Sanitize Fresh Water with Filter

[270S]

Before I took my first trip "camping", I never installed the fresh water system filter. I used my house city water that did not require any filtering for the short multiday trips. On the longer tips, I neede to use the campground water and .....

When I did not have the filter installed, it was just a matter of adding/using chlorine and flushing before next use/trip. Now that the filter is installed, I just R&R the fresh water tank weekly. If I were to re-chlorinate eliminating the weekly flushes, the filter will be ruined from the chlorine.

I considered removing the filter for FW tank chlorination, but after removal & multi week storage, the filter may not be safe any more. Of course, I can replace the filter later at $$ each time.

What do you do? Suggestions appreciated.

[youroo]

Remove filter,sanitize to your liking,rinse system with fresh water,reinstall filter,Done Deal! Youroo!!

[270S]

Originally Posted by youroo

Remove filter,sanitize to your liking,rinse system with fresh water,reinstall filter,Done Deal! Youroo!!

You missed the question - The filter will be out (uninstalled) for weeks after it has already been used/installed. It would be a great source for bacterial growth at that point.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by 270S

You missed the question - The filter will be out (uninstalled) for weeks after it has already been used/installed. It would be a great source for bacterial growth at that point.

Some place it in the Freezer,I thought you Didn't want to Replace it for $$ reasons! Sorry,Youroo!!

[270S]

Didn't mean to get anyone upset. Hard to communicate clearly via "text". 'just talked to Waterpur, remove, air dry (days?), then place in freezer for storage. Apparently the last item is the safety issue preventing bacterial growth I was looking for. Now, how long to air dry is the question. Many factors will be hours to days.

[5picker]

I removed my on board filter and bought another that uses $10 filter cartridges to use externally on the city water connection and use it to fill fresh tank.

No air drying, no freezing, no bacterial growth yet good filtered water, always.
A couple or three $10 filters throughout the season and I'm good to go.

[A32Deuce]

Why not just put it back and use it! Take out to sanitize, but use it. Can't hurt you and could be good. I use two, one in and one outside. Water always tastes/smells good.

[BigRockr]

Yeah if you are not running chlorine through it put it back in filter. I replace my every year. If you are a germaphobe you could pop it in the freezer but I have never felt the need.

[270S]

I may not have been clear - I go many weeks between trips and leave the system filled with chlorinated water between trips. I flush the system before I leave on a trip. If it is more than 3 weeks, I will re-chlorinate (flush & fill) in between without having gone anywhere. These are not sealed systems. They are open via the venting.

That is why I have to remove the filter.

[A32Deuce]

No answer there.

[A32Deuce]

I don't see a need for that if you have city water in your system. But each their own!

[itat]

Most filters are not designed to sit in stagnant water for very long. Filters with KDF are designed to sit in the water, and I think they are actually supposed to be stored in the water.

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

If my TT will be sitting for more the a couple of weeks, I pull the filter out and sit it in a bathroom sink where it dries out. Then I put it back in the housing when we are packing for the next trip. I use the F1Pb filter from the RV Water Filter Store.

[jtesta1]

Chlorine will not hurt your filter . Just leave it in.

[Vince and Charlette]

I took mine out and tossed it. Filters don't stop bacteria once installed. Chlorinating your holding tank don't stop bacteria, it just slows it down, for a while. Regardless of how clean your filter was when you put it in, after a time, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Further, campgrounds with water systems generally (not always) comply with local purification standards. Bottom line: like most campers, we use bottled water for drinking and cooking.

[Stlcaly]

After fooling around with the inline cartridge case when winterizing I changed to the replaceable exterior in line filters. Amazon and Wally World price the so you could use a new one for every trip although I am not that picky

[JimF]

Jeezh, a 100k rig and your quibbling about a darned water filter. Your get home pull it out and pitch it. BTW, leaving water in a stored rig is never a good idea. The chlorine in the system will be gone in a few days and then you have a breeding ground for mold. Drain it and satanize before your trip, install new disposable filter and your good to go. This thread has been a constant since RVing began, do a search for it and learn.

[270S]

Unfortunately, like many in politics, most miss the pertinent factors. These systems CAN NOT be drained completely ever. A "drained" condition is worse than a full system. There is always some water in the system - tank, lines, .... The key is to remove the air and make it as sealed as possible, hence keep it filled. I installed ball valves to ensure as much as possible a 100% sealed system.

Chlorine does not magically disappear, it will evaporate if exposed to air. If the system is sealed it is not possible - this is how city water systems work. I R&R with new chlorine if it sits 2 weeks or more and before every trip. Well spent energy and $$

I will probably throw the filter out and get a new one next year when I take longer trips again. For now, chlorinate & R&R with no filter installed.

BTW, do not confuse being smart with being cheap. Smart makes the 100 and much more possible. Cheap doesn't, it is more expensive in the long run. My ego does not get in the way of my learning from others. I was looking for a POSSIBLE answer that maybe I had not considered before I threw the filter away, but as usual, too many criticize vs offering positive suggestions or ideas. Mom taught me, if you don't have something positive .... don't.

[itat]

The chlorine residual does dissipate in a water system over time without exposure to air. Municipalities work to ensure a minimum chlorine residual in their pipes to protect water quality and may need to inject chlorine into the system midstream for long runs. We also flush dead end lines in our system by using hydrants at the end of dead end lines but we try to loop water lines to avoid dead ends.

Refreshing the water as you are doing clears out the old, potentially stagnant water in your water system which is good. I choose to drain the system and flush it when I refill for the subsequent trip. That is also a perfectly acceptable method to ensure clean water. I am not a full timer so I sanitize once a year, in the Spring.

Remember that your filter may be reducing or eliminating chlorine in the water that passes through it so the water you're leaving in your system may not have much chlorine residual and should be replaced or flushed every few weeks if it's not being used.

[Wolverine 1945]

I was told by a lady in an RV Dealership that I could soak the filter in a water & bleach solution,,, rinse & reuse the filter ????????

[270S]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945

I was told by a lady in an RV Dealership that I could soak the filter in a water & bleach solution,,, rinse & reuse the filter ????????

1st, always trust the dealers, no false news there.
Chlorine will significantly reduce the lifespan of the carbon in the filter - that is one of the reasons it is there. Plus the normal municipal level is wayyyyyy lower than what most put in to sanitize so that will expedite its lifespan even quicker.

As I said earlier, just dry and freeze in a Ziploc in between if you so choose.