House water filtr

[czechsonofagun]

All the water in the house goes through 5 micron water filtr. The well is great, we have water even in the drought, but it is read beacuse of Virginia red soil. So we use the filter and have to change it every two month or so.
Now there is a well - pump - tank - filter in this order and the water pressure goes down over the time with the filter getting dirty and on the end of the life of the filter it is pretty pathetic.

I was thinking about putting the filter before the tank - IMHO it would make a difference in the water pressure, but there could be some reason unknown to me for this setup.

What do you think?

 

[Iowachild]

I have a lot of iron and silt in my water. I put a string type filter (I'm not sure of the micron rating) right off the well. This does a good job of filtering most impurities. After the tank I added a finer filter. I take off for outside hose bibs just before this filter, but the rest of the house fixture get really well filtered water. I change the elements when I notice the pressure starting to drop. Usually I get 2 to 3 months service between element changes.

 

[Farwell]

Two filters may help. A 10 micron filter prior to the pressure tank and a 5 micron filter after the pressure tank. If this does not help, you may want to think about getting a filter system with more surface area. A reverse osmosis set up for your drinking water if you have drinking water issues.
Farwell

 

[TORQUIN]

You have lots of particluate matter in the water? I wonder why this is. I guess a better question would be why don't more houses have particulate matter issues with their well water.
My well, here in Powhatan, Va., is 250+ feet deep, and I don't have any problems with particulate matter, but I have plenty of problems with high iron content, and water hardness. I have a water softener that takes care of the hardness and most ot the iron, using the iron-out salt that can be bought at Home Depot.

Chris

 

[wjmst]

I use a 5 micron carbon filter on my house and I end up changing it at the beginning of every month. Of course, I am pumping water out of a spring. The $5 a month for the filter is worth it. The filters I use are about 3" in diameter and maybe 10" or 11" long. I know they have a larger filter that is about 6 or 7 inches in diameter. Maybe that would help you out.

Wes

 

[WVBill]

I live up in the Eastern Panhandle of WV and have the same red-clay/silt problem with my well.

I put in two of the whole-house filters in parallel after my pressure tank but before the softener. This extends the change-filter cycle to 3 months for me.

I've read that putting the filter in before the tank/pressure switch is a no-no because as it clogs up the pump has to work harder and harder and that will reduce its life. I want my pump to last just as looooong as it can.

 

[Jagmandave]

They make self-cleaning filters that have a back flush cycle plumbed in........they're more expensive to buy, but you don't ever replace the cartridge so I would think it would work out over the long run, plus no filter changing hassle.

 

[slaveToHorses]

I have clay silt also. I finally did the full meal deal. I put in a concrete 1700gal cistern (holding tank). The well pumps in to the tank, at the top. Then there is a second well pump that pumps out of the cistern, at about 2/3 level. There are two sensors in the tank, when the bottom sensor is dry, the deep well pump is started and runs continuously until the top sensor is wet. Then it stops.
The bottom sensor is above the second well pump intake so the deep well starts up before the secondary pump runs dry.The output from the deep pump comes in above the water line in the cistern so it ariates the water.The secondary pump charges the pressure tank and basically cruises since it has basically no lift to work against.

This setup is the king. It means that the deep well pump never cycles. The cistern collects all the silt, since it settles out. It also buffers the system in case the aquafer (where's the spell checker?) runs dry.
The system has been humming along for close to 20 years now.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Thank you, everybody.


It makes sense what Bill is saying about putting the filter before the tank - I knew there was something I did not see.

And the setup with holding tank looks like the best solution - but my honey-do list miles long, thats not gonna happen anytime soon.


Dave,

Would you happen to have a link or a brand for the self cleaning filter? I could easily justify different solution since filters are about $90 a year. Thanks

 

[WVBill]

Prokop,

Here's a link to a self cleaning filter I looked at when I was considering the same thing. But it's "pricey".

http://www.plumbingsupply.com/sedimentremovalfilters.html