The Ultimate Beginner Water Filtration Guide
The Ultimate Beginner Water Filtration Guide
Water filtration is important because it ensures the water that comes into your house is free of sediment, odor and bad taste. Filtration can benefit both municipal and water well applications. Ensuring that you and your family have sediment free and great tasting drinking water can be as simple as installing a whole house water filter housing.
Selecting water filtration products can be intimidating as there are so many options. This book will break down what the options, help you make your selection and provide step by step installations and replacement instructions.
Stick with us and you will be a filtration pro by the end.
Many people make choosing the proper Water Filtration solution difficult, but it is very simple. The first and most important thing that you need to do is Identify the Problem.
POE – Point of Entry
This type of filter is used when the water is entering the house before it gets to any taps or appliances. They typically use larger filters to achieve the desired flow rate. Items such as sediment filters are an example of a POE filter as this is better done right as the water enters the house. These filters are usually installed close to your pressure tank and would be more commonly seen if the water source is from a well.
POU – Point of Use
This type of filtration is generally used right before a tap or other water source that will be used. For example, many people install Carbon POU filters on their sink tap to remove poor taste and odor. The most common filter cartridges to use for POU applications are Activated Carbon. These filters are common for both well and municipal water sources.
Pre and Post Filtration
This type of filtration is generally used before other filtration systems such as RO or UV. These types of systems need the water to be filtered to a certain level before they can remove bacteria from the water. For example, if there is too much sediment going into a UV system, it will not properly filter the water as the bacteria can hide within sediment. This is where a Pre filter system would be used. If you are using a RO system, having a pre filter will ensure that your filters stay cleaner longer which will save money on filter purchases.
Specialty Applications
Including:
The Size of a Micron
To understand what a micron rating is we first need to understand what a micron is. A micron is short for micrometer or one millionth of a meter. Now that’s a very tiny unit of measure!
The micron rating refers to the distance between pieces of filter media. This determines the size of particles that the filter will allow to pass through. A 50 micron rated filter will allow larger particles to pass through than say a 5 micron rated filter. Common micron ratings for filters are 100, 75, 50, 25, 10, 5, 1 and 0.5.
Filters fall into two micron rating categories:
A nominal micron rating is the effectiveness of a filter to retain the majority of particulate at the specified micron size. This amount can vary from 60 to 98% depending on the test environment, manufacturer of the filter and concentration of the contaminant. Nominal rated water filters are used for disinfecting and removing particulate, chlorine and it’s byproducts, chemicals, as well as for taste and odor applications.
Carbon filters can be considered nominal rated filters.
Just as it's name would signify, an absolute micron rating retains 100% of particulate at a specified micron rating. Test conditions for these are more defined, including: particle size, pressure, concentration, and detection method used to identify the contaminant. These water filters are used where it is critical for all contaminants to be removed such as sterilizing and final filtration.
Pleated filters can be considered absolute rated filters.
The Importance of Water Flow Rate
Average Gallons Per Minute Requirements
The average household needs 100 to 120 gallons per person per day, and a flow rate of about 6 to 12 gallons per minute.
A toilet will normally use about 2.2 to 5.0 GPM, a shower from 2.5 to 5.0 GPM, a bathtub from 4.0 to 8.0 GPM, a bathroom or kitchen faucet from 2.5 to 3.0 GPM, a dishwasher from 2.0 to 3.0 GPM, and a washing machine from 4.0 to 5.0 GPM.
Just keep in mind that every house actual flow rates and pressure drop will be determined based on cartridge selection and fluid viscosity.
When selecting a water filter there are two main types of filters, sediment and taste & odor.
They come in widths of standard or giant and lengths of approximately 5", 10" or 20". The application and desired flow rate will help determine which one you need.
Filters come in a range of micron sizes to suit a wide range of applications.
If your water source contains unsafe bacteria, you need to use a RO or UV system that is designed to kill bacteria.
Sediment filters are for removing silt, dirt, sand, rust & scale particles. These filters can be used as a pre-filter before a taste & odor filter.
Pleated Filters
Water filters through the surface of the material making this a surface filtration method. By pleating the material there is a greater surface area for filtration to occur over. As particles are blocked from passing through the material they rest on the outermost surface, creating a filter cake. As this builds up the filtering action is increased but the flow slows.
Most pleated filters can be cleaned/rinsed and reused in most applications and micron ratings. They may be more expensive upfront but are more economical in the long run.
Spun Filters
These filters are made up of multiple layers with different degrees of filtration. Larger particles are retained at the outer layers of the filter while smaller particles are removed from the inner layer. These filters use the depth method of filtration where particles are collected throughout the filter and not just on the surface.
The process to manufacture these filters is also known as melt-blown, a one step process that uses air to blow the material into the shape of the filter.
String Wound Filters
In these filters, string is wound around a core creating a precise pattern. Like the spun filters, string wound filters use the depth method of filtration. Filtration takes place throughout the whole filter and not just on the surface. These filters have a diamond like pattern on the outside from how the string is wrapped around the core.
The tighter the strings are together the higher the micron rating and more these filters will remove.
Carbon is used in Taste & Odor filters as it absorbs impurities from water. These filters do not remove sediment very well, so if you require sediment to be removed as well as taste & odor, install a sediment filter before a taste & odor filter. Doing so also extends the life of your taste & odor filter as sediment particles clog or reduce the surface the carbon has to absorb.
Carbon Wound (Powder Activated Carbon) Filters
Small particles of activated carbon remove bad taste & odor from the water. Activated carbon has an electro-positive charge to attract contaminants. These filters have a netting around them for added strength.
Granular Activated Carbon Filters
The particles of carbon in these filters are larger than powder activated carbon. Activated carbon has an electro-positive charge to attract contaminants. Water travels through the granular activated carbon from the bottom of the filter to the top and does not enter through the sides.
Carbon Block (Briquette) Filters
Carbon is contained between inner and outer wraps/ netting that the water filters through. These filters use granular activated carbon or powder activated carbon depending on the one selected.
In-Line Taste & Odor Filters
These filters can be installed on the water line. They use coconut shell activated carbon to filter out bad tastes & odors leaving water clear, clean and better tasting. Coconut shell activated carbon has an electro-positive charge and adds a "sweet taste" to the water.
Select Your Filter Housing
Filter Housings
When selecting which housing to go with your selected filter narrows it down to make this decision easier. Housings come in a variety of options including Slim, Standard and Giant sizes with a 5", 10" or 20" bowl. Standard filters will fit in slim or standard housings while giant filters fit in giant housings. The length of the filter selected will determine the length of the bowl required.
Housings come with a black polypropylene head and have a pressure relief button that is used when installing and changing the filter.
Bowls are available in opaque or clear. Opaque bowls (blue or white) made out of polyproplyene and are longer lasting than clear bowls. It is recommended to replace opaque bowls every 10 years. Clear bowls are made from styrene acrylonitrile or polycarbonate. Clear bowls should never be installed where there is exposure to UV rays. It is recommended to replace clear bowls every 5 years.
Specialty Options
Stainless Steel Inserts can be available on the housings listed above. They reduce the possibility of cross threading.
High Temperature Water Filter Housing Kits are available in Red or Black. For extreme temperature and pressure applications a stainless steel housing would be the way to go.
Finally we leave you with these tips to keep in mind for cost effective and long term choice.
To make getting a quote easy, just click on the button below and we will reach out to you.
PRO CERTIFIED
PLUMBING & WATERWELL ACCESSORIES