Water filter? or tap water?

[GeordieBrewer]

When I redid the kictchen last year, I got a filter tap installed... one of these tri-pure things... I changed the cartridge today, after 5 months (6 is reccomended) and here's the result



The one on the left is the old filter I've taken out, the right one is the new one.... As you can see, it's coated in crud and stinks of chlorine! Glad I changed it! The water in my area is alright as far as I know, being fed primarily from Kielder.

I always use the filter tap for my liquor, and boiled for 30 mins and treat with 10mgs Gypsum... When brewing is so environmentally friendly I can't justify going out an buying bottled water! (At the end of the day, that's why I installed the filter tap in the first place!

Anyone any thougts on filtering?

Ta,

Martin

[GeordieBrewer]

Hmm. Thanks Chris! Think I'll keep an eye on the filter more frequently I reckon!

The tap only gets used for drinking water, brewing and my coffee maker, so I'm definately alarmed by the colour! Thre's been work by Northumbria water in the area over the past few months, so could well be sand and stuff getting pulled through.

The filter cartridge I'm using, while expensive sounds really good, although I'm not sure of some of the claims.... http://www.freshwaterfilter.com/product ... 000X-25-FR and reckon there's no need to worry about parasites/cryptosporidium when I'm boiling anyway!

[leewink]

Yea, these companies do "ramp" there products well.

Basically, sintered glass or ceramic outer (to trap solids only), coconut carbon and a tad of resin to remove basically bugger all.

Although you may see me posting regards my past marine fish days, its all relevant.

I emailed a "certain" water filter company, a very popular one that can be in jug form

I asked what exactly does it remove, and please pass to a senior technician if needed, my reply ? they remove chlorine, heavy metals (resin part), soften (remove alk), and polish the water (carbon), basically when you boil ya kettle with it, it doesnt scale then, wahoo !! (a big smidge of sarcasm)

My advice, find the cheapest home brand jug type you can, if it says it removes the same go with it.

Filters may filter the physical things, ie sand and muck etc, but that sand and muck contains stuff that that filter wont be able to filter, known as TDS or total dissolved solids, for instance, sand of certain types create and release toxins and sillicates that that filter wont touch, you see my point im sure.

[boingy]

On a slightly cynical note, if I ran company making water filters, and I wanted to make sure my customers replaced the filters regularly, I'd probably arrange for the filter to discolour after a few months use...

[leewink]

If you place an inline TDS readout in the out feed, that'll tell ya enough as for how often you should change them, im sayin' nuffin.

[boingy]

I can't decide whether that post is spam or not but if you are low on funds then the cheapest option is to not use a water filter.

[Yeasty Rob]

The tap only gets used for drinking water, brewing and my coffee maker, so I'm definately alarmed by the colour!

That colour is normal, I wouldn't worry about it.

I worked in places where we had full on industrial filters - to the point that the water was almost 100% pure. We also had a basic distillation unit that worked through boiling and condensing the steam, that colour is very normal for the left over rubbish, and its also a sign that the filter has done its job.

IMO a simple filter is unnecessary, but a purification unit should remove the chlorine and also by-products of the chlorination process - like you say good for drinking water.
Personally I don't bother where I live as the chlorine isn't too strong, but I have previously lived in area's where the smell was very strong in a glass of water and so used one of those britta filter things - obviously too small scale for brewing though.