Ive been using one of these filters for a while now and Im trying to figure out how long they last. Does anyone know? Also is there a better filter out there
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:40 PM Jan 3, 2020
There are certainly filters out there that are at least as good, with larger capacity at a fraction of the cost.
Buy a 10" standard housing for well under $100 and then use 0.5um carbon/silver replaceable filter elements for about $20 each.
This type of cartridge will typically last 12 months or 2 years depending on the water quality.
Cheers,
Peter
Ger08 said
09:56 PM Jan 3, 2020
Thank you
Whenarewethere said
10:13 PM Jan 3, 2020
At home we have a Stiebel Eltron under bench 4 stage filter, their recommendation is 6 months or 2000 litres maximum. I probably do double on both figures!
Tony Bev said
12:04 AM Jan 4, 2020
Purchased my B.E.S.T. filter from a local water shop, about four years ago now
Salesman (I think he was the owner), told me, (I did not ask)
You can turn the filter from end to end, to flush out any contaminants
When you can smell/taste any fluoride/chlorine etc, then it is time to buy a new one
I think that I read up, before purchasing the filter, something about 7 years or 7,000 litres
Perhaps the above numbers are a ballpark figure, as it would probably depend on the type of water going through it
I have only ever put town/tap water through the filter, and into the tanks
I use bottle water for drinking, as gastro would probably spoil my travelling
Dougwe said
08:53 AM Jan 4, 2020
G'day Ger08,
I used a BEST filter all the time but when I had to connect to bore water on a farm I found it wasn't doing it's thing so got a double 10" filter system and run water though a ceramic filter then a paper like filter THEN to be paranoid it goes through the BEST filter just before entering the aluminium tent. I still couldn't drink it but was much better.
were I am set up at the moment it is tank water but fed via a bore or trucked in water. I still use the double and BEST and then at the sink I have a drink water fountain with it's own filter and can drink that water safely.
Most times I just hook up the 'triple' system as it is now all connected together using 'Hoselink' fittings.
I do also have another BEST filter for if on town water or filling 10lt containers with drinking water.
All seems to work for me but surprised the double filter still doesn't filter the way I would like. Oh well! Maybe I need to make a portable mini desalination plant.
That, or not be so fussy.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Whenarewethere said
03:54 PM Jan 4, 2020
Tony Bev wrote:
I think that I read up, before purchasing the filter, something about 7 years or 7,000 litres Perhaps the above numbers are a ballpark figure, as it would probably depend on the type of water going through it
These are 10" Stiebel Eltron filters. They recommend 6 months maximum on good quality town water & 2000 litres maximum throughput, otherwise replace them more frequently ($142 a set), we stretch them to a year.
I think you may be pushing the envelope asking for 7 years out of a filter.
We have been using this setup for about 10 years now.
Purchased my B.E.S.T. filter from a local water shop, about four years ago now
Salesman (I think he was the owner), told me, (I did not ask)
You can turn the filter from end to end, to flush out any contaminants
When you can smell/taste any fluoride/chlorine etc, then it is time to buy a new one
I think that I read up, before purchasing the filter, something about 7 years or 7,000 litres Perhaps the above numbers are a ballpark figure, as it would probably depend on the type of water going through it
I have only ever put town/tap water through the filter, and into the tanks
Hi, like Tony use a BEST filter only when I am on town water supply and when I am topping up my water tanks on the road.
I do flush the BEST filter after use and before constantly.
Had ours 7 years now and had it at the back of my mind to do some checking about BEST filter real life expectancy.
Ger08 said
08:19 PM Jan 4, 2020
Thanks for all the responses. Im pretty snappy with BEST filter but will look at some of these other options.
Bicyclecamper said
10:45 PM Jan 4, 2020
We bought one from Waterco Australia, it is an Ceramic one, that says it will do upto - wait for it- a million litres, we use it at home on our town water supply which is c..p, it has so far filtered 210000 lts, and to clean it we take it out of the filter holder, and give it a light all over sand with a scourer pad( can use light sand paper), rinse in clean water and put it back. We have had it for 7 years already. We have the same claim to fame on my Sawyer Squeeze filter as well, that I use for camping using really dirty outback water, when touring by pushy with my dog. Both filters are guaranteed to last that amount of litres..
Farmhat said
11:58 AM Jan 5, 2020
Ger08 wrote:
Hi all,
Ive been using one of these filters for a while now and Im trying to figure out how long they last. Does anyone know? Also is there a better filter out there
Hi Ger08,
You will find the info printed on the B E S T filter itself.
It says approximately 5000 litres with no time limit.
Joe.
jamesph said
09:43 PM Jul 1, 2021
I use iSpring WGB21B water filtration throughout my house. No more sink or shower stains, and the water tastes great. The installation is also not difficult, highly recommended.
Possum3 said
11:17 PM Jul 1, 2021
Welcome to GN's James - great to see one of our American caravaners on here.
There are many facets to the GN's site which I'm sure will inform and entertain - I note that you have commented on an oldish original post - which has mainly disappeared into the ether - The US unit you mentioned is available in Australia (I looked it up) so maybe it will come to mind when someone is looking for a "House" system.
oldbloke said
08:28 PM Jul 2, 2021
Farmhat wrote:
Ger08 wrote:
Hi all,
Ive been using one of these filters for a while now and Im trying to figure out how long they last. Does anyone know? Also is there a better filter out there
Hi Ger08,
You will find the info printed on the B E S T filter itself.
It says approximately 5000 litres with no time limit.
Joe.
That was my understanding too.
Why is everyone filtering all the water.
I would have thought it would be smarter to only filter your sink/drinking water.
yobarr said
08:35 PM Jul 2, 2021
oldbloke wrote:
Farmhat wrote:
Ger08 wrote:
Hi all,
Ive been using one of these filters for a while now and Im trying to figure out how long they last. Does anyone know? Also is there a better filter out there
Hi Ger08,
You will find the info printed on the B E S T filter itself.
It says approximately 5000 litres with no time limit.
Joe.
That was my understanding too.
Why is everyone filtering all the water.
I would have thought it would be smarter to only filter your sink/drinking water.
ALL my water initially passes through two filters into 5 tanks.The water in the dedicated drinking water tank then passes through another two filters,just before the tap over the sink.Cheers
oldbloke said
09:59 PM Jul 2, 2021
So what's the point of filtering water you shower in? Our water in OZ is worlds best.
You can shower or wash clothes in irrigation water if needed
gdayjr said
09:19 AM Jul 3, 2021
Just because you can, doesn't mean you have to.
Cupie said
11:30 AM Jul 3, 2021
Perhaps I've just been lucky but have rarely used a water filter in all of my travels ... >200,000km over 20 years . most of AU .. and never had issues. But we are bitumen only and CP travellers.
Early in the piece I had an 'on tap' Instapure cartridge filter but stopped using that once they became relatively unavailable. I think that you can get them on line now but at one time Big W stocked them.
These days, if I am traveling away from the coast I take a couple of 10l WW water containers for drinking water & refill them from whatever town water is available. On rare occasions I may purchase a new 10L for about $5.
Maybe I'll put a sink/drinking water purifier system on the list ... along with CO detector, an additional privacy screen, and a diesel heater even though we rarely bush camp & certainly not in winter.
oldbloke said
04:49 PM Jul 3, 2021
Cupie, that is what I would just expect on town water, not lucky.
If pyour pumping from rivers or creeks I understand why you would want to filter the water. But town water would be fine. Has to be. Just in same places taste can be off, or chlorine a bit high.
Brodie Allen said
07:16 PM Jul 3, 2021
I use no filter other than particulate.
I add H2O2 (Hydrogen peroxide) according to the purity or otherwise of the water.
Wife has special needs with water and is super sensitive to having her tea made
with sweet water.
Never a problem. Breaks down to H2O and O2. Takes smells and bugs with it.
Been doing it for many years - turns any water into A1!
Can't really overdose since boiling clears H2O2 immediately with zero residue.
There's a mob that gets around the van shows with a kit - but go to the pool
shop and get bulk.
I use about 10 mls of 50% to an 80L tank when filling for smelly creek water
and 3 mls for most town watewr. Gets rid of the chlorine taste also.
oldbloke said
11:11 PM Jul 3, 2021
Brodie Allen wrote:
I use no filter other than particulate.
I add H2O2 (Hydrogen peroxide) according to the purity or otherwise of the water.
Wife has special needs with water and is super sensitive to having her tea made with sweet water.
Never a problem. Breaks down to H2O and O2. Takes smells and bugs with it.
Been doing it for many years - turns any water into A1!
Can't really overdose since boiling clears H2O2 immediately with zero residue.
There's a mob that gets around the van shows with a kit - but go to the pool shop and get bulk.
I use about 10 mls of 50% to an 80L tank when filling for smelly creek water and 3 mls for most town watewr. Gets rid of the chlorine taste also.
Interesting Brodie.
Searching I've found the industry STD seems to be 20ml of 7% per 100 litres. This is for tank water.
Brodie Allen said
09:18 AM Jul 4, 2021
Old Bloke - depends on concentration.
I buy 50% which cannot generally be obtained at retail. This is because I am on tank water at
home and as I reiterated the wife has special requirements both medically and preferably.
You'll notice the better taste than when you use chlorine and other sterilizer products.
I don't bother with silver stabilised peroxide.
4 L of 6 to 7% should be about $50. Check online for free postage. CHECK percentages
on the advertising!!!! Some are only 3%.
Here's the 50% - enough to do you a lifetime, but I go thru one of these a year,
and when you work it out, share with a few friends and you'll never need sterilizer again.
Decant into 5 L bottles and keep in a cool place. Put a pinhole in the plastic cap to vent
off pressure build-up.
Only need 3 ml at this concentration before filling tank if in a town water district to sterilize and remove the
sulphur and chlorine smells/taste that some outback towns have. Also cleans bore water up but of course
cannot soften the bore water. But in my experience, there's nothing that even comes close
to H2O2 generally. And I have tried them all over 55 years of marriage.
Brodie Allen said
09:34 AM Jul 4, 2021
Addendum:
Here's someone selling the product that I have seen at the van shows:
99% of the developed world's town water supplies are treated with chlorine. It breaks down quite rapidly.
A carbon block filter installed in the line after the pump and before the tap will remove any chlorine left in the water.
Cheers,
Peter
Aus-Kiwi said
01:36 PM Jul 4, 2021
Often wander about filters becoming breeding ground for Bactria ? Reverse cleaning every now & then ? Silver can only do so much !
Brodie Allen said
04:05 PM Jul 4, 2021
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
99% of the developed world's town water supplies are treated with chlorine. It breaks down quite rapidly. A carbon block filter installed in the line after the pump and before the tap will remove any chlorine left in the water. Cheers, Peter
Yep - no argument about that. Don't understand what you are driving at.
What's your agenda? What's the problem with H2O2?
Chlorine is CHEAP - that's why Councils use it. And its residue is always there.
After a carbon filter, likely you won't smell it, but where's the sodium and chlorine gone?
NO residue with H2O2.
I'm just offering the benefit of experience.
I have seen this argument elsewhere involving you - are you just trolling again?
Peter_n_Margaret said
05:29 PM Jul 4, 2021
Chlorine breaks down to form a tiny amount of common salt NaCl.
I am just offering my experience and the advise of professional water treatment professionals.
There is no problem with H2O2. You are free to use it if you wish. Chlorine simply does a better job at lower concentrations, is available almost anywhere and is cheap.
Fine filters can become a breeding ground for bacteria under warm conditions and yes, the silver reduces that possibility if the filter is not used for a few days, but the best protection is regular use with chlorinated water. If unused for a while, simply flush 5-10L of chlorinated water before drinking. These filters are generally not suitable for back flushing.
Cheers,
Peter
tea spoon said
01:03 PM Jul 6, 2021
bunnings have filters that plug onto the hose have had a few over the years there stefani..........cost me 29 bucks last time .......if your worried boil the water or buy water .........or drink beer
Aus-Kiwi said
04:10 PM Jul 6, 2021
Back flushing to rid the water stored in filter where bacteria can breed . My concern is they become an incubator ? Especially in warmer conditions . I have 2 stage filter at sink for drinking, even then its mainly used for boiling for hot drinks etc .
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Tuesday 6th of July 2021 04:11:22 PM
Hi all,
Ive been using one of these filters for a while now and Im trying to figure out how long they last. Does anyone know? Also is there a better filter out there
Buy a 10" standard housing for well under $100 and then use 0.5um carbon/silver replaceable filter elements for about $20 each.
This type of cartridge will typically last 12 months or 2 years depending on the water quality.
Cheers,
Peter
Thank you
At home we have a Stiebel Eltron under bench 4 stage filter, their recommendation is 6 months or 2000 litres maximum. I probably do double on both figures!
Salesman (I think he was the owner), told me, (I did not ask)
You can turn the filter from end to end, to flush out any contaminants
When you can smell/taste any fluoride/chlorine etc, then it is time to buy a new one
I think that I read up, before purchasing the filter, something about 7 years or 7,000 litres
Perhaps the above numbers are a ballpark figure, as it would probably depend on the type of water going through it
I have only ever put town/tap water through the filter, and into the tanks
I use bottle water for drinking, as gastro would probably spoil my travelling
I used a BEST filter all the time but when I had to connect to bore water on a farm I found it wasn't doing it's thing so got a double 10" filter system and run water though a ceramic filter then a paper like filter THEN to be paranoid it goes through the BEST filter just before entering the aluminium tent. I still couldn't drink it but was much better.
were I am set up at the moment it is tank water but fed via a bore or trucked in water. I still use the double and BEST and then at the sink I have a drink water fountain with it's own filter and can drink that water safely.
Most times I just hook up the 'triple' system as it is now all connected together using 'Hoselink' fittings.
I do also have another BEST filter for if on town water or filling 10lt containers with drinking water.
All seems to work for me but surprised the double filter still doesn't filter the way I would like. Oh well! Maybe I need to make a portable mini desalination plant.
That, or not be so fussy.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
These are 10" Stiebel Eltron filters. They recommend 6 months maximum on good quality town water & 2000 litres maximum throughput, otherwise replace them more frequently ($142 a set), we stretch them to a year.
I think you may be pushing the envelope asking for 7 years out of a filter.
We have been using this setup for about 10 years now.
Hi, like Tony use a BEST filter only when I am on town water supply and when I am topping up my water tanks on the road.
I do flush the BEST filter after use and before constantly.
Had ours 7 years now and had it at the back of my mind to do some checking about BEST filter real life expectancy.
Hi Ger08,
You will find the info printed on the B E S T filter itself.
It says approximately 5000 litres with no time limit.
Joe.
There are many facets to the GN's site which I'm sure will inform and entertain - I note that you have commented on an oldish original post - which has mainly disappeared into the ether - The US unit you mentioned is available in Australia (I looked it up) so maybe it will come to mind when someone is looking for a "House" system.
That was my understanding too.
Why is everyone filtering all the water.
I would have thought it would be smarter to only filter your sink/drinking water.
ALL my water initially passes through two filters into 5 tanks.The water in the dedicated drinking water tank then passes through another two filters,just before the tap over the sink.Cheers
You can shower or wash clothes in irrigation water if needed
Just because you can, doesn't mean you have to.
Perhaps I've just been lucky but have rarely used a water filter in all of my travels ... >200,000km over 20 years . most of AU .. and never had issues. But we are bitumen only and CP travellers.
Early in the piece I had an 'on tap' Instapure cartridge filter but stopped using that once they became relatively unavailable. I think that you can get them on line now but at one time Big W stocked them.
These days, if I am traveling away from the coast I take a couple of 10l WW water containers for drinking water & refill them from whatever town water is available. On rare occasions I may purchase a new 10L for about $5.
Maybe I'll put a sink/drinking water purifier system on the list ... along with CO detector, an additional privacy screen, and a diesel heater even though we rarely bush camp & certainly not in winter.
If pyour pumping from rivers or creeks I understand why you would want to filter the water. But town water would be fine. Has to be. Just in same places taste can be off, or chlorine a bit high.
I add H2O2 (Hydrogen peroxide) according to the purity or otherwise of the water.
Wife has special needs with water and is super sensitive to having her tea made
with sweet water.
Never a problem. Breaks down to H2O and O2. Takes smells and bugs with it.
Been doing it for many years - turns any water into A1!
Can't really overdose since boiling clears H2O2 immediately with zero residue.
There's a mob that gets around the van shows with a kit - but go to the pool
shop and get bulk.
I use about 10 mls of 50% to an 80L tank when filling for smelly creek water
and 3 mls for most town watewr. Gets rid of the chlorine taste also.
Interesting Brodie.
Searching I've found the industry STD seems to be 20ml of 7% per 100 litres. This is for tank water.
I buy 50% which cannot generally be obtained at retail. This is because I am on tank water at
home and as I reiterated the wife has special requirements both medically and preferably.
You'll notice the better taste than when you use chlorine and other sterilizer products.
I don't bother with silver stabilised peroxide.
4 L of 6 to 7% should be about $50. Check online for free postage. CHECK percentages
on the advertising!!!! Some are only 3%.
Here's the 50% - enough to do you a lifetime, but I go thru one of these a year,
and when you work it out, share with a few friends and you'll never need sterilizer again.
Decant into 5 L bottles and keep in a cool place. Put a pinhole in the plastic cap to vent
off pressure build-up.
www.mydeal.com.au/hydrogen-peroxide-20l-for-pools-and-spas-4295925
Only need 3 ml at this concentration before filling tank if in a town water district to sterilize and remove the
sulphur and chlorine smells/taste that some outback towns have. Also cleans bore water up but of course
cannot soften the bore water. But in my experience, there's nothing that even comes close
to H2O2 generally. And I have tried them all over 55 years of marriage.
Here's someone selling the product that I have seen at the van shows:
www.snowys.com.au/waterpure-water-purifier
Much better to get the stuff online.
A carbon block filter installed in the line after the pump and before the tap will remove any chlorine left in the water.
Cheers,
Peter
Yep - no argument about that. Don't understand what you are driving at.
What's your agenda? What's the problem with H2O2?
Chlorine is CHEAP - that's why Councils use it. And its residue is always there.
After a carbon filter, likely you won't smell it, but where's the sodium and chlorine gone?
NO residue with H2O2.
I'm just offering the benefit of experience.
I have seen this argument elsewhere involving you - are you just trolling again?
I am just offering my experience and the advise of professional water treatment professionals.
There is no problem with H2O2. You are free to use it if you wish. Chlorine simply does a better job at lower concentrations, is available almost anywhere and is cheap.
Fine filters can become a breeding ground for bacteria under warm conditions and yes, the silver reduces that possibility if the filter is not used for a few days, but the best protection is regular use with chlorinated water. If unused for a while, simply flush 5-10L of chlorinated water before drinking. These filters are generally not suitable for back flushing.
Cheers,
Peter
Back flushing to rid the water stored in filter where bacteria can breed . My concern is they become an incubator ? Especially in warmer conditions . I have 2 stage filter at sink for drinking, even then its mainly used for boiling for hot drinks etc .
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Tuesday 6th of July 2021 04:11:22 PM