Water filter question

[MSHappyCampers]

We have a 1/2 micron carbon-block filter under our sink, both in the MH and house, with a separate faucet that we use for all consumable water. I have read somewhere that the filter should be replaced every 6 months. I usually change it yearly. It's never that dirty when I change it.

Now, my question. It seems to me that a carbon-block filter would continue to stop particles until it clogs up, unlike the granulated carbon filters. If that's true, then why would it need to be changed as long as there is good water flow through it? Is there something I'm not seeing here?

[Old-Biscuit]

Dirty is not the real issue........
Adsorption is (not to be confused with absorption)

Adsorption ----the process by which a solid holds molecules of a gas or liquid or solute as a thin film.
*chlorine film build up

Activated carbon block filters need replacement every 6-12 months depending on usage and the quality of input water.

RV....every 12 months
House...every 6 months


https://rajahfiltertechnics.com/wate...y-you-have-to/

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Dirty is not the real issue........
Adsorption is (not to be confused with absorption)

Adsorption ----the process by which a solid holds molecules of a gas or liquid or solute as a thin film.
*chlorine film build up

Activated carbon block filters need replacement every 6-12 months depending on usage and the quality of input water.

RV....every 12 months
House...every 6 months


https://rajahfiltertechnics.com/wate...y-you-have-to/

But wouldn't you still see a reduction in the flow rate?

[sploke]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Dirty is not the real issue........
Adsorption is (not to be confused with absorption)

Adsorption ----the process by which a solid holds molecules of a gas or liquid or solute as a thin film.
*chlorine film build up

Activated carbon block filters need replacement every 6-12 months depending on usage and the quality of input water.

RV....every 12 months
House...every 6 months


https://rajahfiltertechnics.com/wate...y-you-have-to/

This guy is correct. A carbon filter is not intended to be a particulate filter. Activated carbon pulls soluble compounds out of the water. Really the only way to tell when it's stopped working is if you have smelly water, and the filter gets used up and the smell starts coming through, you know its time. They're generally cheap enough to replace on a schedule and not worry if you've used up every bit of filtering power they have.

Typically if the water source has a lot of suspended solids, you'd want a particulate filter upstream of the carbon filter. If a lot of solid matter gets into the carbon, it WILL clog up the carbon pores, rendering it ineffective.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by sploke

This guy is correct. A carbon filter is not intended to be a particulate filter. Activated carbon pulls soluble compounds out of the water. Really the only way to tell when it's stopped working is if you have smelly water, and the filter gets used up and the smell starts coming through, you know its time. They're generally cheap enough to replace on a schedule and not worry if you've used up every bit of filtering power they have.

Typically if the water source has a lot of suspended solids, you'd want a particulate filter upstream of the carbon filter. If a lot of solid matter gets into the carbon, it WILL clog up the carbon pores, rendering it ineffective.

With the MH I use the Camco in-line filter in the supply hose to stop the bigger stuff!

[sploke]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

But wouldn't you still see a reduction in the flow rate?

If your carbon filter is the only filtration on the water source, it could get clogged with particulate matter, rendering the filter ineffective even though the adsorption capability of the carbon may still be intact.

If you have very low particulate matter and you wait until the carbon filter has reduced throughput, you are very likely LONG past the useful life of the carbon filter.

In water that is relatively free of insoluble particulate matter (e.g. clean and clear), the adsorption capacity of the carbon filter will generally be exhausted far more quickly than it would take to become a flow restriction.

[Dutch Star Don]

Joe....I had that same separate spigot in my Monaco. We found it very handy. We used our Monaco quite often, so I just changed it once a year. Keep in mind that many won't drink anything out of their tank or shore water, so nothing is good enough. In 50 years of RVing, we've never had a water issue, other than some Arizona parks tasted terrible, but was still drinkable. That was primarily at Havasu, Az.

[MSHappyCampers]

Thanks for all your comments! I'll keep changing the filters!