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Blue In-line RV Water Filter, Dissected

October 25, 2015, 05:25:21 pm

Behold the commonplace blue in-line RV water filter - found at Walmart, Camping World, etc.  Have you ever wondered what they look like inside?  Yes, me too!  So I cut my recently retired, used, (6 weeks on the road) example open.  Working from the inlet, there is first a black plastic retainer, then a foam pad, then a bunch of charcoal stuff, another foam pad, another black plastic retainer, and finally a small fibrous plug in the outlet end.  The filter seemed to be still working OK, but I noticed a reduced flow rate toward the end of our trip.  The foam at the inlet end looked almost brand-new, but the foam at the outlet end was dark colored and really nasty looking.  The charcoal (at the exit end) was caked up and solidified into a semi-solid mass - so I guess it was probably over-due for replacement.

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Re: Blue In-line RV Water Filter, Dissected

Reply #1 – October 25, 2015, 06:36:51 pm

You will find that these filters are more for show than actual use. Foam pads are not enough for a filtration process. The charcoal just makes the water taste well. A five gallon goldfish tank uses a foam filter that is larger then this one. My recommendation is to invest in a three canister water filtration system and possibly a reverse osmosis unit like we have done. The water filter store is an excellent source for material and printouts on what and how to install. I personally never trust water from any source unless it is properly filtered and run through a reverse osmosis with a UV light.
Bob

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Reply #2 – October 25, 2015, 08:48:01 pm

I understand these cheap filters don't do much, and that's OK.  I mostly use it to screen out the big chunks that might plug up the plumbing.  We use bottled water for drinking and cooking - the coach water is used for washing and flushing.  We also have the under-sink filter with the counter-top dispenser, but hardly ever use it.  I do plan on (eventually) installing a better quality filter system.

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Reply #3 – October 26, 2015, 01:18:37 am

Chuck,
Thanks for the illustration. Pictures are everything.

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Reply #4 – October 26, 2015, 10:36:56 am

I use one all the time to take the taste/smell of chlorine out of the water. Works fine for that & the chunky stuff.

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Reply #5 – October 26, 2015, 10:57:57 am

We use a sediment filter for all water coming into the coach and trust the Everpure sink-top filter for all drinking water.  Only municipal water system water goes into the holding tank.

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Reply #6 – October 29, 2015, 01:56:09 pm

Same here. We never drink the water from the Potable tank, only used for washing, flushing, showers etc. We use municipal water run through a Brita drinking water filter for all cooking and drinking water.

Pretty sure we need to sanitize the system soon anyway, it's been quite a while.

 

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Reply #7 – October 29, 2015, 02:46:15 pm

I believe that filling the water tank through a sediment filter (no carbon) will keep the fresh water tank sanitary due to the chlorine in the tank.
I replaced the small, expensive carbon filter installed by Foretravel (for the small separate tap beside the sink) with a large residential type carbon filter. This is the water for drinking because the carbon absorbs the chlorine and improves the taste.
I do not drink bottled water since "Consumers Reports" published the result of the chemical analysis of bottled water and tap water.  They concluded that bottled water is either unhealthy (rat feces), or just very expensive tap water.
I am quite selective about what water I put in my fresh water tank. When in California or Arizona, i buy purified water for the water tank but do not use tape water (alkali) unless it has been through reverse osmosis.

When sitting for a month, I leave chlorinated water in the tank, then drain and refill just before leaving on a trip.           

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Re: Blue In-line RV Water Filter, Dissected

Reply #8 – October 30, 2015, 02:05:03 am

I am with using the chlorinated tap water in our coach.  Never thought about it much but we bring seperate drinking mineral alkaline water my DW and I like the taste of.

Noticed the last few days that most in the campground were using the better quality blue filters I have but normally do not use.

We store our coach for weeks at a time.  No water issues yet. 

I like the dump and refill idea. 

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