Sediment filters are designed to catch solid debris and particulate in your home water supply. These filters are typically rated in microns, with lower ratings restricting smaller particles.
A 5-micron physical sediment filter will stop sand, rust, and other large particles from entering your home water systems. They can help protect and prolong the life of household appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters.
How Sediment Filters Work
The sediment filter is a basic water treatment device that eliminates the large particulate matter from your home’s water supply. Flakes of rust and soil particles are commonly found in water supplies, which can enter the house through corroded galvanized pipes or by flow changes in your home’s water system. A whole-house sediment filter prohibits these particles from entering your water, which would otherwise clog and hinder the performance of other filters and water-using appliances in your home.
Typically, sediment water filters have a micron rating to indicate what size of particles they can eliminate. A higher micron rating means the sediment filter can eliminate larger particles from the water.
These filters don’t remove chemicals or heavy metals from the water, but they do serve as prefilters for other filtration methods. These filters protect the upcoming filtration devices by removing these particles from your water that could stain them.
These filters also prevent the buildup of sediments inside your piping, which can slow down water flow and decrease your home’s water pressure. If sediments are allowed to accumulate in your piping, they can damage water-using appliances and shorten their lifespan. These include washing machines, dishwashers and water heaters. This is why a sediment filter is vital for any water treatment system. It’s a good idea to install a sediment filter on your home’s water supply line prior to a water softener, UV water sterilizer or any other water filtration equipment.
Types of Sediment Filters
A sediment filter is an important part of any home water filtration system. It reduces turbidity and removes debris like dirt, dust, sand, and rust from your drinking water. These particles can wreak havoc on appliances, clog up fixtures, valves, and hot water heaters, and prevent filtration systems like ion exchange, ultraviolet purification, and reverse osmosis from functioning properly.
When choosing a sediment filter, it’s important to match the micron rating of the filter to the size of particles in your water supply. A higher micron rating indicates that the filter will catch larger particles and a lower one will catch finer particles.
There are several types of sediment filters available on the market, and most work in a similar manner. Cartridges and filter bags are the most common, but other options include melt-blown sediment filters and string-wound sediment filters. These filters have expansive surface areas that can capture a large amount of debris at once, and they often use a depth gradient to filter out suspended materials.
No matter which type of sediment filter you choose, it’s essential to remember that these filters don’t remove chemicals or heavy metals from your drinking water. They are defensive and preservative filters that work best in conjunction with other filtration methods. A high-quality sediment filter will improve the taste and appearance of your water while protecting pipes and appliances.
Maintenance
Sediment filters are simple to install and don’t require special equipment. They can be installed in any water entry point, like a faucet, and are easy to clean. They are also inexpensive, making them a great choice for any family looking to improve their home’s water quality.
They are an important part of any whole house water filtration system. They set the stage by getting rid of large dirt and sand grains, so that other types of filters can do their work.
Although sediment filters improve water clarity and help prevent clogs, they are not able to remove chemicals, bacteria, or heavy metals from water. If you are concerned about these contaminants in your home’s water, consider using other types of filters, like carbon or reverse osmosis filters.
You should change your sediment filter every six months to one year, or when you notice a drop in water pressure. If you don’t, your filter will get so clogged with sediment that it won’t be able to perform its job. When you change your sediment filter, choose a type that will not restrict water flow and has the longest lifespan. You may also want to look for a backwash sediment filter that doesn’t require regular replacement of the filter cartridge. This can save you money in the long run.
Installation
Sediment filters are a necessary step in any whole-home water filtration system. Not only do they keep your family’s drinking water safe and healthy, but they also protect your pipes, faucets, fixtures, hot water heaters, and other appliances from corrosion caused by dirt particles in the home’s water supply. Sediment filters use mechanical filtration to physically block unwanted particulate matter in the water. They’re a little like a screen door on your house. You want the refreshing breeze to flow through, but you don’t want bugs or leaves to blow in with it. Sediment filters act as the net that catches these unwanted particles.
A good sediment filter should be installed at the point where your water enters your house, also known as the Point of Entry (POE). This will prevent a buildup of sediment before other filters can do their work. This can extend the life of your other whole-house filters and appliances, such as a water softener or UV cleaner, by reducing the amount of time they spend filtering sediment out of the water.
Sediment filters can be used on their own, but they are most effective when combined with other filtration methods. Sediment filters set the stage by removing the big dirt particles and sand grains from your water supply, so that other filters can get to work removing chemical and residual leftovers from your drinking water.