Wondering what to do with your water filtration crock when you hit the road for vacation?
If you’re leaving for the weekend, we suggest leaving your crock as is. Perhaps top it off before you go so you have filtered water when you return. Anything longer than a couple of days, we recommend doing a little TLC to ensure the best quality water when you return.
The basic idea is that when you’re gone for more than a couple of days, the water in your crock begins to stagnate. You’re not constantly filling and emptying the crock as you would when you’re using it regularly. So you want to get rid of the water before it stagnates. Here’s how to do that:
Prepare a spot to store filters and crock components. Something as simple as a clean tabletop.
Empty the upper reservoir and remove the filters. If you’re not in a rush, we recommend giving your filters a good scrubbing with a scotch brite pad, followed by a rinse. Place the filters on a plate and let them air dry while you are gone. Keep filter nuts and washers on filter nozzle to keep from losing them.
Give the upper reservoir a good washing with warm, soapy water, followed by a thorough rinse. Towel dry. Let air out on a towel, upside down. Place lid on towel as well, upside down.
Give the lower reservoir a good cleaning with warm, soapy water, followed by a thorough rinse. Be sure to open the spigot and run water through, to ensure there is no soap left in the spigot. Towel dry.
Now’s a good time to give the area where you normally keep your crock a good cleaning. Clean tabletop and wipe down stand.
Store crock back on stand as normal, but with upper reservoir and lid off. Keep spigot open.
When you return, dunk your filters upside down in a glass of water for about an hour to saturate the filters and prevent air lock. Then reassemble your crock as normal. Don’t forget to close the spigot! Dump your first batch of filtered water. Then use your crock as normal.