How to Store Your Water Filter Between Trips

Most filter deaths happen in the closet, not on the trail. Follow these storage rules to clean, dry, and protect your filter so it lasts for years.

Clean before you store

Backflush or clean the filter per the manufacturer's instructions before putting it away. Storing a filter with sediment and organic matter inside invites biofilm growth that can permanently clog the membrane.

Dry it thoroughly — with one exception

Let the filter air-dry completely before long-term storage, with caps off, in a ventilated spot out of direct sun. Some manufacturers instead recommend storing certain membranes wet with a mild disinfectant solution — check your manual, because the right answer is model-specific.

Never let a wet filter freeze

Water expands as it freezes, and ice inside a hollow-fiber membrane can crack the fibers invisibly. A freeze-damaged filter can look and flow normally while letting pathogens through. If a filter may have frozen while wet, the conservative advice is to replace it. Store filters indoors over winter, not in a garage or car.

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