Where to Install Sediment Filter for Well Water: Complete Guide 

Last updated on January 2nd, 2023

If you have a private well in your home, you should always make sure that the water is safe to drink. The best way to make sure your water is safe is by properly installing a sediment filter. Here is all information about “Where to Install Sediment Filter for Well Water” you need to know.

As water is the most important resource, we should be able to get it from a clean and healthy source. That is why everyone loves having a well in the backyard because it’s a big advantage for us when we need water. It is also very easy to maintain compared with other water sources. 

With this source, you would not have to spend extra hours and money just to get the water you use every day. Yet, there is one major disadvantage of well water which is silt or sediments in the water supply. 

It is not safe for drinking, nor for any other household uses. Sediments will clog your pipes and may cause rusting inside the pipes that lead to serious issues later on which would require much greater solutions. Thus, it’s very important to eliminate sediment from entering your home as much as possible.

Where to Install Sediment Filter for Well Water?

Before the Pump!

When you have well water, it’s important to have a sediment filter installed prior to the pump to protect your equipment from potentially damaging sediment particles. A sediment filter will block any large debris from entering the pump and causing internal damage. 

Sediment can also cause premature wear on pump components and reduce the efficiency of your well pump. When choosing a sediment filter, there are three main options: whole house, point of entry, or in-line.

A whole house filter is installed on the supply line between the well and the main water supply. It’s typically installed by an installer on top of the existing water supply tank and connects directly to the plumbing. 

This means that all of your household water must first pass through this filter before it enters your home, which can take a substantial amount of time depending on how much water flows through your household pipes each day.

A point of entry (POE) filter is installed directly after the water meter and ahead of the house plumbing. The only water that has to pass through this filter is what’s used for drinking, cooking and bathing purposes. Any excess water used for showers, laundry or other uses will not pass through this filter. 

Also Read: 7 Best Cheapest Way to Remove Iron from Well Water

After the Pump!

After the pump, there’s a sediment filter, which is where that sand-like material will go. It’s important to have it because, just as sand in water hampers the flow of water through pipes, sand in your well water can cause problems. 

That sand can damage your pipes and tanks and reduce the life span of your pump. And you don’t want those things happening! So make sure you put a sediment filter into place so the water can get through the system smoothly.

Install Sediment Filter before Pressure Tank

If you have a well, and you want to get the best use out of it by maximizing your water pressure, it’s important to install a sediment filter before your pressure tank. The sediment filter is designed to keep any fine dirt or other sediments that gets into the water from clogging up the tiny holes in your pressure tank. 

If you don’t put this filter in place, not only will your water pressure suffer greatly, but you can permanently damage your pressure tank by letting grit build up inside it.

Before installing this device, be sure that your well has an adequate water flow rate. This is typically determined by how many gallons per minute (GPM) your good pump is rated for. 

Most wells are between 30 and 60 GPM, but if yours is higher than that, you’ll need a larger filter than normal. 

Then, place the sediment filter just before the entrance to your pressure tank. You’ll notice that there are two connections on each end of it; one goes to the pipe coming from your well with a regular thread connection (typically 1/2″ NPT).

And the other goes to the pipe going into your pressure tank with a different kind of connection altogether (such as a garden hose thread).

Install the Sediment Filter before Storage Tank

Installing a sediment filter before the water storage tank is an important step in protecting your household’s health, and one that many people forget to consider. A properly installed sediment filter will prevent particles such as dirt, sediment, rust and sand from entering your water supply, which can cause health concerns such as skin rashes, stomach problems and dangerously reduced water flow. 

The most important factor in determining where to install the sediment filter is determining the location of your well. This requires some basic knowledge of how wells work

Sediment filters are attached to the bottom of most wells, but this isn’t necessarily the best place for it. In fact, many experts recommend that you install the sediment filter on top instead. The reason for this is simple: when you pump from a well, you draw water up from the bottom using a suction pressure created by the force of gravity. 

When you attach a sediment filter to the bottom side of a well pipe, any particles that have made it through will be left behind on the sediment filter when you stop pumping—but not for good. Because air is more buoyant than water (which itself is more buoyant than dirt), those particles will eventually make their way back into your water supply after they stop moving with gravity. 

Install Water Filter before the Main Water Line

If you have well water, your first line of defense against bad water is to install a sediment filter before the main water line. Sediment filters are installed at the end of a well or in-line with the well piping. Just be sure to avoid freezing temperatures if you install it outdoors. 

A sediment filter works by filtering out fine particles like dirt and sand that can clog your faucets and showerheads. It may not do much against chemical contaminants, but it’s a good first step to ensuring good-quality well water.

where to install sediment filter for well water on the Pressure Tank

After installing a well, it’s recommended to install a sediment filter on the pressure tank, as it will keep dirt and sediment from entering the rest of the house. A pressure tank is used to increase storage capacity and improve water flow. 

The sediment filter is usually installed around the pressure tank before the lines are run toward the house. Sediment filters are inexpensive and easy to install, and they can protect the rest of your home from any damage that could occur due to dirty water.

Before The Water Heater

A sediment filter is an easy, low-cost way to make sure that every glass of water you drink is as crisp and clean as it can be. While they are especially helpful in areas with hard water, they are also very useful when the water supply has a lot of sediments like rust or iron. Sediment filters generally have a sediment cup that fills up over time, and then the filter will need to be changed.

A sediment filter should be installed before the water heater so that contaminants don’t get into the tank and cause problems. It should also be installed after any softeners or reverse osmosis systems to keep the quality of the water high. The ideal location is before any faucets or taps, as again any contaminants that make it through will be able to affect every household member and guest.

Also Read: Springwell Reverse Osmosis Reviews 2022: Best Drinking System

Put Them Close To Each Other For Your Convenience

If your well is around the same distance from all of the plumbing fixtures and appliances in your house, it’s convenient to place the sediment filter relatively close to each one. That way, you can pump water directly from the well into the filter and then into whatever fixture needs it.

If your plumbing isn’t spread out quite so evenly, then the best option is to put a few extra feet between the filter and each fixture so that there’s room for a hose to snake from a filter to an appliance and back again. This way, you don’t have to move hoses around every time you want to switch from one appliance to another.

Conclusion: Where to install sediment filter for well water 

When buying sediment water filters, don’t buy one that removes only sediment. This is because sediment will get stuck in the whole system and will affect the functionality of the filter reducing its life as well. The whole unit including the cartridge should be cleaned every six months. Once a month you should check if it is working properly by asking your technician or by performing a few tests yourself.

After reading this article you will know exactly what to look for in a sediment filter. You will also understand that not everyone needs one, and how important it is to know whether or not you need a good pump. Do your research, read the manual that comes with your new purchase, and make sure you have done everything you can before making any decisions.