Well Water Filter

[lzicc]

I moved into a house a few years ago that has a well. There was 1 Big Blue filter on the incoming water, then it leads to a water softener. I seem like I have to change the filter every couple of months once the water pressure goes down. It is a 1 micron filter. I put a second Big Blue filter between the 1 micron filter and the incoming well water and installed a 5 micron filter which helped with the 1 micron filter lasting longer but the 5 micron filter has to be replaced every few months.

Yesterday I installed a spin down filter, 50 microns between the big blue filters and the incomining well water. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072YVNRZN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The spin down filter clogs within 12 hours and my water pressure drops. When I drain the spin down, it doesn't clean itself all that well. I think the stuff that is clogging it is so fine and really sticks to the filter. I ended up taking the filter our and scrubbing it with a brush to clean it which restored the water pressure.

So now I am thinking about installing a sediment trap in from of the spin down filter. The sediment trap is suppose to trap the sediment in the bottom of the bowl. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005VPMMSW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm not sure what else I can do.

The pump does not cycle on and off fast, it sounds pretty normal, but there is a lot of fine sediment getting caught in the filter.

 

[nybirdman]

Filter is doing it's job; unfortunately part of "rural "life.Had mine for 35 years and still have to change every couple of months.My well is 135 ft.deep and lots of water.I just use the inexpensive woven filters/takes about a minute to change.

 

[lzicc]

They are just so expensive. I figure if I could prefilter the large stuff, it would help, but I don't want to take the spin down apart every 12 hours either. It does do a great job. I'm hoping the may help avoid having to clean it that often. The pleated filters that I buy for the big blue are about $20 each. They are the 20" long ones. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D04BTL2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[5030]

Pizz on Amazon, try H2O distributors for filters. I use 5 micron 20" long commercial cartridges in a commercial clear housing, also available from H2O. Living with a well, one has to change filters regularly, fact of life on any well water supply, some more often, some less. I change filters monthly, don't wait for a pressure drop and no softener on mine, I don't like softeners, waste of water (backflush) and you get the sodium ion exchange and traces of salt in your water too.

I too tried the spin down unit, took it off after a couple months and landfilled it. Worthless. best bet is a 5 micron filter and a change regimen.

I buy a dozen from H2O and that is a years worth for 60 bucks.

 

[RNeumann]

Sounds like you are stuck on the spin down filter.......it doesn’t work for your needs. Return it or chuck it. FIDO

Every well filter situation is different. It’s near impossible to say what’s going to work for you. Try a local well or water contractor- they will have good info.

I will tell you, most would be happy or satisfied to only replace a whole house filter once every few months. Even “treated” domestic water will clog whole house filters regularly.

 

[lzicc]

What's our opinion on pleated vs spun filters? I use the pleated now.

 

[cjoffutt]

I use this one at my house. Well water as well. We change the filter on July 1 and Jan 1. Never have any issues with water pressure dropping. It ONLY filters water for inside the house. All the water for the gardens, flower beds, chicken coop, pool, goes straight from the pressure tank to a dedicated hard water line to their spigots.

https://www.menards.com/main/plumbi...9-c-8685.htm?tid=-5434013071276392525&ipos=20

 

[Scrambler82]

Just thinking out loud, sometimes it pays to have a Professional Water System Engineer come in and determine the best path to take.

Based on your sediment levels, you need a lot more help than a Big Blue Filtering System.

I have a Big Blue, but it works for my situation, and I change it once a year, but I feel the Big Blue is more of a City Water System Filter, not an Off-Line Well System.

My house uses Well Water, 750 feet deep well, 65/gal/hour of clean water. I got a sediment problem only after the water supply line to the house was broken putting in the Barn's Foundation, so much for the Divining Rod ! The Big Blue System works but only after three Filters in the first years, now we are at one a year with no appreciable pressure drop. They work... but in the right situation.

My opinion: "Not a Professional one"... More is good in some things but when you get a row of filters and do-dads, and your system still isn't working, I think it is time for some sort of professional.

Also, do you have a Government Assistance Programs of any type, that might help out with your water supply ?
At some level of Government, State, County, City, there might be something, have you contacted them ?

 

[lzicc]

Before I put the spin down filter on and only had the 2 pleated filters, when I would first change the 5 micron, water pressure was great. After a few days, the water pressure would drop some. Not enough to warrant a change, but noticeable. If I could somehow remove the larger stuff, my 5 micron would last longer and be more consistent. If I am plugging a 50 micron spin down that fast, I must have some large sediment making it through.

Sounds like you are stuck on the spin down filter.......it doesn’t work for your needs. Return it or chuck it. FIDO

Every well filter situation is different. It’s near impossible to say what’s going to work for you. Try a local well or water contractor- they will have good info.

I will tell you, most would be happy or satisfied to only replace a whole house filter once every few months. Even “treated” domestic water will clog whole house filters regularly.

 

[5030]

What's our opinion on pleated vs spun filters? I use the pleated now.

I use neither on my owned house. Both my rentals have wells and I use a cartridge filter with the pleated paper one behind the cartridge and I DO NOT use a spun filter, I use 'Melt Blown' cartridges from H2O. The come in 15 down to 1 micron. I run 5's.

Only been dealing with this for 30 years, not like I don't have lots of hands on experience.

Of course we have a tinge of sulfur too so I inject 35% Hydrogen Peroxide in the raw water (precipitates the sulfur dioxide) out of the water and the melt blown filter catches the precipitate. One good thing about using H2O2 is it kills any and all micro organisms in the water as well. I get my water tested every year and it always comes back free of contaminates.

That is another story for another time however.

If I was running city water, I'd inject H2O2 as well. If you saw what was in the city water pipes, you would too.

 

[oosik]

I've been on a spring for the 38+ years here. It was originally found and used by the homesteader in 1892. In 1982 we moved onto the homestead. I had the spring upgraded. It's now 26 feet deep and lined with 4' concrete rings to the bottom. We surged/purged initially to remove sand & silt.

I've never had any type of filter on this system. It does pump tiny, unnoticeable, traces of silt. You can see the silt in the toilet tank.

Otherwise, it's the finest water east of the Cascades.

 

[lzicc]

Scrambler82, 750' deep well. That's deep. The big blue I have is a 4.5 x 20". I don't know if they make them any large than that.

 

[Scrambler82]

I was guessing, didn't measure, if I find otherwise I will post something.
It is a Big Blue so 4.5 x 20" it is.

All I know is... for me, the one filter works.
I was lucky in one way, first I get clean water, knock-on-wood, second the company that a talked to said to use two filters of different filter size, and then they added to start with one. I like that omcany only because they didn't push the extra filter down my throat and the one is working now.

How about a picture of your system, always good to see what people are doing ?

Added: I also added an Electronic Decalcification System, no matter what it is called it has reduced my Calcium buildup on my facets, biggy for me !

Forgot to answer the original question, "I use a Spun Filter with good success" !

 

[lzicc]

Here is a picture prior to installing the spin down. Looking at the picture, the incoming water comes up from the tank then goes left into the first big blue which is 5 micron, then the second BB which is a 1 micron. Then from there it goes to the water softener then out to the fixtures. The spin down was installed right before the first BB filter. The little white filters at the top left are for my RO system.

 

[Ford850]

I used to use the pleated filters, but read one of the filter manufacturer sites which said string spun should be used for well systems. Not sure why they say that, but I switched to string wound and they seem to last a little longer. I use the 5 micron.

 

[Scrambler82]

Here is a picture prior to installing the spin down. Looking at the picture, the incoming water comes up from the tank then goes left into the first big blue which is 5 micron, then the second BB which is a 1 micron. Then from there it goes to the water softener then out to the fixtures. The spin down was installed right before the first BB filter. The little white filters at the top left are for my RO system.

View attachment 622567

Nice looking install... what about a corse filter at the Water Tank or Pump ?

Excessive Particulates, is a State health Problem... AND should be addressed at state levels.
I would make sure to contact them just in case there is a program in place.

 

[JPRambo]

Maybe they pump is too close to the bottom of the well and is sucking too much fines from the bottom of well.

 

[5030]

I do not and never have liked non transparent filter bowls. I want to see what the media looks like at all times.

 

[RNeumann]

Before I put the spin down filter on and only had the 2 pleated filters, when I would first change the 5 micron, water pressure was great. After a few days, the water pressure would drop some. Not enough to warrant a change, but noticeable. If I could somehow remove the larger stuff, my 5 micron would last longer and be more consistent. If I am plugging a 50 micron spin down that fast, I must have some large sediment making it through.

......or the 50 micron spin down is junk.

No doubt you need a solution. My concern is you have fixated on specs and are convinced that those specs should fix the issue. My contention is the brand and or style of filter isn’t working for your needs.

 

[Clint S]

I would be happy with 2 months per filter change. I usually get on month between changes sometimes less sometimes more. I go from a spindown 50 to a 20 to a 5. I have had it tested and iron bacteria from iron, some sand and sediment. Perfectly safe to drink. I change and clean the spin down every week. I have several spares so it takes a minute. I changed my outside spigots to not run through the filters and it helps prolong the change in the summer. The filters stop most everything as when I only had the 20 washer would clog, a single 5 was at most two weeks , so I just deal the cost. The spin down extended the filter change during ''bad times'' by a bit as there are times (no rhyme or rhythm) when it is worse.