OEM Water Filter Questions

[s1njin]

How long do these house water filters last? I was always leery of using it for a weekend, have it sit a month, use it for a week, have it sit another month, etc. I always end up using the external blue Camco water filters and chucking them after my trip.

If I wanted to actually use the in-house filter system, not to sound silly but how do you actually use it if you don't USE it day after day, week after week?

[HangDiver]

Never used it and I'll bypass the whole filter housing when the weather warms a little more. Like you I also use the external Camco filter.

[Kaadk]

I've usually just change them every spring. When I winterize, the old filter is tossed out. Then, when I dewinterize, it gets a new filter. It's something that I'm going to miss on the new trailer. It was always nice knowing that both the City Water inlet AND the FW tank was being filtered.

[s1njin]

So these filters don't go bad by just sitting w/ stagnant water in them for weeks on end?

[Kevin & Judy]

We have left ours in for weeks at a time, We have never had any problems, If its going to set for a few months i pull the filter out let it drain for a short time and put in a ziplock and freeze it until we are ready to go out again, never had any problem doing this, just make sure the filter is drained. Defrost and its ready for use. LOL
When its time to winterize i discard it, When i de-winterize it gets a new one.

[brookstone345sa]

I de-winterize, bleach system, flush out good, then put a new filter in. I take it out prior to winterizing in the fall.

[s1njin]

Huh. I had one of these systems on my Greyhawk and I NEVER used the thing for fear of the filter getting gunked up while sitting. And the Sunseeker's is SO much easier to get to !!!

[Awilson]

I never use the water from the tanks for drinking. I buy water in gallon jugs and refill them. Saves a lot of sanitizing.

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by Awilson

I never use the water from the tanks for drinking. I buy water in gallon jugs and refill them. Saves a lot of sanitizing.

We also rarely drink the water. What we do do however is:

• Wash hands
• Brush teeth
• Fill pots for boiling food (like pasta, corn on the cob, etc...)
• Wash dishes
• Shower

I don't use the onboard expecting it to be bottled water quality, I use it to hope my water is at least as clean as I'd expect my home tap water to be dealing with unknown water sources.

[LegacyFB38]

Originally Posted by Awilson

I never use the water from the tanks for drinking. I buy water in gallon jugs and refill them. Saves a lot of sanitizing.

2X

Also, just before filling the fresh water tank I add a small amount of bleach. But still, we drink and cook with bottled water.

BTW, very often the "fresh" water we use is filtered river water.

[Awilson]

Originally Posted by Kaadk

We also rarely drink the water. What we do do however is:

• Wash hands
  
• Brush teeth
  
• Fill pots for boiling food (like pasta, corn on the cob, etc...)
  
• Wash dishes
  
• Shower
  

I don't use the onboard expecting it to be bottled water quality, I use it to hope my water is at least as clean as I'd expect my home tap water to be dealing with unknown water sources.

Yup! Same, same! I have sanitized tanks before and it takes a lot of water, chlorine and time for what you get out of it.

[rockfordroo]

My residential fridge has a filter for the ice maker. But we rarely use ice. So I can tell you it sits there for months without water through it.

You might just want to remove the filter and use an outside one. Lots of reports of KW-1/FR-1 filters cracking and flooding RVs.


Replace with a 1/2" coupler from Home Depot.


Couplet installed.


You can use the blue Camco's outside, OR rig up the removed one for use outside.

[cavie]

I buy the 2 packs. Use one for 4 months. Throw it away when we leave. Install a new one when we get back in the spring.

[GL1800Rider]

The filters say "replace every 12 months" and also show a temperature lower limit of 40 degrees F. I don't worry about mine cracking from the cold too much here in Florida but in case it leaks I have installed a water alarm that is audible in our Forester going down the road. The water pump has an occasional leak and it doesn't take much to off the alarm. Here is what I have.

https://www.amazon.com/Glentronics-I...og+water+alarm

[Duckogram]

I use the OEM housing but I get a carbon taste and odor filter. I also sanitize the tank just before we depart. If we are going to boondock, I fill the tank and add a small amount of chlorine which either dissipates or is removed by the filter.
Even with that, we still do not drink the water. However, you can make it safe if you add one of these. https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/B5029.htm
We use a 120v 39W version of this at home and after serious filtration, softening and aeration to get the hydrogen sulfide out, we drink swamp water with no ill effects.

[Summit1]

Originally Posted by brookstone345sa

I de-winterize, bleach system, flush out good, then put a new filter in. I take it out prior to winterizing in the fall.

Same here... I also use an external filter. Probably a bit of overkill, but it works for me. The internal filter goes all season, as does the external filter. If I notice symptoms such as abnormally low flow, the external filter will be changed more often.

[s1njin]

Originally Posted by Summit1

Same here... I also use an external filter. Probably a bit of overkill, but it works for me. The internal filter goes all season, as does the external filter. If I notice symptoms such as abnormally low flow, the external filter will be changed more often.

Are you using the rig the whole time, or a week here, weekend there, etc. with a lot of sitting time?

[Summit1]

Originally Posted by s1njin

Are you using the rig the whole time, or a week here, weekend there, etc. with a lot of sitting time?

Last year, it was used fpr a week long trip, followed by a few additional trips of 2-3 days each. I figured that, bding new, it would be best to "over filter" in the event there were any particles in the tank and lines.

[jtesta1]

I use my water tank a lot. Even if I'm connected to a parks supply .I will use it in the washer till the tank is empty then refill with fresh water . I have several gallon jugs for drinking and cooking water .I refill the jugs and put 3 drops of bleach shake and it's good to go. I change water filter 4 times a year. My coffee tastes fine ,haven't been poisoned yet.just keep everything clean and fresh.

[A32Deuce]

Originally Posted by Kevin & Judy

We have left ours in for weeks at a time, We have never had any problems, If its going to set for a few months i pull the filter out let it drain for a short time and put in a ziplock and freeze it until we are ready to go out again, never had any problem doing this, just make sure the filter is drained. Defrost and its ready for use. LOL
When its time to winterize i discard it, When i de-winterize it gets a new one.

X2! Do the same.