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Daryl
New Member

Reged: 10/02/02
Posts: 20
inline water filter
      10/02/02 08:23 AM

Have a well that is about 2 years old. Water is fine. Was thinking about putting a filter in for removing small dirt/rock from getting into wash machine, hotwater heater and anything else that it may harm. I bought 1 at Lowe's that hooks into the water line. My question is, do I put it before the pressure tank or after it.

Thanks
daryl

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fenneran
Member

Reged: 09/12/02
Posts: 40
Loc: Staunton, VA (Shenandoah Valley)
Re: inline water filter new [re: Daryl]
      10/02/02 08:31 AM

Daryl,

Mine is after the pressure tank, but before the Hot water heater. I have to change the filter cartridge about every three to five weeks.

Lowe's carries about 4 different types of cartridge. Since our water is pretty filled with sediment, I get the smallest micron one, but it means I have to change it more often.

Frank

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Mike_Dumond
Member

Reged: 09/11/02
Posts: 60
Loc: Fort Kent, Maine
Re: inline water filter new [re: Daryl]
      10/02/02 08:49 AM

Morning Daryl, as Frank said, they go after the pressure tank. The biggest reason for this, is that most filters you get have a 3/4" (or 1/2") inlet and outlet. Most lines from the pump are 1" or better. While reducing the line size for the filter won't stop the water from coming, it will affect the smoothness of the pressure tank and switch operation.

And, as Frank said, you will have to change the filter fairly often. The finer the filter, the more often you'll have to change it. And, remember that your pressure will drop a bit. Doesn't usually bother anything, unless you have pressure problems to start with.

So others may live

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tenebrous
Gold Member

Reged: 09/11/02
Posts: 413
Loc: Geneseo, New York
Re: inline water filter new [re: Daryl]
      10/03/02 08:25 PM

My last house was on a lake and we pumped water from it the first five years we were there. I put a paper in line filter and then a charcoal filter to try and improve the quality of the water. The paper filter would start to clog in a few days and the pressure in the house would go down.

To solve the problem I installed a second pressure tank. So the system had a pressure tank before and after the filters. I also added a courser filter to get rid of the larger particles before the other two in line filters. It really helped but I was happy when I could hook up to town water.

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Phred
Silver Member

Reged: 09/13/02
Posts: 104
Loc: Arkansas
Re: inline water filter new [re: Mike_Dumond]
      10/13/02 10:51 PM

guys,

I can see your point about the 1" line, however, I did not want to get the bits of shale that came out of my well inside the pressure tank.

So I used 3/4" to 1" reducers and put two inline filters before the pressure tank. The first is a particulate and the second is a carbon.

Works great not pressure problems.

Fred

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Daryl
New Member

Reged: 10/02/02
Posts: 20
Re: inline water filter new [re: Phred]
      10/14/02 01:13 PM

When you did this you experienced no change in pressure at all?
I had heard that you would not. If that is so before the pressure tank would be the best place to put a filter.

Thanks
daryl



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tenebrous
Gold Member

Reged: 09/11/02
Posts: 413
Loc: Geneseo, New York
Re: inline water filter new [re: Daryl]
      10/15/02 06:26 PM

If the filter is before the tank then as it clogs then the pump will have to work against this resistance. If the filter is after the tank then there will be a reduction in house pressure as the filter clogs. I would rather have the loss of pressure in the house then over work the pump. Again the two tank system will solve the problem.

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Phred
Silver Member

Reged: 09/13/02
Posts: 104
Loc: Arkansas
Re: inline water filter new [re: Daryl]
      10/15/02 10:57 PM

Daryl,

I did this from the start so I can't tell you how much impact it would have. However, I have plenty of pressure no need for any more.

My setup is a 1hp pump down ~650 feet and then ~250 feet lateraly to the pressure tank. All of this is 1" except at the filter housings. Which is 3/4" and then 3/4" to the pressure tank. The 3/4" line is only a couple of feet so I don't think it adds much to the drop.

Fred

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Phred
Silver Member

Reged: 09/13/02
Posts: 104
Loc: Arkansas
Re: inline water filter new [re: tenebrous]
      10/15/02 11:01 PM

Tim,

I can see your point. Two factors make it ok in my case. I don't use much water and I stay on top of the filters.

I will say that the canister filters A gets expesnive and B is a pain to switch every month. So I am looking at going with a backwashable filter setup. Cost is ~$500/ filter but they last much longer (years), and are more effective. Likely pay for itself long term.

Fred

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tenebrous
Gold Member

Reged: 09/11/02
Posts: 413
Loc: Geneseo, New York
Re: inline water filter new [re: Phred]
      10/16/02 09:40 AM

So I am looking at going with a backwashable filter setup.

That is the way I went in the new house but I would still put it after the pressure tank. If it malfunctions you will know it.

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BrianP
Silver Member

Reged: 09/19/02
Posts: 139
Loc: Ontario, Canada
Re: inline water filter new [re: Daryl]
      10/16/02 12:36 PM

I put mine after my pressure tanks (2 tanks for more capacity and less pump cycling). My 'solids' are not a taste or look issue, I just wanted to protect my softener. I have a 3/4" outlet from the pressure tanks, so I used 2 filters in parallel because, even though the threads on the filters were 3/4", the actual hole through the filter was 1/2"! This is a situation I have seen on other things like flexible pipes for water heaters, etc.. There is not much sense to use a 3/4" pipe if you only have a 1/2" hole somewhere. Why the manufacturers do so is beyond me.
Anyhow, I would recommend that you build a bypass with a couple of ball valves (always use ball valves). I find this makes changing the filter elements much easier, even if it looks like a plumber's nightmare. If you want, I could post a pic, but I don't have one handy.
Anyway, I only have to change elements every three months or so.

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Carl
Member

Reged: 09/11/02
Posts: 76
Loc: Rocky NH Coast
Re: inline water filter new [re: Daryl]
      10/17/02 03:48 PM

Daryl,

When installing a filter before the tank you will never loose pressure, since the switch is likely after the filter and the pump is trying to satisfy the switch. Even if the switch is before the filter you will not notice any difference in the house.

What will happen is the pump flow is decreased (could be considerable over time) and the amperage will go up pumping against the head of the filter. The loss of flow is more critical to the pump and IMHO much more costly repair. The new tanks have a bladder which empties all the water out and flushing this when you change filters is a better idea.

I would advise putting in a 3/4" gate/ball valve, inline Y-strainer, 1" cartridge fliter, and another 3/4 " valve in that order after the tank and switch. That way you will catch all the course materials in the Y strainer then the finer materials in the fliter.


Carl




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egon
Veteran Member

Reged: 09/12/02
Posts: 3031
Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada
Re: inline water filter new [re: Carl]
      10/18/02 07:19 AM

Darly:

I'd look at two pre tank filters, one coarse and one fine. with differntial gauges across them so you can tell when they need changing. The fines in your water should determine the micron size and type of the filters you will require. It would be nice if the filter canister was so set up that it coud be backwashed to the drain as this would extend filter life.

As pre pressure tank filters plug up and allow less flow you can lose house pressure if the rate at which you withdraw water exceeeds the volume allowed through the filter and you drain down the pressure tank.

A centrifugal pump will draw less amperage as the discharge pressure increases and the flow volume decrease's. It will draw the least amperage pumping against a closed valve. It draws maximum amperage when pumping at maximum volume against minimum head. That is aside from the startup draw.

Egon

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Carl
Member

Reged: 09/11/02
Posts: 76
Loc: Rocky NH Coast
Re: inline water filter new [re: egon]
      10/18/02 10:39 AM

Egon,

You're right higher flow = higher amperage and deadheading the pump will be lowest amperage - I must have been having a brain cramp..

I have installed many water systems in past jobs and always put the filter after the tank/switch when one was needed so to protect the pump system since many homeowners just aren't concerned enough to check or regularly change these filters.

When the warranty on the pump system is 3-5 years this was the major reason to install in this fashion. Also it is a lot easier to solve a customers problem "we're out of water" by having a consistent installation procedures for pump versus supply side plumbing.

Carl

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egon
Veteran Member

Reged: 09/12/02
Posts: 3031
Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada
Re: inline water filter new [re: Carl]
      10/19/02 06:01 AM

Carl:
Your installation method makes a lot of sense in the contex you describe it.

Egon

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MarkV
Member

Reged: 09/11/02
Posts: 79
Loc: N. Georgia
Re: inline water filter new [re: Daryl]
      10/23/02 06:52 AM

Take a look at www.TEKSUPPLY.COM I found their filters to be much cheaper than I could find loacally.

MarkV


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