water filter system

If you have purchased, or are planning to purchase, a water filter of any kind, you most likely did so because you were interested in providing clean, healthy drinking water to you and your family. If this is the case, then there is no reason you would not want to maintain a clean filter.

Water filters are very similar to the filter that is located within your air conditioning system. As water passes through the filter, the filter catches particles and impurities, keeping them from coming through to your glass.

Just as an air filter becomes clogged with dirt and dust, a water filter can be clogged with particles and minerals. To keep a water filter functioning properly, you need to change the filter regularly, and as such, you should always have a replacement water filter cartridge on hand.

The particles within your tap water are generally so small, you can't see them. But a good quality water filter can catch them. This will make your water clearer, tastier, and healthier. Of course, for the most part, anything in local tap water will not be immediately harmful.

There are regulations about what type of water is allowed to flow to residential homes. However, this doesn't mean that there aren't bacteria in the water, and it doesn't mean that a water filter doesn't improve the health of the water in your home.

A new water filter almost always includes a refill water filter cartridge. Once you use the water filter cartridges that come with the new product, you will need to purchase more. Water filter cartridges should be replaced on a regular basis to avoid problems.

When a water filters takes particles, chemicals, and minerals from the drinking water, all of these things stay with the filter. This means that over time, the impurities build up on the filter. If you don't replace a water filter cartridge, eventually water won't even be able to flow through the filter and you will risk damaging your plumbing.

A sure sign that a water filter cartridge needs replacing is a sudden drop in water pressure. If you don't replace your filter regularly and the water still makes it through, you may be drinking water full of impurities that came from a clogged filter!

You probably keep extra vacuum cleaner bags on hand, and you definitely keep extra trash bags on hand for when the garbage is taken out. And you should keep an extra water filter cartridge or two on hand as well. The replacement water filter cartridges are the backbone behind your water filter. If clean water is important to you, then these parts are important as well.

How to replace a water filter cartridge on your home water filtering system. This article covers how to change both filters on a Aquasana AQ4000 filter system. Some of this information may be helpful with any brand of filter system.

Unpack the replacement filter kit and check the contents. You should have 2 replacement water filter cartridges, A and a B. Two replacement O-rings. If the O-rings are not flat lay them out and see if they will flatten out on their own this may take over night. If this does not work, put a book on them over night. The reason is if the O-rings are bowed from shipping makes then harder to make a good seal.

The first step is to lay your home water filtering system on its side. You can see on the filter caps are labeled A and B. Also arrows that indicate which way to turn to loosen each cap. Turn filter cap A to the right to unscrew or the direction the arrow points. Filter cap B should unscrew to the left or the direction of the arrow. They should only be hand tight. If they are too tight to remove by hand use the handles of a pliers to give you a little extra leverage. Be careful not to do any damage to the inlet or outlet water lines.

Water filter cartridge A will be the most difficult to remove. The seal on the top of the filter holds the cartridge in place. There is not enough room in the filter housing to get a hold of it. I find it easy to use a pair of pliers to get a hold of the filter and twist and pull to it out. Water filter cartridge B will be attached to the filter cap. Simply twist and pull the two apart. I lay the filters at each side of the filter housing. This helps to keep track of which filter is A and B. Remove both o-rings make sure the grove where they sit in is clean.

Now install the two new O-rings. Put a small amount of cooking oil on the exposed area of each O- ring. This helps when installing the filter caps. The oil lets the caps slide easy on the rubber, which will make them seal easier. Installing them dry may let them kink and dislodge resulting in a leak.

Replacement water filter cartridge A is the white one. Install it in the A cartridge housing with the O-ring end in first. Putting some water on the rubber seal makes it slide in easier. Give it a push and turn until it is seated. The B replacement cartridge is the blue one. Install the O-ring end into the filter cap. In the same manner as the other filter. At this point, I check the O-ring to make sure they are still in place. Then go ahead and install the B filter into the B housing. Screw the B cap until it is firmly seated. Now check the other seal and install the A cap until it is firmly seated.

Keep the filter system on its side, turn on the water and activate the diverter valve. Check around the cap threads for any signs of water. If there is a little leak, try tightening the cap a little more. If this does not seal the leak, then open up that cap and check the O-ring it may have came out of its seat. Check to make sure it is not cut or damaged. If it is, the old O-ring might reseal. The other option is take one of the old seals to your local hardware store and match it up. The other step if none of these ideas work is to order a replacement seal. Now you can be reinstalled the cap as described above and check for any leaks.

If you do not see, any leaks set the AQ-4000 up right and leave the water run for about 2-3 minutes until the water runs clear. The water at first may come out cloudy or even have a black color, this is normal. Carbon dust is being cleaned out of the new filter cartridges. I save the water that used to flush out the filter system. Houseplants like the water, or put it on plants out side. To keep track of when it will be time to reinstall your next set of water filters. Write the next replacement date on a piece of tape and put it on the filter. This helps to keep track of time. They should be replaced every 6 months or 500 gallons on your home water filtering system. How to replace a water filter cartridge on your home water filtering system. This article covers how to change both filters on a Aquasana AQ4000 filter system. Some of this information may be helpful with any brand of filter system.
Unpack the replacement filter kit and check the contents. You should have 2 replacement water filter cartridges, A and a B. Two replacement O-rings. If the O-rings are not flat lay them out and see if they will flatten out on their own this may take over night. If this does not work, put a book on them over night. The reason is if the O-rings are bowed from shipping makes then harder to make a good seal.

The first step is to lay your home water filtering system on its side. You can see on the filter caps are labeled A and B. Also arrows that indicate which way to turn to loosen each cap. Turn filter cap A to the right to unscrew or the direction the arrow points. Filter cap B should unscrew to the left or the direction of the arrow. They should only be hand tight. If they are too tight to remove by hand use the handles of a pliers to give you a little extra leverage. Be careful not to do any damage to the inlet or outlet water lines.

Water filter cartridge A will be the most difficult to remove. The seal on the top of the filter holds the cartridge in place. There is not enough room in the filter housing to get a hold of it. I find it easy to use a pair of pliers to get a hold of the filter and twist and pull to it out. Water filter cartridge B will be attached to the filter cap. Simply twist and pull the two apart. I lay the filters at each side of the filter housing. This helps to keep track of which filter is A and B. Remove both o-rings make sure the grove where they sit in is clean.
Now install the two new O-rings. Put a small amount of cooking oil on the exposed area of each O- ring. This helps when installing the filter caps. The oil lets the caps slide easy on the rubber, which will make them seal easier. Installing them dry may let them kink and dislodge resulting in a leak.

Replacement water filter cartridge A is the white one. Install it in the A cartridge housing with the O-ring end in first. Putting some water on the rubber seal makes it slide in easier. Give it a push and turn until it is seated. The B replacement cartridge is the blue one. Install the O-ring end into the filter cap. In the same manner as the other filter. At this point, I check the O-ring to make sure they are still in place. Then go ahead and install the B filter into the B housing. Screw the B cap until it is firmly seated. Now check the other seal and install the A cap until it is firmly seated.

Keep the filter system on its side, turn on the water and activate the diverter valve. Check around the cap threads for any signs of water. If there is a little leak, try tightening the cap a little more. If this does not seal the leak, then open up that cap and check the O-ring it may have came out of its seat. Check to make sure it is not cut or damaged. If it is, the old O-ring might reseal. The other option is take one of the old seals to your local hardware store and match it up. The other step if none of these ideas work is to order a replacement seal. Now you can be reinstalled the cap as described above and check for any leaks.

If you do not see, any leaks set the AQ-4000 up right and leave the water run for about 2-3 minutes until the water runs clear. The water at first may come out cloudy or even have a black color, this is normal. Carbon dust is being cleaned out of the new filter cartridges. I save the water that used to flush out the filter system. Houseplants like the water, or put it on plants out side. To keep track of when it will be time to reinstall your next set of water filters. Write the next replacement date on a piece of tape and put it on the filter. This helps to keep track of time. They should be replaced every 6 months or 500 gallons on your home water filtering system.

Fact #1 - Any Type Water Filter Cartridge Work

The need to filter water for home use is well known and most people are concerned about the local water supply. There are many filtering systems on the market. They remove viruses, chemicals, bacteria, chlorine, microorganisms, and other impurities. Home water filters come in standard sizes and when you check the size of your filter cartridge then you can use any brand that has the correct size. The exact cartridge that your home water filter used when you got it isn't necessary, as long as it is the correct size. But if you feel safer using the exact filter then that is your best choice.

Fact #2 - The Best Kind Of Cartridge

The systems use these types of water filter cartridge(s): surface filters and depth filters. Ceramic filters are considered one of the best to filter bacteria, cysts, and pathogenic agents. Sediment water filter cartridges only remove sediment.

Fact #3 - Replacement Is Very Important

Whichever water treatment system you are using in your home, in order to always insure that you are cleaning your water adequately, replacing the water filter cartridge is very important. Check the manufacturer's instructions and change the cartridge as recommended.

The Bottom Line

Even the #1 rated home water filter will not do you any good if you don't replace the cartridge after the recommended period of time.

When you are ready to buy your replacement water filter cartridge it is a good idea to compare prices of various sellers on the Internet. Even if you are sticking with the name brand of the system you have. You may still find a more economical price for it by researching it. The most important point: is to change the cartridges as often as is recommended in order to get the best performance out of your system.

If you really want to be safe consider an auto ship program where you are mailed a replacement water filter cartridge every few months automatically as recommended by the manufacturer of your water filter.

The homeowner with a clean and pure countertop water filter expects that filter to provide him or her with consistent and dependable removal of all water contaminants. A time-pressed homeowner might seek even more. He or she might choose to have a clean and pure filter that is also a maintenance free countertop water filter.

The maintenance free filter has a carbon granule filter. The owner of a maintenance free filter never needs to worry about changing a cartridge. That can seem like a real advantage. Yet like every benefit, it also comes with one seldom-mentioned downside.

Whenever a clean and pure countertop water filter is also a maintenance free countertop water filter, then the owner of that filter can not enjoy all the benefits that come from advancements in technology. Such a homeowner can not plan to replace his or her cartridge with one that has more F.D.A. approved materials or one with a better-graded pore structure.

The cartridge in a maintenance free filter does have a long life. That is why a number of homeowners have purchased the maintenance free, clean and pure water filter. Those homeowners who plan to make a similar purchase should know what to look for in a clean and pure countertop water filter.

Such a filter should have three important features. First, it should have the ability to carry-out mechanical filtration. Mechanical filtration takes advantage of Fickian diffusion. That diffusion process causes absorption of contaminants, whenever contaminated water passes over and moistens fibers.

A clean and pure filter should also have the ability to perform electrokinetic absorption. The unwanted particles in the water produce an electric field. A filter that can perform electrokinetic absorption makes use of that field. By using that field, the filter aids completion of the absorption process.

A good clean and pure filter should, of course, be equipped to function as the site of physical absorption. When water passes over solid absorbent, particles in the water should adhere to the surface of the absorbent. That is what should take place in a working clean and pure filter.

When the three features described above come together in a clean and pure countertop water filter, then that filter can rival the characteristics of other countertop filters. Those filters allow the homeowner to get clean, great-tasting water. Unlike clean and pure filters, those other filters have activated carbon filters with ion exchange and micron filtration.

When a homeowner does not feel compelled to get a maintenance free countertop water filter, then he or she can hope to bring into his or her home an example of our advancing technology. Then that homeowner can anticipate the chance to introduce into the filter system a cartridge with updated materials.

A homeowner can never know when some unseen particle in the tap water might be causing residents of the home to have unusually dry skin or unexplained GI problems. Introduction into the filter system of a new cartridge might bring an end to those complaints. That fact should stay in the mind of a homeowner who is about to get a clean and pure countertop water filter.

Any countertop water filter made today allows the homeowner to enjoy safe and good-tasting water. Still, the homeowner's safety is not at risk, when an old cartridge must be replaced by a newer and better cartridge.

The homeowner with a clean and pure countertop water filter expects that filter to provide him or her with consistent and dependable removal of all water contaminants. A time-pressed homeowner might seek even more. He or she might choose to have a clean and pure filter that is also a maintenance free countertop water filter.

The maintenance free filter has a carbon granule filter. The owner of a maintenance free filter never needs to worry about changing a cartridge. That can seem like a real advantage. Yet like every benefit, it also comes with one seldom-mentioned downside.

Whenever a clean and pure countertop water filter is also a maintenance free countertop water filter, then the owner of that filter can not enjoy all the benefits that come from advancements in technology. Such a homeowner can not plan to replace his or her cartridge with one that has more F.D.A. approved materials or one with a better-graded pore structure.

The cartridge in a maintenance free filter does have a long life. That is why a number of homeowners have purchased the maintenance free, clean and pure water filter. Those homeowners who plan to make a similar purchase should know what to look for in a clean and pure countertop water filter.

Such a filter should have three important features. First, it should have the ability to carry-out mechanical filtration. Mechanical filtration takes advantage of Fickian diffusion. That diffusion process causes absorption of contaminants, whenever contaminated water passes over and moistens fibers.

A clean and pure filter should also have the ability to perform electrokinetic absorption. The unwanted particles in the water produce an electric field. A filter that can perform electrokinetic absorption makes use of that field. By using that field, the filter aids completion of the absorption process.

A good clean and pure filter should, of course, be equipped to function as the site of physical absorption. When water passes over solid absorbent, particles in the water should adhere to the surface of the absorbent. That is what should take place in a working clean and pure filter.

When the three features described above come together in a clean and pure countertop water filter, then that filter can rival the characteristics of other countertop filters. Those filters allow the homeowner to get clean, great-tasting water. Unlike clean and pure filters, those other filters have activated carbon filters with ion exchange and micron filtration.

When a homeowner does not feel compelled to get a maintenance free countertop water filter, then he or she can hope to bring into his or her home an example of our advancing technology. Then that homeowner can anticipate the chance to introduce into the filter system a cartridge with updated materials.

A homeowner can never know when some unseen particle in the tap water might be causing residents of the home to have unusually dry skin or unexplained GI problems. Introduction into the filter system of a new cartridge might bring an end to those complaints. That fact should stay in the mind of a homeowner who is about to get a clean and pure countertop water filter.

Any countertop water filter made today allows the homeowner to enjoy safe and good-tasting water. Still, the homeowner's safety is not at risk, when an old cartridge must be replaced by a newer and better cartridge.

Let's say you get a shower head water filter. That's great in and of itself, but you can't just attach it and forget about it - not if you want to have healthy water to shower in, anyway. In order for the shower head water filter to work, it needs the help of a water filter cartridge. All of the gunk that the filter takes out of your water has to go somewhere. It stays in the water filter replacement cartridges instead of spreading all throughout the filter.

Easy To Replace

With the best water filters, replacing the cartridges is an easy task. And you don't have to do replace them all of the time. For example, with the best quality shower filters, you only need to replace the water filter cartridges about twice a year. This translates to about every 10,000 gallons of water. You need to check the directions of your particular filter to be sure about when to replace the cartridges.

Some companies even make this easier for you by sending your water filter replacement cartridges automatically to you when you when you need them. This is an added extra service, but it can save you a lot of hassle in the long run. You can order direct from the water filter's manufacturer (if they offer this service) or you can check with any mail order store that sells water filters.

Any kind of quality water filter is going to use removable water filter cartridges as a means of getting the bad stuff in your water out of your water and into the trash. It's not just shower head filters that use cartridges, but many countertop water filters, faucet filters and under the counter water filters. Even many filters for aquariums use a cartridge system.

What's In There?

Depending on the brand and make of your water filter replacement cartridges, your filtering media will be one of several biodegradable materials. You really don't want to open up the actual cartridge and play with the stuff in there, so I'll just give a description of what is inside of a water filter cartridge.

Some cartridges have granulated activated charcoal (GAC) in the mix with other ingredients that we'll look at shortly. You want to avoid plain charcoal filter water filter replacement cartridges. Plain carbon isn't very good at filtering out bacteria. Once bacteria gets in the charcoal, it usually sets up camp and reproduces rapidly.

You'll find that many brand name water filters boast about having carbon-free filters and water filter cartridges. They are filled, instead, with mineral salts, coconut shell, coal and a copper and zinc alloy mixture. They are sold under rather fancy names like Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (usually shorted to KDF or KDF-55). Chlorgon is the name of one of the most popular mineral salt filtration media. Some believe that Chlorgon works best when it's mixed with KDF-55 and not on its own. This is because KDF works best in warm water only.

In conclusion, water filter replacement cartridges are the heart of your water filter. If you want healthy water, you need to pay attention to them.

Water filters are available in a huge and sometimes confusing range of types and prices. The technical terms used are sometimes confusing and before making a major purchase you should satisfy yourself that the water filter has a large enough capacity to handle all your drinking water needs.

Home Water Filters vary from simple jug or bottle filters with a basic charcoal filter up to serious water processing filters that will produce crystal clear water of far higher quality than municipal tap water.

Cost is a major factor of course but there are some outstanding bargains in home water filters.

Remembering your budget, think about how much you spend every week on bottled water. Bottled water comes in either 2 litre or 5 litre plastic bottles and according to which plastic the bottler uses can have a strong taste from the plastic material. Many brands of bottled water are just bottled tap water. Municipal tap water normally contains various chemicals and possibly micro-organisms

The average family drinks from 30 to 40 litres of water every week and that works out at over $1500 a year! That is for basic supermarket bottled water â€" Fancy imported water would double or treble that cost. That would buy a pretty fancy tapwater filter.

Here is a breakdown of the different kinds of water filter available:

Jug type water filters - commonly the Brita is the most popular and is a good choice as it comes with a good filter cartridge. It is possible to use cheaper supermarket cartridges but these often leave an after taste and do not last as long. There is a counter top model which uses the same Brita filter and has a larger reservoir for filtered water/Filters last around 2 months. Most jug type filters are designed to fit into a refrigerator door. Lids on this type of filter are sometimes fragile.
Cartridges are widely available.

Refrigerator Filters - these are plumbed into a refrigerator.This is an easy to use filter that needs to be change every 6 months. Main advantage is that cold drinking water is always available on tap

Under sink water filters. These are plumbed in to your kitchen faucet and provide clean water on tap. They have the disadvantage of not removing micro-organisms. Should be changed every 2 or 3 months, Cost around $30 for new cartridge. Some units have a charcoal and a ceramic cartridge and the charcoal cartridge needs changing regularly. The Ceramic cartridge needs cleaning and can normally be reused.

Multi stage filters. These are usually a multi part filter system which may have three different filters. These are usually pumped systems so they need an electricity supply. First is a sand or gravel filter that removes organic matter (peat etc) next is a charcoal filter which cleans larger particles and is followed by a ceramic filter that filters out many micro-organisms. A refinement to this type of filter is a UV (Ultra Violet) filter that kills microbiological creatures like Giardia and Cryptosporidium which are the two main causes of stomach upsets from the water supply. Multi stage filters are basically similar to the filters used to filter water in aquariums for tropical fish but are on a larger scale. They can also be fitted as under counter units.

A further advanced filter is called the reverse osmosis filter. Although this filter produces excellent quality water, but the process is rather slow and can take a time to process enough for a large family.

Whole House Water filters are much larger but work on the same basis as multi stage water filters. They are correspondingly more expensive and many whole house water systems are designed for different house sizes. These will filter all water coming into your house and can also be incorporated with a rainwater collection system to cut down your water costs and needs. Think about how many bathrooms, toilets and water dependent machines you own (dishwasher, washing machine etc)when making your decision.

Advances in water filtration are always being made but these are the basic categories of water filters currently available

Tag : water filter,pur water filter,water filter system,reverse osmosis water

Now that you have bought a filter for your home or office and hoping that your drinking water problems are over. Then, you started to notice that your water taste funny, again! The filter worked for a while but something begins to happen to the way your drinking and shower water feel. So, what happened if you are still having problems with your water?

Could it be a wrong filter type? If your problem is taste and odor, you should buy a filter that is certified to remove taste and odor. If a filter is certified to reduce chlorine and bacteria and you purchased an iron or lead filter, your water problem may not be resolved. Basically, you should buy a right water filter for the right job.

Could it be your filter cartridge may be clogged? Filter media pores are designed to allow certain amount of flows or a projected number of days or months. When the pores are used up or clogged with contaminants, filter cartridges will no longer filter effectively. Instead, the dirty water and some of the contaminants that adhere to the surface of the filter media may wash into your water, making it unhealthier.

Could it be a wrong replacement filter cartridge? Perhaps you just replaced the filter cartridge and the water does not taste the same as when you bought the filter. Filter cartridges may look similar and if you are trying to cut cost and you buy a filter designed for different brand or model, you may be in for a surprise. The slightest difference in pore size could affect the way your water is filtered.

The solution?. . .

• Test your water before you buy a water filter. Find out what's in it before you decide the type of filtration device that fits your need. You can buy one of these easy-to-use home testing kits that will let you know how bad your water is. You will then be well informed as to the type of water filter that is best for your home.
• Replace your filter cartridge as often as recommended by the manufacturer. Trying to squeeze the last drop out of the filter may not be a good idea. Enjoy your water filter device to the fullest not at the expense of contaminated filtered water.
• Buy the replacement filter model the manufacturer recommends. When you first bought the system, you probably received a manual that gives you a list of replacement units and their model numbers.

Most importantly, you should look for a water filter system that has been independently tested and certified by a third-party organization like the NSF International. NSF routinely test treatment devices to ensure that they can reduce contaminants that are or of concern to you and your family.

The drinking water filter mod is one of those things that should come straight from the factory for all RVs. The way RV holding tanks and plumbing systems are designed and utilized tends to promote bacterial growth if not sanitized on a regular basis. And more importantly, it's not all that uncommon to get a bad batch of water from a seemingly safe water source. In addition to sanitizing your RVs plumbing system frequently, filtering the water before it get's in to your system goes a long way in preventing bad water taste and potentially harmful parasites and bacteria from having their way with your system. The last thing you need when camping is to be enjoying your toilet more than the outdoors.

Using Your Water for Drinking and Cooking

Although there are several approaches to providing clean water for your RVing needs, this mod focuses on drinking and cooking water filtration. Of course, filtering your entire RV water supply system is an option but it is not always necessary. Most water sources are chlorinated and have enough protection to minimize bacterial growth. It just might not taste very good. Again, sanitizing often and not letting your water pipes, water heater, and fresh water tank sit without use will stave off 99% of bacterial growth. Assuming you have decent water to start with, the drinking water filter will provide great taste and protection in a simple to use manner.

Drinking Water Filter Types - Portable and Under-Counter Mount

The simplest approach to modding your RV with a drinking water filter is the countertop style filter. This system uses a standard, replaceable 10-inch filter cartridge and houses it in a plastic canister that sits on your counter. The water is fed to the unit through a tube hooked up to your sink faucet, and includes a spigot to serve the filtered water. This has the advantage of being portable. You can take the filter system with you for use in another RV, or even your home for that matter. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to get great tasting water, then your mod work here is done.

The most arguably popular drinking water filter mod though is the permanent-mount under-sink type, where the filter cartridge is mounted under the sink and the dispenser is mounted to the countertop or sink. The water supply to the dispenser is connected via a tee fitting placed in the cold water supply pipe used by the sink faucet. This makes using the dispenser easier and requires less counter space. And the filter housing is placed in an out of the way location under the sink, in a cabinet, or other convenient spot.

Tools Needed for Permanent Installation

Doing this mod is pretty straightforward, but requires a few tools you might not have handy in your mod tool set. These are a PEX or plastic tubing cutter, and a hole saw. Using a tubing cutter will help ensure there are no burrs on the tubing after cutting, which reduces the chance of a leak at the fittings where the tubing slides in. The hole saw is necessary since the dispenser is secured by a threaded shaft on the bottom of the dispenser, which must go through the sink or countertop, and is secured underneath the sink or countertop using a large washer and nut. Some dispensers only require a 1/2" hole for the threaded shaft so you might not need a hole saw. A 1/2"drill bit will work. Others may need a larger mounting hole so a hole saw is a must.

Beginning the Installation

Once you have the right tools for the job, installation is easy. Start by locating where you want to mount the dispenser. If you plan to mount the dispenser through the countertop, place some masking tape over the area you will be drilling through to help prevent splintering. If you plan to mount the dispenser through a metal sink shoulder, drill slowly if using a hole saw to prevent overheating the bit. After drilling the dispenser mounting hole, place the dispenser mounting shaft through the hole and secure with the supplied hardware.

Finding a Water Source to Tap In To

The next step is to locate a suitable place for the tee fitting in the cold water line going to the sink faucet. The tee fitting taps in to the line and provides the water supply connection for the dispenser. You can tap in to any cold water line but under the sink is the most convenient. Here is where you use your handy dandy PEX tubing cutter. Before cutting, be sure your water pump it switched off and all pressure in the line is relieved. Otherwise you're in for a real mess. Now carefully cut a 1" section out of the cold water line, which will require two cuts. If you have enough room to move the lines away from each other 1", then you may not have to do the second cut.

Installing the Tee Fitting

Water filter kits usually come with all the fittings necessary for a typical installation. This mod uses a plastic tee fitting which slips in between the cut tubing and a brass shutoff valve that serves both to provide the water supply to the dispenser and to turn off the supply if you need to change the filter or winterize. Thread the brass fitting in to the tee fitting using plumbers tape around the threads to prevent leakage.

Fitting the Brass Water Supply Shutoff Valve

Next, the water supply tubing needs to be attached to the brass shutoff valve. Don't worry about the length of the tubing at this point. The idea here is to secure the tubing to the fitting first since doing this requires a couple of end wrenches to secure. You might not have much room to use the wrenches in a tight compartment. The brass fitting is a compression type fitting so you need to slide the compression nut on first, then the small compression ferrel. Insert the tubing in to the fitting and tighten the compression nut fairly tight but not too tight.

Now secure the plastic tee fitting to the cold water line by sliding the round plastic threaded nuts on to each side of the cut tubing, then insert the tee fitting. Secure the nuts to the fitting taking care to not over tighten. You can use pliers to do this but make sure you hold the fitting body securely so you don't damage the water line.

Mounting the Water Filter Cartridge

The next step is to mount the water filter. Find a suitable location near the the tee fitting you just installed. The mod shown in the pictures uses a simple plastic bracket that the filter snaps in to. Secure the bracket and snap the filter in to place. Now you can measure how much tubing you need to go from the dispenser to the filter, and from the filter to the shutoff valve. Measure the distance for each and then add 6". This extra tubing will help with any bends required when routing the tubing. Cut the tubing with the tubing cutter to the appropriate length.

Attaching the tubing is incredibly simple with the type of filter and dispenser used in this mod. All you have to do is insert the tubing in to the ends of the filter and in to the bottom of the dispenser. No compression fittings or special tools are required. The tubing may appear to be loose in the filter and dispenser but try pulling the tubing out. You can't. The fittings hold the tubing in place and water pressure actually prevents the connections from leaking. Just be sure to connect the lines correctly, observing the filter input and output arrows.

Do a Final Leak Check

All that is left is to do now is turn on the water pump and check for leaks. Tighten fittings if necessary but don't overtighten. Let the dispenser run for a minute or two to eliminate charcoal sediment in the new filter. Now enjoy a great tasting glass of water!

Tips

1. Whatever brand filter you choose to buy, be sure it has been certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, or NSF. The NSF tests water filters to make sure that the manufacturer labels are telling the truth about performance. Avoid "generic" filters that have little or no information on the filter housing or packaging. Also avoid buying solely on price. Cheaper doesn't always mean good. Remember the Yugo?

2. Although the drinking water filter in this mod is suitable for drinking and cooking needs, it does nothing for the rest of the water in the system. If you are not one to sanitize your plumbing system often, you should probably use a whole house filter to minimize bacterial growth and ensure safe water for other uses. See the resources below for filters designed for applications like this.

The drinking water filter mod is one of those things that should come straight from the factory for all RVs. The way RV holding tanks and plumbing systems are designed and utilized tends to promote bacterial growth if not sanitized on a regular basis. And more importantly, it's not all that uncommon to get a bad batch of water from a seemingly safe water source. In addition to sanitizing your RVs plumbing system frequently, filtering the water before it get's in to your system goes a long way in preventing bad water taste and potentially harmful parasites and bacteria from having their way with your system. The last thing you need when camping is to be enjoying your toilet more than the outdoors.

Using Your Water for Drinking and Cooking

Although there are several approaches to providing clean water for your RVing needs, this mod focuses on drinking and cooking water filtration. Of course, filtering your entire RV water supply system is an option but it is not always necessary. Most water sources are chlorinated and have enough protection to minimize bacterial growth. It just might not taste very good. Again, sanitizing often and not letting your water pipes, water heater, and fresh water tank sit without use will stave off 99% of bacterial growth. Assuming you have decent water to start with, the drinking water filter will provide great taste and protection in a simple to use manner.

Drinking Water Filter Types - Portable and Under-Counter Mount

The simplest approach to modding your RV with a drinking water filter is the countertop style filter. This system uses a standard, replaceable 10-inch filter cartridge and houses it in a plastic canister that sits on your counter. The water is fed to the unit through a tube hooked up to your sink faucet, and includes a spigot to serve the filtered water. This has the advantage of being portable. You can take the filter system with you for use in another RV, or even your home for that matter. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to get great tasting water, then your mod work here is done.

The most arguably popular drinking water filter mod though is the permanent-mount under-sink type, where the filter cartridge is mounted under the sink and the dispenser is mounted to the countertop or sink. The water supply to the dispenser is connected via a tee fitting placed in the cold water supply pipe used by the sink faucet. This makes using the dispenser easier and requires less counter space. And the filter housing is placed in an out of the way location under the sink, in a cabinet, or other convenient spot.

Tools Needed for Permanent Installation

Doing this mod is pretty straightforward, but requires a few tools you might not have handy in your mod tool set. These are a PEX or plastic tubing cutter, and a hole saw. Using a tubing cutter will help ensure there are no burrs on the tubing after cutting, which reduces the chance of a leak at the fittings where the tubing slides in. The hole saw is necessary since the dispenser is secured by a threaded shaft on the bottom of the dispenser, which must go through the sink or countertop, and is secured underneath the sink or countertop using a large washer and nut. Some dispensers only require a 1/2" hole for the threaded shaft so you might not need a hole saw. A 1/2"drill bit will work. Others may need a larger mounting hole so a hole saw is a must.

Beginning the Installation

Once you have the right tools for the job, installation is easy. Start by locating where you want to mount the dispenser. If you plan to mount the dispenser through the countertop, place some masking tape over the area you will be drilling through to help prevent splintering. If you plan to mount the dispenser through a metal sink shoulder, drill slowly if using a hole saw to prevent overheating the bit. After drilling the dispenser mounting hole, place the dispenser mounting shaft through the hole and secure with the supplied hardware.

Finding a Water Source to Tap In To

The next step is to locate a suitable place for the tee fitting in the cold water line going to the sink faucet. The tee fitting taps in to the line and provides the water supply connection for the dispenser. You can tap in to any cold water line but under the sink is the most convenient. Here is where you use your handy dandy PEX tubing cutter. Before cutting, be sure your water pump it switched off and all pressure in the line is relieved. Otherwise you're in for a real mess. Now carefully cut a 1" section out of the cold water line, which will require two cuts. If you have enough room to move the lines away from each other 1", then you may not have to do the second cut.

Installing the Tee Fitting

Water filter kits usually come with all the fittings necessary for a typical installation. This mod uses a plastic tee fitting which slips in between the cut tubing and a brass shutoff valve that serves both to provide the water supply to the dispenser and to turn off the supply if you need to change the filter or winterize. Thread the brass fitting in to the tee fitting using plumbers tape around the threads to prevent leakage.

Fitting the Brass Water Supply Shutoff Valve

Next, the water supply tubing needs to be attached to the brass shutoff valve. Don't worry about the length of the tubing at this point. The idea here is to secure the tubing to the fitting first since doing this requires a couple of end wrenches to secure. You might not have much room to use the wrenches in a tight compartment. The brass fitting is a compression type fitting so you need to slide the compression nut on first, then the small compression ferrel. Insert the tubing in to the fitting and tighten the compression nut fairly tight but not too tight.

Now secure the plastic tee fitting to the cold water line by sliding the round plastic threaded nuts on to each side of the cut tubing, then insert the tee fitting. Secure the nuts to the fitting taking care to not over tighten. You can use pliers to do this but make sure you hold the fitting body securely so you don't damage the water line.

Mounting the Water Filter Cartridge

The next step is to mount the water filter. Find a suitable location near the the tee fitting you just installed. The mod shown in the pictures uses a simple plastic bracket that the filter snaps in to. Secure the bracket and snap the filter in to place. Now you can measure how much tubing you need to go from the dispenser to the filter, and from the filter to the shutoff valve. Measure the distance for each and then add 6". This extra tubing will help with any bends required when routing the tubing. Cut the tubing with the tubing cutter to the appropriate length.

Attaching the tubing is incredibly simple with the type of filter and dispenser used in this mod. All you have to do is insert the tubing in to the ends of the filter and in to the bottom of the dispenser. No compression fittings or special tools are required. The tubing may appear to be loose in the filter and dispenser but try pulling the tubing out. You can't. The fittings hold the tubing in place and water pressure actually prevents the connections from leaking. Just be sure to connect the lines correctly, observing the filter input and output arrows.

Do a Final Leak Check

All that is left is to do now is turn on the water pump and check for leaks. Tighten fittings if necessary but don't overtighten. Let the dispenser run for a minute or two to eliminate charcoal sediment in the new filter. Now enjoy a great tasting glass of water!

Tips

1. Whatever brand filter you choose to buy, be sure it has been certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, or NSF. The NSF tests water filters to make sure that the manufacturer labels are telling the truth about performance. Avoid "generic" filters that have little or no information on the filter housing or packaging. Also avoid buying solely on price. Cheaper doesn't always mean good. Remember the Yugo?

2. Although the drinking water filter in this mod is suitable for drinking and cooking needs, it does nothing for the rest of the water in the system. If you are not one to sanitize your plumbing system often, you should probably use a whole house filter to minimize bacterial growth and ensure safe water for other uses. See the resources below for filters designed for applications like this.

In order for any water purification device to be called a water filter, it needs to have some sort of barrier. These filters use their barriers to remove contaminants from the water. Not all sources of water contain the same contaminants. Not every filter has the same type of barrier.

Some water filters have a physical barrier, a layer of fine pores. The impure water looses its impurities as it filters through those pores. Sometimes, the cleaning of water requires more than just one simple filter. Sometimes, it calls for the additional use of a filter with either a chemical or a biological barrier.

A good filter leaves important minerals in the water. Minerals add to the benefits derived from drinking clean water. Minerals can also add to the nutritional value of produce, whenever a filtering device is used to clean the water in an irrigation system.

Calcium, potassium and magnesium are minerals found in most natural water. A healthy body can fight-off disease much better, when that body is revitalized with water that contains the above-named minerals. There are several types of filters that guarantee retention of revitalizing minerals.

When a filtration system needs to remove sand and other impurities, it often contains a screen filter. When a filtration system must remove organic matter from water, then that system should have a media filter. A filtration system that purifies urban water normally has rapid sand filters.

Urban dwellers need to realize that the water coming from a rapid sand filter can not be considered "fit to drink." That water must be treated further, if it is going to enter the body of those who will be filling a drinking glass with such filtered water.

The residents of Bangladesh discovered that cloth makes a good filter. Those residents folded a sari a number of times, and then passed water through the many resulting layers of cloth. By using those cloth filters, the residents of Bangladesh reduced the number of pathogens in their water.

A water filter that is designed to transform raw water into potable water typically contains slow sand filter beds. Some contain a cartridge. The discs in that cartridge filter out a large percentage of the impurities in the water.

Regardless of the type of water filter in a filtration system, the filter of interest removes from the water particles that are much smaller than the hole through which the water passes. Aquarium owners rely on the purity of water coming from theirs. Pool owners look forward to a pleasant summer by the pool, because they trust the reliability of good filters.

Both aquarium owners and pool owners know that a good water filter delivers clean, pure water. Homeowners know that a reliable filter puts great-tasting water in each glass that is filled at the appropriate water tap. What is the nature of that filter?

In most cases, it is a filter that contains carbon filters with ion exchange and micron filtration. When gardeners, aquarium owners, pool owners or homeowners choose to use such a filter, then they can know that water from that filter offers proof that the purchaser of that filter has chosen the safest type of water filter.

OK, let's looks at this. How much time and effort did you take to research your water filtration system? Now you're willing to render the entire system useless to save a few bucks on the water filter replacement cartridges? Houston, we've got a problem...

Just so we're on the same page here, we agree it is absolutely necessary to change the water filter replacement cartridges on a regular basis, according to the manufacturer's instructions. With so many pesticides and chlorine in our water it is essential that we change our water filter cartridges periodically, to assure optimum performance.

And, yes, in today's fast paced world water filtration is more important than ever. Clean, pure and healthy water is not a luxury. It's a necessity. Given the number of contaminants found in our water today, we should not forget the importance of water filter replacement cartridges. Water filter cartridges are the backbone of the system and have value that far exceeds the cost of replacement.

Let's not forget, chlorine is put into the water, by water treatment facilities to kill bacteria in the water. The harmful effects of the bacteria are resolved, but that doesn't mean the end result is healthy for us to consume. What we get not only doesn't taste good, it's not healthy for consumption, either.

Water filter replacement cartridges in our in-home systems can remove chlorine, as long as the filters are new and functioning properly. It may be a hard thing to remember, but replacing those water filter cartridges is very important.

Choosing the correct filters is important, too. Without the correct water filter replacement cartridges, our units can leak and the quality of the end product may be compromised. Less costly imitations of the manufacturer's original parts are available at many outlets. But, cheap replacement cartridges are not the place to skimp. The only way to be sure that your water filtration units are doing their job is to buy the original water filter cartridges specifically designed for use with your water filtration system.

Try ordering your replacement filters directly from the manufacturer. That's one way you can often save some money. There is even one program that will send your water filter cartridges out automatically, so that you never have to "try" to remember to replace them.

With your health at stake, do you really want to compromise the water filtration system that you have chosen to install in your home? If the less expensive water filter replacement cartridges do an inferior job, is the minimal savings worth the risk? Unless you're willing to take several water samples and send them to a lab to verify that the less expensive water filter replacement cartridges are actually performing as well as the manufacturer's replacement filters, why risk it?

Some of the less expensive filters are designed to remove the contaminants that are reasonably easy to notice, such as chlorine, so that you think they are doing the job. But, if they do not contain the additional stages necessary to block heavy metals, pesticides and other contaminants, then you're pretty much back where you started - confidently drinking contaminants!

Don't forget, a quality water filter replacement cartridge, maintained in good condition has added, cost savings, benefits, such as protecting your household plumbing from corrosion and enabling you to produce your own "healthy" bottled water.

Frankly, we all want to save money, especially with fuel prices being what they are. It's just that water filter cartridges are too important. It's not like we're trying a store brand of orange juice. The inferior taste is obvious, so we simply don't buy it again. With inexpensive water filter replacement cartridges their performance is not as obvious. If they are not blocking the chemicals and other harmful contaminants readily available in our water, you probably won't know.

Let's face it, high levels of any chemicals harm the body. Good water filter replacement cartridges remove harmful chemicals and protect us from the harmful effects they have on our health and well being. When considering water filter cartridges, keep in mind they are akin to health insurance.

Remember to use water filter replacement cartridges recommended for your system, and replace them in a timely manner or sign up for an automatic ship program, if that's easier for you. It's just the safest thing to do.

So, don't skimp on water filter cartridges, unless of course, shooting yourself is an appealing option...