Sediment Filters in Almeria: The Simple Filter For Plumbing Protection

Emma Here
7 days ago
4 min read

Unbranded basic sediment water filter housing and filter cartridge

If you live in Almeria you'll know the water quality can vary greatly from one area to the next, and even from one week to the next. Even if your water is mains supplied, the news of maintenance works nearby can make you groan in expectation of sudden burst of cloudy, gritty water through the household taps. Water that’s off-colour or containing visible particles are signs that your home would benefit from a sediment water filter.

Sediment filters are ancient technology that, though simple, are often the first line of defence in a home water treatment system. These unsung heroes catch physical particles in the water supply that can otherwise end up in boilers, washing machines, shower heads, taps and appliance valves.

The Lowdown on Sediment Filters

In essence, a sediment filter is designed to trap particles that are suspended in the water supply - things like grit, rust, sand, silt and other visible detritus. They utilise filtration methods that date back as far as ancient Greece, though sediment cartridges today are more precise and consistent.

What sediment filters do well:

Protect pipework and appliances from particles that are abrasive
Reduce blocked shower heads and tap aerators
Act as a pre-filter for reserve osmosis and other water filtration systems

What sediment filters don’t do:

Remove dissolved solids (TDS), limescale, pesticides, bacteria, viruses or salts
Alter the taste or colour of water that’s caused by dissolved compounds or chlorine

Getting a Whole House Sediment Filter Set-up Right

Housing Size

Sediment housing is available in different sizes to suit different flow demands:

Domestic: 10 inch sediment filter housing
Commercial/High Demand: 20 inch housing for higher flow rates and capacity

Single, Twin or Triple Block?

The filter configuration best suited for your home depends on how dirty your water is:

Single filter: the best choice for fairly clean water supplies
Twin filter: perfect for moderate sediment contamination
Triple filter: the solution for water that’s heavily contaminated with sediment

The rule of thumb is that the worse your sediment problem is, the more you’ll benefit from a staged filtration (multiple cartridge) configuration.

Micron Rating and Why It Matters

Cartridges for sediment filters are rated in microns - the size of particles the cartridge is designed to trap. Cartridges for domestic use are typically rated from 50 microns down to 1 micron.

Higher micron numbers: catch larger particles, last longer and have a better water flow rate
Lower micron numbers: catch finer particles, but they clog up faster and have a slower flow rate

If the water in your home is reasonably clear, a 20-25 micron filter is a good starting point, however households with more sediment burden in the water benefit from a staged sediment filtration configuration such as:

Moderate sediment: 25 micron + 10 micron sediment filter (twin)
Heavy sediment: 50 micron + 25 micron + 10 micron sediment filter (triple)

In a multi-staged system, the cartridges should always be placed in descending order, with the highest number micron cartridge first (e.g. 50 > 25 > 10), so that the biggest particles are caught first, preventing the finer micron cartridge stages from clogging up too quickly.

Why Connector Size is Critical

When we have contacts from householders with pre-existing water filters who complain of poor water flow, one of the things we check during the free survey is the size of connectors used because one of the most common ‘cowboy mistakes’ we see in water filter installations is incorrect connector sizes restricting water flow.

Housings on water filters typically have inlet/outlet connectors that range from ¼ inch to 1 inch. Larger connectors result in a better flow, and generally the best approach is to match the filter connector size to your existing pipe diameter.

If you have had a sediment filter installed and noticed that your water flow became weaker afterwards, the culprit may well be incorrect connector sizing or the wrong cartridge micron choice.

How Often to Change a Sediment Filter Cartridge

It is the most common question we get asked about sediment filters, and the honest answer is: it depends on:

How contaminated by sediment your water supply is
How much water you use
The micron size of your filter cartridge

For instance, a 1 micron cartridge may only last a few weeks if it’s used on its own to filter water with a heavy sediment burden, whereas a 50 micron cartridge on a low-sediment supply may last many months, or even a few years.

As a rule of thumb, look to change your cartridge every year, even if you think it looks okay. If you know you have more sediment-filled water, then check it regularly and replace it when it becomes heavily discoloured.

Don’t wait too long to change your filter: If your filter is dark brown, or even black in appearance, you’ve left it too long and the sediment trapped in the filter will start to break down and release back into your water supply as the filter material degrades.

Can I Change a Sediment Filter Cartridge Myself?

If you have some basic DIY skills, changing sediment filter cartridges yourself is relatively easy and standard 10 inch cartridges are widely available and fairly cheap (often under €15).

Turn off the water supply
Depressurise the housing if your system has a release valve
Open the housing, remove the old cartridge and clean the housing inside
Fit the new cartridge, reassemble the housing and check for any leaks

If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, it’s worth seeking help so you don’t risk cracking the housing, damaging threads or developing a leak.

When a Sediment Filter Isn’t a Full Solution

Remember - a sediment filter is a particle filter and not a solution that fixes all water quality issues. If you suffer from any of the following in your water supply, then you require other filtration solutions such as reverse osmosis: