The way things are going these days you really don't know what they are putting in the lakes and being able to test it so it will be safe to drink and cook with, thank you for another informative video, Thank You Rick and Linda have a wonderful weekend especially if you are out on the road traveling thanks. 🇺🇲🤠🙏🇺🇲
Thank you for sharing, very interesting information. Have a great day and may God bless you all. Hope we run across you one day in our travels. We enjoy your videos.
Thank you Principle Rick yo give us an updated report card on these popular camping gadgets. We just bought the membrane solution for the upcoming trip. Good to know it pass your test. Thanks so much for your great work
Understand it's a bit pricy, but maybe someone with a grayl purifier would let you test the water. Appreciate all your efforts! You really opened up my eyes!
TOC is just a measure of carbon compounds (organic) in water. Plants break down and put TOC into water. This is normal. If you want to know bacteria, you can send off samples, after treatment to a lab. You can test for E.Coli and/or Total Coliforms (indicative of animal/human waste) or others. RO is obviously the way to go. I have the same Itehil unit you have. TOC is about as sensitive as drinking the water to test it!
I think it's a good indicator that the water may be unsafe. The tester manufacturer states that "If the water tests " yellow" you should find a way to filter the water".
@@gonagain The safety of drinking water is defined by how the water is treated when no testing is done on the actual water (TOC is not considered testing). Treatment is filtration and disinfection. Or ultrafiltration may be used to remove bacteria and giardia. Viruses may also be removed by treatment. You may want to check the State of Federal Safe Drinking Water Act regs. Groundwater is typically safe unless it comes from surface waters that are close by. Otherwise the subsurface rocks filter. Just an FYI.
Great job with the test RIck. (I noticed Linda supervising at 15:15 so she obviously gets some credit. 1% maybe? Just kidding Linda. I know you're reading this!) I was surprised how sensitive and accurate this little device is; so much so, I ordered one just a few minutes ago. Knowing the quality of our water is just so important. Thank you again.
I was so impressed with all of the information you’ve provided, that I too used your link and purchased a tester. Im leaving for my cross-country camping trip in 8 days. But after ordering the tester, I won’t leave on my trip until after I receive it. Thank you for the discount!😊
Great video! Thanks for sharing all your information and for doing all the leg work. Much appreciated! Happy trails to you & Linda, God bless, be safe out there. 👍🌞
You have to remember nearly all the simple hiking water filters all say they DO NOT remove chemicals, just bacteria, some also remove some viruses. Boiling your water will make it safe to drink but will not remove chemicals.
That was my thought, as well. Further, it depends on the water source, as to how much I worry about what else may be in the water. Potable spring water can have healthy (beneficial) minerals. That's why we normally do not drink distilled water - the minerals have been removed. The closest river near me is quite likely to have good minerals along with all sorts of unsafe containments, as well. There's a waste treatment plant, upstream. Most of those plants only remove/destroy microorganisms, some of which can make us ill. While I could be wrong, suspect this tester doesn't (can't) tell "good" minerals and such from those we should avoid at all costs.
Thank you! This is very important information. I had never seen the tester, I'm going to ask the Finance Minister to let me get one. I have no idea what the water is like here, but I do use a canister filter on our faucets. I'm seriously considering RO filtration, at least we'll know we're safe. All the best to you and Linda.
We don't have a water filter, but Jessie has mentioned more than once that we should get one. We don't drink out of streams etc while traveling, hiking. But it might be nice to have one for a just in case.
Just sat for an hour and tried to order one after watching your awesome video. However they keep denying my bank card. Maybe because my az ups box is different from my CA home address. Not sure. It said to contact them. So I found out they don’t have a phone number and so I’ll have to wait several days before they email me back. It’s something I really need. Thanks so much for your videos. I learn so much! ❤❤❤❤
Got the testers in today. Neat units. The instructions are lacking though. I had no idea how to use it. Finally had to watch the video to see the probes and where the batteries are. When I was testing water out of my refrig water dispenser, a black screen keeps coming up that says "Calibration, yes, no, Short push select short push M exit". I put it in the distilled water, works perfect, the same for water out of the tap and water out of a jar in the refrig. I recalibrated it in distilled water, same results. Always that message from the water out of the refrig spigot.
@@gonagain I have three of them and I'm working with Kactoily to find the problem. I think there is a bug in their programming that defaults to the calibrate screen when something in the water is different. I have checked all three and they do the same thing. I calibrate with distilled water then check. The unit says 100%. I then check them in water from my faucet and they all say 91-92%. Then I stick them in a glass of water from the refrigerator and all three show the black screen that says: "Calibration, yes, no, Short push select short push M to exit" The water is 56 degs.
I have planned 2 complete and independent filter systems. 6 Stage systems that both include UV light. One system is in front of the storage tank and one used for my hour shower. If there is water inboard of Taj-Ma-Haul, it has been purified.
Really enjoyed the information in this review! I use my homemade Berkey everyday at home. Love it. I always check your playlist before I add anything to my gear. Appreciate your quality reviews and recommendations. 🐾🙏🏻✌🏻🤙🏻
Excellent! I was waiting for this to come out. Sure wish they had these when I used to over-chlorinate my cistern up at my cabin just to make sure it was safe. I just now bought 3 of these. Two extra for my girls.
Thanks so much - Wow, the amount of time and effort you provided for these field tests. I want to get your tester device. I want to test it on my Grayl. Highly touted, but I gotta stand on it to press through the filter and get a glass of water - so it better be good. Also test my Berkey with old Berkey filters. The Berkey filters are old, but they've never had anything other than clear tap water going through them. I don't backpack anymore (my knee), but I have the Sawyers in my emergency and 'Go'-bag...., maybe I'll look for something better. It's not much more to just insure I include my Grayl
Good morning Rick, Great video, very informative. Thanks for sharing this with us. I love your jacket, nice big pockets! Question on the water tester: Do you have to sanitize the tester after each test so there is no residual chemicals or bacteria left on it from the previous test? Have a great weekend. JT
What bobdoherty just said. I'll say it again: Thanks Rick! What's funny is that I ordered this Kactoily water quality analyzer before I witnessed your presentation of your results... and to my surprise and good fortune (for having one already) at having the Itehil ready to go. Pie! at the very least! is on me!
That was a lot of useful info. Many of those filters did pretty decent, right? So as hiking filters most of the tested filters did okay. I did wonder, if camping, what a small boil would do after being filtered or instead of being filtered. With the handy meter not hard to know what we're up against!!
I use my tester from my coffee business which has all of those capabilities along with ph. TOC ability doesn’t actually indicate bacteria or virus presence because in that reading are components larger than those. I’d be surprised if it differentiates bacteria and viral agents. Make sure it has a separate indication for particles of that size specifically. Otherwise it is showing you all particulates, like mine. But at least you know it is possible OCs are present.
Oddly enough, I use this lab meter to first check the purity of the water I'm using to brew coffee with, each batch. But also and I was first in the industry to use it for this next purpose, calibrate coffee strength! I created a profile for each coffee batch I roasted to the specific value that represented that coffee and the brewing method used. Especially useful when making Cold Toddy (R) because that is a coffee syrup that you add water after brewing to get back to coffee and without some sort of way to measure the strength of that reconstituted coffee, it was always hit or miss. The whole Goldy Locks thing, too weak, too strong or just right... I've made it how long without jumping into a coffee session, a record I think - hahahahahahahaha
Thanks Rick for another great review but you’re not very good for my bank account. 😂. We bought the Oupes power station from your last review and really like it and now we’re going to get this water tester too. I think I’ll even get one for our son for Christmas. Happy Mother’s Day to Linda 🌺
Continuing, what probes, I don’t see any? Then noticed junction line of cap on tester’s end. Subsequently after pulling off said cap and re-calibrating, tester works fine (aquarium water no longer 100%).
Good video Rick, remembering back to army days they issued tablets to put in your canteen or water bottle if you were to fill it from a creek, probably bleach of some sort, at home we also have an under the sink RO filter. Boiling is probably the best for bacteria 180F. Up here in Canada where most lakes have beavers, you can get a parasite that causes "beaver fever" and this is not a pun, google it.
Rick, I tried to order the water tester and my order didn't go through. I sent them a message. PLEASE test water storage containers. I need to store some water in my home as a "prep", but I don't know which containers will leech microplastics into the water. I don't think it's very practical to store a good amount of water in glass! I'll be using the tester to test various containers for microplastics.
Great video Rick! Question, did you happen to test the same water after boiling it? We're always told to boil questionable water before drinking it and I was wondering how much safer it is after boiling. Thanks for the info and the discount! Howzit Linda! 🤙
I didn't try a boil test, but I'm sure that the hiking filters removed any harmful bacteria and what was left was the Total Desolved Solids, or chemicals in the water.
Interesting video. I stopped halfway thru and ordered the water tester from your link. It automatically added the discount and didn't charge tax or shipping, at least not yet. I carry bottled water from water stations when I travel and at home. I live in Illinois in a farming / college town, so the tap water will be interesting to test. I'm glad to see an update on the ITEHIL water filter, that's next on my list. Any life span on the filters ? And it's currently priced at $249.00, the lowest I've seen in awhile. Thanks.
Device is a great idea. However, "who makes sure it is properly calibrated?" No science papers, no UL listing, how do we know it is showing correlated date that has proven it effective by anyone but the company that made it?
I think you will find all these issues exactly the same amongst all the low dollar water testers. It's kind of like the treadwear number they put on tires to help you figure how long they will last That number is determined by the people who make the tires, not by people who test them. I dug into this topic of water testing apparatus myself, and could not find any of the cheap units to have any sort of verified performance. It is literally why even municipalities send samples off to the lab, because it takes more than something you're going to buy off Amazon to give you accurate information in this regard.
That's why I tested it against known pure sources, like the bottled water and my two sources of RO water and tap water. It's a good indicator of water that is unsafe to drink without being properly filtered.
@gonagain actually, what you did was demonstrate its use on different sources. In order to test it you have to compare it to a known accurate tester for comparison, otherwise you really can't be sure of the results. In order to know if the electronic results are true, most testers require calibration Solutions, this one does not, only distilled water. What I'm getting at is that this device probably sort of works okay. Unfortunately the only scientific proof we have of that is whatever the device tells us. There is no independent professional verification other than from the people who make it. And they make no claims otherwise, they have no references backing up their product accuracy or reliability. Bottom line is.... does it work? Maybe Are you going to be certain about its accuracy? Nope, at least not yet.
Long ago we had a tabletop water distiller that made a gallon at a time. It eventually built up so much mineral deposit crust that it was impossible to get it clean. Now I drink our shallow well water, tested long ago, but not recently…..My wife drinks bottled water although I tease her about how many parts per million she would test for plastic.
Rick/ Linda- a year or so ago, we bought the Itehil RO system (with your excellent discount code). Have you found it necessary to replace the filter/ membrane?? Also, do you "pickle" your Itehil?? If you replaced the Itehil consumeables, where did you get the new ones??? is there a universal replacment?? You guys do good work! Would love to visit your part of the country.
I have replaced the filters once since I got it due to a decreased flow rate. The filters are available through Amazon or from Itehil direct and are particular to that unit only. A full charge gives you about 5 gallons of pure water and it takes about 8 hours to recharge it fully from any USB outlet.
On the one that runs batteries.How long do The filter's last.I guess it matters what the kind of water you're trying to purify I looked up on the website.They say a hundred gallons.
That would depend on how dirty the water is that your filtering. The RO filter lasts a lot longer because it's 2nd in line. Using it on streams and lakes, I think I got 200 gallons or so from the Hybrid filter and I replaced it to speed up the filtration process.
The calibration of these kinds of water testers have always been the hardest for me to figure out. How to find purified water.... when you don't trust labels.
Do you know if the battery RO machine deionized the water someone in a different video talking about a different RO system that it is not good to deionize your city drinking water I am poor at getting good research results I like this one and I want one for my daughter to use in her house Please and thank you
There are units for home use that install under the kitchen cabinet, but I don't know anything about deionizing. The better home use RO filters have a 110v electric pump in them that improve the water flow. This Itehil is made for camping.
You just rinse it off with clean water if available. I tried not rinsing it and it didn't seem to make a difference, but the water being tested wasn't murky either.
That was some great information, Rick. I did feel kind of like a DoDo Bird having just bought a twin pack of Walmart inline filters, then hearing you poo poo them. Box is unopened, so perhaps I can return the filters. We have been buying bottled water for us and the cats to drink. I figure boiled rv water is safe enough through the water heater or for coffee off the stove making coffee.Take care Rick and Linda and "We'll See You Around"!
I attend lots of bluegrass festivals and they sell bottled water plus I take bottled water with me. Are you going to check like Walmart plastic water bottles. Standing by.
I ordered this via your link on 5-10/24. Took almost a month to get, shipped directly from China. Just opened the box today, 6-28/24. Setup 3 clean glasses with Mountain Spring pure water, closest they have to purified water in my little midwest town, Then, water from an ice / refilling station in town, and tap water. The directions are beyond frustrating, step 2 is calibration, step 5 is setup and calibration, huh ? Redundant from my perspective. The spring water showed blue, the refill station water showed blue, and then green. The tap water showed yellow, and upon retesting showed red. The operation is inconsistent as hell, it doesn't seem to operate anywhere near as quickly as yours, if at all. I'm basically stuck with a $75.00 paperweight. I'm not blaming you, but I don't trust this thing at all. I'm searching for a water testing facility nearby . My product rating ? A resounding D-.
First you need to calibrate it with purified water and not spring water. Your tap water may very well be bad, as is mine where I live. My tap water tests yellow and that's the reason I installed an RO filter in my house. As for the meter testing between yellow and red, it's because the result is borderline between the two.
Must share my Senior Moment. I received Kactoily water tester and fired it up, calibrating with filtered water. Then tested bottled water - 100%! Next my well water - 100%, great. Then water from my aquarium - 100*%, hmmm. Recalibrated with distilled water, said successful. So, tested puddle in my driveway - 100%??? Oh no, another defective electronic device….. finally watched video about the tester, noticed they talked about probes? What probes, I DON
Yep, you have to uncover the probes! I've been using my tester a lot on the water we get while traveling and have learned that some of what we get in campgrounds is barely safe to drink.
Thanks, Rick and Linda for sharing and caring! I'm a long-time subscriber and have learned a thing or two from watching and have much enjoyment too.
Thank you for sticking with us for so long. It's always nice to hear from the long time subscribers. See you on the next one!
The way things are going these days you really don't know
what they are putting in the lakes and being able to test it
so it will be safe to drink and cook with, thank you for another
informative video, Thank You Rick and Linda have a wonderful
weekend especially if you are out on the road traveling thanks.
🇺🇲🤠🙏🇺🇲
Thank you, we're fi ally out on the road.
Thank you for sharing, very interesting information. Have a great day and may God bless you all. Hope we run across you one day in our travels. We enjoy your videos.
If you see us anywhere, be sure to say hello!
Loaded with great info, thanks for doing the leg work for our benefit.
Thx Rick! And the nice discount too! 👍🙂👍
Rick this is a great video I can't recall seeing anyone doing a test like this
Outstanding topic man and such a great and professional presentation!
Thank you Principle Rick yo give us an updated report card on these popular camping gadgets. We just bought the membrane solution for the upcoming trip. Good to know it pass your test. Thanks so much for your great work
Understand it's a bit pricy, but maybe someone with a grayl purifier would let you test the water. Appreciate all your efforts! You really opened up my eyes!
TOC is just a measure of carbon compounds (organic) in water. Plants break down and put TOC into water. This is normal. If you want to know bacteria, you can send off samples, after treatment to a lab. You can test for E.Coli and/or Total Coliforms (indicative of animal/human waste) or others. RO is obviously the way to go. I have the same Itehil unit you have. TOC is about as sensitive as drinking the water to test it!
I think it's a good indicator that the water may be unsafe. The tester manufacturer states that "If the water tests " yellow" you should find a way to filter the water".
@@gonagain The safety of drinking water is defined by how the water is treated when no testing is done on the actual water (TOC is not considered testing). Treatment is filtration and disinfection. Or ultrafiltration may be used to remove bacteria and giardia. Viruses may also be removed by treatment. You may want to check the State of Federal Safe Drinking Water Act regs. Groundwater is typically safe unless it comes from surface waters that are close by. Otherwise the subsurface rocks filter. Just an FYI.
Good tips and great products. Ya gotta stay safe be prepared. Thanks!
Great job with the test RIck. (I noticed Linda supervising at 15:15 so she obviously gets some credit. 1% maybe? Just kidding Linda. I know you're reading this!) I was surprised how sensitive and accurate this little device is; so much so, I ordered one just a few minutes ago. Knowing the quality of our water is just so important. Thank you again.
We like that we can test the water that is free to the public, like in campgrounds especially.
I was so impressed with all of the information you’ve provided, that I too used your link and purchased a tester. Im leaving for my cross-country camping trip in 8 days. But after ordering the tester, I won’t leave on my trip until after I receive it. Thank you for the discount!😊
We're using our tester on the road trip we're on now. It's a very helpful tool to have along.
Big . Very helpful Rick. I'm getting one👍🏻💛🙏🏻
We've used ours several times on this road trip and was thankful we had it.
Great video! Thanks for sharing all your information and for doing all the leg work. Much appreciated! Happy trails to you & Linda, God bless, be safe out there. 👍🌞
You have to remember nearly all the simple hiking water filters all say they DO NOT remove chemicals, just bacteria, some also remove some viruses. Boiling your water will make it safe to drink but will not remove chemicals.
That was my thought, as well. Further, it depends on the water source, as to how much I worry about what else may be in the water. Potable spring water can have healthy (beneficial) minerals. That's why we normally do not drink distilled water - the minerals have been removed. The closest river near me is quite likely to have good minerals along with all sorts of unsafe containments, as well. There's a waste treatment plant, upstream. Most of those plants only remove/destroy microorganisms, some of which can make us ill.
While I could be wrong, suspect this tester doesn't (can't) tell "good" minerals and such from those we should avoid at all costs.
Gonagain, you are the BEST! I'd trust your reviews anytime.
Thank you! This is very important information. I had never seen the tester, I'm going to ask the Finance Minister to let me get one. I have no idea what the water is like here, but I do use a canister filter on our faucets. I'm seriously considering RO filtration, at least we'll know we're safe. All the best to you and Linda.
Thanks Rick for such great information and the presentation of it all. WELL DONE! Happy trails and journeys to you both.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Get the Katadyn Hiker Pro & Base Camp for worry-free filtration.
We don't have a water filter, but Jessie has mentioned more than once that we should get one. We don't drink out of streams etc while traveling, hiking. But it might be nice to have one for a just in case.
Great video. Informative
Just sat for an hour and tried to order one after watching your awesome video. However they keep denying my bank card. Maybe because my az ups box is different from my CA home address. Not sure. It said to contact them. So I found out they don’t have a phone number and so I’ll have to wait several days before they email me back. It’s something I really need. Thanks so much for your videos. I learn so much! ❤❤❤❤
I hope there isn't a problem. It's the weekend over there now and you won't hear anything until late Sunday evening.
Got the testers in today. Neat units. The instructions are lacking though. I had no idea how to use it. Finally had to watch the video to see the probes and where the batteries are. When I was testing water out of my refrig water dispenser, a black screen keeps coming up that says "Calibration, yes, no, Short push select short push M exit". I put it in the distilled water, works perfect, the same for water out of the tap and water out of a jar in the refrig. I recalibrated it in distilled water, same results. Always that message from the water out of the refrig spigot.
There's a bit of a learning involved for sure, but it works great.
@@gonagain I have three of them and I'm working with Kactoily to find the problem. I think there is a bug in their programming that defaults to the calibrate screen when something in the water is different. I have checked all three and they do the same thing. I calibrate with distilled water then check. The unit says 100%. I then check them in water from my faucet and they all say 91-92%. Then I stick them in a glass of water from the refrigerator and all three show the black screen that says: "Calibration, yes, no, Short push select short push M to exit" The water is 56 degs.
I have planned 2 complete and independent filter systems. 6 Stage systems that both include UV light. One system is in front of the storage tank and one used for my hour shower.
If there is water inboard of Taj-Ma-Haul, it has been purified.
This is an excellent thorough video. Thanks. I’m might just get one. I’m always interested in water we draw on the road.
We used ours on the road trip we're on now and passed up on the water at one location. So glad to have it along!
Thanks Rick, just ordered the tester. Appreciate the discount.
Really enjoyed the information in this review! I use my homemade Berkey everyday at home. Love it. I always check your playlist before I add anything to my gear. Appreciate your quality reviews and recommendations. 🐾🙏🏻✌🏻🤙🏻
Thanks, Scott!
@@gonagain you're welcome.
Excellent! I was waiting for this to come out. Sure wish they had these when I used to over-chlorinate my cistern up at my cabin just to make sure it was safe. I just now bought 3 of these. Two extra for my girls.
We've used ours twice already on the road trip we're on now. And at one location did not use the water because it didn't test out good enough.
Pretty darn cool! Thx for the info. Gives me something to think about
I ordered mine today !! Thank you very much.
Good Friday morning. Another great, informative video.
Would like to see the test results from Katadyn water filters
Thanks so much - Wow, the amount of time and effort you provided for these field tests.
I want to get your tester device. I want to test it on my Grayl. Highly touted, but I gotta stand on it to press through the filter and get a glass of water - so it better be good. Also test my Berkey with old Berkey filters. The Berkey filters are old, but they've never had anything other than clear tap water going through them.
I don't backpack anymore (my knee), but I have the Sawyers in my emergency and 'Go'-bag...., maybe I'll look for something better. It's not much more to just insure I include my Grayl
I think the Sawyer does ok, especially for occasional use.
Very pertinent review… Well done!
Nice one. Thanks.
Good morning Rick,
Great video, very informative. Thanks for sharing this with us.
I love your jacket, nice big pockets!
Question on the water tester: Do you have to sanitize the tester after each test so there is no residual chemicals or bacteria left on it from the previous test?
Have a great weekend.
JT
What bobdoherty just said. I'll say it again: Thanks Rick! What's funny is that I ordered this Kactoily water quality analyzer before I witnessed your presentation of your results... and to my surprise and good fortune (for having one already) at having the Itehil ready to go.
Pie! at the very least! is on me!
Thank you!
That was a lot of useful info. Many of those filters did pretty decent, right? So as hiking filters most of the tested filters did okay. I did wonder, if camping, what a small boil would do after being filtered or instead of being filtered. With the handy meter not hard to know what we're up against!!
The hiking filters are doing their job at removing bacteria, so boiling wouldn't be necessary.
I use my tester from my coffee business which has all of those capabilities along with ph. TOC ability doesn’t actually indicate bacteria or virus presence because in that reading are components larger than those. I’d be surprised if it differentiates bacteria and viral agents. Make sure it has a separate indication for particles of that size specifically. Otherwise it is showing you all particulates, like mine. But at least you know it is possible OCs are present.
Oddly enough, I use this lab meter to first check the purity of the water I'm using to brew coffee with, each batch. But also and I was first in the industry to use it for this next purpose, calibrate coffee strength!
I created a profile for each coffee batch I roasted to the specific value that represented that coffee and the brewing method used. Especially useful when making Cold Toddy (R) because that is a coffee syrup that you add water after brewing to get back to coffee and without some sort of way to measure the strength of that reconstituted coffee, it was always hit or miss. The whole Goldy Locks thing, too weak, too strong or just right...
I've made it how long without jumping into a coffee session, a record I think - hahahahahahahaha
Very informative. Thank you so much for the information.
:) THANKS MUCH and SO IMPORTANT to know! ALL the BEST and Cheers! :)
Great video - thanks for posting!
Have you tested any of the snow . Thanks for the helpful education.
Not yet!
Thanks for the review.
Thanks Rick for another great review but you’re not very good for my bank account. 😂. We bought the Oupes power station from your last review and really like it and now we’re going to get this water tester too. I think I’ll even get one for our son for Christmas.
Happy Mother’s Day to Linda 🌺
We're on the road now and I made sure that the water tester was going with us.
Continuing, what probes, I don’t see any? Then noticed junction line of cap on tester’s end. Subsequently after pulling off said cap and re-calibrating, tester works fine (aquarium water no longer 100%).
Good video Rick, remembering back to army days they issued tablets to put in your canteen or water bottle if you were to fill it from a creek, probably bleach of some sort, at home we also have an under the sink RO filter. Boiling is probably the best for bacteria 180F. Up here in Canada where most lakes have beavers, you can get a parasite that causes "beaver fever" and this is not a pun, google it.
Rick, I tried to order the water tester and my order didn't go through. I sent them a message. PLEASE test water storage containers. I need to store some water in my home as a "prep", but I don't know which containers will leech microplastics into the water. I don't think it's very practical to store a good amount of water in glass! I'll be using the tester to test various containers for microplastics.
I had the same problem trying to order. Very frustrating because they don’t have a phone number to call.
They may be trying to keep up with the orders. Try again in a few days.
Nice.
Excellent video👍😎
Great video Rick! Question, did you happen to test the same water after boiling it? We're always told to boil questionable water before drinking it and I was wondering how much safer it is after boiling. Thanks for the info and the discount! Howzit Linda! 🤙
I didn't try a boil test, but I'm sure that the hiking filters removed any harmful bacteria and what was left was the Total Desolved Solids, or chemicals in the water.
Interesting video. I stopped halfway thru and ordered the water tester from your link. It automatically added the discount and didn't charge tax or shipping, at least not yet. I carry bottled water from water stations when I travel and at home. I live in Illinois in a farming / college town, so the tap water will be interesting to test. I'm glad to see an update on the ITEHIL water filter, that's next on my list. Any life span on the filters ? And it's currently priced at $249.00, the lowest I've seen in awhile. Thanks.
I just added a $40 discount code to the Itehil link in the video description. It's "GonagainRO"
Device is a great idea. However, "who makes sure it is properly calibrated?" No science papers, no UL listing, how do we know it is showing correlated date that has proven it effective by anyone but the company that made it?
I think you will find all these issues exactly the same amongst all the low dollar water testers.
It's kind of like the treadwear number they put on tires to help you figure how long they will last
That number is determined by the people who make the tires, not by people who test them.
I dug into this topic of water testing apparatus myself, and could not find any of the cheap units to have any sort of verified performance.
It is literally why even municipalities send samples off to the lab, because it takes more than something you're going to buy off Amazon to give you accurate information in this regard.
That's why I tested it against known pure sources, like the bottled water and my two sources of RO water and tap water. It's a good indicator of water that is unsafe to drink without being properly filtered.
@gonagain actually, what you did was demonstrate its use on different sources.
In order to test it you have to compare it to a known accurate tester for comparison, otherwise you really can't be sure of the results.
In order to know if the electronic results are true, most testers require calibration Solutions, this one does not, only distilled water.
What I'm getting at is that this device probably sort of works okay.
Unfortunately the only scientific proof we have of that is whatever the device tells us.
There is no independent professional verification other than from the people who make it.
And they make no claims otherwise, they have no references backing up their product accuracy or reliability.
Bottom line is.... does it work?
Maybe
Are you going to be certain about its accuracy?
Nope, at least not yet.
Long ago we had a tabletop water distiller that made a gallon at a time. It eventually built up so much mineral deposit crust that it was impossible to get it clean. Now I drink our shallow well water, tested long ago, but not recently…..My wife drinks bottled water although
I tease her about how many parts per million she would test for plastic.
Rick/ Linda- a year or so ago, we bought the Itehil RO system (with your excellent discount code). Have you found it necessary to replace the filter/ membrane?? Also, do you "pickle" your Itehil?? If you replaced the Itehil consumeables, where did you get the new ones??? is there a universal replacment?? You guys do good work! Would love to visit your part of the country.
I have replaced the filters once since I got it due to a decreased flow rate. The filters are available through Amazon or from Itehil direct and are particular to that unit only. A full charge gives you about 5 gallons of pure water and it takes about 8 hours to recharge it fully from any USB outlet.
I just ordered one, can't wait for it to show up, from Chyyyyyyna... LoL It was $63.20
A very good and informative video Rick! I would really like to have a tester like yours...where can I buy one?
kactoily.com/products/kactoily-6-in-1-drinking-water-tester?variant=48043093360933
Use the code "Gonagain" for a 15 percent discount.
Wow!
On the one that runs batteries.How long do The filter's last.I guess it matters what the kind of water you're trying to purify I looked up on the website.They say a hundred gallons.
That would depend on how dirty the water is that your filtering. The RO filter lasts a lot longer because it's 2nd in line. Using it on streams and lakes, I think I got 200 gallons or so from the Hybrid filter and I replaced it to speed up the filtration process.
The calibration of these kinds of water testers have always been the hardest for me to figure out. How to find purified water.... when you don't trust labels.
Do you know if the battery RO machine deionized the water someone in a different video talking about a different RO system that it is not good to deionize your city drinking water
I am poor at getting good research results
I like this one and I want one for my daughter to use in her house
Please and thank you
There are units for home use that install under the kitchen cabinet, but I don't know anything about deionizing. The better home use RO filters have a 110v electric pump in them that improve the water flow. This Itehil is made for camping.
Interesting. I only drink reverse osmosis water. How does Yuengling do with the tester?
I should find out.
Thanks for the research. Curious how the tester would read for boiled water?
No pie here today, just banana bread, coffee and a great video! 🤙
Nothing wrong with banana bread and coffee!
Do you have to clean the tester between each test? If so. How?
You just rinse it off with clean water if available. I tried not rinsing it and it didn't seem to make a difference, but the water being tested wasn't murky either.
That was some great information, Rick. I did feel kind of like a DoDo Bird having just bought a twin pack of Walmart inline filters, then hearing you poo poo them. Box is unopened, so perhaps I can return the filters. We have been buying bottled water for us and the cats to drink. I figure boiled rv water is safe enough through the water heater or for coffee off the stove making coffee.Take care Rick and Linda and "We'll See You Around"!
I attend lots of bluegrass festivals and they sell bottled water plus I take bottled water with me. Are you going to check like Walmart plastic water bottles. Standing by.
So far the "drinking water" sold in the plastic jugs has tested "excellent".
If you don't feel ill, yes.
If you feel ill, no.
How are virus detected?
Gonagain strikes again!! My wallet that is😂😂😂😂!!
Lol!
I ordered this via your link on 5-10/24. Took almost a month to get, shipped directly from China. Just opened the box today, 6-28/24. Setup 3 clean glasses with Mountain Spring pure water, closest they have to purified water in my little midwest town, Then, water from an ice / refilling station in town, and tap water. The directions are beyond frustrating, step 2 is calibration, step 5 is setup and calibration, huh ? Redundant from my perspective. The spring water showed blue, the refill station water showed blue, and then green. The tap water showed yellow, and upon retesting showed red. The operation is inconsistent as hell, it doesn't seem to operate anywhere near as quickly as yours, if at all. I'm basically stuck with a $75.00 paperweight. I'm not blaming you, but I don't trust this thing at all. I'm searching for a water testing facility nearby . My product rating ? A resounding D-.
First you need to calibrate it with purified water and not spring water. Your tap water may very well be bad, as is mine where I live. My tap water tests yellow and that's the reason I installed an RO filter in my house. As for the meter testing between yellow and red, it's because the result is borderline between the two.
@@gonagain They sent a video link with instructions and I’m traveling, so I’ll pickup some purified water and try it again. Thanks
And I’ll be adding an RO system very soon.
Must share my Senior Moment. I received Kactoily water tester and fired it up, calibrating with filtered water. Then tested bottled water - 100%! Next my well water - 100%, great. Then water from my aquarium - 100*%, hmmm. Recalibrated with distilled water, said successful. So, tested puddle in my driveway - 100%??? Oh no, another defective electronic device….. finally watched video about the tester, noticed they talked about probes? What probes, I DON
Yep, you have to uncover the probes! I've been using my tester a lot on the water we get while traveling and have learned that some of what we get in campgrounds is barely safe to drink.
Like# 70 - we’re back to no notifications again…
That's why so many channels on YT are suffering these days. Thanks Paul I'll mention it in a video.
I didn’t realize Bleach will go bad after a while. So be sure to change it frequently
Thanks, I didn't know that either.
@@gonagain you can tell because the bleach smell weakens