What do you think? An in-line filter on washing machine

[Inchworm]

Two years have passed (which is the norm), and I have to clean out the screen between washer and cold water in. I know this by the time it takes for a cold water wash to fill the machine.

What if I put an easy to reach, in-line, barrel-type filter on the cold water in line? Kind of like a fuel filter...

Any ideas or experiences that can help me decide if this is smart?

:hi:

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

1. You know all filters get clogged eventually.

Just keep a pair of plyiers on a string or something close to your washer water lines and change the little screen or clean it from time to time, It's just basic maintenance,you know peventive maintenance. There is no way around that.

Although some people would figure slow water flow means buy a new machine! Now you can tell them it's just a clogged filter ,you clean it from time to time. But for some people the thrill of shopping for something new is just too much to resist.

No there is no way around doing the basic maintenance. Disconnect the hose at the facet and the machine inspect/clean and or replace the screen or the hose /hoses what ever is necessary! And sometimes hard deposits bild up in the water supply valves. So when those hoses are disconnected from the facets for inspection,you look around the valves and test the pressure.Of course if the flow is steady the valves are good. nothing wrong with knowing what is what about yer house hold appliances and basic electricty /electronics a little plumbing knowledge and so fourth. Helps to have a good skill saw!

I will admit I have thought about that myself!

Maintenance free means it works untill it don't and when it don't it's done.If that tells you anything.Take yer self cleaning hot water tank fr example,you know some people never read the terms of the warranty.OK so the tank is self cleaning but where does all the sediment go? It goes to the bottom of the tank. That means the tank must be drained every now and again to remove or drain out the sediment at the bottom of the tank. You see basic maitenance.If you don't buy the installer maintenance package which involves yearly draining of the tank and inspection of heating elements and thermostats/pressure so fourth /bas burners if it's gas,than the warranty is void. Or you say you did the maintenance requirements yerself.So how would they know you might say! Well I can tell you it would not take a investigative engineering consultant to figure that out!

Do the maintenance ,save yourself a ton of money,it's just that simple.

[Inchworm]

2. The problem with simple maintanence is...

It is a bear to get out of the cubby hole in the wall it sits in. It is a stacked washer/dryer set.

Hehe, if were as easy as cleaning out what is there I'd do it often. I thought running an easy access hose to filter out the sediment may enable me to do so.

:)

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

3. I know ,just did a roof repair in a laundry room

with stacking washer /dryer same situation. But look ,a good handy dolly makes it a little easier to pull it out far enough to get in there and do it. If it's that much of a pain in the ass than simply change the hoses. You can get the dryer exust hose at the same time,the exust vent too. It all has to be done.And the maintenance aspect of that dryer is a absolute must. And I think you know why.You can wait for water ,but fire sneaks up on you right?
simply do the maintenance.

[Inchworm]

4. Any other opinions?

:hi:

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

5. ok you don't get it!

Try a manufacturer web site go to problems and solutions. Stacking washer and dryer ,let me see,Kenmore, I think GE makes those,Frigidaire whirlpool.
Type in yer problem and yer idea to solve that problem. Than ask if such a item is available through the manufacturer. Than wait to see what what information comes back to you.

I know in condo construction they tend to stick those stacker's in closets in a far corner, or back in a hole.
Whats the real problem aside from it is portioned in a bad place? Is it a closet? Is it moving everything out of the way?

just curious.

[Inchworm]

6. My home has a well

If I turn the cold water on full blast in the tub, it is orange.

The dryer vent is clear. The area surrounding the unit is clear save 1-2 cobwebs in rear.

If I change the screen on cold water in, it gets clogged in a week with sediment.

I understand your thinking that it is simple maintenance not being done, but I am trying to make the needed maintenence less of a pain so it is done as needed.

I live alone. I have no fear doing everything for myself which I do, but I am in a chair. The last time I changed screen (yes, with a handtruck) it took me about 5 hours and totally sucked. For the last year+ I've been accepting the fact that warm = hot and cold = an eternal wash.

I am also a tightwad and figured that if I made a small change to where the sediment is collected I could knock $10-$20 off my bill each month.

So, I wondered if there was a cheap in-line type water filter out there that would serve its purpose of filtering out sediment.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

7. Alright,have you thought about where you would install it?

because the sediment has to collect in the filter therefore the filter must be replaced as per regular maintenance.
Your water tanks for example,the sediment drops down to the bottom of the tank and collects. It stays there untill you drain the tank or change that tank.So what I am asking you is,- where do you think the filter will go on the install?

One area could be the hot and cold valves at the house water lines,where those hoses are hooked up.Another could be at the water tank hot water feed and somewhere accessable in the cold water line or lines.

If yer not getting it ,it's about trying to gather a visual about just what your idea is.
Another thing is, what do other people in your locality,what do they do about that problem?, ,other people who draw water from wells. Do you have oh say a flush valve ?And is that the $20.00 bucks thing?

And some people put a small hole in the screen but I wouldn't recommend that.
The filter needs to be accessable for you ,isn't that really the bottom line? That would seem like yer hoses to the washing machine connect to a accessable filter than from the accessable filter back to your washing maching inlet valves.So yer filter would be at the side of your stackers where you can get to those filters.But you still must cut off the water to change hose flters right? So aside from that you would need two extra hoses.That's if such a filttration item is available on the market. Or perhaps you can engineer that yerself in a inexpensive way or very cheaply.

Otherwise it seems to me you are looking for something to buy you more time between having to deal with your ongoing issues with your water supply.

Again I would ask you what do other people do in your locality about that? You might try calling a local plumbing supply outfit. So if the filter idea cost you say $200.00 it would only take a year fer yer to be in the free zone! 12 months on yer recovery rate. Did you ever see a filtration system on those refrigerators the doubble door type with a ice and water draw on the outside of a door? Those tiny little internal water lines in those refers cannot take the sediment you see, so those filtration systems are pretty elaborate!

Yer tight, ther's a palce to start yer engineering inventiveness,after all isn't it necessity that predicts the outcome.
If cheapness works fer yer than I would say have at it!

Good luck.