Filling fresh water through filter

[Bluetick]

How many here run their water through a filter when filling the fresh water tank?

[sheriff1]

Definitely! It helps minimize the issues with the hot water mixing valve.

[richard5933]

We do always. I know that it won't make unsafe water safe, but there are lots of other things that can be in the water like sand, rust particles, etc. that we don't want to get into the plumbing. Just takes one grain of sand to play havoc with the seals in a water pump.

We use one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[uraljohn]

Always use the filter on the supply hose when filling onboard freshwater tank. So far, so good.

I did have to replace the onboard water pump as a result of a defective check valve. My freshwater tank kept filling up. The trailer was only couple months old so I just choked it up to a bad pump. replaced it and no problems since.

[Dennis C]

Same for me. Always filtered.

[ealmasy]

We always run through our Clearsource filter when filling the freshwater tank.

One related thing we have tweaked is the hoses we use. We started out with a 7/16" hose, and have since moved to a Water Right 1/2" hose (they make very good hoses), which has noticeably cut our time at the filling stations. Between the trailer and water filter, we use a 4ft Camco (because WR does not make very short hoses).

[DCPAS]

We do, but my brother doesn't. His thought is that by filtering out the chlorine, you are creating a potentially unhealthy environment in the tank. I sanitize our tank once a year with bleach and figure that is the better approach.

[crispyboy]

Always filter the water and throw in a dash of bleach for good measure. I've been drinking from a cistern for over 50 years and I'm still here.

[SSquared]

Originally Posted by DCPAS

We do, but my brother doesn't. His thought is that by filtering out the chlorine, you are creating a potentially unhealthy environment in the tank. I sanitize our tank once a year with bleach and figure that is the better approach.

Some filters claim to remove chlorine and some do not.

I always filter, except when I'm filling at home where I have known good water.

When I'm filling for the start of a trip, and haven't used the trailer for a while, I usually fill & drain the tank once or twice to freshen it, and add a bit of bleach on the final fill. I don't usually add bleach on subsequent fills, but will if I expect to not use tank water for a while.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by DCPAS

We do, but my brother doesn't. His thought is that by filtering out the chlorine, you are creating a potentially unhealthy environment in the tank. I sanitize our tank once a year with bleach and figure that is the better approach.

We've been drinking our well water for decades with no ill effects. Millions of people do the same. Chlorine in your water is not necessary, and I doubt the residual trace in city water has any long-lasting sanitation effect.


However often a well is tested though, ours like many others will occasionally pump up some sand or fine silt. This is why we use a filter. It's not nearly as harmful to us as it is to the plumbing.


Like you, we do the annual tank sanitizing and I think it's more than adequate for normal use.

[SuperTrouper]

We sanitize once a year and sanitize the whole system. i have a 6GAL refill can and a pump / hose mounted in the reefer compartment to pump the 6 gal into the fresh water tank. We put some diluted Clorox in the 6 gal, through the pump and then into the fresh tank and sanitize the rest of the system normally. For the rest of the year, no water gets into any part of the system without running through a filter. I replace the filter when I sanitize (yearly).

[99TJSE]

Always run water through the system. It's for the trailer plumbing and not for us. One micron solids filter, half micron carbon block and a demineralizer. We also treat the water with Purogene as required.

Up here in the PNW we are pretty lucky to have good water in a lot of places.

[Tyler2you]

Does anyone run their fresh tank water through a softener? Wondering whether the flow rate would make that less than ideal. Something like this:

https://www.portablewatersoftener.co...KU=OTG2-DSOFT2

[SSquared]

Yes, we use the "standard" On The Go model. We got it when we were doing a multi-month volunteer gig at Kartchner Caverns SP, which is a limestone mountain. The water was very hard, and we noticed issues after about three weeks. We put vinegar in the system for half a day to reduce the deposits. Then we got the softener and it kept the issues from returning.

We continue to use it even at places with not-so-hard water.

It does not reduce flow by much. We run a Camco filter between the spigot and softener, and the filter itself reduces flow by a lot. I measured the flow rate on city water at my house once (62 PSI):
No filter or softener: 7.1 Gallons per minute
Filter, no softener: 2.3 GPM
Filter and softener: 2.2 GPM

[ealmasy]

Originally Posted by Tyler2you

Does anyone run their fresh tank water through a softener? Wondering whether the flow rate would make that less than ideal.

Aside from the flow rate issue, there's also the concern about how much sodium it would add to your drinking water, if all incoming water is softened. In our area (which has fairly hard water), softening adds 500-600 mg of sodium per gallon, which can be significant if you're trying to limit your sodium intake.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Bluetick

How many here run their water through a filter when filling the fresh water tank?

I do.
I used to use the inline Camco filter that just laid on the ground. Like a big cigar. Then I learned the filter material was charcoal granules, and when laying horizontally, the granules fell to the bottom and the water passed right over them.
So I've changed to a Camco canister type that sits upright. It uses the 2.5" x 10" cartridges. I still use charcoal because I don't drink the tap water so I don't feel I need 5 micron filtration. I use quick connects so anything can be removed or added without unscrewing the hose.

I also have a 4" x 10" Hansing canister filter, but that thing's a beast, I'd rather not lug it around.

[Bunker]

I use a dual filter housing to get down to 0.2 micron. Every drop going in is filtered, except the black tank flush. I get strange looks everywhere I go.

[Acheron2010]

I use a dual filter system from amazon, keep it in a milk carton

[jcanavera]

I only go on one trip a year where I need to carry in water from home. I sanitize prior to that trip. I do carry a small amount of water in the fresh tank for toilet flushing and that water is added from my home water outlets which are very clean. If I need additional water when camping (and no city water is at my site), I carry 3 empty 7 gallon water containers and will filter the water going into those containers prior to pouring the contents into my fresh water tank. Sometimes I may also fill those containers from my home outlet.

There is a filter connected to my water pump that filters the water that that comes from the fresh water tank. That filter is a particulate filter only and I replaced it after 15 years of use. Most of the particulates in it came from a single campground that contained a lot of sediment in it's water system. I think it came from a fill of my fresh water tank back when my trailer was new and I wasn't using a filter at that time.

When I'm at any campground with water hookups, I always use a filter that takes care of particulates and water quality issues.

Jack

[Dennis C]

We switched from the blue Camco filter to the green Clear2O filter which is a 2-stage system. I like it better than the Camco filter. The first filter gets dirt and sediment. The second filter is a solid block rather than granules like the Camco filter. I feel that it does a better job. I also sanitize my system with bleach per Airstream recommendations each year.