Water Filter Basics

[Doc]

I have been looking on the forum for information about water filters. I have seen the recommendations for the different brands. My question is in regards to how to properly care for them. I have seen that you have to prime them before use. Then you are not supposed to let them freeze. So the first question is will they work without priming. Then I can imagine that the ceramic filter could crack if frozen. So in a winter bug out situation or even just winter hiking/hunting, how do you care for them so they dont freeze.
Again, sorry for the newbie questions. But just trying to get a handle on all this info in my head.
Thanks.

[Grand58742]

You could carry it inside your jacket during winter time to keep it above freezing. You would be surprised at how warm you can keep items inside your clothing provided you are properly dressed. Or even wrapping it up inside a towel or some wool socks as insulation. The old USGI canteens were supposed to be somewhat safe below freezing when in the issued pouch. And I would imagine wool would be a better insulator than whatever material those are made of. As for cracking...I would think Lowdown3 might be able to answer that one as he markets the ceramic type. I've never had it happen, but then again, mine's never really been subject to below freezing for long.

[Lowdown3]

Living in the southeast, honestly I've never had the freezing water problem.

The filter elements themselves are fairly durable considering the ceramic make up. With the filter inside the body of the unit in standard operating configuration, a Pocket filter for example, could almost be used to drive nails.

I think the bigger concern on the freezing issue is if someone used it, didn't clean the unit at all, left a lot of residual water inside the filter body and then you had a hard freeze and the unit was not protected.

I still remember sleeping with IV's in the bag with you on really really cold nights in the field. Certain equipment has to be protected. If your water filter is wet and it's going to be 28 that night, I'd take it apart and dry it off as a minimum. If it's going to be really cold, do the same and stick it in the bag with you or otherwise wrap it up.

[Doc]

That is very good info. So I am assuming that no one out there has had any problems with the filter freezing with simple care. That is good to know.
The other question was about the priming of the filter. I saw on the net that the gravity dependent filters had to be primed to remove the residual air with in the filter. Are the pocket filters the same. If so is there a way to prime them in the field?