| The drinking water filter mod is one of those things | | | | the most convenient. Here is where you use your |
| that should come straight from the factory for all | | | | handy dandy PEX tubing cutter. Before cutting, be |
| RVs. The way RV holding tanks and plumbing | | | | sure your water pump it switched off and all |
| systems are designed and utilized tends to promote | | | | pressure in the line is relieved. Otherwise you're in for |
| bacterial growth if not sanitized on a regular basis. | | | | a real mess. Now carefully cut a 1" section out of the |
| And more importantly, it's not all that uncommon to | | | | cold water line, which will require two cuts. If you |
| get a bad batch of water from a seemingly safe | | | | have enough room to move the lines away from |
| water source. In addition to sanitizing your RVs | | | | each other 1", then you may not have to do the |
| plumbing system frequently, filtering the water | | | | second cut. |
| before it get's in to your system goes a long way in | | | | Installing the Tee Fitting |
| preventing bad water taste and potentially harmful | | | | Water filter kits usually come with all the fittings |
| parasites and bacteria from having their way with | | | | necessary for a typical installation. This mod uses a |
| your system. The last thing you need when camping | | | | plastic tee fitting which slips in between the cut |
| is to be enjoying your toilet more than the outdoors. | | | | tubing and a brass shutoff valve that serves both to |
| Using Your Water for Drinking and Cooking | | | | provide the water supply to the dispenser and to |
| Although there are several approaches to providing | | | | turn off the supply if you need to change the filter |
| clean water for your RVing needs, this mod focuses | | | | or winterize. Thread the brass fitting in to the tee |
| on drinking and cooking water filtration. Of course, | | | | fitting using plumbers tape around the threads to |
| filtering your entire RV water supply system is an | | | | prevent leakage. |
| option but it is not always necessary. Most water | | | | Fitting the Brass Water Supply Shutoff Valve |
| sources are chlorinated and have enough protection | | | | Next, the water supply tubing needs to be attached |
| to minimize bacterial growth. It just might not taste | | | | to the brass shutoff valve. Don't worry about the |
| very good. Again, sanitizing often and not letting your | | | | length of the tubing at this point. The idea here is to |
| water pipes, water heater, and fresh water tank sit | | | | secure the tubing to the fitting first since doing this |
| without use will stave off 99% of bacterial growth. | | | | requires a couple of end wrenches to secure. You |
| Assuming you have decent water to start with, the | | | | might not have much room to use the wrenches in a |
| drinking water filter will provide great taste and | | | | tight compartment. The brass fitting is a compression |
| protection in a simple to use manner. | | | | type fitting so you need to slide the compression nut |
| Drinking Water Filter Types - Portable and | | | | on first, then the small compression ferrel. Insert the |
| Under-Counter Mount | | | | tubing in to the fitting and tighten the compression |
| The simplest approach to modding your RV with a | | | | nut fairly tight but not too tight. |
| drinking water filter is the countertop style filter. This | | | | Now secure the plastic tee fitting to the cold water |
| system uses a standard, replaceable 10-inch filter | | | | line by sliding the round plastic threaded nuts on to |
| cartridge and houses it in a plastic canister that sits | | | | each side of the cut tubing, then insert the tee |
| on your counter. The water is fed to the unit | | | | fitting. Secure the nuts to the fitting taking care to |
| through a tube hooked up to your sink faucet, and | | | | not over tighten. You can use pliers to do this but |
| includes a spigot to serve the filtered water. This has | | | | make sure you hold the fitting body securely so you |
| the advantage of being portable. You can take the | | | | don't damage the water line. |
| filter system with you for use in another RV, or | | | | Mounting the Water Filter Cartridge |
| even your home for that matter. If you are looking | | | | The next step is to mount the water filter. Find a |
| for a quick and easy way to get great tasting water, | | | | suitable location near the the tee fitting you just |
| then your mod work here is done. | | | | installed. The mod shown in the pictures uses a |
| The most arguably popular drinking water filter mod | | | | simple plastic bracket that the filter snaps in to. |
| though is the permanent-mount under-sink type, | | | | Secure the bracket and snap the filter in to place. |
| where the filter cartridge is mounted under the sink | | | | Now you can measure how much tubing you need to |
| and the dispenser is mounted to the countertop or | | | | go from the dispenser to the filter, and from the |
| sink. The water supply to the dispenser is connected | | | | filter to the shutoff valve. Measure the distance for |
| via a tee fitting placed in the cold water supply pipe | | | | each and then add 6". This extra tubing will help with |
| used by the sink faucet. This makes using the | | | | any bends required when routing the tubing. Cut the |
| dispenser easier and requires less counter space. And | | | | tubing with the tubing cutter to the appropriate |
| the filter housing is placed in an out of the way | | | | length. |
| location under the sink, in a cabinet, or other | | | | Attaching the tubing is incredibly simple with the type |
| convenient spot. | | | | of filter and dispenser used in this mod. All you have |
| Tools Needed for Permanent Installation | | | | to do is insert the tubing in to the ends of the filter |
| Doing this mod is pretty straightforward, but requires | | | | and in to the bottom of the dispenser. No |
| a few tools you might not have handy in your mod | | | | compression fittings or special tools are required. The |
| tool set. These are a PEX or plastic tubing cutter, and | | | | tubing may appear to be loose in the filter and |
| a hole saw. Using a tubing cutter will help ensure | | | | dispenser but try pulling the tubing out. You can't. The |
| there are no burrs on the tubing after cutting, which | | | | fittings hold the tubing in place and water pressure |
| reduces the chance of a leak at the fittings where | | | | actually prevents the connections from leaking. Just |
| the tubing slides in. The hole saw is necessary since | | | | be sure to connect the lines correctly, observing the |
| the dispenser is secured by a threaded shaft on the | | | | filter input and output arrows. |
| bottom of the dispenser, which must go through the | | | | Do a Final Leak Check |
| sink or countertop, and is secured underneath the | | | | All that is left is to do now is turn on the water |
| sink or countertop using a large washer and nut. | | | | pump and check for leaks. Tighten fittings if |
| Some dispensers only require a 1/2" hole for the | | | | necessary but don't overtighten. Let the dispenser |
| threaded shaft so you might not need a hole saw. A | | | | run for a minute or two to eliminate charcoal |
| 1/2"drill bit will work. Others may need a larger | | | | sediment in the new filter. Now enjoy a great tasting |
| mounting hole so a hole saw is a must. | | | | glass of water! |
| Beginning the Installation | | | | Tips |
| Once you have the right tools for the job, installation | | | | 1. Whatever brand filter you choose to buy, be sure |
| is easy. Start by locating where you want to mount | | | | it has been certified by the National Sanitation |
| the dispenser. If you plan to mount the dispenser | | | | Foundation, or NSF. The NSF tests water filters to |
| through the countertop, place some masking tape | | | | make sure that the manufacturer labels are telling the |
| over the area you will be drilling through to help | | | | truth about performance. Avoid "generic" filters that |
| prevent splintering. If you plan to mount the | | | | have little or no information on the filter housing or |
| dispenser through a metal sink shoulder, drill slowly if | | | | packaging. Also avoid buying solely on price. Cheaper |
| using a hole saw to prevent overheating the bit. | | | | doesn't always mean good. Remember the Yugo? |
| After drilling the dispenser mounting hole, place the | | | | 2. Although the drinking water filter in this mod is |
| dispenser mounting shaft through the hole and secure | | | | suitable for drinking and cooking needs, it does |
| with the supplied hardware. | | | | nothing for the rest of the water in the system. If |
| Finding a Water Source to Tap In To | | | | you are not one to sanitize your plumbing system |
| The next step is to locate a suitable place for the | | | | often, you should probably use a whole house filter |
| tee fitting in the cold water line going to the sink | | | | to minimize bacterial growth and ensure safe water |
| faucet. The tee fitting taps in to the line and provides | | | | for other uses. See the resources below for filters |
| the water supply connection for the dispenser. You | | | | designed for applications like this. |
| can tap in to any cold water line but under the sink is | | | | |