heat = bacteria. Depends on your climate, in my opinion.

[bdpreece]

If I am storing my rig for any length of time the filter is removed. Since mine is a cartridge I can dry and reuse or if dirty I replace it.

[rockhillmanor]

X2
And on the label of filters it states not to let filter get completely dried out. So x2 on putting a new one in at the start of the season.

[RoyB]

We always replaced our water filter on our 5th wheel at the beginning of the camping season each year...

Roy Ken