CLEANING MY PRIMO WATER DISPENSER: My Water Source In My Tiny Has Mold

CLEANING MY PRIMO WATER DISPENSER: My Water Source In My Tiny Has Mold. I discovered more moldy algae stuff...this time in my primo water dispenser. My only source of reliable water. Time to clean it to see if we can salvage it but I did purchase a Big Berkey in case this doesnt work.
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[@cl5080]

Great video….bloopers included. Thank you! ❤

[@TinyDreamer]

@cl5080 Haha, thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@MegaPaulCooper]

Great vid imop. Watched the company one and i found this. I think yours was much easier for me to gather the stuff i needed to clean mine. You seem very likeable and relatable too. Thanks

[@TinyDreamer]

Hello! Thank you for your compliments. I'm glad my video was easy for you to prepare to clean it! I did end up getting rid of this water cooler and replacing it with a berkey water filter.

[@MsShuman100]

Great video! I watched the 3 minute tutorial but I enjoyed yours. I'm really tripping about this whole cleaning process. I've never cleaned mine and I had it for years. 🤦🏾‍♀️All this to clean this machine. I just happened to notice today that my water tasted like I was drinking crayons. I knew there was a problem. Lord have mercy on my body. Who knows what I've been ingesting.

[@TinyDreamer]

Omgosh, that sounds unpleasant. I thought the mold was bad. I did end up getting rid of ot after i cleabed it. It still had the floaties in it and i just didnt feel comfortable drinking it anymore. I ended up getting a Berkey water filter system.

[@roxannmorey7519]

It should have been cleaned, per enclosed instructions, every three months. If the water bottles are cleaned between every fill and the unit cleaned every three months there should not be a problem with mold. The instructions say to use 2 cups of vinegar or 2 Tbs of bleach in the water while cleaning. With a mold issue I would do at least 2 cleanings with bleach then flush thoroughly.

[@TinyDreamer]

According to the website it's a self cleaning machine so I'm honestly confused about the 3 month cleaning. Regardless, it fell during travel to my new spot and now it doesnt work. I replaced it with a Berkey Water system.

[@MsShuman100]

Honestly, I just want a brand new machine. Who wants to do this every 3 months. This a process that is truly in the way!!!

[@alvilla701]

Every 2 weeks, LOL, I have my for about 7 years, and I just discovered that I need to clean it

[@TinyDreamer]

@alvilla701 Haha!! I had mine for 4 or 5 years before I realized I was supposed to clean it. After this video, I got rid of it. Got a Berkey instead. 😅

[@user-bf4jq4hb3p]

"I purchased a Primo dispenser from Costco. Every two months, mold grows from the cold water spout. I believe the best way to clean it is with warm water and Clorox, as Clorox is the only thing that can kill bacteria and mold. I tried using vinegar, but it doesn't work as well as a Clorox and water mix. I recently replaced the dispenser and noticed a strong chemical smell. They changed the hot water side and the new dispenser doesn't stop the hot water spout when I try to flush out the hot water. I also noticed that water leaks from the cold side in the hot department reservoir. The previous model pumped water straight from the bottle to the hot water department, but this one is different, which is probably why it has a strong chemical smell. The dispenser is made in China, and some fake Chinese manufacturers make an identical copy of it. I suspect that Costco sells these pirate fake water dispensers that were never tested by the US government or the health department. I plan to return it to Costco."

[@TinyDreamer]

I'm sorry to hear this. I got rid of this machine right after this video as the cleaning didn't seem to work. I ended up getting a Berkey water filter. I personally wouldn't have used bleach on mine.

[@yolandatharpe8444]

My daughter gave me her’s but not the instruction manual. The cold water runs clear but the hot has the little black specks. Not many per cup. I’m going to do my best to clean it out. Thanks for showing how it’s done. ❤

[@TinyDreamer]

You're welcome and thanks for watching! After I cleaned mine out, I still noticed the mold stuff and I didbt want to drink out of it. I ended up getting rid of it and replacing it with a berkey. I hope you have better luck cleaning yours out!

[@glchild251]

What's funny? I just purchased one, the box is still closed. I went to look for a quick how-to. This video I chose, and I am so happy I find this. It gives me time to see if I want to commit to this.

[@TinyDreamer]

If anything, you could use it and clean it more regularly than I did. I was under the impression that it was self cleaning until I found that floaty stuff. Come to find out, you have to clean it once a month.

[@lindac7146]

I always learn from you. Thx.

[@TinyDreamer]

You're so sweet ❤😊 Glad I'm able to share what I'm going through. I always hope it helps others.

[@OdinsCloud]

Nice Job. Nice Kitty and curious. I use bleach. I thought I smelled mold (the slightest hint) and just did a double flush with bleach. The instructions for this old GE smartwater I have said to use bleach. I am sure that changed due to EPA or people using way too much or being PC, or simply not rinsing enough. I let the bleach solution which I made stronger than usual sit for quite a while. I then flushed everything many times using 12 gallons of tap water. Hopefully this works. I did not see anything like you depicted with that black stringy material. A few black flakes at the bottom of the bucket I drained the reservoir into but otherwise it ran clean. I too waited too long to disinfect.

[@TinyDreamer]

Thank you! I too feel I waited too long to clean it. And I refuse to use bleach on anything... So that left me with a more natural way of cleaning it. After I cleaned it, I still ended up getting rid of it and replacing it with a berkey waterfilter. 😔

[@OdinsCloud]

@@TinyDreamer I understand the bleach fear to some degree but it rinses out pretty easily and it breaks down very quickly. In all honesty i would consider environmentally friendly. Bleach is sodium hypochloride and it breaks down very quickly in to NaCl & H20 which is salt and water. So as long as you are not pouring it into ponds or using very excessive amounts it is fine. Using a sodium hypochloride solution to disinfect a cooler or lines should be very effective and will quickly break down. I flush by using 5 gallon jugs ( 2-3 fills) full of fresh water and the water tastes / smells the same as from the jug directly. I am not saying this for you so much as for others because a bleach solution is very effective and very safe if done correctly. I took particular interest in your channel because I am in the process of making a property of mine autonomous / off grid capable. I brought in electric service (paid $) but want the property to function comfortably without service indefinitely when/ if needed.

[@endijohnson5863]

The cat 🐈‍⬛

[@TinyDreamer]

😻❤🐾

[@carlosberrioselectrician777]

Thanks 🙏🤓👍

[@TinyDreamer]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@Scotty_in_Ohio]

The Berkey is nice but keep in mind it's not "magic" it'll need to be cleaned as well - it's a ceramic and charcoal filter system - if there's "garbage" in the tank it'll still be in the tank - just not coming out of your dispenser tap. If you're re-using your plastic bottles you'll want to thoroughly clean/sterilize them - there's tons of videos out there on how to do that - for our hand water dispenser I just use new bottles with purified water as the cleaned bottles will always have just a bit of soap/vinegar/bleach taste to it - which might be my imagination.

[@TinyDreamer]

Thank you for the info on the Berkey, too. I'm newer to it but getting used to it. I realize 'where's I live also makes a difference with the quality of the water and how much I need to clean it. Well water that's not treated is very rusty. I was cleaning it out every 2-4 days..because it would clog with sediment. It was gross. Now that I'm using city water, I'm noticing I have to clean it less.

[@galindojamie]

Thank you this helped me out I just bought a used one and I seen footies comming out when I put the gallon on and I was like fudge I have to clean it out lol idk why I didn't clean it because it looks new.. but yea it's bin sitting awhile they said.

[@TinyDreamer]

Yes, I would definitely clean it and do a rinse cycle on a used one...especially if it's been sitting for a while. I ended up getting rid of mine. I went to use it again and there was more icky stuff coming out. Then I moved and it ended up falling over and breaking so I just got rid of it.

[@annerobertson5381]

Please educate yourself on how to speak proper English. Thank you

[@Scotty_in_Ohio]

If there's a hot side remember there's a (smaller) tank there too - shouldn't take that much to clean that - it looked though that you got the hot side via the drain plug on the back of the unit. I've had a similar model (same manufacturer) for a couple years now and no issues - though I don't re-use any of my bottles - new bottles with purified water (recycling the used bottles or saving them for watering the plants).

[@TinyDreamer]

Shortly after this video, I got rid of the primo water filter system. I did replace it with the Berkey.

[@rpratt7718]

You had it in a pretty tight spot there. The instructions tell you you need at least 4 inched all the way around for the cooler to basically ventilate. That might be your problem?

[@TinyDreamer]

Interesting, I had no idea. I also had ventilation problems in the house so its very possible. I ended up getting rid of this water cooler shortly after this video and gor a berkey system.

[@mzyjcphtblessed5648]

Thank u thank I hope this works for me❤

[@TinyDreamer]

I hope it does, too!! I ended up getting rid of mine because cleaning it didnt work.

[@Mind69420]

9:30 how I feel when using an empty water bottle as a toilet in the car!

[@TinyDreamer]

😅😅😅

[@destash4you]

I just realized I had mold in my spigots and lines along with particulate matter in my water. I also discovered I cannot remove the lines to clean and sterilize them so like I did with my mold harboring plastic coffee makers of old I will be getting rid of this machine never to use it again. I'm looking into other things that don't grow mold or that I can clean with fresh water and sunshine.

[@TinyDreamer]

Sounds like a similar situation as mine. After cleaning this water cooler, I still saw mold and algae coming out. I finally got rid of it and replaced it with a Berkey water filter thing that sits on the counter. I've been loving it since! I threw away the primo water cooler.

[@tonyperez4551]

After you filled it, you should’ve unplugged it from the back wall said “pumping so I could sit for 10 minutes

[@TinyDreamer]

Alreadyu gave the machine up. After cleaning it, it still had floaties in it. I got a Berkey filter instead.

[@karolmujica1420]

O no 😱 Tengo el mismo problema, ya que por la pandemia dejé de usarlo por más de 1 año. Y mirando los videos, yo tampoco estoy segura de haber escogido el mejor dispensador de agua. Haré limpieza y espero tener resultados.

[@TinyDreamer]

I ended up switching to a berkey water filter and that has been amazing since. I sold this primo water cooler. I hope yours cleaned out well!

[@shelleyterpstra5719]

So I’d recommend not touching the tub you put into the water and wiping it with a separate cloth than you use to wipe all of the other parts. Every time you touch the tube you contaminate it. Otherwise great video!

[@TinyDreamer]

Thank you for the tip! I ended up getting rid of it right after the video. I switched to a Berkey water filter.

[@hihiihbmw]

You should really just take the top off, it's 2 screws and it pops off, clean out the internal water tank, no screws just pops off and you have access to the inside, scrub, pop lines off and wash out

[@TinyDreamer]

I had no idea about that at the time. Ive since gotten rid of it and replaced it with a Berkey water filter.

[@MsShuman100]

I'm going to try this suggestion. I'm blown away by this whole process. Tonight I drank my water and it tasted like I was drinking crayons. Essentially I was smelling crayons.

[@ydmanning]

But how do you take the catch tray off???

[@TinyDreamer]

It simply slides out. After cleaning this primo water cooler I ended up buying a different water system. I'm still afraid I'd be ingesting mold or whatever if I drank it. 😔

[@ydmanning]

@@TinyDreamer I swear I cannot get this stupid thing to slide out! UGH!

[@TinyDreamer]

@@ydmanning ...check to see if theres tape holding it?..

[@blznk]

Clean every two weeks? This is going to sound way gross but I've had mine for about 6 years and haven't cleaned it once 😢

[@TinyDreamer]

Personally, I think it's way too much to clean it every two weeks. I ended up getting rid of this water dispenser after I cleaned it. I got a Berkey filter instead.

[@2000sancho]

Primo said it has to be done every 2 or 3 months did imiss something?

[@TinyDreamer]

When I researched it it said that it never had to be cleaned. Then I searched further on how to clean it and went to go clean it and then found that it was supposed to be cleaned every couple months. I have gotten rid of the primo water dispenser sends this video and I have replaced it with a berkey water filter that sits on my counter.

[@2000sancho]

@@TinyDreamer there is no such thing as a self cleaning appliance, its just a marketing ploy.

[@TinyDreamer]

@@2000sancho good to know. Thanks

[@mysterygirl5291]

I am going from a berkey to a Primo water cooler. I didn't like the taste of the berkey filtered water.

[@TinyDreamer]

Wow, that's interesting! I've never heard of anyone not liking the Berkey filtered water. Have you tried the Primo yet? Any noticable difference?

[@Samantha_Atlee]

You aren’t really doing as they suggested because you aren’t using a jug that the whole stick willl fit in. The 2 or 5 gallon jug , do the parts that go into the next jug will still have the mold or whatever on the top of the stick. So you are creating the same problem. You would need to literally have the whole thing down in the vinegar solution or bleach solution to kill it all. Those couple inches that were sticking out of the vinegar bottle are not going to have been cleaned. Think it through as to why the instructions are as they are from primo. Just a suggestion not to be rude. I just don’t want you to get sick from not thoroughly getting whatever that gunk was inside of your water out. And what are you putting in there that is making the water in the tank moldy are you not using purify new water every time?

[@TinyDreamer]

Since this video i have thrown the whole thing away. Even after cleaning it, which the vinegar solution was supposed to drain the whole tank, it still had the gunk in there. I did read the primo prime instructions. I was using the correct jug or it wouldnt have fit...those water filtration systems arent only made for smaller jugs. And i wasnt putting anything in the water to cause that. I don't know what caused that to happen. Hence the video attempt to clean it thinking it could be why.

[@sashamatt3909]

I wanted to get a primo, but Omg that’s so much work. Do they have any self-cleaning models?

[@TinyDreamer]

I actually thought this one was self cleaning but after the mold problem, I researched it and it said it needed to be cleaned. I ended up getting rid of it and getting a Berkey system. I filter the city water now that I bought my own property.

[@daisyq3418]

It seems like keeping your water dispenser in the bathroom might contaminate it ... ? Every time you flush, that bacteria gets in the air. Maybe keep your water spigots out of the poopin room. Thanks for showing how to clean it!

[@ultrumas]

You have been having these mold issues for months. It has already made your cats and you at risk breathing that poison in and now it is in your drinking water? You are fighting a losing battle. You need to get your tinyhouse out of that area pronto before you gals get really sick. Go to a dryer area and park there if you can. Wherever you are it is way too humid. Stay safe. Please don't take my comments as offensive. I love seeing you and your cats on here.

[@TinyDreamer]

Thank you for your support. I am leaving here September 30th. When I get to my new spot I plan to have a list of things done to my house. Including bed slats under my bed for ventilation, convection oven ventilation, air exchanger installed, house sealed, maybe windows replaced, counters resealed.. so much work. I'm getting there but I can only do so much with the options I have in the time I have. It's all going to be fixed. Mold remediation, everything. The air purifier seems to be going its job hopefully killing mold spores in the air. I'm disinfecting my mini split, I'm cleaning weekly with vinegar and clove oil. I'm doing all I can until I have time and freedom to do more. 1 month. Wait for it..... 🙂 🙏

[@freestyleliving4145]

Where you live I'm in Arkansas horrible humidity

[@user-zm5mj3wu9y]

Lol

[@TinyDreamer]

Lol