Sediment & Pre-Filtration
The first line of defense for your plumbing and every other system.
- Pleated cartridge Traps sand, silt, and rust on its surface
- Filter housing Opens for quick cartridge changes
Step by step
A sediment filter is the first line of defense: it catches particles before they reach your plumbing, appliances, and other treatment equipment.
Water enters the housing
Water flows into the space around the filter cartridge.
Particles are trapped
Sand, silt, and rust get caught on the pleated cartridge surface as water passes through.
Clear water exits
Filtered water collects in the center core and flows on to your home or the next system.
Easy cartridge changes
When water pressure starts to drop, the cartridge is swapped. Heavier sediment can use a self-cleaning backwash filter instead.
Best for
- Wells with sand, grit, or silt
- Cloudy water or rust particles from older pipes
- Protecting softeners, UV, and RO systems from clogging
Maintenance
Cartridges are changed when pressure drops. On some wells that’s every few months, and on city water much less often.
Good to know: Cartridges are changed when water pressure starts to drop. Larger homes and wells often use a self-cleaning backwash filter instead.
What it can help reduce
Every system is matched to your water test. Each link opens our sourced guide to that contaminant.
How well any system works depends on the specific equipment, its certification (such as NSF/ANSI standards), your water chemistry, and maintenance. The information on this site is for general education only and is not medical advice. Talk with a qualified health professional about health concerns. Water treatment equipment performance depends on the system, its certification, and proper maintenance.
Questions people ask
What does the micron rating mean?
It’s roughly the size of particle the filter catches. Smaller numbers catch finer particles but clog faster. We choose the rating based on your water.
Do I need one on city water?
Often not for health reasons, but it can protect fixtures and other equipment from occasional sediment and rust.
Other systems
- Whole-Home FiltrationFiltered water at every tap and shower. Commonly used to reduce chlorine taste and odor.
- Reverse OsmosisA dedicated drinking-water tap that filters out a wide range of dissolved substances.
- Water SoftenersRemoves the hardness minerals that leave scale on fixtures, heaters, and appliances.
- RemineralizationAdds calcium and magnesium back after RO for a balanced, natural taste.
- UV DisinfectionUltraviolet light that inactivates bacteria and viruses without adding chemicals. Common for wells.
Not sure if you need sediment & pre-filtration?
A free in-home water test tells us exactly what your water needs, and what it doesn’t.