1

Just moved into a new home with well water and it looks like I have two types of filters. No identifying labels so I'm a little confused about what is what. In my previous home, I just had a plain sediment filter. This new setup looks like a sediment filter -- odd that it would have opaque cover though -- and some three-phase filter with pressure gauges.

three-phase filter? sediment filter?

Improve this question
4
  • I'd hazard a guess that the single blue one is an activated charcoal filter (or something like that) and is intended to remove dissolved contaminants like heavy metals, etc.
    – brhans
    Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 15:13
  • You've asked the previous owners? Always a good idea if it's an option, though you have to evaluate the correctness of the answer yourself in any case (folks may remember things incorrectly...). In most sales transactions around here, a water test would have been done, but if not, start with having the unfiltered input water tested. Gives you an idea of what might or might not be important, filter-wise.
    – Ecnerwal
    Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 15:59
  • @Ecnerwal It was an estate sale so I really bought it from the owner's children. I doubt they would know but I can shoot them an email.
    – Matt Hughes
    Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 17:05
  • The 3 stage filter I had before was 10 micron sediment filter, 5 micron carbon, and 1 micron carbon. The gauges tell you when the filter needs changing by comparing pressure change across a filter.
    – Tyson
    Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 17:22

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

All of those are sediment (or possibly carbon) filters.

Three of them in a row is common for having increasing levels of filtration, eg: 20 micron -> 5 micron -> 1 micron. This captures bigger particles earlier, which increases the longevity and effectiveness of the smaller filters.

The pressure gauges give you an idea of which filters are getting clogged so you know what to replace.

There's no functional difference between opaque, translucent and clear filter housings -- it's just a different design. Arguably with the clear housings you can see how "dirty" the filter is, but practically speaking, it's much more useful to have pressure gauges. A filter that looks "dirty" may still be quite effective, while one that still looks fairly new may actually be clogged internally and need to be changed.

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    Depending on light level in the area where the filters are, opaque may grow less algae.
    – Ecnerwal
    Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 15:55
  • @Ecnerwal Ah, fair point. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe this would only be a concern if your water supply is surface water (or under direct influence of surface water). Ground water (from an aquifer) shouldn't have any algae in it.
    – gregmac
    Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 16:21
  • Algae are remarkably persistent and/or ubiquitous - While there may be none in the water source, when you open those filter cartridges to change them all sorts of things can wander in the from the air.
    – Ecnerwal
    Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 16:26

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.