Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:24am

Hi, In the last 14 months I have had to change my Jabsco Aqua filter 6 times due to failure of the cartridge. In each case it has developed a split in the casing usually resulting in 10/15 gallons of water in the bilges! The cartridges are rated upto 60psi my waterpump is only a 30psi so I don't think that this can be at fault.Jabsco have no idea but have sent me some filters foc which is very nice but doesn't cure the problem. Any one have any suggestions please? Thanks John Hooper

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:28pm

Yes - but you are not going to like it! Get rid of the filter, sterilise the tank once a year and empty the tank several times a year so it is totally refilled with chlorinated water. I also occasionally put a full blister pack of Aquatabs into the tank when filling to further sterilise the tank and system but the water tastes a bit for a couple of fills. When did the cartridge split? If its during the winter months I would suspect frost. It is often impossible to drain the filter without stripping it. A number of years ago before privatisation Thames Water sampled a large number of domestic taps and found that on average houses with filters were drinking far far more contaminated water than those without. This was caused by the filter not being changed often enough so if bred bacteria etc. Lastly I think the General Ecology filters have metal bodies. Tony Brooks