Written by: Alexandra Uta // Last Updated: Aug 22, 2023
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You have sediment floating in your water supply and want to get rid of it?
You are not sure what type of sediment filter to use?
Well, you have come to the right place! This article provides a complete overview of all the common sediment filter types. Let’s go!
Key Takeaways
The most important sediment filter types you should know of before making a purchase are:
A sediment filter traps and removes suspended contaminants from a water supply.
Sediment is solid particulate matter that contaminates water. Sediments vary in size and range from fine grains of sand to small pieces of rock. They have different textures too; some are smooth and some are coarse.
Particulate matter like dirt, debris, and rust flakes from corroded pipes can make water discolored, unappetizing, and unfit for domestic use. The accumulation of sediments can also ruin appliances like water heaters and valves.
A sediment filter is the first line of defense that stops solid particles from entering your water supply and from clogging up your plumbing system.
Sediment filters are used for several purposes:
Sediment filters work through the process of mechanical filtration. Their pores are porous enough to let uncontaminated water pass, but not solid particles.
Spin-down filters apply centrifugal force to trap sediments.
Raw water is passed through the top of the filter and channeled into a chamber. The water is then spun around at great speed. Sediments of higher density than water are then flung out of the flow.
Spin-down filters are easy to maintain since they don’t require disposable cartridges. A valve at the base of the filter housing is used to flush out all accumulated particles.
Sediment filter cartridges are put in a casing or housing. As water passes through the housing, the cartridge traps the contaminants.
Sediment filter cartridges are broadly classified into surface and depth filters. Surface filters restrict contaminants to outside the filter media while depth filters trap them within the media.
Depth sediment filters work with pores of progressively smaller sizes. The two main types are melt-blown/spun and string-wound.
These are thin sheets of polyester or polypropylene fibers that trap sediments preventing them from passing through their surfaces. They are particularly good at removing coarse sand and other large particles.
Pleated filters often have a higher micron rating than melt-blown/spun and string-wound filters and are both washable and reusable.
Backwashing filters remove sediments from water and then automatically backwash the sediment out. The backwash control keeps the filter media clean by periodically rinsing trapped sediments from it.
Most backwashing sediment filters can filter fine particles down to 5 microns in size.
This uses tiny pores on a ceramic surface to eliminate both sediments and harmful microbes from drinking water.
Aside from residential use, bag filters can remove debris and silt from ponds, ditches, and stormwater runoff.
They are made from non-woven geotextile material that can filter particles greater than 150 microns.
A micron is a unit of measurement, also known as a micrometer. It is a thousandth of a millimeter and about the size of a single grain of milled flour.
The micron rating in a water filter indicates the size of contaminants that it can remove. The smaller the micron rating, the finer the particles that will be trapped.
An absolute-rated micron filter removes at least 95% of the sediment of the indicated size or larger.
A nominal-rated micron filter removes 70-80% of the sediment of the indicated size or larger.
This depends on where the sediment filter will be used, the size and nature of the prevalent sediments, and your budget.
If you have any questions about types of sediment filters please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
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