Sawyer mini storage Q’s

My thoughts (let the arguments ensue):

– If the bag is totally, completely dry inside then cap on or off shouldn't matter.

– I wouldn't store the filter with any water in it, bleached or not. The bleach rinse is a good idea, then afterwards shake the hell out of it, both ends, to remove as much water as possible then let sit out uncapped to air dry as much as possible inside.

I agree with JR and have been doing this method for a year or so.

I did the same thing with the original, normal size, Sawyer filter and had problems. After being stored for a few months it wouldn't allow any water to go through the filter. I had to nurse it back to life with vinegar and hot water. No such problems with the mini.

Easy way to get final drying on the bag is to set it in a sunny window with cap off and top up.

I set the mini on top of an empty gator aid bottle in a sunny window for drying. I assume it dries but who can tell for sure. One poster said he thinks the filter never fully dries. Good reason to leave the diluted bleach in it.

When talking to Sawyer about the squeeze they recommended mixing 1 cap full of bleach per liter of water and gravity filtering the solution through the filter. Flushing the filter with unbleached water would leave you right back where you started from. I agree shaking the filter will greatly speed up drying time. Once the bags are bleached clean I cap them to prevent anything getting in them. Given time to dry I then recap the filter as well.

jimmyb

The hollow tubes (connected to output of filter) don't dry. Maybe if you run aquarium pump through them it will, but there's no reason to.

The space outside of the hollow tubes (connected to input) can be shaken out of most of the water, but won't really dry without aquarium pump.

The outside of the filter will dry, which is probably good.

Sawyer says to store in a cool dry location or store wet. I don't know what they mean by "store wet" – in a plastic bag? in a container of water?

I just backwash with tap water. Tap water has chlorine in it but at lower concentration. I try to avoid nasty chemicals like chlorine (and also boogey men under my bed?)…

After backwashing, I shake the water out of the filter that I can and then store in cool dry location. Backflush before next trip to make sure it works.

Sawyer U
Water Filtration FAQs
+My filter has little to no flow, what should I do?

Sanitation

Before storing your filter, Sawyer recommends sanitizing your filter. This process is simple: Back flush filter. Run a standard bleach solution (fragrance free) through your filter (one cap of bleach per quart of water). Let air dry and then store in a cool, dry place OR store wet and clean before using.

Good info. I just got a mini at the end of the season and have yet to use it. Still in packaging.

I do all of the above except I use distilled water for the back flushing. Our city water is treated river water, though some folks use well water, and they are similar in that both are high in dissolved mineral content. What this means is that a noticeable residue is left when the water dries; in my teapot it is a rather thick crust of calcium, etc. I can extrapolate and assume that the microscopic tubes in the Sawyer filter would soon become compromised and eventually plugged. So, to forestall this I think mineral free distilled water is the way to go in this part of the country. Regardless, distilled water is cheaper than replacing the filter! Happy trails!

Sawyer mentions Calcium as what clogs filters, so that makes since to use distilled water for backflushing before storing if your water is heavily mineralized.

Do you then add a little bleach?

I back-flush the Mini with chlorinated tap water, then with RO or distilled water and then hook the filter up to a cheap $6 Wally-World fish tank air pump forcing air through the filter the normal "FLOW =>" way. This takes a little finagling and a 1/4" lengthwise split in the air line to get it to fit over and hang onto the filter nipple. Leave it on the pump for about 4 days. I sometimes put the outlet up to my ear to listen for water bubble crackles from inside still. Still crackles a little when dry due to the hole size of the filter straws.

Water bags get a shake-up and wash out with hot chlorinated tap water, dumped out and then gets the other air tube of the fish tank air pumps second outlet stuck in it. Bag dries in an hour or two. I leave it uncapped for a day or two more then lightly screw the caps o so they can still deflate, ad put them in storage.

HTH

KJ