My $20 Water Filter...Brew for less $

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LostDogBeer

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Maybe someone will find this interesting...

I've been brewing for about 10 months and have probably done about 6-7 batches. I realized quickly that because my tap water tastes horrible that I would have to buy spring water from the grocery store at about $1 per gallon. Since I'm looking for ways to lower the cost of each batch I've been researching how to build a DIY water filter for brewing. I came across the following ideas:


$ I priced it out at just under $40. This looks awesome but seemed relatively complicated to me.

http://byo.com/stories/item/399-build-your-own-water-filter-projects
This one is about $20 but the filter doesn't exactly remove chlorine - it just "lessens" the chlorine.

I was hoping for a filter that would remove chlorine and sediment. This is what I came up with. After doing a taste test against a few bottles of water it tastes great.

IMG_3308.jpg


Took me 5 minutes to assemble and one trip to Home Depot. Part numbers and instructions in this video:

http://www.4shared.com/video/tveAarXt/20_dollar_water_filter.html?

Let me know what you think or if I missed anything.

Cheers!
 
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How is the flow? How fast can you fill up a 5 gallon bucket? I have one of these in my fridge. Is it any better than that? Could I just sit there and fill up pitchers until the cows come home?
 
Or you can take your Carboy or bucket and have it filled with spring water 5G for $1.25
 
Where are you getting your 5 gallon $1.25 fills?

I would imagine he is talking about one of the machines to refill water at the grocery store. Pretty much all stores have them. Usually is right at .25 a gallon. I was planning on using water from the local store but decided on going with the "If its good enough to drink its good enough to brew" route.
 
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Whatever system you decide on, spend the $20-30 and have a sample analyzed at a lab for you. You will know exactly what your water profile is and can make smart adjustments to it when needed (style specific).
 
BigFloyd said:
Where are you getting your 5 gallon $1.25 fills?

Right outside the grocery store they have the spring water dispensers $0.25 a gallon just like Mike said, I live 3 blocks from a grocery store so I can pick it up right before I brew.
 
Where are you getting your 5 gallon $1.25 fills?

Publix has RO water for $.30/gallon, so $1.50 for 5 gallons.

BTW, I like your water filter. I have been using the Publix RO water, and the water is fine, but it's a little bit of a pain to fill 8-9 gallons, carry it all to the car and then drive back home. I've been looking for a water filter that I can have on hand. I'm considering this design. Thanks for the post.
 
AHA! Had I known of one of those I probably would have bought it. I suppose my is sort of a cobbled-together version of that.
 
Flow is not as fast as a garden hose (obviously) but much, much better than the fridge. I would say it would take about 5 minutes to fill up a 5 gallon carboy if not less time.

Phil
 
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