Sanitizing filter system and method for a residential water filtering system
AssigneeWatts Regulator Co.
InventorsCraig Schmitt, Renato Trovo, Tracie Benefiel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sanitizing filter for sanitizing a residential water filtering system has a water filter assembly including a cartridge operable for removable attachment to the water filter assembly. When the cartridge is attached to the water filter assembly, a water flow passes into the cartridge, mixes with sanitizing media within the cartridge, and passes back into the water filter assembly. The residential water filtering system is then filled and flushed repeatedly and the mixture of water and sanitizing media sanitizes the portions of the system that are downstream from the sanitizing filter.
Claims20
A sanitizing filter for sanitizing a residential water filtering system having a water filter assembly, the sanitizing filter comprising:
- a cartridge operable for removable attachment to the water filter assembly, the cartridge including:
- an annular inlet configured to receive water from the residential filtering system;
- an outer chamber configured to route water from the annular inlet into a lower chamber;
- an inner chamber located between the lower chamber and an upper chamber, the inner chamber configured to route water from the lower chamber into the upper chamber;
- and
- an upper nozzle located central to the annular inlet and configured to pass water from the upper chamber into the residential water filtering system;
- and
- a sanitizing media located within the inner chamber of the cartridge,
- wherein:
- when the cartridge is attached to the water filter assembly, a water flow through the residential water filtering system distributes a mixture of the sanitizing media and the water, sanitizing a portion of the residential water filtering system.
A method of sanitizing a residential water filtering system, the water filtering system operable to facilitate the transfer of water between a water supply and a faucet, comprising:
- draining the residential water filtering system a first time;
- placing a sanitizing filter including sanitizing media within the residential water filtering system such that water flowing between the water supply and faucet passes through the filter and mixes with the sanitizing media;
- filling the residential water filtering system with water from the water supply, an area of the residential water filtering system downstream of the sanitizing filter filling with a mixture of water and sanitizing media;
- allowing the residential water filtering system to remain filled for a first period of time;
- draining the residential water filtering system a second time;
- advancing water from the water supply to the faucet for a second period of time;
- blocking flow through the faucet to fill the residential water filtering system;
- allowing the residential water filtering system to remain filled for a third period of time;
- repeating, at least one time, the steps from draining the residential water filtering system a second time to allowing the residential water filtering system to remain filled for a third period of time;
- and
- removing the sanitizing filter from residential water filtering system.
A method of sanitizing a residential water filtering system, the water filtering system operable to facilitate the transfer of water between a water supply and a faucet, comprising:
- (a) actuating a first valve into a closed position to prevent water from the water supply from entering the water filtering system;
- (b) actuating a second valve into an open position to drain the water filtering system by allowing substantially all of the water within the system to flow out of the faucet;
- (c) actuating the second valve into a closed position to prevent water from leaving the water filtering system through the faucet;
- (d) removing a reverse osmosis filter from a first location within the water filtering system;
- (e) attaching a sanitizing filter at the first location within the water filtering system;
- (f) actuating the first valve into an open position to allow water from the water supply to flow through the sanitizing filter and fill the water filtering system;
- (g) waiting at least 30 seconds after the water filtering system is filled;
- (h) actuating the first valve into the closed position to prevent water from the water supply from entering the water filtering system;
- (i) actuating the second valve into the open position to substantially drain the water filtering system through the faucet;
- (j) actuating the first valve into the open position to allow water to flow between the water supply and faucet for at least 60 seconds;
- (k) actuating the second valve into the closed position to allow the water filtering system to be completely filled by water from the water supply;
- (l) waiting at least 10 minutes after the water filtering system is filled;
- (m) repeating steps (h) through (l) at least 3 times;
- (n) removing the sanitizing filter from the first location;
- (o) attaching the reverse osmosis filter to the first location;
- (p) replacing a first post carbon filter at a second location within the water filtering system with a second post carbon filter at the second location;
- and
- (q) repeating steps (h) through (l).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.