Sawyer Filter Backwashing Tips and Tricks
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- This video will show you how to backwash your Sawyer MINI and Squeeze Filter.
The trick to a successful backwashing is to be very forceful with the process. Water will always take the path of least resistance, so in order to full flush out the filter and restore it's flow rate, the backwashing pressure needs to exceed the pressure in which it is used. A successful backwash can restore up to 98.5% of the flow rate.
If your filter is very clogged we'd recommend first soaking it in warm water to loosen up the fibers. If your water source is mineral rich, then we'd even suggest soaking it in vinegar.
Soaking in warm water worked for me after multiple fails with the syringe.
YES! Thanks for talking about the coupling option-I lost my syringe and had no idea how to backwash my filter.
A better way to backwash is get a 2 litre bottle, put a smart water cap on it, or a lucozade sport cap. Put that on the top where you would normally put the syringe, and squeeze, much more pressure to her a good clean
Syringe not needed use a plastic 0.5L (Standard like coca cola) soda bottle it fits perfectly, and works even better. Also more reliable!
It would be nice to see an up close look at which parts attach to which end or attaché to other options. It seems that Sawyer assumes that I know everything about their product. Just my opinion.
I agree. I feel like the product instructions and these videos are glossing over the details. When it comes to something like water filtration that I'm going to be using in remote locations, I'd like to have all the details.
We’ve been asking for that for many many years and they ignore us
Let's say you want to store it because you dont go outdoors yet at the moment. How do you keep it dry after backwashing? Just by squeezing with air and no water? How do you keep it dry for storage?
leave it in an upright position with sufficient ventilation to help in the drying process
Do u have to clean (backwash) after every use?
No you do not need to clean it after every use. We recommend backwashing it when the flow rate starts to diminish or before storage.
Been using the mini for a few months now, maybe every 4-5 gallons the flow rate slows down to the point where you'll want to backwash it
Now have the large end with a Ziploc closure so that we can actually gather water without having to try to coax the water into that tiny little opening on the top
Buenas tardes. Yo tengo 3 años con mi filtro. La garantía me dice que puedo usarlo por 10 años y 567litros por día pero yo solo filtro 20 litros por día. Pero ya esta tapado y no se destapa por más retro limpieza qué le haga, solo gotea pero es algo mínimo. Me dura hasta una noche entera para filtrar 2 litros de agua. Que puedo hacer? Ya se dañó o tiene arreglo?
Thanks!
Last year i bought a micro and on the trip it was fine. Came home, back washed and on the next trip it failed as in i was unable to sqweez anything threw☹️ was not happy. Had to ration the remaining water i had and boiled the stream water which is fine but even after boiling still has bits in.
Not happy
Hey Amil, the same thing happened to me yesterday on trail. I think the filter needs to be "charged" with water before using, which means backwash the filter to fill the filter fibers with water. I did that this morning and the filter is working perfectly. More story with my on-trail solution below.
I haven't needed to use the filter since last year, so I cleaned it when winter started and stored it(the filer is not much use with water that has ice in it during our winters). This spring I just threw the filter in my pack when hiking season started. Big Mistake! Fortunately, the Ranger I was hiking with had a Sawyer and helped me fill my bottle, then I backwashed my filter under pressure from the clean-water bottle and everything worked out fine.
My theory is the fibers are very small, that's the .1 micron pore size that holds out the nasty bugs. Water has to fill those pores, that takes pressure and not all pores fill simultaneously. The water coming out the clean end is water that has made it through the filter fiber pores, when we stop pushing the dirty and clean water remain in the filter separated by the fiber pores. So we are constantly drinking water that is a mix of the last filtration along with the current filtration. We can reason this for ourselves by comparing the weight of a completely dry new or long-stored filter compared to a just used filter, there is a significant difference in weight.
If we clean and dry the filter for winter storage, then in spring/summer hiking we need to recharge the water into the filter under pressure--such as from the syringe operating at their specified 20 psi pressure (or other bottles as shown at ruclips.net/video/0KeLHMUfEtY/видео.html).
CAVEAT: The water in my city (Portland, Oregon) is very low in minerals, there is no added fluoride and the water is treated with chlorine/chloramine for health and safety.Your tap water may be different and could possibly clog or contaminate your filter if used for backwash.
Yeah this information was NOT in my Sawyer pack when I bought the filter/bag/syringe pack (3 years ago now). I just opened it and noticed that none of the instructions mentioned how to USE the backwash syringe. Nice.
Hopefully the instructions accompanying the product have now been Proof read (or maybe my pack was just missing the backwash instructions?)
Question:
I noticed people stating bleach+water are used to clean the filter (if stored for long time, dirty). Could I use 3% Hydrogen peroxide and water mix as the bleach and backwash that through the filter? I just prefer that (and what it breaks down into) rather then using a store bought bleach product.
Thanks in advance.
Nope....there are still no instructions with the packaging. I think watching the videos is more informative anyway.
as of Sept 2022 still no instructions in the package!
Instructions are on the squeeze bag
As stated by previous commenter both sides of the squeeze bag include instructions.. one side is how to use and on the other side is how to backwash it and storage instructions.
To clarify further the push/pull cap mentioned in the instructions is the white cap on the sawyer you see in the video, other than that the instructions are pretty straight forward and clear.
As for the hydrogen peroxide.. take this advice with a grain of salt as I dont work for Sawyer.... But my logic is that it would be fine if not safer than bleach as you said it would be the 3% variation of hydrogen peroxide. I dont know if you should dilute it or not like it advises for the bleach lol.... if you did I'd use the 1:1 ratio for oral debriding because I dont see just a capful of hydrogen peroxide in 32oz of water being as potent/effective as the bleach. Stay hydrated and God bless everyone!
Do Sawyer filters have any sort of expiration date before or after they've been removed from the factory packaging? Like if you opened one up to try it out, cleaned it, then left it in an emergency bag for a few years, is there a risk it'll dry out or expire or break down or anything like that to make it no longer effective or safe?
so long as the filter has not frozen then your filter will still be ready to use.
The problem I run into, either with trapped air or with it needing backflush, is I pull out my filter when I'm out of water. (say, a short hike that turned into an unexpected survival situation). Given I'm already out of clean water, it's inconvenient that you need clean water on hand to get the filter working.
Well, I don't know Mr. Commie Hunter, Sir, but it seems to me that you should pack a filter in a usable condition before heading out. I guess preparedness and maintenance of equipment is something that can be expected only from those nasty left wing idiots with all their "science" and "reason" bs.
Well it doesn’t clog up out of nowhere. You should notice it while using it. When you notice it (by the water source) backwash then, not later when you need water
Thanks For Viods we are here mentioned our Rev Jacob Dolek and Tibetha Nyajany Hoth
hello, does vinegar not damage the plastic or the seals?
@SawyerProducts I've backwashed my Sawyer micro squeeze by attaching it to an outside tap (UK standard pressure is anywhere between 1 and 4 bars).
Have I broken it please?
does it still work..? do you have any way to test for whatever contaminates you think you're filtering out to see if it's filtering them out or not? this is probably a good question, but leaving out way way way too many details to be answered accurately by anyone, even the equipment manufacturer.
Yep, wasn't risking it, it got binned a long time ago!
Does the filter get moldy? If you use it while hiking then back flow clean it are you supposed to dry it out somehow?
It wouldn't get moldy. I just let mine air dry put when I get home. After I clean it. Definitely clean it first. Because letting it dry out with guck, it will be harder to clean. Sawyer makes the best filter, in my opinion.
hey I've read things on you tube about freezing and cracking I know that's not your issue but they do have a point how do you have clean water if you filter cracks from freezing just a thought I would sleep with my filter in my pocket right 98.6 is pretty warm just dry it out
i let one sit for 3 years but want to use it again. Freaked out it may have mold, etc though. Anyone use one after storing it uncleaned that long?
backwash and sanitize it (sawyer.com/backwash)
@@SawyerProducts page not found- are there any storage instructions? flush with vinegar? diluted bleach?
It would be nice if you had shown how to actually attach the syringe to the filter. Kinda the purpose of the video.
It doesn't attach; you have to hold the syringe in place. It isn't too hard, because you have to push pretty hard in that same direction to force the water through the filter in the backward direction.
How often should you backwash?
as more often as you can Rob they say and it works pretty good!
I did store mine for around 3 months and was never used outdoor, and I can see the flow is normal. Is it enough to only clean it with a cleaner plunger or does this count as dirty and need soaking water and so on?
the cleaning plunger should be sufficient but the soaking method will almost always help in restoring the flow rate further.
@@SawyerProducts The flow working normally but I was thinking maybe bacteria or parasites could be there after 3 months of not using it?
@@SawyerProducts I have a similar question, I didn't clean my sawyer mini before storing it last year. With dirty water sitting in it for 9 months is it going to be filled with bacteria? Should I soak in vinegar, or just purchase a new one?
@@sk8neverdiez you can definitely give it a good backwash and sanitation to restore it
Can mini filters grow mold inside? After cleaning the water, is it a good idea to blow out all the water? With the help of a syringe, of course.
My filters never flowed that much, hence me looking it up :o I wonder what I'm doing wrong. And the bottle always collapses when I dip it for water, idk how the bottle didn't in the beginning here :s :o
make sure you dont have any airlocks in the system!
@@SawyerProducts thanks but what's an airlock, sorry? :S :o
@@clevelandexplorer2221 air trapped in the system or tube hindering the flow rate
@@SawyerProducts how do I sort that, please? I've backwashed, of course :s :o there's no air in the bottle either, I squash it to just about overfilling before I put the filter on
@@clevelandexplorer2221 if you do not think you are having any airlocks in the system then we would recommend a thorough and forceful backwash. This should fully wet and open up the filter fibers as much as possible, even if it hasnt had too much water passed through it yet
How do I know that it cannot filter anymore water? Will it stop working like the Lifestraw?
Yes however a successful backwash of a Sawyer filter can restore up to 98.5% of the flow rate so definitely make sure to follow the video instructions to maximize the lifespan of your Sawyer filtration system.
Should we let our filters dry out or should we keep it filled with water for storage?
Fahim Sawyer recommends filling the pouch with water, add 1 cap of bleach (i use half), force some of the bleach water trough the filter, let sit for an hour, empty the pouch and let everything air dry to prevent mold forming.
So i guess storing dry is recommended.
Ps: these instructions are written on the pouch itself.
@@ric84 well to me it sounds like he is asking the same question I am. What I am wondering is the filter itself seems to hold water for long periods of time. Like mine I used and then backwashed. Then it's been 3 days and of I swing the filter really fast water still comes out. Is it supposed to be dry yet?
@@A.M.A.D.E.U.S. 9 months later i can confirm the damn thing never really dries out. Haven't died yet so i guess it's fine if you make sure it has some bleach in it for extended storage.
I'll probably do a proper rinse and maybe the vinegar thing the next time i'm using it tho.
@@A.M.A.D.E.U.S. I have seen some people jerry rigging am aquarium pump to it for drying which supposedly helps. Maybe a thing to keep in mind if you're paranoid about storing it wet.
i bought this thing along with my buddy shelly, lets just say it where the sun dont shine now! (guess) (not the bin 😉)
Can I backwash if I only have access to dirty water?
yes. ideally you can still filter some water through it to backwash it with
Is this considered a reverse osmosis filter?
It is not. It is a 0.1 micron absolute barrier filter.
SawyerProducts would it remove most nutrients out of water?
@@gqkushington @gqkushington it removes pretty much everything except heavy metals, so if your water source has a red-ish look to it you might want to use homemade charcoal filter and then Sawyer. Charcoal filter won't remove all heavy metal but it will reduce it enough for long term use
Why don't you make the syringe so it screws onto the filter. That would make backwashing so much easier
I am UF fiter manufacturer.
00:23 where to buy that syringe thing they used in the video?
Suitable replacements can be found at most medical supply stores and drug stores but official replacements are available here: www.sawyersafetravel.com/sp154
You get a syringe with the sawyer.
@@tonyb9578 👍 Mine came with one.
@@SawyerProducts and in europe? (Netherlands)
@@harmleyten4
Read what they said...
Only problem with this I find it's too slow to filter water and takes ages to get a cup of clean water. I wish it would be faster then this filter would be great.
Go with a Katadyn BeFree filter...flow rate is AMAZING. I just like my Squeeze as it will last longer.
Have you not learned basic filtration? A slow filter will use as much filtration as it possibly can to filter out the water to maximize purification; hence, very clean and clear water.
@@rd._874 I always boil water first and then I know it's safe to drink. I prefer boiling water let it go cold and drink.
Water filters are good and some doesn't take away a virus. I'd rather be safe than sorry. I've drinked water straight from a stream before and I was ok.
@@bushcraftandastronomer.3775 you rarely find a virus in a stream or river.
Backflush before use
Sawyer prace
Tapping the filter against my hand between backwashes releases significantly more debris than backwashing w/o tapping. Undoubtedly, Sawyer knows this and has chosen not to publish - wondering if is there a reason?
please replace those pouches, they are horrible to fill up with water.
Read the hacks, they have good replacements
Blow air into it, give it a squeeze in the middle so it doesn't collapse. Mine fills super easy that way.
I tied Paracord around the lid and suspended it from a tree, the angle is much better than hanging it from the handle. But yeah I agree the pouch or opening should be changed
Well, 20 psi does not sound like a two hundred pound gorilla can go forceful on that.. If the syringe was 1.5 inches in diameter, then 20 psi would require ca. 35 pounds of force on the piston, which I'm pretty sure I can exceed. Also, when backflushing from a water tap, the pressure in the pipes can go up to several bars, easily 50, possibly 100 psi... so what gives?
You don't backflush with tap water. So if you want to ruin it then go ahead.
@@vapensnakes7181 Right, seems I've been misled by some erroneous product descriptions on amazon stating that the faucet adaptor was meant for backflushing too, which I failed to confirm in official Sawyer sources. However, it shouldn't make much difference whether the tap water runs forwards or backwards, so the fact that the faucet adaptor exists implies that the membrane should be capable of withstanding much more than 20 psi.
Btw as long as you don't let the filter dry after the tap water backflush, that is either continue using it straight away or finish the flush with some soft water, I don't see a problem in using trusted-quality tap water for the first stages of cleaning.
@@PetrHosek or better, you can use destilate water.
I’m almost certain I saw on their site or in a different video that it can take up to 40 psi for the filter and 7 psi for the bags. I’ve also seen them say in places that if using tap pressure then some faucets can put out enough to damage the filter when wide open so I wouldn’t risk it or at least don’t go full pressure. I noticed they released a new product now designed for tap use, maybe that is more appropriate
@@PetrHosekBit late but - its not a faucet adaptor. Its designed to go on water bottles, as shown in the video. The idea being that you can use the bottle you store water in anyway to backflush on the trail, and save the space for the syringe.
The voice is so annoying
The backwashing "hypodermic" needle was a brain dead design. Other videos give BETTER alternatives.
Why? Just bought a sawyer
If you are referring to the smart water bottle cap flush...then it's my opinion that is what causes premature death of those filters. It says in the video that forceful backflushing is required. Forceful being the operative word. You cannot get as forceful a backflush with a smart water bottle cwp. Also that first backflush with the new filter is the most important one. If it's not forceful then there will be less than 90% of the filter fibers that will be effectively flushed and this is what constitutes the remaining flush efficiency of the filter.
@@twhite19782012 Sorry for my poor English, does that mean, that it is better to backflush the Sawyer mini, slowly (less forcefull) the first time? Thanks in advance