Folks, I've just been out to the old 'van for a spot of getting ready. One job I wanted to do was to change the hot and cold pipes for new because I'd seen inside one of them and it was nasty. Well, what I thought would be a couple of hours ended up with me filling a swear bottle.
I loosened a couple of the old hose clips and saw a drip starting. That had the grey cells thinking and I decided to drain the hot water tank (its an old elddis with a carver) and out popped 10 litres of water about 2 months old since our last trip in november...oops. I also had a new filter and decided to swap them over (eventually) and then went back inside to start butchering the old pipes. But after changing the short ones from the inlet and hot tank I found out you need fingers like a spider monkey (and steel ones at that) to get access. And I'd have to take the sink out to get to the top of the pipes. Bear with me.
So, considering that the water in the UK is drinkable out of the stand pipes anyway and we tend to just use the water for washing....da da da da can I eliminate the need for a filter? I'm going back next week to put some cleaning fluid though the old pipes (until I get a weekend to do the job properly) and clean out the aquarolls. Will I get better water pressure without the filter and are we ok to just use the brita jug which is in the van?
Sorry for the essay. John
------------- Too old to put up a tent but still like waking up to skies and grass...not a cold hotel
Interesting question. I you want something that adds a substrate for bugs to live on and works to remove preservatives that the water companies put into the water to make it safe to drink then yes definitely you need a filter they are really good
Alternatively if all want to do use the water then you don't need one.
Ps and I am not joking about this I sell pharmaceutical grade filters for a living. They are really good and really, really expensive would I recommend one fitted to a caravan. You couldn't afford. You wouldn't need it.
Quote: Originally posted by boff on 14/2/2016
Do I need a water filter?
Interesting question. I you want something that adds a substrate for bugs to live on and works to remove preservatives that the water companies put into the water to make it safe to drink then yes definitely you need a filter they are really good
Alternatively if all want to do use the water then you don't need one.
Ps and I am not joking about this I sell pharmaceutical grade filters for a living. They are really good and really, really expensive would I recommend one fitted to a caravan. You couldn't afford. You wouldn't need it.
Fully support the argument here; unless the filter is one based on silver, they are worse than useless after the first outing having been left wet from then.
No doubt silver works not exactly the latest technology the Romans used to use it to stop spoilage. I know that 3M/ Cuno used to market a silver coated filter. I am not sure how it works. An activated carbon filter works by absorption. They have a huge internal surface area think like a sponge and particles get trapped. They also carry charge so chemical like chlorine are bound. If you coat them in silver then I am not sure what this does to absorption properties.
What you are seeing in your pipes will be replicated in all plastic plumbing. Copper or lead pipes will leach out metal salts and kill the bugs
Puriclean is what I use to sterilize the water pipes, pumped up right through to the taps, left overnight, and flushed out with tap water the next day. There's no filter in my system. I do this about a week before my first trip out after the winter, and once or twice throughout the season.
I always make sure that all the water is drained out between holidays, and that the water container is drained and completely dry.
Quote: Originally posted by cugsy on 14/2/2016
So, if I can do without the thing what replaces it? Does the filter holder leak without one? Do I just re-route the inlet cold water pipe?
Cugsy as I believe you are meant to remove when running the sterilising fluid through the van, I guess it must work fine without a filter in place.
have also just bought a van with the Truma ultraflow with filter and shower attachment, so will be removing the filter if possible
Quote: Originally posted by alpiner on 15/2/2016
If your caravans water system is flushed through and steralised on a regular basis you dont need a filter.
most new caravans dont have them fitted.
If you don't flush the system out, then IMHO a filter will make the situation worse not better.
Also IMHO I do not believe it is possible to sterilise a Caravan water system. Sanitise it maybe, but sterility is an absolute.
If using chlorine containing products such a Bleach, yes Miltons is bleach as well and I am pretty sure Puracleans and the like these will attack stainless steel if left in contact too long so rinse well.
If there isn't a filter in place, what stops the water running back out? Do i simply bypass the filter? We've got some miltons and i'll give it a try - it won't be in overnight. Bit of a bugger to do at the storage site though.
------------- Too old to put up a tent but still like waking up to skies and grass...not a cold hotel
Quote: Originally posted by cugsy on 15/2/2016
If there isn't a filter in place, what stops the water running back out? Do i simply bypass the filter? We've got some miltons and i'll give it a try - it won't be in overnight. Bit of a bugger to do at the storage site though.
Is it one of these? If so you should be able to dismantle it carefully and just use the crew in bit.
HICugsey The cystral 2 filter highlighted byJaiash can be stripped down.
If you decide to not use the filter you will still need the outer case and screw in end cap.
prise the white outer case from the clear screw in piece with rubber seal you need these to run system.
The white part has either a sponge,gauze and fullers earth in side (oldtype) or a sealed porus plastic bag inside (new type)
Remove all the innards and push white bit back onto clear screw in piece. the end of white bit that goes into carrier first carries the non return valve (ball)
push into carrier and screw home use a piece of timber with slot in of correct width for flat in clear peice to nip up, donot use pliers, if you break flat piece it is a hell of a job to remove as you will have to remove for cleaning,( Ihave seen them green in some vans )
The only problem removing the innards is there is nothing to stop bits of plastic from site tap and pipe line jamming non return open or working there way into your hot water tank and jamming your air releif valve open fitted in top tee piece (outlet from HW heater).
They can also block filter on outlet of taps reducing flow.
So in short you need a Filter to save your self a build up of hassle at a later date regardless how pure the water is suppose to be.
I take the filters out of my shower pump at home and you should see the C#%P that comes out, that is why I have fitted a filter in home drinking supply because the water picks up all sorts of foriegn bodies from old waterpipes ETC.
to be honest i used to change them many years ago, then a mate who is a caravan fitter told me not to bother. so i dont, not done for 10 years and still here, lol
I removed mine after a friend showed me his after a winter lay up...Now have a length of pipe with quick release clips in its place so at least I have a choice in future...
A friend had a strange fault. He could get hot water out the taps but not cold. After much head scratching it turned out that his was filter had split and carbon from it had blocked the strainer that was fitted each of the taps thus blocking it. It turned out the the mobile engineer who used to service his van had "forgotten" to change it. He hadn't forgotten to charge him for it though.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: So,do I need a water filter?
