Water Filters and sanitizing your tank

[Atlanta Panther]

So I’m sanitizing my SS Water system after jusr aquiring this used Rv. The question is whether to sanitize the system with the old filter still in or after installing a new filter.

If you keep the old filter and sanitize you have potential for contamination still in the system when you put in the new filter.

If you install the new filter before sanitizing it would seem any junk would load your new filter plus the new filter would absorb the chlorine you put in to sanitize the system.

Am I thinking about this correctly?

Thoughts?

[beavertrap]

Well if you are sanitizing through the filter. do it before you change the filter. Normally the new filters should not have any contaminants that way as you said you would not get the big chlorine blast to the new filter. After you sanitize change the filter. The exit for the water will still be clean and the rest of the water has to go through the filter before entering the sanitized system. Do it all the time at hospitals.

[Duckogram]

I believe you are correct however most folks I know sanitize with no filter. I use bleach to sanitize then I remove the empty filter housing, lube the o-ring with food grade silicone, then I lightly spray the receiver and housing with a hydrogen peroxide solution to keep from saturating the filter with bleach. I will admit that I do not know what effect the H2O2 will have on the filter I use. However, I have been using it since June and have not seen or experienced any issues. Anybody with SME feel free to respond.
Note: This does not work on towable products. j/k


Edit: Congrats on your retirement.

[beavertrap]

As a side note.
Those Hospital filter are 0.2 micron filter. over $400 a pop.

[Duckogram]

Originally Posted by beavertrap

As a side note.
Those Hospital filter are 0.2 micron filter. over $400 a pop.

Holy Cow! I use 1 micron and worry about flow rate.

[ishwashgus]

Don't worry about it. Drain it and refill it a couple of times, then use it.

The human body has survived for millenia without bleach, drinking all sorts of water, varying in quality.

[Telstar]

Remove filter when you sanatize.

[Chuck_S]

The filters I use claim to eliminate chlorine from the water and I've ruined at least one by forgetting to remove it during sanitation of the system.

Water in the system needs to be clean not sterile. Chlorine bleach will do the job. Quarter cup of bleach per 15 gallons of water in the tank. If you can drive around and slosh it all the better. Pump it thru the system. Although this link says 12 hours a couple of hours is more than enough.

https://www.rvtrader.com/research/ne...v-water-system

Or you can throw this in the system and drive around the block and drain. Process needs to be done with each chemical, so its really two times around the block.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fresh-Wat...6662/138494734

First method costs about 25¢, second method costs $18.

-- Chuck

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by telstar

remove filter when you sanatize.

Right On !!!

[Dp26]

If you are filtering out chlorine when filling your tank, keep in mind it will require more frequent cleaning. Muni water usually has sufficient chlorine to allow storage for a fair amount of time before getting the "film".


Test this yourself. Put out a bowl of filtered and a bowl of tap (such as if using for a pet. After 24/48 hours, dump the water and feel the bowl (the filtered will have a slimy feel). My tap water has 2ppm chlorine (at the lowest, so does our hot tub).



Personally, I use tap for filling. If we want to drink filtered, we do so after tap, such as a Brita. On the road, if we refill, I flush at home with tap to reintroduce chlorine. I do a cleaning a couple times a year.


Our muni supply flushes the lines no more than once every few years, or after having to use our backup supply (and is flushed only for appearance, as the backup supply tends to have a tint to it).

[Chuck_S]

My onboard, chlorine minimizing water filter, is after the fresh water tank so stored water maintains the municipal chlorine level (actually county 'cuz we're in Virginia where there are very few cities that have any governmental status).

-- Chuck

[Gidyupgo]

I sanitize with an empty filter bowl. Once all the bleach is flushed out, the new filter goes in. Flush the new filter by running a couple of gallons of clean water through it.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by Gidyupgo

I sanitize with an empty filter bowl. Once all the bleach is flushed out, the new filter goes in. Flush the new filter by running a couple of gallons of clean water through it.

Do you flush the filter before you install it ???
That is what I do !!!