The last time we lived in a house that was on a well, it was out West and we had a multi-stage filtration system between the well pump and the pressure tanks. In the still kinda new to us house here in WV, the well pump seems to be directly pushing water into the pressure tank without the benefit of any filtering whatsoever.
Which probably explains why I'm getting fine black sediment in the tanks (both well tank and hot water tank), in at least one of the toilets and and RO system's filters as well.
According to the one plumber who we've had out here for unrelated work they "don't do sediment filters on wells around here" (yet I can walk into a Lowes Depot and find them on the shelf). Given that the same plumber apparently thought we were a candidate for a gold plated toilet and a water softener system that according to my research (OK, checking on YouTube on some plumbing related channels) is unsuitable for use with well water, I'm not fully convinced about that.
I'd normally try to find a plumber locally for this, but we're not exactly swamped with them and I didn't have much luck getting one to come out here even for a fairly lucrative job like swapping out the hot water heater.
If I wanted to add a simple sediment filter between the pump and the well tank, is there anything special I need to take into consideration? Like, do I need a pump that's rated for use with a filter or am I overthinking this? Also, does the sediment filter go before or after the air injector port for the oxidation system?
Grizz
UberDork
6/1/20 4:43 p.m.
Overthinking greatly. Just toss it in before the pressure tank and it'll be fine.
Most common to put them after the tank and only on the water lines that go into the house. Don't filter any water going to an irrigation system or to outside faucets. Make sure you install a sediment filter that doesn't filter out anything under 25 microns. You are only worried about sediment. If you decide you want to filter thru a charcoal filter for taste, of filter out fine particles of minerals, then add those filters after the sediment filter. I see people all the time with a sediment issue install a 5 micron filter and then complain that they have no water pressure after a couple of days. Installed a 50 gallon well tank on Friday, and the home owner ran out to HD and grabbed a sediment filter so I could pipe that in while I was there. He tried to get me to install a water softener as well, but I told him not until he gets the water tested. Don't just assume your water problem is always hard water. Could be acidic, iron content, bacterial contamination, who knows what else. Before you add any treatment system, always have the water tested so you make sure the system fixes the issue.
I have had a well, a pressure tank and two 3M filters with progressively finer media in that order for six years replacing the "coarse" filter every month and the fine every two months. It works very well.
You do it after the pressure tank. Here is a photo of mine. The main line comes up from the bladder tank then splits, one side is to the filter, the other is a bypass for when I change the filter. There's some other stuff there for the water softener, but you should get the idea.
I have my filters before the pressure tank, mainly because until I move the pressure tank, that was the only space I could fit them. It doesn't cause any problems, but it probably isn't the optimal way to do it.
I've got 10 and 5 micron charcoal filters in a row. We draw water from under bedrock, so the sediment is's much of a problem.
Get your water tested. The tests will help you decide what has to be done with the water.
Sorry, I should have been a little clearer - we have the usual array of water processing implements already, like an iron/oxidiser tank, pH neutraliser and water softener plus a UV light system. The one filter type we don't have is a sediment filter.
Regarding filter placement - I'll have to check if I even have enough space between the well tank and the existing filter system to see if I can get a sediment filter in there. The layout of the mechanical room/closet is a bit iffy at its best already as they crammed the well tank and water heater into a bump out and then filled the remaining available space with pipework.
Yeah, here's mine:
The well inlet is from the right, then pressure tank, then big sediment filter, then water softener, finally, on the top, is a carbon filter to get rid of a bit of sulfer smell.
I get the media in the big tank & softener serviced about every other year and change the carbon filter every 2 to 3 months.
When I moved in, there was an atomizer on the inlet from the well pump, the air mixed with the suspended iron & manganese to make it large enough particles for the sediment filter to take out. After we had the well tracked due to low recovery, we ended up needing a softener, so I ditched the atomizer since it was not needed with one of those.
In reply to bonicurtis :
Do you have a filter in your canoe?
