Sediment Filter Use Cases – Why Are They Important?
Written by: Alexandra Uta // Last Updated: Aug 22, 2023
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There are many different types of home water filters and each has a different purpose.
Sediment filters are essentially pre-filters and super important to remove floating particles.
Let’s explore some of their use cases!
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Key Takeaways
- Sediment filters trap and remove sediment, like sand, dirt, and rust, from water, cleaning it.
- Removing sediment protects the entire water system, meaning plumbing, water-using appliances like washing machines and dishwashers, and other water treatment equipment, allowing them to last longer while requiring fewer repairs.
What Is a Sediment Filter?
Sediment filters are designed to trap and remove particulate matter, such as dirt, sand, silt, and rust, from water.
By removing these particles, sediment filters can protect your whole water system from damage due to clogging. Putting it differently, a sediment filter is essentially the first line of defense against debris and dirt.
For example, rainwater can carry clay, soil, silt, and sand grains into your well water supply. Then, water flow changes can bring sediment into your home. Moreover, flakes of rust can enter the water from corroded plumbing. If you have a sediment filter in place, it will prohibit all of this solid matter from wreaking havoc.
Sediment water filters are used on multiple occasions and exist in many applications. Whole house water filters use them to protect their mean treatment stage like greensand filter media removing iron. Water softeners often use them in order to protect their softening resin. And so on.
Pool filter cartridges are also sediment filters that block clay and dirt from muddying the water.
Sediment Filter Types, How They Work, and What They Remove
There are six types of sediment filters. These are:
Pleated Filters
Shaped like accordions, pleated sediment filters are made of thin sheets of polypropylene or polyester. Also, they are called surface filters, and the volume of the folds allows them to have more surface area than other sediment filters.
The way pleated sediment filters work is this:
As dirt is trapped on the filter, it forms a layer. As the layer becomes thicker, it aids in the dirt removal process.
Pleated sediment filters are washable, so they can be reused, making them a cost-effective filter solution.
Melt-Blown and Spun Filters
Melt-blown and spun filters use depth gradients to trap and remove sediment from water.
The inner core of this type of filter is denser than the outer, meaning that as water flows through to the center, the filter can trap finer and finer particulates.
String-Wound Filters
String-wound filters are made of polyester, polypropylene, or wood cotton string. This string is attached and wrapped around a core.
While the water goes through the string layers, particles are removed.
Now, when string-wound filters are loaded with more matter than they can handle, the string begins to shift and loosen. If this happens, it’s time to purchase a filter replacement.
Bag Filters
Bag filters eliminate matter by processing the water via tiny permeable pores. These pores range in micron size from 1 to 200. Bag filters are made of polypropylene or polyester felt and come in various styles and sizes.
Sediment bag filters have many applications, like processing paints, solvents, resins, and chemicals or reverse osmosis pre-filtration.
Spin-Down Filters
Spin-down filters are very effective in removing coarse dirt like sand from water. These filters spin the water at high speeds and use gravitational force to separate it from sediments.
That said, as with everything, spin-down filters not perfect, as they do have some caveats. For once, they need regular maintenance, so if you’re dealing with lots of sand, then you might have to check up on your spin-down filters frequently.
Backwashing Filters
Backwashing filters are essentially tank-based filters. They apply backwash to remove all accumulated sediment. This means that not only do they function well, but they also have a long lifespan.
Sediment Filter Use: What Is a Sediment Filter Used For?
A sediment filter is used mainly to remove particles, like clay, sand, dust, dirt, or other debris, from water, purifying it. Doing so, however, also improves water aesthetics and protects the plumbing system, water-using applications, and other water treatment equipment.
Here are the uses of sediment filters outlined in detail:
Remove Sediment Particles
A sediment filter’s main purpose is to remove sediment particles from water, like sand, dust, dirt, clay, and others.
Improve Water Aesthetics
Generally, sediments in water are not a health issue. Yet, clean-looking water is always more appealing.
Protect Plumbing System
Corrosion in pumps and pipes results in rust flakes entering the water supply. Sediment filters trap and remove them.
Protect Water-Using Appliances
Sediment buildup damages water-using appliances, like dishwashers or washing machines.
Installing a sediment filter ensures that the particles that would damage your appliances will be removed.
Protect Other Water Treatment Equipment (Pre-Filtration)
Sediment filters are also ideal for protecting other water treatment equipment. To put it differently, they are stages of the pre-filtration process, defending other purifiers and softeners etc. from particulates, which extends their lifespan and effectiveness.
Reverse Osmosis Systems
Sediment can clog the fine membranes of reverse osmosis systems, making sediment filters indispensable. Not only do they protect the reverse osmosis membranes from fouling, but extend the life of your entire RO system.
That’s why sediment filtration is part of the stages of any multi-stage reverse osmosis system.
Other (Whole House) Filters
Whole house filters such as an iron removal system can benefit from having a sediment pre-filter in place, just like reverse osmosis systems.
UV Water Purifiers
Ultraviolet light destroys microorganisms in water; however, sediment can hinder the effectiveness of your UV system. For this reason, most UV manufacturers recommend installing a sediment pre-filter upstream.
Water Softeners
Sediment becomes an issue when water softeners are installed. The dirt will eventually foul the resin bed so that it doesn’t function properly anymore.
That’s why, if you are planning to add a water softener to your home, make sure to install a sediment pre-filter as well.
Further Reading:
Do You Need a Sediment Filter?
In summary, installing a sediment filter is a great idea whether you’re using municipality water or well water.
- Sediment filters work as a barrier against unwanted matter and grit that can damage and foul your water filter system, reduce the life of your expensive water-using appliances, like a water heater, washing machine, and dishwater, and clog your plumbing.
- Sediment also reduces the effectiveness of UV filter systems, hindering the ability of ultraviolet light to reach waterborne pathogens.
- If particulates are not removed before a water softener, silt, sand, or dirt, can enter the treatment system and damage the fine-moving parts and clog the softening resin.
- Last but not least, sediment filters aren’t expensive, meaning the protection they offer is worth the purchase cost.
If you have any questions about sediment filter use please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
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