BoshartU - Free Plumbing Blogs, Articles and Education

Choosing a Proper Water Filter Cartridge

Written by Monica Phelan | May 8, 2019 8:09:33 PM

Once you have identified the water quality issue you are having, you will need to determine the type of water filter cartridge required to solve the problem. When deciding this you will want to keep in mind the desired flow rate and the filter cartridge size needed for the job.

 

In this blog, we will be reviewing the basics of:

  • Water Testing
  • Typical Water Problems: Symptoms, Cause, Solution
  • Water Filter Cartridge Options & Benefits

 

Water Testing

You can see, taste or smell when there is a water quality issue. But now what? It's recommended to have your water tested to verify the true problem, in order to make an educated decision.

 

WARNING: Do not use with water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality without adequate disinfection before or after the unit.

 

 

 

Typical Water Problems!

 

Symptoms: Cloudy, Discoloured or Tinted Water, Clogged or Leaking Faucets

Cause: Dirt, Sediment, Rust Particles

Solution: Whole House Filter System or Under Counter Filters

 

Symptoms: Musty, Swampy Taste, Chlorine Taste - in Water & Ice Cubes

Cause: Taste / Odour

Solution: Carbon Cartridges and Canister style Ice Maker / Refrigerator Filters

 

Symptoms: Soap Deposits on Dishes, Clothing Soap Curd in Bathtub

Cause: Hard Water

Solution: Water Softeners

 

Symptoms: Red/brown Stains on Fixtures & Clothes, Metallic Taste

Cause: Iron

Solution: Iron Filters

 

Symptoms: Brackish (Salty) Taste, Cloudy Ice Cubes, Deposits on Pots & Pans When Boiling Water

Cause: Dissolved Salts

Solution: Reverse Osmosis

 

Symptoms: Build-up in Water Heater Tank, Banging Water Heater

Cause: Scale

Solution: Hot Water System Protector

 

Drinking Water FAQ

 

Water Filter Cartridge Options & Benefits

Once you identified, your water quality issue, we can determine the type(s) of water filter cartridge that required to solve the problem.

 

SEDIMENT

  • Suitable for silt, dirt, sand, rust & scale particles.

 

PLEATED POLYESTER FILTER CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications, including residential, commercial and industrial.

NOTE: this cartridge can be cleaned and reused in most applications and micron ratings.

 

STANDARD SPUN POLYPROPYLENE DEPTH CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications, including potable water systems, food and beverage, commercial, industrial and home reverse osmosis system.

 

SPUN POLYPROPYLENE GRADIENT DEPTH CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications, including food and beverage, commercial and home reverse osmosis system.

 

GIANT SPUN POLYPROPYLENE GRADIENT DEPTH CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications, including domestic and commercial pre-reverse osmosis.

 

STRING WOUND POLYPROPYLENE CARTRIDGE

Ideal for removing very fine sediment right through to very coarse sediment, at ambient temperatures.

Polypropylene Yarn

  • Used for water, oils, concentrated acids and alkalis, oxidizing agents, corrosive fluids, and gases.

Polypropylene Core

  • Low temperature applications can be incinerated for easy disposal.

 

300°F HIGH TEMP. STRING WOUND COTTON CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications including potable water. Suitable for removing very fine sediment right through to very coarse sediment.

Bleached Cotton

  • Used for water, distilled water, beverages, oils - animal/vegetable/petroleum, acids - citric/ fatty, alcohols.

Tinned Steel Core

  • General-purpose core, for solvents, paints, and oils.

300°F HIGH TEMP. STRING WOUND NATURAL COTTON CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications. Suitable for removing very fine sediment right through to very coarse sediment.

Natural Cotton

  • Used for water, organic solvents, oils, paints, petroleum, alcohols. 

304 Stainless Steel Core

  • High temperature, strong acids, moderately corrosive fluids.

 

TASTE & ODOUR

  • Suitable for unpleasant taste & odour, chlorine taste & odour, fine sediment & particles.

 

STANDARD CARBON DEPTH CARTRIDGES

Ideal for a wide range of applications.

 

CARBON BLOCK (BRIQUETTE) CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications, including point-of-use and reverse osmosis, residential, food service, commercial, and industrial.

 

CARBON BRIQUETTE ‘CYST REMOVAL’ CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications, including potable water filtration, as well as many industrial, commercial and food service.

 

CARBON BRIQUETTE / MULTIMEDIA CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications, including pre- and post- reverse osmosis filtration, taste and odour reduction for potable water in residential drinking water systems, commercial water coolers in schools, offices and factories.

 

POWDER ACTIVATED CARBON WRAP CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications.

 

GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications, including reverse osmosis system or water dispensing system in residential, commercial & industrial.

 

SPINDOWN / SAND SEPARATOR FILTER

Ideal for a wide range of applications, including whole house filtration, agricultural and commercial / industrial applications. 

 

IN-LINE TASTE & ODOUR FILTER CARTRIDGE

Ideal for a wide range of applications, including icemaker, reverse osmosis system, coffee maker, and refrigerator.

 

 

Now that you have a better understanding of water filter cartridges and how they can solve any water quality issue you may have, I would like to leave you with a Pro Tip: Select a water filter cartridge with a Gallons Per Minute Rating that is 2x the desired flow rate. This will result in the cartridge lasting closer to or up to the recommended six-month replacement time for maximum cost efficiency.

For more information, check out our 'Choosing the Proper Water Filtration Solution'

Have further questions about this subject?

 

Head over to Boshart's Knowledge Base: technical product information, guidelines, and more.