The Garden Hose Filter: A Versatile and Very Useful Tool
The garden hose filter above, mounted on a stand designed by its owner, is used to soften water used for rinsing roof-mounted solar panels. Softening the water prevents streaking and scale build-up on the panels and allows the user to avoid the dangerous and difficult task of climbing onto the roof to hand-clean the panels.
This is only one of many uses of the very versatile garden hose filter. Other common uses are providing clean, good-tasting drinking water for work crews via a garden hose, removing chlorine or chloramine from water used to irrigate organic gardens, providing chemical-free water for fish ponds and aquariums, removing sediment that can stop up irrigation emitters, providing soft water for washing cars, boats, motorcycles, patios, driveways, and, as stated, roof-mounted solar panels.
Cartridge-style garden hose filters come in many sizes. The filter above uses the largest–the 4.5″ X 20″. Other popular sizes accommodate 2.5″ X 9.75″, 2.5″ x 20″, and 4.5″ X 9.75″ cartridges. They can be wall mounted, mounted on a custom-made stand, like the filter above, or simply tossed on the ground. They are durable: dirt and water don’t hurt them.
Garden hose filters come in many styles and varieties. Here’s a double filter in a clear housing. It accepts the popular 9.75″ X 2.75″ cartridges.
Another unique use for a garden hose filter is providing chlorine-free water for chickens via a “chicken nipple.” The standard garden hose filter was adapted to prefilter water on its way to the chicken nipple.
