Water Filter For Washing Machine

[chiangrai]

Hi,

We just got a new twin tub top loading washing machine.

All the neighbours say that their washing machines only last a few years because the local water is dirty and their machines fill up with silt.

I want to buy a water filter for my new machine and I want the best one available.

So the top loader is desinged to be filled with a hose attached to the end

of the tap of the kitchen sink.

The water for the kitchen sink comes from a half inch PVC pipe.

Does anybody know what the best type of filter and where is the best place to put it.

Thanks in advance

[RichCor]

I would suggest getting the washing machine a dedicated water line and installing a multi-stage filter 'kit' that consists of a series of screens and filters.

Coarse large debris screen

Fine small sediment screen

Fine particle filter

Charcoal Filter

Ideally you'd want a kit you could backwash rather than the sealed cartridge system that requires regular replacement

(but it really depends on how bad your water is).

[chiangrai]

Thanks Richcor,

I suppose these are available in HomePro if I explain what I want to use it for.

Any idea of the price range for a good one so I know how to choose what they show me

[RichCor]

Most of the kits you'll find at HomePro will be for drinking water. I doubt they're able to handle the water flow necessary for a washing machine. Though I'm not saying HomePro does't have systems that would.

Ideally before you run off and buy anything you'll first want to identify what type of water issues you may possibly have that might affect the machine, or affect the clothes your washing.

What do you get if you run 4L of water into a bucket?

Rocks? Silt? Mud?

Plant matter? Algae? Iron? Sulfur?
Bacteria?

Rocks, Silt and Mud can probably be handled by installing a large settling tank or simple screen filters.

If the water is discolored, leaves behind a slim or discolored stain or a bad smell then you may want to get the water tested and get a recommendation on how to treat/filter it.

I'm sure there are plenty of people here who have dealt with water issues. Some on city water, others on private wells.

[Crossy]

+1 ^^^ Rich.

1. Identify the problem
2. Source the solution

[GinBoy2]

If you only need to remove the crud, then use a sediment filter, they sell them at Homepro. Smallish blue made by Filtrex. They have four replacement sediment filter cartridges. The filter itself is pretty cheap as I recall, couple of thousand, and the replace cartridges are ~฿300 each or you can buy reusable ones too.

[wayned]

If it's a standard This Twin Tub Machine there's not a lot that silt can clog as it does not circulate any water. The only movable parts in the water supply line is the manual valve that switches the water between the tubs and the drain valve. Both can become clogged but usually by build up from minerals in the water. IMHO the Thai twin tub machines don't last long because of the design. I have a 7 year old Panasonic, 12kg, twin tub and an ancient Daewoo, 7.5kg, The Daewoo runs on and on with no problems, other than rust on the cabinet, but I've put two washer tub transmissions and two spin tub motors into the Panasonic and have to take the drain valve apart on a regular basis to remove coins that have managed to stop the drain from closing. The drain clogging is a design problem, and a wife problem for not checking her pockets for coins. The valve is mounted with the plunger in the horizontal plane so anything gets stuck.

I'm not sure what a water filter would do as far as protecting the machine but would help filtering the water yiou use to protect what you are washing and give you peace of mind!

[lopburi3]

Unless there are cleaning issues would not believe a filter for just washer to be needed or advisable - these units are not that expensive to fix/replace and really doubt clean water will make much of a difference - suspect most damage is probably being done by cheap detergent scum rather than dirty water.

Now if it is hard water both cleaning and scum would likely be a problem - but cost of unit/salts will likely be more than a new washer every few years - so will have to justify with better cleaning.

[chiangrai]

Thanks Guys,

The water looks fine the only problem is that the missus says

she can't wash whites and the neighbours washing machines

clog up after some time.

But the neighbours machines are all autummatic.

So going on your advice it's not really worth putting in a

2000bht filter.

The neighbours use a filter that goes onto the spout of the tap

of the kitchen.They're probably not much good though.

Anyway,I'm not going to do anyrhing major and have peace of mind about the issue.

Thanks again

[lopburi3]

Do you get good lather taking bath? If very hard water you normally would not. As the washer is going to get a lot of water usage do not believe a point of use type filter will be cost effective but larger standing type filters for all of house water might not be that expensive or require much maintenance. This might help with your own cleaning and washing of dish/pans as well as clothing. You would want the internal materials for soft water which is normally a resin material but best to know what the problem is first. For getting stains out wife finds this outstanding (although not cheap do not need to use much).

[GinBoy2]

Apart from the washing machine issue, install a sediment filter anyway.

You'll be amazed/horrified when you replace the filters the amount of crud you were not only washing your clothes in, but showering in, washing dishes with, maybe even cooking with.

[IMHO]

If the water is that bad, surely you want to fix the problem for the whole house, not just the washing machine?

[CindyB]

Clogging can be due to too much detergent added. We had this problem when we had a housekeeper who would put WAAAAAAAAY too much powdered detergent in the tub. Fixed that problem by only providing liquid detergent.

Thanks Guys,

The water looks fine the only problem is that the missus says

she can't wash whites and the neighbours washing machines

clog up after some time.

But the neighbours machines are all autummatic.

So going on your advice it's not really worth putting in a

2000bht filter.

The neighbours use a filter that goes onto the spout of the tap

of the kitchen.They're probably not much good though.

Anyway,I'm not going to do anyrhing major and have peace of mind about the issue.

Thanks again

[Mudcrab]

If the missus/family was washing clothes (and themselves) in the same water as you will now use in the machine.....not a problem.

As said before chuck in some softener or whatever - the girl will work it out.

[soalbundy]

My problem is hard water, i get through a new 35,000 Baht washing machine every 5 years

[lopburi3]

Is the problem scum detergent build up on the tub/pump? We found use of PAO detergent helped for that several decades ago when we had village well water supply.

[soalbundy]

Is the problem scum detergent build up on the tub/pump? We found use of PAO detergent helped for that several decades ago when we had village well water supply.

The problem is chalk or lime scale whatever you call it i have like white stone building up on the rubber parts and clogging up the pipes, even after several repairs the machine just seems to rot away. I can't find any water softener, in Europe the water softener is incorporated in the washing powder,not here apparently.

[bazza40]

If the problem is suspended solids such as silt, a simple filter will be sufficient.

If it is hard water, i.e. high in calcium and magnesium salts, you have two choices:

1/ Buy a water softener cartridge, which replaces the calcium and magnesium ions with sodium.

2/ Only use sulphonate or nonionic surfactants in the washing machine. These are not affected by hard water. Soaps will form insoluble scum with calcium and magnesium in hard water.

As previously posted, if it is difficult to work up a lather with bar soap, it's very likely you have hard water.

[KhunBENQ]

Our washing machines are now 3 to 4 years old with no visible problems.

I use simple sediment filters only (10 inch cartridge, 5 micron filter).

Water is extremly hard (lot of limestone/chalk), but this should be overcome by using the "right" detergent and/or add-ons.

Back in good old Europe the use of special solvents was common practice.

BTW:

Cartridges for simple sediment filters are an example for extreme extortion by the home marts.

Prices of 150 Baht up can be found.

Same brand at online shops about 25 Baht per piece.

10 inch filter housing: 990 Baht at a home mart. 300 Baht at online shops.

Edited February 13, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[Don Aleman]

Having your own machine is a huge waste of time/effort & money as laundries charge as little as 5 baht

a piece nor do you have to pay for water/soap/electric and not have to iron anything !Throw the damn machine away !

[bluejets]

A large percentage of crap comes out of the clothes as well.

Most of the twin tubs mentioned in the original post can be dismantled and cleaned out quite easily.

Simply unclip to access, I've done it many times, usually once a month or so is sufficient.

[GinBoy2]

BTW:

Cartridges for simple sediment filters are an example for extreme extortion by the home marts.

Prices of 150 Baht up can be found.

Same brand at online shops about 25 Baht per piece.

10 inch filter housing: 990 Baht at a home mart. 300 Baht at online shops.

Got any links for online retailers for filter cartridges?

[malt25]

Having your own machine is a huge waste of time/effort & money as laundries charge as little as 5 baht

a piece nor do you have to pay for water/soap/electric and not have to iron anything !Throw the damn machine away !

I guess there's no effort or expense driving 50k to a laundry every second day. Or maybe you get your butler or chauffeur to do for you.

Just sayin..... Mal.

[FNQ]

My problem is hard water, i get through a new 35,000 Baht washing machine every 5 years

You need a "Catalytic water conditioner" I sold thousands in Australia, a compact 10 or 15 mm unit (dependant on flow) will do the job , A good one was from CARE FREE conditioners in Wagga wagga Aust . (Google for info)!

Or make your own from old Copper car radiators.

[KhunBENQ]

Got any links for online retailers for filter cartridges?

Should I have mentioned that they are in Thai language only

(probably you need some help to fill in the adress details)

I did payment in advance by online payment.

Some might hesitate, but for a couple of hundred Baht I take the "risk".

Worked perfect last time when I ordered 20 pcs of 10 inch cartridges.

This type:

PP-1005C PP 10" 2.5" 5 Colandas 22

PP = polypropylene

Lenght 10 inch

Caliber 2.5 inch

5 micron denseness (whats the word?)

Colandas brand

22 Baht each

A standard sediment cartridge which they quote more than a 100 Baht in the local home store (identical product).

A pack of 50 pcs cost 1000 Baht. This is what I will order next time, as I have to pickup the shipment at the post office anyway.

The motorcycle postman does not deliver "big" packages.

I selected shipment by EMS, more than 100 Baht or so.

For such a package one could well do without special shipment?

http://www.duan-daw.com/category/28/%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B3/%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99-sediment

Edited February 14, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[GinBoy2]

Got any links for online retailers for filter cartridges?

Should I have mentioned that they are in Thai language only

(probably you need some help to fill in the adress details)

I did payment in advance by online payment.

Some might hesitate, but for a couple of hundred Baht I take the "risk".

Worked perfect last time when I ordered 20 pcs of 10 inch cartridges.

This type:

PP-1005C PP 10" 2.5" 5 Colandas 22

PP = polypropylene

Lenght 10 inch

Caliber 2.5 inch

5 micron denseness (whats the word?)

Colandas brand

22 Baht each

A standard sediment cartridge which they quote more than a 100 Baht in the local home store (identical product).

A pack of 50 pcs cost 1000 Baht. This is what I will order next time, as I have to pickup the shipment at the post office anyway.

The motorcycle postman does not deliver "big" packages.

I selected shipment by EMS, more than 100 Baht or so.

For such a package one could well do without special shipment?

http://www.duan-daw.com/category/28/%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B3/%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99-sediment

Thanks a bunch for this.

I was thinking of splashing out the cash to buy reusable ones, but disposable's at this price definitely changes that equation

[elliottm]

Does anyone know if this would work on water that goes brown in rainy season?

Am renting so want to avoid big/more permanent fix.

If you only need to remove the crud, then use a sediment filter, they sell them at Homepro. Smallish blue made by Filtrex. They have four replacement sediment filter cartridges. The filter itself is pretty cheap as I recall, couple of thousand, and the replace cartridges are ~฿300 each or you can buy reusable ones too.

[GinBoy2]

Does anyone know if this would work on water that goes brown in rainy season?

Am renting so want to avoid big/more permanent fix.

If you only need to remove the crud, then use a sediment filter, they sell them at Homepro. Smallish blue made by Filtrex. They have four replacement sediment filter cartridges. The filter itself is pretty cheap as I recall, couple of thousand, and the replace cartridges are ~฿300 each or you can buy reusable ones too.

Yup, the brown color is the sediment in the water. And BTW, rainy season or not, Thai water tends to be pretty dirty all year round. When it goes brown, thats just at the extreme. Even if the water looks clean, when you change out the filters they will be dark brown color with all the crud thats been filtered out

You say you're renting, well is a kinda permanent fix, albeit not a too pricey one. You'll just need to cut the incoming supply before your storage tank and insert the filter

[elliottm]

Apologies for my complete naivety, can these be used for any sediment filter with matching size such as the Filtrex recommendation in HomePro in post #6, they can just be attached to the existing water pipe into the washing machine? Thanks!

edit: seems I stumbled across the filter housings, could you make a recommendation for what you use?

http://www.duan-daw.com/category/19/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B3-housing

Got any links for online retailers for filter cartridges?

Should I have mentioned that they are in Thai language only

(probably you need some help to fill in the adress details)

I did payment in advance by online payment.

Some might hesitate, but for a couple of hundred Baht I take the "risk".

Worked perfect last time when I ordered 20 pcs of 10 inch cartridges.

This type:

PP-1005C PP 10" 2.5" 5 Colandas 22

PP = polypropylene

Lenght 10 inch

Caliber 2.5 inch

5 micron denseness (whats the word?)

Colandas brand

22 Baht each

A standard sediment cartridge which they quote more than a 100 Baht in the local home store (identical product).

A pack of 50 pcs cost 1000 Baht. This is what I will order next time, as I have to pickup the shipment at the post office anyway.

The motorcycle postman does not deliver "big" packages.

I selected shipment by EMS, more than 100 Baht or so.

For such a package one could well do without special shipment?

http://www.duan-daw.com/category/28/%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B3/%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99-sediment

Edited February 14, 2015 by elliottm

[elliottm]

Many thanks GinBoy. I have a control tap outside a townhouse and a tap in the 'kitchen' which is immediately split between a mobile sink & washing machine (unsure about storage tank) so hopefully can hook up at least to washing machine pipe but preferably both at the splitter.

Does anyone know if this would work on water that goes brown in rainy season?

Am renting so want to avoid big/more permanent fix.

If you only need to remove the crud, then use a sediment filter, they sell them at Homepro. Smallish blue made by Filtrex. They have four replacement sediment filter cartridges. The filter itself is pretty cheap as I recall, couple of thousand, and the replace cartridges are ~฿300 each or you can buy reusable ones too.

Yup, the brown color is the sediment in the water. And BTW, rainy season or not, Thai water tends to be pretty dirty all year round. When it goes brown, thats just at the extreme. Even if the water looks clean, when you change out the filters they will be dark brown color with all the crud thats been filtered out

You say you're renting, well is a kinda permanent fix, albeit not a too pricey one. You'll just need to cut the incoming supply before your storage tank and insert the filter