Water Sediment Filter: How Does It Work?

A water sediment filter is a tool you can use to remove suspended solids from your water supply. A sediment water filter is only used to filter solids, like debris from stormwater runoff, rust flakes, and other non-liquid particulates that can enter your water supply.

The sediment filter should be used at the beginning of the water filtration process because it only filters the non-liquid parts and depending on the filter type, it will have to be changed after some time.

The water sediment filter parts include the so-called “filter housing” where the water is purified and the place where you put the filter in. The second most essential part is the filter itself, which should be smaller than the housing, so it can fit inside.

• Other essential parts of a sediment filter, include:
• O-rings – small rubber rings that are used to create a seal between various parts of the filter, so that water doesn’t leak. There should be replacement O-rings in the sediment filter package.
• Silicone grease – some packages include silicone grease, which is applied to the O-rings while cartridge changes are made, to ensure a leak-free environment.
• Mounting brackets & screws – they are used for mounting the filter housing and should be included in the package.
• Screws, tubing, valves, and other small parts are used to install the sediment filter.
• Filter wrenches – they can be plastic or steel wrenches and fit a range of sizes. If the package includes a wrench, it’s most likely fit for the size of the water-sediment filter parts.

Depending on the type of the filter, there could be additional parts, but these are only available if the whole-house system includes RO filters, ultraviolet filters, or any other kinds of filters.

The benefits of using a water sediment filter include:

• The water sediment filter installation is easy and most packages include an instruction manual you could follow.
• Filtered water is safer than tap water and even bottled water.
• Using a water sediment filter is environmentally friendly because it reduces your carbon footprint and fewer plastic bottles are used in everyday life.
• Water sediment filters and whole-house filters are less expensive than buying bottled water in the long run.
• Sediment water filters are convenient because the filtered water comes from your home and you don’t have to go back and forth to purchase filtered or bottled water.
• There are several options when it comes to sediment filters like you can buy different types of filters for various types of water and particulates.
• Water sediment filters are the first base for any home filtration system because they remove all large particulates and prepare the water for other filters, like ultraviolet or RO systems.
• Increases the lifespan of other filters in the whole-house system.

The disadvantages of water sediment filters are:

• Sediment filters are only the first step toward clean water and only work on removing large non-liquid particulates.
• Sediment filters don’t remove bacteria or any other microscopical biological particulates.
• The filter itself has to be changed every few months because the solids on the filter material will clog the filter in time, depending on the quality of the water source.
• If you are using an under-sink or on-counter sediment filter it could take up a lot of space.
• Some home filtration systems which include sediment filters in them are expensive and might require professional installation.

What is a Sediment Filter?

A sediment filter is a device that captures non-liquid particulates and prevents them from entering the main water supply. The sediment filter is the first line of defense and the most important part of any water filtration system. If the water-sediment filter isn’t a part of your home filtration system or it isn’t a good choice compliant with the type of sediment you are trying to protect yourself from, it could hinder the performance of the whole house filtration system and make it useless.

Sediment filters are made from two types of materials. There are sediment filters made from cellulose or more specifically from cotton fibers which are treated to contain 98% cellulose, and polypropylene, which are plastic-based and can be created in various styles and formats.

In history, there have been numerous uses of water filtration, which started with boiling the water to remove any unwanted particulates, and in Ancient Greece, Hippocrates invented a cloth back filter, which was called the Hippocrates sleeve. The Ancient Egyptians also used the method of submerging hot iron into the water. The next significant change in water filtration was made in the 17th century by Sir Robert Bacon, who invented a method to successfully remove salt from seawater. The first water filters available for sale in 1750 were made by Joseph Amy, who incorporated charcoal layers, wool, and sponge to eliminate particulates, which were discovered thanks to the use of the microscope. The first water treatment facilities were built in 1804 in Scotland and 1806 in Paris. Thanks to the cholera infection that spread through Europe in the mid-1800s and the discovery of John Snow that it was transmitted via water, chlorine, and ozone were used to purify the water. After that many countries implemented their water safety regulations, which led to the creation of modern water filtration systems in time.

A sediment water filtration system for home includes only a single inline sediment filter. In addition to an inline sediment water filter (compact size, direct flow through the filter, and the cheapest out of all water filtration options), there are also other types of water filtration, which are popular today, like ultraviolet water filtration, reverse osmosis, and distillation. The difference in sediment filtration from these other water treatment types is that sediment filtration is used to filter out solid particles whereas UV filtration is effective on bacteria and viruses, for example. Sediment filtration is generally used together with other water treatment systems like reverse osmosis or UV filtration to enhance their performances by getting rid of larger contaminants in the water as a first step filtration system.

How Does a Sediment Filter Work?

Sediment filters work based on a process called “mechanical filtration.” First, a sediment water filter removes all solid particulates before they enter your water supply. The unwanted particles are trapped outside of the filter, while the clean water flows through the material and to the next part of your water filtration system or your faucet if you only have a sediment filter. It kind of works like a net catching all the unwanted sediment outside, while everything smaller flows through the filter.

For sediment filters to be effective, they need to be a part of whole-house filtration systems and act as pre-filters for RO and ultraviolet purification systems. There are two types of sediment filters – depth filters and surface filters.

Depth filters are excellent when filtrating water with multiple-sized particles and they hold more debris than surface filters. They filter sediment without losing water pressure and are designed to trap larger contaminants on the surface while smaller particles are trapped within the filter.
Surface filters are also called pleated filters because of the thin sheet they have which traps particles on the surface. Surface filters have more surface area than depth filters and can trap more sediment because of that. They work best when filtering particles of the same size and some manufacturers design them to be rinsed and reused, instead of changed right away. The only disadvantage of surface sediment filters is that the water pressure will be affected depending on how much debris has built upon the filter.

What does a Sediment Filter Remove?

A sediment water filter removes dirt, soil, grains of sand, flakes of metal (rust), debris, silt, clay, and dust from water.

Keep in mind that sediment filters alone can’t remove bacteria, chemicals, heavy metals, or dissolved particulate matter from the water supply. Also, sediment filters don’t affect the taste or smell of the water.

What are the Use Cases of Sediment Filters?

Sediment water filtration is used in many industries, including in coffee shops and restaurants to ensure the quality of the food and beverages prepared there. Sediment filters are also the most important part of whole house filtration systems and they protect the lifespan of other components of the filtration system.

Another case where sediment filters are implemented is the pool filter cartridges where certain particulates like dirt, debris, and clay are trapped. That way your pool water is crystal clear and doesn’t have a muddying quality we are used to seeing in natural lakes and ponds.
Sediment filters are an integral part of filtering systems and can be used in combination with one or more of these water filtration methods:

· Reverse Osmosis: The sediment filter functions as a pre-filter in a reverse osmosis water filtration system. The sediment pre-filter enhances the lifespan of the RO membranes by removing larger debris.
· Ultraviolet Purification: When a sediment filter is used in combination with an ultraviolet purification system, it helps the UV system to function better because larger molecules filtered out by the sediment filter cannot block the way of UV rays anymore.
· Protecting Carbon Filters Lifespans: When a sediment filter is used together with a carbon filter, it would enhance the lifespan of the carbon filter since all debris that would otherwise clog up the carbon filter would be removed beforehand by the sediment filter.

1. Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is a filtration method, which is used to remove contaminants from water by pushing them through a porous membrane. The common name for these types of water filtration systems is “RO” and it’s used to demineralize or deionize water. For reverse osmosis to work the water needs to be pushed through the semi-porous membrane with greater pressure than the osmotic pressure occurring naturally. The process allows pure water to flow through but holds back many contaminants by using a high-pressure pump to increase the pressure on one side.
The importance of reverse osmosis systems is that they are capable of removing over 99% of the particles, dissolved salts, colloids, organics, pyrogens, and bacteria. Remember that RO systems don’t remove 100% of the viruses and bacteria in the water. The membrane inside the RO system rejects any contaminants that have a molecular weight over 200 (water’s molecular weight is 18, for example).

Before installing one of the reverse osmosis water filters, there should be a pre-filter or a sediment filter installed, which will remove the largest and most solid particles from the water before it reaches the RO system. A sediment water filter will increase the quality and lifespan of the RO system in place.

2. Ultraviolet Purification

Ultraviolet water purification is used to remove bacteria from the water supply. The UV light in the filter attacks the DNA of microorganisms, pathogens, and bacteria to destroy them. Ultraviolet purification is important because they destroy 99% of the organic contaminants by eliminating their ability to reproduce in the water without adding any chemicals or changing the odor or taste of the water.

It’s best if ultraviolet water purification is used in conjunction with other types of water purification, like reverse osmosis, sediment filters, or carbon block filters.

The benefit of using a sediment filter with a UV purification system is the enhanced performance of the UV purification system because UV purification systems work better with clear water. When there are loose particles in the water, microorganisms might hide behind them and UV rays may not be able to kill these hiding microorganisms. A sediment filter used for pre-filtration will prevent this.

3. Protecting Carbon Filter Lifespans

An activated carbon water filter uses the adsorption method to remove contaminants from the water. Adsorption adheres to particles to a surface and it’s the opposite of absorption. Activated carbon (by heat or steam) and the process of activating it increases the area and allows the carbon to hold more contaminants.

Activated carbon filters remove chlorine, odor, and taste, but some filters are certified to remove other components, like lead, mercury, THMs, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, iron, and coliform.
To be sure what the activated carbon filter is certified to remove, look for the NSF certification on the package. These types of filters don’t remove hard water, TDS, or fluoride. The best use of a carbon water filter is if it’s incorporated with other filtration systems, like sediment filters, RO systems, UV purification, etc.

Like any other filter, the carbon water filter has a lifespan and it should be changed every six months to a year, depending on what the packaging information says. The lifespan of a carbon filter is determined by the brand that created it and the gallons of water flowing through it. Most activated carbon filters for RO systems, Whole House systems, water coolers, and under-sink systems should be changed every six to twelve months. If the activated carbon filter is for a pitcher, it should be changed every two to six months depending on the brand. If the activated carbon filter is for a faucet, it should be changed every four to six months to ensure efficiency.

A sediment water filter protects the carbon filter lifespan by filtering out all the larger particles and contaminants before they can reach and clog the fine carbon filter cartridge.

4. Whole House Sediment Filtration

The whole house sediment filter is way cheaper than investing in a whole house filtration system. whole house sediment filters prolong the lifespan of your faucets and appliances by preventing their pipes from getting clogged by salts and lime. A whole house sediment filter is important because it will remove any iron, silt, sand, and any other forms of solid sediments from your water supply.

The benefits of using a whole house sediment filter include having refined water from every faucet in a household without the need to install a separate system for every faucet. This is especially useful when the main water supply comes from a well.

Which Sediment Water Filters should be Preferred?

The following sediment water filters should be preferred:

1. Rusco Spin Down Separator: It has a longer lifespan than average sediment filters.
2. SoftPro Spin-Down Sediment Separator Filter: SoftPro has a sustainable design due to its washable polyester screen.
3. iSpring WSP50ARB: It requires almost no maintenance.
4. Culligan WH-S200-C: Culligan sediment filter has a very reasonable price.
5. AO Smith Whole House Water Sediment Filter: It is very easy to install and use.
6. iSpring WSP-50SL Spin Down Sediment Water Filter: It softens water as well as filtering it which makes it ideal for areas with hard water.
7. EcoPure EPWHE Sediment Water Filter: Ecopure has a compact design that requires easy installation.
8. Ronaqua Whole House Water Filter System: It is a very durable product protected by a tank.
9. Express Water Whole House Sediment Water Filter: Express Water can be installed by every homeowner, without the need to call a plumber.
10. Home Master 2 Stage Fine Sediment and Carbon Filter: It features 2 filters instead of 1 which can filter up to 95% of sediment contaminants.
11. GE SmartWater FXHSC GE Replacement Water Filter: It can remove the bad taste and odor as well as large particles from the water.

What are the Sediment Filter Bags?

Sediment filter bags are an economical option for filtering discharge water. Sediment filter bags are also known as slit bags or dewatering bags. Sediment filter bags are used for the removal of dirt, sand, debris, or any sort of sediment from ponds, dredging sites, construction locations, and more. Another popular usage is to clean polluted stormwater before it enters storm sewers and surrounding properties. Sediment filter bags are a very popular option when cleaning silt from natural or man-made ponds or lagoons, which helps the water look clearer. Power plants and wastewater management buildings also use sediment filter bags daily.

For maximum efficiency, the sediment filter bags should be used on porous surfaces, like hay bales to maximize the water flow. Sediment filter bags shouldn’t be placed on slopes or any kind of surfaces that may damage the material of the bag. Benefits of using sediment filter bags include water filtration, sediment containment, and site dewatering.

The main differences between sediment filter bags are in the materials they are made from and the intended usage. Different materials and shapes filter different sediments and are designed to be used in specific places, like:

• Turbidity curtains for calm, moving, and fast waters
• Sediment filter bags for coal processing
• Water protection for construction sites
• Under/Over grate filters
• Curb inlet guard filters

What are the Sediment Filter Replacements?

Sediment filter replacements are parts of the sediment filter system that will later need to be replaced, in this case, the filter itself. The new filter should be put in every six months (or any other period that is written on the model instructions).
The replacement sediment filters come in all shapes and sizes, so you will have to check out the exact size of the previous filter to see which replacement filter to get. Some filters need to be “dropped” in the water housing, but others are screwed in, so also check what type of connection the filter has to have.

Another important statistic when picking a replacement filter is the micron rating. It determines the size of the smallest particles that can’t pass through the filter. The lower the micron rating, the better the filter is, but keep in mind that the water pressure will also be affected based on the micron rating. Usually, replacement filters come with a micron rating of five, ten, or twenty.

Before buying sediment filter replacements, check and see if the product is made for standard housing sediment filters or reverse osmosis systems. For example, whole house sediment filters are string bound, pleated, or made from polypropylene.
Sediment filter replacements can be bought in bulk from the manufacturer for future use, but the packaging needs to be intact until the moment the new filter is ready to be used.

What is the Sediment Water Filter Cartridge?

Sediment water filter cartridges are typically used as pre-filters because they remove particulates. Larger contaminants are hardly removed by fine cartridges and this is why sediment filters have such an essential role. Sediment water filter cartridges are installed inside a housing unit and they can stop anything from visible particulates to microorganisms, but that depends on the type of sediment water filter cartridge used. Each type of filter can be made from different materials, including cotton, polypropylene, cellulose, glass fiber, ceramic, wound string, etc.
There are sediment cartridges that can send all the impurities back to the drain. Each sediment cartridge has a distinct micron rating which is used to determine the ability of the filter to remove contaminants depending on their size. This helps to determine which sediment filter is convenient for a specific water supply, for example, if a filter is rated with “10 macron” this means that it can remove particulates as small as 10 micrometers.

What is the Sediment Water Interface?

The sediment water interface is the border between the overlying water column and bed sediment. The sediment water interface is a thin layer of water, which is at the surface of the sediments on the seafloor. The term is mostly used in oceanography and limnology, but it can be applied to water purification.

Sediment water interface is important for water purification because it allows the user to set the system to the parameters that must comply with the user’s needs and requirements.

What are the Sediment Water Filter Brands?

Brands that produce the sediment water filter are listed below:

1. iSpring: produces reliable and durable products.
2. SpringWell: uses the latest water filtration technologies to create innovative solutions.
3. SoftPro: offers products with sustainable designs.
4. Rusco: produces high-quality water filters for homes, commercial buildings, and well-sourced water.
5. Culligan: features Water Quality Association (WQA) certification for all its products.
6. EcoPure: delivers safe and healthy water at reasonable prices.

What are the Sediment Water Filter Products?

1. Rusco Spin Down Separator: Fully NSF certified
2. SoftPro Spin-Down Sediment Separator Filter: the 2-inch version of the product provides GMP up to 100.
3. iSpring WSP50ARB: features a 360-degree rotatable head connection allowing the unit to be installed in any direction
4. 4.Culligan WH-S200-C: made out of stainless steel
5. AO Smith Whole House Water Sediment Filter: lightweight, standing at 2lb.
6. iSpring WSP-50SL Spin Down Sediment Water Filter: This can be bought in a 1000 micron version
7. EcoPure EPWHE Sediment Water Filter: The cartridge is fully encapsulated and no human interaction is required.
8. Express Water Whole House Sediment Water Filter: the system can withstand water pressure of up to 115 PSI.
9. Home Master 2 Stage Fine Sediment and Carbon Filter: features a 2-level filtration
10. GE SmartWater FXHSC GE Replacement Water Filter: the filter life is 30,000 gallons.

What is a Sediment Water Heater?

A water heater sediment filter is one of the main protectors of your tankless heater, pipes, plumbing, fixtures, and any other appliances that use water from the water heater. The sediment filters for water heaters are very important especially when a water heater is installed because they don’t have the same protections as traditional tank water heaters.

Sediment water heater systems should not only filter the incoming water and remove solid debris but also prevent scale (incrustation) from forming on appliances such as washing machines, for example. The benefits of water heater sediment filtering include:

• Longer lifespan of appliances, including the water heater and any other ones connected to it via the pipes.
• Having a filter will help you avoid any water heater repairs and costly maintenance of connected appliances.
• The sediment water heater filter isn’t that expensive and helps your budget in the long run.

When buying a sediment water filter particularly for water heaters, make sure that the filter has the capabilities to remove sediment, dirt, dust, and other solid particulates, loosen existing scale deposits on your water heater and stop the scale from forming on your heater and other appliances.

What is a Sediment Water Pump?

A sediment water pump is used to remove sand or any other solid particulates in water well applications. Water pump sediment filters benefit whole house systems and sprinkler systems. The sediment filter also preserves the shelf life of sprinkler heads, well tanks, pumps, and plumbing fixtures.

Water pump sediment filters are specifically designed to be used wherever well pumps are used. Buying this filter doesn’t necessarily replace the need to use a whole house filtration system or any other combinations of additional water purification.

Some well system sediment filters have the option to flush the sediment build-up via the flushing valve on the bottom of the filter. There are different models for indoor, outdoor, and combined usage, as well as various sizes available.

The advantages of sediment water pump filters are that the well water you use at home or for your sprinklers will be clear and free of sediment particles and this type of filter can be used as a pre-filter before installing a whole house system or a specific kind of water filtration system.
It’s not recommended to use sediment water filters designed for well pumps at any other places, like pools or indoor appliances because they won’t be useful. This is a kind of disadvantage, because this type of sediment water filter is only usable with well pumps, so if you don’t have a well pump it wouldn’t work.