| Author | Message | ||
| Jim Wilkerson (Wagwar)
Registered Member Username: Wagwar Post Number: 102 Registered: 12-2009 Posted From: 99.109.187.242 Rating: N/A |
I have a pair of GE water filters that came w/ the bus, but are not installed. They are rather large and it looks like there is a pre-filter and final filter. They're about 10" tall and 4-5" in diam. They have replaceable canister type filters inside an outer container. I don't know where these should be installed or if they should be installed? Should they be used to filter fresh water as it enters the Fresh tank? Should they be used to filter as the water leaves the tank prior to the pump and manifold? Should I only use them for RV park connections? What are the pros/cons of each location. Where do you have filters installed? Thanks in advance for your ideas! | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1954 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157  Rating: |
We have a tap to run park water direct into the system, bypassing the pump/ tank. There is one of these style filters after the pump, so any water source gets filtered for debris and taste before we drink it. You could use one of the filters to clean water going into your main tank by putting on hose connections on it and only using it at fill time. Many tanks have odd tasting water if left set a good bit, so even if it is filtered for debris and taste pre tank, you still may have odd tastes. Making it the last thing before the tap helps with these conditions. Those large style filters can last a good while and be more economical as they are quite popular. Just make sure they don't require an odd ball element that is hard to find or expensive. Check a Lowes or Home Depot to see if they have replacements. | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1333 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 75.219.133.235  Rating: N/A |
We have 2 of those on our coach.The first filter is a sediment filter and filters the water when it enters the coach. The second filter has an activated charcoal element and filters the water before it goes "upstairs" Jack | ||
| Dave Walker (Chrome_dome)
Registered Member Username: Chrome_dome Post Number: 73 Registered: 3-2010 Posted From: 67.174.144.159  Rating: N/A |
We like this one(Reverse Osmosis, 159.00) from Costco plus replacement filters in a 7 pak is only 27.00 http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10040488 because it also takes out heavy metals, Naturals poisons, and a lot of things that are around the country in run off water that get into the water supply systems that will mess with your body. Dave | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 270 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 72.111.43.238  Rating: N/A |
We put an elcheapo whole house filter from Menards in the system after the pump and city water connection. I noticed an immediate improvement in taste and odor! My house has a well with heavy iron and we use a softner. When I filled the tanks from the house water, it really had that odor. The 4 dollar filter really worked! I think the filter housing was about 15.00. Next thing I'm going to add is a pressure tank to help out the pump. | ||
| Jim Shepherd (Rv_safetyman)
Registered Member Username: Rv_safetyman Post Number: 311 Registered: 1-2004 Posted From: 67.142.130.18 Rating: N/A |
We have the GE dual filter, and if you read the capability, it is a really great product. We have ours plumbed into the water system and only run a separate water dispenser at the sink and a line over to the ice maker in the fridge. I know it works well. We often add Clorox in the main tank. One day I forgot and got my water out of the main faucet. I could really taste the chlorine. Then I got the water out of the dispenser and it was fine. I don't think you need to filter things like toilet and shower water or even sink water. Folks will warn you that you should not bathe in chlorine treated water, but I don't see folks dying at swimming pools {grin}. Jim Shepherd Evergreen,CO '85 Eagle with Series 60 and Autoshift | ||
| Len Silva (Lsilva)
Registered Member Username: Lsilva Post Number: 404 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 72.187.35.208  Rating: N/A |
If you are considering one of the filters, I suggest you mount it in the bay rather than under the sink. It is all but impossible to replace the filters without some spilling. | ||
| les marston (Les_marston)
Registered Member Username: Les_marston Post Number: 93 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 208.114.128.17 Rating: N/A |
Don't mistake better taste with better quality! The two point of use filters will remove some suspended solids and will remove any oxidizer taste i.e.. chlorine, but they do not remove any dissolved solids, organic or inorganic chemicals. If the water that you run through these filters is coming from a chlorinated municipal system they will do a good job for the cost but if you take on water from an unknown or rural source all bets are off! Please don't use household bleach to sanitize your fresh water tanks. Get the proper calcium hypochlorite or use hydrogen peroxide to sanitize. Les marston The water guy | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 583 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 98.204.114.64  Rating: N/A |
Les, what kind of hydrogen peroxide and where would one obtain it? Thanks! | ||
| Jim Shepherd (Rv_safetyman)
Registered Member Username: Rv_safetyman Post Number: 312 Registered: 1-2004 Posted From: 67.142.130.21 Rating: N/A |
Hope this come across as trying to learn vs confrontation. This subject has come up often and I can't seem to make the replies stick into my tired old brain. Les, you say not to use bleach. I recall hearing that, but can't recall the reason. Just about any RV source/forum will have info on putting a couple of ounces of bleach in your tank to "make it safe". Some say to go through all kinds of rinse processes and some say to just use a filter. Not sure what bleach is, but I think it is mostly just chlorine and I know that there are folks who are very anti chlorine (can't remember why). Anything else in bleach that is bad? Next, your brief discussion on the water filter suggests to me that you don't go along with the "published" statements of what they do. We have a GE GXSL03C dual filter (see it is not longer made). Their data and the data for the replacement filters suggest that the secondary filter gets rid of a bunch of bad stuff and makes it sound like you can drink "river water" safely (exaggerating here). A reference for the filters and what there do is: http://www.alloysafe.com/index.php/water-purification/water-filter-brand/ge-fxsvc-under-si nk-sediment-and-drinking-water-filter-set.html We have been under the impression that this filter provides safe water. Are we not as safe as we thought? I have always been concerned about the water we get at all the locations we fill up at. Then we concern ourselves with what takes place in the tank when we let it sit for a couple of months. Jim Shepherd Evergreen, CO ’85 Eagle 10/Series 60/Eaton AutoShift 10 speed transmission Somewhere between a tin tent and a finished product Bus Project details: http://www.rvsafetysystems.com/busproject.htm Blog: http://rvsafetyman.blogspot.com/ | ||
| les marston (Les_marston)
Registered Member Username: Les_marston Post Number: 94 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 68.151.225.213 Rating: N/A |
Ok . Let me take a run at the bleach vs chlorine issue first Bleach contains chlorine but only in about 3 to 5% when they bottle it. The chlorine that they use to make bleach is sodium hypochlorite. Not a stable compound in as much that it has a short shelf life, to combat this short shelf life, other chemicals are added to act as stabilizers. Then some others are added to give it a more pleasant smell. End of it all you have one big chemical cocktail that has very interesting byproducts when reacted with most organics. Chlorine in a much more pure condition will work very well to sanitize your fresh water tank without all the extra chemistry that you do not want in your tank. The best chlorine to use is the dry powder. It comes under a bunch of different brand names but if you read the label it will be 66 or 70% calcium hypochlorite. Ask for it at most places that sell swimming pool chemicals. I don't have a hate on for chlorine! I use it constantly in my business. It has the ability to kill microbiology and will maintain a residual that will keep the water safe, however most people use to much of it! All you need is about .5 part per million left over after everything is sanitary. Each % = 10,000 PPM so you don't need much at 66% On the filters Most cartridge filters are designed for a specific application. Some are to remove suspended solids and some to remove taste i.e chlorine. Very few will actually improve the quality of the water but if you are satisfied that the water is otherwise potable then the filters will do what they were ment to do. One problem that I see with the filters is that the manufactures try to put an amount of volume or time that a filter will last. This is impossible because they have no idea what the raw water going through the filter will be. Best to take their best guess and divide by 4. Hope this helps Les the water guy | ||
| Jim Shepherd (Rv_safetyman)
Registered Member Username: Rv_safetyman Post Number: 313 Registered: 1-2004 Posted From: 67.142.130.35 Rating: N/A |
Les, thanks for the information. Now I better understand the bleach issue. Will have to find a swimming pool supply store. Jim | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1382 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.211.248.215  Rating: N/A |
Hi, Les...expand on the paragraph about ppm, would you?....In other words...for, say a 100 gallon tank of fresh, how much dry hypochlorite should one use. I have recently used, as a result of discussions on this board, a single 1" tab in a Miracle-Gro container- letting it disolve until the tank is full, not adding anymore chlorine---so far I have filled twice with one tablet and there is quite a bit of it remaining. Seems to work fine...no odor... BTW...most of what I use in the pool is 99%, AIR. Thanx! RCB | ||
| les marston (Les_marston)
Registered Member Username: Les_marston Post Number: 95 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 68.151.225.213 Rating: N/A |
RCB. I thought miracle gro was plant fertilizer. Sorry to say but putting it in your fresh water won't grow hair back. I assume that the 1 inch tablet is slow release chlorine? calcium hypochlorite? could work fine but if you want to know how much free chlorine is in the water, pick up a cheap OTO chlorine test kit. Not deadly accurate but is close enough. As long as you have a residual then the water will be microbiologically safe. You want to keep it at .5 PPM or even slightly less. If you want to use the powdered hypochlorite to sanitize the tank then pre dissolve 3 table spoons of 66%, put it in the tank and fill with water. Run it through all the plumbing in the coach then let it sit for at least an hour, drain the tank and refill. You will be good to go. If you want to use hydrogen peroxide to sanitize the tank, then use 2 liters of 3% and follow the same procedure as above. Hydrogen peroxide is available at any drug store Les |
