I need a new cartridge for my house filter, which one should I get?
Many homes use a whole house cartridge filter to remove sediment, for taste/odor issues and for a few other reasons. It is important to select the correct type of replacement cartridge AND get a good deal on it. In this blog we’ll discuss the different types of cartridge filters, how to choose the correct cartridge and where to look for good deals on them.
Physical Size of Cartridge
The first order of business is to purchase a filter that is the correct size! Most cartridge filters are either 10” long or 20” long and either 4.5” in diameter or 2.5” in diameter. The bigger the filter cartridge is in both diameter and length, the higher the capacity it has to filter before needing to be replaced AND the higher the instantaneous flow rate the filter can handle. If you have a 2.5” x 10” cartridge it will need to be replaced more frequently and will restrict the flow more than a 4”x 10” filter or a 4” x 20” filter.
Filter Pore Size
Cartridge filters are rated by the size of the openings in the filter fabric. 100 micron, 75 micron, 50 micron all the way down to 1 micron. So which size do you need? If you are taking out rather large particulate matter then 50 - 100 microns should work well. If you have some fine silt then you may want to consider something in the 10-25 micron range. For applications where very clean water is needed such as where a UV is used to treat the water, you’ll want a filter with a 5 micron or smaller pore size. Keep in mind that the smaller the pore size and the more the amount of sediment, the faster the filter cartridge will plug and need to be cleaned or replaced. Pentair has developed a series of Dual Gradient filters that incorporate a larger pore size on the outside and a smaller pore size inside. These types of filters give a combination of long life and smaller pore size. The filter at the right is a 25 micron/1 micron dual gradient filter. These types of filters are also available in 50micron/5micron (DGD 5005), 75 micron/ 25 micron (DGD 7525)
Types of Filters
Pleated Filters
The first type of filter is the pleated filter pictured just to the left These are the simplest and often least expensive filters. In some cases they can be washed and reused several times.
Carbon Block Filters
Carbon block filters like the one pictured to your right comprise another of the 3 common types of cartridge filters. These types of filters are used to remove chlorine and can help remove heavy metals as well and will also catch sediment. These types of filters are about twice as expensive as pleated or spun fiber filters. If you have a lot of sediment, you may consider installing another cartridge filter in front of the carbon filter to remove most of the sediment and save money in the long run by replacing the sediment filters on a more frequent basis and the carbon filter every year or so.
Spun Fiber Filters
Spun fiber filters are the last of the 3 main types of home water supply cartridge filters. They cannot be cleaned/reused, but have a longer life/capacity than most of the pleated type cartridges.
How Often should I replace my cartridge filter and how do i replace it?
You should plan on replacing/cleaning your cartridge filter at least once per year. If you have water with large amounts of sediment then the schedule may need to be modified to once every 6 or 3 months, possibly even every month! Plugged filter cartridges cause the flow and pressure of water to decrease, so that can be an indicator that your cartridge filter is in need of replacement. Replacing the filter is usually pretty simple. turn the water valves off before and after the filter unit. Next place a bucket under the filter cartridge unit and press the red pressure relief valve on the filter cartridge unit and a little bit of water will come out. Now you can grab the filter wrench and loosen the filter housing (clockwise when looking down on the filter from the top). Once loose, carefully spin the housing off and remove the filter cartridge. Clean the filter housing and install a new/clean filter cartridge and screw the filter housing back in place, tightening gently. You don’t need any teflon tape or pipe sealant since filter housings use o-rings-just make certain the o-ring is in its proper place and clean before reinstalling. Now turn on the inlet valve to the filter cartridge and then press the red pressure relief button to vent the air from the filter cartridge. Now turn on the final valve out to the house and run some water in your house. If you are installing a carbon block filter, there is one more step you need to take. Go inside the house and turn the water on and let it run for ~5 minutes. Many of the carbon block filters will release a small amount of the activated carbon and make the water look black for a bit. This is normal, just let the water run until it cleans up!
Where should I buy filter cartridges from?
Many people like the convenience of using amazon or other online retailers to purchase their filter cartridges. The best deals are usually for large packs of 6 or 12 filters. Additionally, online stores like H20 Filter Warehouse and Freshwater Systems can offer good deals on cartridge filters!
Amazon or other links have been provided to provide illustrations of products mentioned in this blog. These links are not intended to show the exact product for your specific application, rather a generic example of the product(s) referenced. While purchasing these items is possible, please do so after having done your own due diligence and understanding that these links may generate commissions.