How long do Carbon Filters last?

[Ian_Edwards]

Or to ask the question another way, how often should I change the carbon filter on the water supply?

The reason for asking, is that I've had an email from a supplier of carbon filters stating that they only last 6 months from 1st use. I'd always assumed that the life of a carbon filter was a function of how much water flowed through the filter, so if it wasn't used, i.e. over the winter, then they didn't deteriorate.

I'm also suspicious that the company is trying to drum up business.

Anyone know the true story, and if they degrade with time, in addition to flow, what's the mechanism?

 

[philmarks]

I thught that drinking water filters were silver chloride?

 

[geem]

I thught that drinking water filters were silver chloride?

Carbon filter remove bad taste. I have always worked on the basis that as long as the water tastes good then the filter is working so leave it as long as it is working

 

[alant]

Or to ask the question another way, how often should I change the carbon filter on the water supply?

The reason for asking, is that I've had an email from a supplier of carbon filters stating that they only last 6 months from 1st use. I'd always assumed that the life of a carbon filter was a function of how much water flowed through the filter, so if it wasn't used, i.e. over the winter, then they didn't deteriorate.

I'm also suspicious that the company is trying to drum up business.

Anyone know the true story, and if they degrade with time, in addition to flow, what's the mechanism?

Maybe bugs?

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Maybe bugs?

yes I would think you want to avoid a build up of bacteria in the water filter.

S.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I renew mine every year as a matter of course - not expensive

 

[Billjratt]

Without wanting to sound too facetious, I don't believe we should be so paranoid about bugs. A few (in reasonable dozes) will keep our own bodily functions on their toes. I'm with the guy who thinks if it tastes OK (and isn't obviously 'running green') it is OK in moderation.
We have a Jabsco aqua filter which I guess is basic carbon, downstream from a "catch all" (which just gets washed) that gets changed once a year or so, and nobody has died yet, You have a sense of taste and smell on top of the knowledge of what is actually there, so drink up and mobilise your inner protection - it could save you when you go outside...

 

[alant]

Without wanting to sound too facetious, I don't believe we should be so paranoid about bugs. A few (in reasonable dozes) will keep our own bodily functions on their toes. I'm with the guy who thinks if it tastes OK (and isn't obviously 'running green') it is OK in moderation.
We have a Jabsco aqua filter which I guess is basic carbon, downstream from a "catch all" (which just gets washed) that gets changed once a year or so, and nobody has died yet, You have a sense of taste and smell on top of the knowledge of what is actually there, so drink up and mobilise your inner protection - it could save you when you go outside...

Hygiene offshore is paramount, last thing you want to do, is dice with any bug.
Yes, you might get away with it, but why take the risk?

 

[JumbleDuck]

The reason for asking, is that I've had an email from a supplier of carbon filters stating that they only last 6 months from 1st use. I'd always assumed that the life of a carbon filter was a function of how much water flowed through the filter, so if it wasn't used, i.e. over the winter, then they didn't deteriorate.

I use a Whale one and change it ever two years. I've never noticed a problem at the end of that time and I suspect I am changing them unnecessarily ... I probably get through about 1000 litres a year.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Without wanting to sound too facetious, I don't believe we should be so paranoid about bugs. A few (in reasonable dozes) will keep our own bodily functions on their toes. I'm with the guy who thinks if it tastes OK (and isn't obviously 'running green') it is OK in moderation.
We have a Jabsco aqua filter which I guess is basic carbon, downstream from a "catch all" (which just gets washed) that gets changed once a year or so, and nobody has died yet, You have a sense of taste and smell on top of the knowledge of what is actually there, so drink up and mobilise your inner protection - it could save you when you go outside...

I have a vetus carbon filter, perhaps you could come and taste that to confirm all's o.k...........






It's from my holding tank!


S.

 

[geem]

Hygiene offshore is paramount, last thing you want to do, is dice with any bug.
Yes, you might get away with it, but why take the risk?

It always amazes me that people are so paranoid about what they assume is clean water. The human nose and taste was developed to decide what was good or bad. If it's bad don't keep drinking it. If you get a upset stomach don't drink it.
Everybody seems to assume that water that come out of the tap at home is treated to oblivion. Most water companies don't treat their water for bugs. The recent episode in Lancashire took the installation of UV treatment to get rid of the bug. Lots of water that comes from reservoirs has little treatment. Fish poo in it. Stop being to clinical and stop worrying about a problem that doesn't exist. The body builds up immunity if you expose it. No exposure means no immunity.

 

[Freebee]

It always amazes me that people are so paranoid about what they assume is clean water. The human nose and taste was developed to decide what was good or bad. If it's bad don't keep drinking it. If you get a upset stomach don't drink it.
Everybody seems to assume that water that come out of the tap at home is treated to oblivion. Most water companies don't treat their water for bugs. The recent episode in Lancashire took the installation of UV treatment to get rid of the bug. Lots of water that comes from reservoirs has little treatment. Fish poo in it. Stop being to clinical and stop worrying about a problem that doesn't exist. The body builds up immunity if you expose it. No exposure means no immunity.

I dont think human noses have had any development at all. we have the basic senses we were born with, but these can be skewed as an example when you have a cold you can lose all sense of taste. hence you may sometimes not be in a position to say what is good or bad, changing filters on a regular basis can only be good!!! and sensible. it can do no harm!!

 

[alant]

LP

It always amazes me that people are so paranoid about what they assume is clean water. The human nose and taste was developed to decide what was good or bad. If it's bad don't keep drinking it. If you get a upset stomach don't drink it.
Everybody seems to assume that water that come out of the tap at home is treated to oblivion. Most water companies don't treat their water for bugs. The recent episode in Lancashire took the installation of UV treatment to get rid of the bug. Lots of water that comes from reservoirs has little treatment. Fish poo in it. Stop being to clinical and stop worrying about a problem that doesn't exist. The body builds up immunity if you expose it. No exposure means no immunity.

At home, take the risk, I have no problem with UK tap water.
Water sitting in a tank, for some time, often from a dodgy source (even UK marina supplies, via a hose kept in a locker & rarely/never cleaned), can be a source of health issues. Sailing offshore, can have enough problems, without needing to sail short handed, because crew are down because of dysentery etc, which then becomes a safety issue very quickly. Day trips from marina to marina, you might get away with it, but offshore, when you can't handle gear because your crew has the squits, is a different situation entirely.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Interesting discussion this.

We have very large water tanks on board for a 33footer but never drink it.

We do have the luxury of a lot of volume inside and we carry many 5 litre bottles for drinking.

To those of you that drink tank water, can I ask do you add any purification to the tank when filling?

S.

 

[Carmel2]

Would a PH pen tell you? They are as cheap as chips.

 

[neilf39]

I have no filters, use aquasol when I fill up the tank, and drink the water from the tap. Get through a couple of tanks a year so water is in there a while. Empty the tank at the end of the season and flush it with Puriclean at the start of the next. No issues so far.

 

[xeitosaphil]

Interesting discussion this.

We have very large water tanks on board for a 33footer but never drink it.

We do have the luxury of a lot of volume inside and we carry many 5 litre bottles for drinking.

To those of you that drink tank water, can I ask do you add any purification to the tank when filling?

S.

I drink the water from my 60ltr white plastic tank which I drain and clean each winter and sterilise with Milton tablets. First fill adding Milton tablets so they dissolve well, then I leave over night, then drain empty and flush, before re filling.
Lovely clean taste free water all through the summer, if you had large tanks and you find the need to, you could always add a tablet or two when filling, but I have never found the need to do so, as the tank is so small.

I do have a filter but it's only for sediment, not for purification. The retail tablets available I find leave a horrible taste to the water.

Only UK based, but never had any bad tastes or dickey tummies todate, but always run off loads of water first when filling from a hose.

Philip

 

[Hydrozoan]

... Most water companies don't treat their water for bugs. ...

That is simply wrong, if by “bugs” you mean (as most people do in this context) pathogenic microrganisms. The Drinking Water Inspectorate's “Drinking Water Safety” (http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/stakeholders/information-letters/2009/09_2009annex.pdf) says that: "Water companies are required to have adequate water treatment in place, informed by a regulatory, raw water monitoring programme. They must disinfect all water before supplying it and, where necessary, subject the water to sufficient preliminary treatment to prepare it for disinfection.” [My bold.]

I also refer you to the work of Dr John Snow (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Snow_(physician)). By plotting the locations of victims of cholera on a map of Soho during an outbreak there in 1864, Snow demonstrated that the disease was spread by contaminated drinking water, rather than by air as was then widely believed. The cases were clustered around the Broad Street pump, and in his words “In consequence of what I said, the handle of the pump was removed …”.

In relation to your views about smell, taste and immunity, the following words of Snow’s are particularly relevant: “... There were only ten deaths in houses situated decidedly nearer to another street-pump. In five of these cases the families of the deceased persons informed me that they always sent to the pump in Broad Street, as they preferred the water to that of the pumps which were nearer. In three other cases, the deceased were children who went to school near the pump in Broad Street...”. [My bold.]

I could have chosen many other ways to respond to your points, but I hope that you (and others) will find the story of John Snow interesting and informative. He was pioneer of anaesthetics as well as of epidemiology, and for those wishing to know more about this remarkable man there is also the website of the John Snow Society: http://www.johnsnowsociety.org/.

 

[Trundlebug]

Interesting discussion this.

We have very large water tanks on board for a 33footer but never drink it.

We do have the luxury of a lot of volume inside and we carry many 5 litre bottles for drinking.

To those of you that drink tank water, can I ask do you add any purification to the tank when filling?

S.

We drink the tank water, provided it's reasonably fresh (no older than a week or two).
Stainless tank, cleaned & inspected occasionally, milton sterilised every year, and carbon filter as per the OP. I therefore don't see a big risk. In fact, because the water is kept in the dark it's probably a lot safer than drinking out of 5 litre clear bottles.

Hygiene offshore is paramount, last thing you want to do, is dice with any bug.
Yes, you might get away with it, but why take the risk?

No offence, but you don't work in the insurance industry do you?
Preying on people's fears rather than applying genuine reasoning or risk assessment.

You sound remarkably like the car salesman who tried to sell us insurance for the keys / remote on a new car.
" whoooo, what would you do if you lost your keys? Replacements cost up to £300 these days and you wouldn't want that to happen would you? Just £15 a month could give you peace of mind to protect you from that cost"

 

[JumbleDuck]

To those of you that drink tank water, can I ask do you add any purification to the tank when filling?

I never have, and not a sniff of a problem yet. If the tank has not been used for a while I give it a dose of puriclean and several rinses. However, I sail on the West Coast of Scotland where tap water is safe and where the weather does not generally encourage wee bugs to grow.