Water filter/purifier

[griffsmom]

I'm tired of refilling and using up storage space with the two Arrowhead 2 gal. bottles I keep in the camper for cooking, brushing teeth and making coffee.  Which of you use a water filter on your pu's water supply?  do you recomend in-line?  If so, inside or out?  Is it easier (and less expensive!) to just use a Pur or Brita filter that attaches to the faucet?  
 
I'm concerned that a water filter will affect my water flow--I'm not a patient woman.  Are some better than others as far as this is concerned?
 
TIA!

[Camping Coxes]

I'm concerned that a water filter will affect my water flow--I'm not a patient woman. Are some better than others as far as this is concerned?
 
TIA!

Lori --
 
We have a Brita water filter on our faucet at home, and it does affect water flow.  More than that, you have limited under-spigot clearance now in your PU, so the filter will make it even less so.  At home I can't get the big pans under the faucet with the filter we have, so I know it will be a bigger issue in the PU.  
 
We use a filter that links the hose to the PU.  Don't know how well it works, to tell you the truth, but that's what we use.  However, I still bring along the 2 1/2 gallon jugs of Arrowhead.  When I'm cooking on the outside stove, which is where most of it is done, I don't want to run back and forth to get water to measure in or fill my coffee pot.
 
I've also tried the Brita pitchers, but had the age old problem -- whoever drinks the last of the water never fills the pitcher back up!!!  :swear:

[tlhdoc]

I use a blue water filter from Wal-Mart.  It is an outside filter that goes on the hose.  I wouldn't trust it to filter unsanitary water, but it should help keep gunk out of my water heater.  We use the filtered campground water for cooking and brushing our teeth, but we drink bottled water.  This filter doesn't seem to affect the flow of water any more than the water pressure regulator does.  

[oldmoose]

I use a water filter that I installed under the sink. It filters all of the water. It has a disposable cartridge that I get at Camping World http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?deptID=3&subOf=138,13&skunum=4140This unit is more expensive than many, but I'm happy with it. We never bring extra water and never regreted doing so.
Moose

[topcat7736]

We have PUR dispensers (one at home & one for camping). Been using them for years & they stopped the Monday runs after camping over a weekend. They remove just about everything but aren't water purifiers.

I wouldn't attach anything to the input of our trailers as they restrict the water flow too much. I don't want to try to take a shower with water coming out of just one little hole.

But, Old Moose's method has some merit. Attaching even a purifier to just one sink would eliminate all the bad everythings while allowing all the other faucets to function normally. A "filter" to block bigger bad things could also be used on the input of the trailer as the water flow restriction would be negligable.

Thanks Old Moose!

[tlhdoc]

This is the filter I use.

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=18478

It has a flow rate of 3.5 gallons per minute.

[OC Campers]

I use the above mentioned blue filter, it costs about $15.00 at Wal Mart. It's somewhat antibacterial and definately improves taste without a real reduction in flow. We buy a new one every spring.

 
Randy

[tlhdoc]

That is what I do.  Buy a new one each year and toss the old one.

[birol]

Can't you install one of the for home filters under a cupboard and filter the incoming water before anything else through it folks ?

[jawilson]

There are 2 major types of filters; sediment and "taste".

The former traps hard particles, like rust and debris, from the water supply. That one shouldn't really alter flow rates for a PU. These are often mounted on the outside of the popup, much like a pressure regulator would be.

The "taste" variety eliminates chlorine, iron, chemicals, etc. that might affect the taste or safety of the water. Those often will affect water flow rates, but some of the larger ones minimize the impact. These are most often found on the inside of the camper.

If you want to protect your HWH, supply lines, faucets and the like a sediment filter is your best best.  If you want to protect the occupants of the camper    then the taste variant is for you.

Note that the systems are not mutually exclusive. A large percentage of the more expensive MH's, 5er's and TT's have a dual system, where the water first passes through a sediment filter and then a taste filter (for the faucet water anyway).

[tlhdoc]

Can't you install one of the for home filters under a cupboard and filter the incoming water before anything else through it folks ?

Are you talking about an under the counter type filter?  Some PUs come with a filter for drinking water, that are like the under the counter filters for home use.  The water goes from my water tank or the city water connection directly to my water heater.  That is why I filter the water before it comes into the PU, so it gets the sediment out first.

[Gone-Camping]

I use a blue water filter from Wal-Mart. It is an outside filter that goes on the hose. I wouldn't trust it to filter unsanitary water, but it should help keep gunk out of my water heater. We use the filtered campground water for cooking and brushing our teeth, but we drink bottled water. This filter doesn't seem to affect the flow of water any more than the water pressure regulator does.

I too use the blue filter outside the trailer. Unless there is already a water pressure problem, this filter doesn't affect it much. I agree that it will keep junk and yuck out of my water system, and has actually helped the water smell & taste better, espcially when on Cape Hatteras where fresh water is made from Sea water in giant evaporators...

[mike4947]

We've always used a "whole house" type at the outside, and a .02 micron at the faucet. The big filter keeps the HWH clean and the .02 micron catches all the baddies that cause the green apple quick step.

The reason for the two filters is using a .02 micron filter on the inlet will plug rapidly and most, unless you pay big bucks for a higher flow unit, will cut the water flow down to about a 1/2 gallon a minute. Which is find for dishes and filling a glass, but not so great for a shower.

[birol]

I get it now, I didn't think of that.

Are you talking about an under the counter type filter?  Some PUs come with a filter for drinking water, that are like the under the counter filters for home use.  The water goes from my water tank or the city water connection directly to my water heater.  That is why I filter the water before it comes into the PU, so it gets the sediment out first.

[topcat7736]

Well, this weekend we installed a Camco #40043 from Walmart (same as the one from Camping World). Cost was about $17 ($4 cheaper than the CW Presidents price). Left the water pressure regulator attached to the faucet and hooked the Camco up between it and the water hose.

The report is "NO DEGRADATION OF THE WATER FLOW IN THE TRAILER". It lets 3.5 gpm through and we didn't know it was there. I feel better knowing the junk from the water lines won't be entering the water heater or the rest of the water system anymore.

Next step is to add a purifier to the kitchen sink cold water side.