Cleaning Water Filters

[Ken Scharabok]

If your water filtration system uses either the paper or wrapped string cartridges you can readily clean and reuse them. I simply put them in a sock and include them with a load of workclothes. I have been alternating between two filters for several years doing this.

This will not work with other, more elaborate, filters, such as charcoal.

[mightybooboo]

Interesting,let me file that one away.

BooBoo

[Rockfarmer]

Thanks, Ken. I just changed both filters on our sytem and it kiils me everytime I have to throw one away! Do you use any bleach?

[nehimama]

Thanks, Ken! This is a tip I can certainly use. I cringe every time I buy new filters, as the price keeps going up. I had wondered about cleaning and re-using them.

You probably should put this on the Frugal and Tightwad Tip in the Countryside Families forum.
NeHi

[Bruce in NE]

Why work clothes? Wouldn't dirty shorts be just as good?

[Ken Scharabok]

Well, OK. I guess you could put it in just about any load, including whites with bleach. I just put them in with my colored T's and jeans.

[littlebitfarm]

ICK!!!! Do you use your water for drinking??? I tend not to drink water from old socks, clean or not! I like the idea of a clean, sterile filter for my drinking water.

Kathie

[Ken Scharabok]

Nothing stopping someone from washing them by themselves and then soaking them in bleach afterwards. First water through it is going to comtaminate it again though.

[littlebitfarm]

My water tests very well, but has some sediment that I want removed. IT really doesn't contaminate the filter. But my blue jeans that have horse manure on them certainly would be a source of contamination!

If you have nasty water and don't drink it, I guess it wouldn't matter!

Kathie

[ET1 SS]

We have slightly nasty water.

We have one D.E. filter of about 10 gallon size which then goes to two of those filters. I have one wrapped string cartridge and then one charcoal filter.

Together it seems to clean up the water good enough, but the system does clogg up the filters in about four months time.

Swapping out the wrapped string cartridges monthly and running them through the washer would be very easy.

Thank you.

[PyroDon]

A suggestion before washing them in the washer it wouldnt be a bad idea to soak them for an hour in white vinegar to loosen up the calcium deposits.
for those who seem quite sqeamish about the wash cycle why mot simply boil them afterwords.
you dont think the "string" doesnt go through a disgusting washer before they are wound.
The activated charcoal is a seperate issue . you can actually refill these as well with medical grade charcoal.
We have three large canister filters in our incoming line first a course sediment followed but a fine and finally a charcoal.
we refill the charcoal but had never thought about washing the fiber filters .
Thanks

[brownthumb]

Water is the one thing I want to be as pure as possible. I would cut off the internet before I would skimp on filtration.

[Ken Scharabok]

"...we refill the charcoal..."

Where do you purchase your medical grade charcoal? Doesn't seem like something a local hardware or big box would carry.

[Bruce in NE]

Ken,

Go to

http://www.brewhaus.com/

They have all kinds of activated carbon and other neat stuff as well.

[Ken Scharabok]

I recevied the following copy to e-mail (addresses was Countryside Magazine) and wanted to pass it on. I can't dispute what they guy is saying. However, I also will continue to wash and reuse the string filters I use. I get my water directly from a spring so am pretty well just interested in filtering out the big stuff. Each to his own.

Bonjour.

Sorry for the english. I am french but i can read english.

An article with the above title atracted my attention when i was reading the march/april issue of countryside mag.

With a university degree in food science and sanitation, plus more than ten years in the environment field applied to the water quality, i think i can clarify some information.

First of all. Some filters are made to be cleaned and usualy, if it is the case, the cleaning procedure is provided with the filter. And still, those filters have a life expectancy, meaning that after a certain time, it becomes non reusable.

But. The vast majority of domestic potable water filters are meant to be single usage only. Because of the wide range of users of these filters, the manufacturer cannot rely on the end user concerning a cleaning procedure.

The article that the magazine published poses a threat to those who read this article in the case that they would be tempted to procede according to what is written in it.

In my academic courses, i had a teacher who used to say <there are savings that cost a lot and there are expenditures that save a lot> i think it applies in this case. The threat is not worth the savings. Come on admit it. How much does a filter cost? from 4 to 10 dollars.

Would you agree with your doctor if he would wash his surgical gloves before and after touching you, knowing he just did a rectal touch on the previous patient before you? No answer required thank you.

I think that there are many good filtering system manufacturers that have reputable experience on wich most people can rely on that it is not worth the risk of a homebrewed system can bring in savings. To me washing a filter with chlorine or bleach or wathever, if that filter is not meant to be cleaned in any fashion is a serious lyability and a treath to the health of the persons who might drink the water from thoses non proven systems.

Sadly those who become ill or in sometimes die from drinking unreliable water are not those who played expert.

If your are not a specialist in any domain, use some humility to say that someone else is and accept what they recommend.

Homebrewed can be good sometimes, but not when it touches the health of human or as a matter of fact, animals too.

Save the energy that you have for other projects (build a homemade windmill, a ram pump, a pond, a house in a tree, a yurt, raise chicken, or anything else).

As of the publishing of Ken Scharabok message by the editors of countryside mag, i am not too happy. I would have expected some reserve from them. I agree it might be just the opinion of Ken but, think about if someone decides to go along with Ken's suggestion and an accident happens and says that they did wath was written there. Who would be in trouble?

To conclude, i think that Mr. Scharabo's suggestions are very unreliable and the magazine should not have published it. I hope that the editors are ready to do some dammage control.

I am convinced that Mr Scharabo is well intended but, please take MY advice, dont do what he suggested. Please dont do it.

[Columbia,SC.]

I am pretty simple on this,,, I take the string cartrages(sic) and back wash them out with the water hose, turn them around and do it again and again. I do it untill I get clean water running out. This is No fun in the winter but it works for us.
Put the hose on one end and your hand over the other end, turn it and do it again and agian. this works for 4-5 times at least. Our water gets to the sink after a water boss water softener cleans it again.

[Junkmanme]

Penny-Wise and Pound-Foolish

[canfossi]

I have the solid type cartridges that are ribbed. I wash them out, at $3.50 a piece it can get expensive after a while. Chris

[OkieDavid]

I've never had much success washing/reusing filter cartridges. I live (quite seriously) in a big sandbox...... Got tired of gritty water so I installed a cotton string filter system. Works like a charm and ended the problem. The larger particles are easy enough to see and when backwashed with a high pressure hose the filter cartridge looks clean. The problem is in the fine particles deep within the cotton string. Those you can neither see nor wash out. Result- While a new cartridge will last me two to three months, a washed/reused cartridge only extends the life by another two weeks or so before the pump begins to cycle on/off,on/off because of the pressure differential between the pump side and the house side of the switch. Our lights will flicker the instant the pump comes on so as soon as I notice the continued flickering lights while showering etc., that's my reminder to change the filter cartridge. Cycling on/off, on/off is really hard on the pump and switch. I wouldn't have ANY problem washing/reusing cartridges if it worked but sadly in my case I think it's a no-go.

David

[suzfromWi]

These filters are made to take the junk out of your water line. I cant see washing them and using them again. Im sure that would comprimise the filter itself and it wouldnt do the job its meant to do. I agree....penny wise and pound foolish.