Sediment Filter Setup

[muddywell]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a house with a well and would like to upgrade the filter setup on the incoming water. The previous owner had a 2x10 sediment filter right after the pressure switch. It seems effective, but I notice water pressure decreasing after about a week, especially after a recent incident of extremely muddy water (thanks for all the help getting that one sorted out!).

Since I bought the house, I replaced a defunct softener with a 48k grain system and have been changing out the 2x10 filter cartridges regularly with 20micron pleated filters. I got the water tested after the muddy water incident:

Bacteria:

Chemistry:

My only complain/issue with the raw well water is a fair amount of sediment. The water is now clear, but there is a good amount of fine, sandy sediment getting caught in the filter which I'm sure is reducing the cartridge life.

The current plan is to remove the exiting 2x10 filter and replace with a spin down filter (100micron?) followed by a 4x20 sediment filter (20micron?). The water soften comes after the filters. I'm assuming the water softener will handle the relatively low amount of iron, but should I start a ResCare or similar regiment to remove the iron from the media?

Is this a decent plan of attack, or should I be considering something else? Any suggestions/critiques are appreciated.

- muddywell

 

[Reach4]

A 4.5 x 20 cartridge filter would have about 10x the capacity of a 2 x 10 filter. Be aware that the bigger sump is heavier when full of water, so do not mount where you would be using outstretched arms to change the cartridge.


.4 ppm is a fair amount of iron, but can be handled by a softener with regular treatment.

I would use Iron Out, but ResCare (phosphoric acid) smells better. You could do a catch-up treatment with IO powder, and then use a wick dispenser for the ResCare continually.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[muddywell]

A 4.5 x 20 cartridge filter would have about 10x the capacity of a 2 x 10 filter. Be aware that the bigger sump is heavier when full of water, so do not mount where you would be using outstretched arms to change the cartridge

The pressure tank And filter are currently under the stairwell in the basement. Though from there, there’s a big loop over to the water softener by a utility sink. I’m thinking of moving my filter set up over by the water softener to have everything in one place and have a little bit easier access.

.4 ppm is a fair amount of iron, but can be handled by a softener with regular treatment.

Is this high enough to start thinking about a dedicated iron filtration system? When I first got the water tested for hardness they checked iron too and said it was 0.1ppm.

Why do you prefer iron out over ResCare? Does the odor make it all the way to the tap, or does it only exist in the softener system?

 

[Reach4]

Note that the backwash for the softener is 2.4 gpm. The filter should allow enough water for that rate, and if it keeps the pressure 30 psi at the input to the softener, that should be OK.

I have only used Iron Out powder. I think it is more effective for a given amount of money. The smell is only at the brine tank.

https://terrylove.com/forums/index....filter-media-should-i-get.108858/#post-772297 #4 talks about an occasional treatment method. You can also layer it in with the salt.

 

[muddywell]

My softener has a flow meter built in and I see it routinely above 3.0GPM with a couple faucets turned on, so it should be good for backwash.

Thanks for the link to that IO procedure. I may do that and then use the ResCare easy feeder for maintenance.

Any thoughts on a spin down filter? I’ve seen Russo recommended a few times. Was thinking maybe their sediment trapper with a 100micron screen. I also see iSpring popping up in searches but not sure of the quality.

I assume any big blue style filter housing would work as they’re so simple.