Sediment filter - do I need it?

[Jarniscipus]

I am on a well and have a small inline filter (photo below) after the well tank and before the irrigation feed and the water conditioner - a Hellendbrand iron curtain and then a Hellenbrand promate 6 softener. It works great. I clean the pre-filter every few months and there usually is about a tea spoon of fine silt in it at most. I am replumbing everything so now I am thinking about it - my question is do I need this filter, if i removed it would the backflushing of the iron filter and softener be able to deal with this or is this pre-filter truly protecting my system and i must have it? It seems like it is just something to clog up if the conditioners can handle it or this stuff just passes through my fixtures.

 

[Mikey]

I had one of these following my contact tank for a year or so, until the bottom threaded end of the housing snapped off as I was opening the drain valve. I kind of liked it while it was working, but I didn't replace it. My experience suggests that if you do continue with it, be sure to include a 3-valve bypass around it just in case.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[ditttohead]

Screen filters are great as they catch the heavier fines that the following equipment may have difficulty in removing during the backwash cycle. That being said I prefer the Lakos Twist II Clean. http://www.impactwaterproducts.com/videos

Agreed on the 3 valve bypass, all equipment should be able to be bypassed. You can live for a little while with dirty water, hard to live without any water...

 

[Mikey]

Oooh, I like that Twist II Clean. And, it's available at my favorite store!

 

[Jarniscipus]

Wow that thing looks pretty sweet - does it really clean well? I am the guy in their brochure that scrubs the other filter and it is a PITA and I too am concerned about breaking those cheap inline filters...thanks for the tip - now that brings me to the next component, the water conditioner which I will have to post another thread for - but do you guys know an honest and reliable mail order source for me to have my water tested so I can then figure out purchasing new conditioning equipment - I rent mine, buying is the next step...

 

[Reach4]

do you guys know an honest and reliable mail order source for me to have my water tested

I like kit 90 from http://www.karlabs.com/watertestkit/

It takes about 2 weeks after you order to get results by email, mainly for two trips in the mail: empty sample kit, and filled sample kit.

 

[Jarniscipus]

Awesome and thank you , I am familiar with KAR from my profession, they are a solid lab - we can certainly trust their water test results and that is a good price for all of those tests