Water Filter - Empty It After Brew Day?

[roach]

I now have a water filter attached to my brewstand which has a extruded carbon block nominal 0.5 micron cartridge. My question is after I have finished a brew day should I leave the filter full of water(as what happens with an under kitchen sink unit) or should I empty it and leave it to dry out, so as not to attract bacteria during the break until the next brew day?.

There was some recent discussion on brewboard about this but seems to be mixed views. What is the collective wisdom of AHBrs?

 

[PistolPatch]

Most water filter instructions advise running about 5 litres of water through the filter if it has been unused for two days.

I think that emptying the filter at each brew day will be extremely likely to cause you problems as you are exposing both sides of the cartridge to possible contamination.

If you were really worried, I would leave the cartridge in a no-rinse solution until the next brew day rather than drying it out etc, each time. Once again I still think this is overkill and may actually create more problems than doing nothing.

I think water filters are probably one of the few (probably only) things in brewing that require no work!

 

[Ross]

I now have a water filter attached to my brewstand which has a extruded carbon block nominal 0.5 micron cartridge. My question is after I have finished a brew day should I leave the filter full of water(as what happens with an under kitchen sink unit) or should I empty it and leave it to dry out, so as not to attract bacteria during the break until the next brew day?.

There was some recent discussion on brewboard about this but seems to be mixed views. What is the collective wisdom of AHBrs?

[post="112463"][/post]​

As you're boiling everything that's been through it, I wouldn't be concerned...

Cheers Ross

 

[roach]

Thanks PistolPatch and Ross. Just was concerned something will grow in there between brews - eg algae. Although that would need light to develop.

Will leave it full and do nothing.

 

[warrenlw63]

Likely to be flamed here. h34r:

I empty my filter out, put the cartridge in a plastic container and chuck it in the freezer. Night before brewday I take the cartridge out of the freezer and run a couple of litres of water through it.

Cartridge has Done 6 Brews. (About 300 litres of water) without any detrimental effects.

Warren -

 

[roach]

Cheers Warren. I read the frozen method on Brewboard also.

Will give it a go leaving in situ, as I would rather not add another step to the brew day unless i have to. Plus SWMBO wouldnt be impressed with a cartridge taking up the frozen peas and corn(no offence P&K) space.

 

[Thunderlips]

I take the cartridge out of the freezer and run a couple of litres of water through it.

[post="112472"][/post]​

I was always under the impression that putting a filter in the freezer was not a good idea.
I can't exactly remember why now but I'm sure I read about it somewhere

 

[warrenlw63]

Not sure one way or another Thunderlips. I've heard similar things. That said I've heard contradictory statements too. May have been on Brewboard like Roach.

Filter seems to fine. As I said, I've put about 300 litres of water through it so far. Worst case scenario if something goes wrong with it I'm down $20. :lol:

Warren -

 

[wessmith]

It is not recommended to leave any filter idle for long periods of time (like a week) Water is full of all sorts of bacteria that can rapidly spawn in warm still conditions especially if you have removed the chlorine. If your filter is a single cartidge setup and especially the extruded carbon type, you will already have a small buildup of trapped bacteria. Better to empty and dry out.

It is also better to have a 1 polyspun pre-filter to keep the nasties out the more expensive carbon filter although then you need to empty both. A much better idea is to spend a bit more up front and get a good 3 cartridge system that can also feed filtered water to your kitchen sink. Then every time you boil the kettle, get a glass of water or start cooking , you will be running water through the filters. I have had this system operating for nearly 10 years now and only change the pre-filter and carbon filter annually. The third cartridge is a ceramic 0.5 and sits between the pre-filter and carbon filter.

Wes

 

[roach]

Wes,
Thanks for the informative post. Intuitively I was concerned re bacteria growing whilst idle. Given I already have forked out for a single cartridge system, and carbon block filter, will make the most of it, and drain and dry it out. Hopefully with Adel metro tapwater h34r: going in there wont be too much sediment to block the carbon filter.

cheer
roach

 

[Darren]

Roach,
Wes is right. Store it cool too. Think of the smell of a wet sponge left on the sink or wet clothes in the laundry basket.

cheers
Darren

 

[roach]

Thanks Darren. After the triple brew day today, I might up end up doing as Warren suggested - drain it and chuck it in the freezer.

 

[Pumpy]

Roach ,

I have fitted two John Guest taps on the in and out of the porous plastic and the carbon filter so the water does not drain out and the filters dry out

The manual recommends you rinse them with 5 litres of water prior to use after a long period of not being used

Pumpy

 

[roach]

Nice JG fittings Pumpy. I have just put on 3/4 BSP hose adaptor fopr normal hose fittings. As predicted there seems to be opposing views on the matter. The Wet Camp and the Dry Camp. mmmmm....

 

[Pumpy]

Roach ,

These filters are basically undersink drinking water filters, I have never heard of someone goes on holiday for a couple of weeks empty the things, when they re turn they will be lucky if they give the a litre of rinsing .

And a Ross says it gets a boiling anyway not for a few mins but for 90 mins .

I cant comment on the freezing method , but warren has some pretty clever ideas .

Pumpy

 

[Darren]

Pumpy,
Most undersink filters are just that. Stored under the sink. Probably the coolest place in the house.
At Adelaide temps at the moment a cartridge full of water sitting in the shed or on the back porch will go off for sure.
Also, I reckon that water sitting in a cartridge for weeks whilst people are away on holidays will taste funny.
It isn't a matter of getting sick from the bugs inside, it is the taste of the bugs boiled or not. "Wet rag" beer anyone?

cheers
Darren

 

[roach]

Yes I figured that too Pumpy. A few times a year I go camping with the family for a few weeks on end and have the undersink filter in the kitchen at home. Upon returning we dont let the tap run at all b4 filling the glass. mmmmmmmmmmmmm...........must get back to the 2nd sparge for the day

 

[Pumpy]

Point taken Darren ,

SA water I understand is 'Brackish' I thought that meant it was excessively salty you would know better than I what grows best in your water :blink:

Pumpy

 

[Darren]

Roach,
I wouldn't freeze it. In the fridge is probably best. Ice crystals could damage the membrane. Water would still pass through it but it wouldn't be filtering.
At work we store all columns and the like at 4 degrees C.

cheers
Darren

 

[vlbaby]

roach,
I dont have a carbon filter setup myself ( so take this advice with extreme caution) , but i imagine that what the guys are saying is true seeing that if i leave the esky in storage when its had not been completely dried ( even tho it has been washed), it will stink after a week or so due to bacteria growth.
I think the pumpy method or the warren method would both work equally well, but i would tend towards pumpys idea because i wouldnt like to risk having the remaining water inside the filter freezing and causing the carbon block to crack through expansion.

my 2c from the backyard scientist

VL.