How do you store an in-line water filter?

[Tonyg2724]

We use bottled water for drinking. Solves all the problems.

[SLU2]

We use the Hydrolife 180 inline filter. Lasts all season and don't have to worry about removing cartridges when winterizing. Just remove the inline. This is one of the best filters for the money. Got mine on Amazon for under $30.00 with free shipping(Amazon Prime). I have several other campers that I order filters for them(They love the results). Just a thought.

[Tommuy6867]

Not a expert; but my common sense side says that if you store a wet filter in the freezer it will expand breaking up the filter media. Just my first thought, which many times turns out wrong.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Tonyg2724

We use bottled water for drinking. Solves all the problems.

Not the plastic waste problem.

[itat]

I’ve removed the filter housing on our last 2 trailers and use one outside. I buy a high quality 0.5 micron filter from the RV Water Filter Store and replace it annually. The cheap filters should be OK if all you want to do its catch grit and sand that will plug up aerators but if you use your RV anywhere that you don’t trust the water, get a high quality filter.

Lots of people say “I don’t drink the water” but they do shower and wash dishes with it. Maybe even brush their teeth with it. So why try to save a few bucks, once a year? There are some things that I’ll cheap-out on but my water filter isn’t one of them. That was reinforced this year when the water at the filling station at a Provincial Park was bad. Now I don’t trust them either.

[NJKris]

Originally Posted by SLU2

We use the Hydrolife 180 inline filter. Lasts all season and don't have to worry about removing cartridges when winterizing. Just remove the inline. This is one of the best filters for the money. Got mine on Amazon for under $30.00 with free shipping(Amazon Prime). I have several other campers that I order filters for them(They love the results). Just a thought.

Man, that thing is more expensive than the OEM KW1 filter at 38 bucks! And you still have to replace it every year. There are no specs at all on it, micron rating. My guess is it's no different than the 10 dollar blue bullet. Even the Camco site doesn't have many details on it. Not bashing your choice, but I'm thinking you can do better. And cheaper.

[Kennypatrv]

Air dry never enclose filter
Also if it is a KW-1 mine failed after 1 year flooded basement so I by passed it now use filter that screws on outside of RV

[NJKris]

Kenny, do you know what housing? Mine is not the FR1 a lot of people had issues with, it is the RCS that superseded it. Mine was problem free for the one year we've had it, but I've never put the filter element in it. Hose connections a different story. All the clamps were improperly crimped and began leaking.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Tonyg2724

We use bottled water for drinking. Solves all the problems.

Have you not been following the bottled water thread?

[Dakota 1120]

Purchased an in line outside water filter in 2012.
It's still new in the package as never used it and probably never will.

[Rednight]

Originally Posted by Villagerjjm

I use the KW1 filter system. I have found that my filter still does a great job of filtering even now after almost 4 1/2 years of use. We use our trailer for about 4 months out of 12 per year just for showers and washing dishes. Drinking water is bottled water. I do have a new KW1 filter that I plan on using in 2020.
I prepare mine for storage by extracting water by using a Shop Vac, then the filter is dried and sterilized by placing it in a box with an unfiltered incandescent Ultra Violet light. The filter is then vacuum packed with a food saver for storage.

That is a good post and I am a fan of using things as intended. If it is a charcoal filter and you are drinking from the tap, yes just replace with a new one. But if it is just a particle filter and it is not obviously nasty a rinse in the house sink followed by sterilizing (I was thinking just a weak bleach solution like you sterilize your camper water system) Dry it up and slam it back in. One less thing going to the landfill.

[Tonyg2724]

Bikendan,
Yes it does. We bring it from and store it in mason jars.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Tonyg2724

Bikendan,
Yes it does. We bring it from and store it in mason jars.

We use our Mason jars to store a different kind of clear liquid!

[winn]

Originally Posted by winn

I bought mine at Amazon. Same as the 40 but $16.00. Throw away each year.

It was a CAMCO at Amazon

[Wolverine 1945]

Late to the party <
How about cleaning filter in the sink with water/bleach,
Rinse well, and store in the frig, where all filters should be stored !

[itat]

If anyone is interested, here are a couple links to some good information about water filters.

https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/LRNCTR.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/dri...r-filters.html

[CLOGENE]

Originally Posted by JayArras

Whaat?! THROW it away and replace it every year. How much filtering do you think is taking place after all that crap buildup?

************************************************** ******

Yes, I agree. THROW THE OLD ONE OUT !!!???. Who wants a dirty filter that is stored in the freezer. I don't care how good you clean it out. Yuck. Besides after the filter is impregnated with the bad stuff, it clogs up and the water flow is poor. These things are cheap enough at any hardware store to replace each year. The charcoal ones remove taste & odors. The 20 microns sediment ones work fine but I think the charcoal ones are 5 microns.

[Kennypatrv]

Just know it was FR1 / KW1
Just from experience I would use the ones that hookup on the outside, just another connection to go bad. Not familiar with the one you said they use after it. I will say though always carry extra pex pipe with crimp rings and the tool that crimps them, saved our camping trip.

[Kennypatrv]

Hope you saw my reply it’s in quick reply
Wanted to send pic of filter but not sure how to attach pic from iPhone

[itat]

Originally Posted by DavidJ

A couple weeks ago I winterized my camper. I removed my in-line water filter and put it into a baggie still wet. I then brought it in the house and started in room temperature. Looking at it now, it looks like it may have some mold on it. What is the proper way to store a wet water filter removed from a camper?

I suppose I could have let it dry out and not stored it in a baggie. Any good tips or tricks here?

Here is what the RV Water Filter Store says about storage and maintenance of their water filters:

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR FILTERS

1. Sediment and Modified Carbon Block filters – RV SED1/5, PR-1/5, F1/F1PB/F5

These filters are naturally resistant to stagnation, so they are easy to care for. If you use your system regularly, with no more than a month between uses, you can leave them in water in the canister. If you will not be using the system for more than a month, then you should dump the water out of the canister and dry the filters. You can put them back into the dry canister so they can be ready for next use. DO NOT ALLOW TO FREEZE. If the weather will be freezing, put them in a dust free environment like a closet in a freezer bag.

2. CBC-KDF

This filter must be kept in water for it’s entire life. Drying it may result in the filter seizing up and not passing water.

3. Resin Filters

These can be dried and reused, but you should take care to shake them to loosen up any clumps as they dry so they can be reused next time. Again, they should be removed if the system will be unused for more than 1 month.

4. GAC and CBC-10 carbon block

These filters have a higher tendency for stagnation, so they should be dried if left for more than 2 weeks vs. a month for the Sediment and Modified Carbon Block.

5. Ceramic filters

These can be cleaned with a 3M scotch bright pad or the brush that the filter comes with in the case of the Doulton RIO 2000. Rub the ceramic surface to remove the sediment and rinse. These filters can remain in water indefinitely as long as they DO NOT FREEZE as they are bacteriostatic

6. KDF/GAC

Any filter with granulated carbon and KDF can be left in water or dried out like a resin filter. The KDF will prevent bacteria growth so no need to remove these from the canister. If you do take them out, see 3 above for resin filter for storage.


I use their F1PB filter (category 1 above) and I remove it and dry it out if we won’t be using the trailer for more than 2 weeks. Since I removed the factory housing and now use an external filter housing, its easy to just dump it out at the end of every trip.

You should check with your filter’s manufacturer for their recommendation on storage.