Water Filters used on building water supply systems, municipal water or well water
How do water filters cause building water pressure problems or pump short cycling problems?
Well pump & water tank diagnosis & repair procedures
Articles on water purification
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This article describes water filters used on building water supply systems, including both municipal water supplies and private well water systems. The filters described here are intended to improve aesthetic issues in home water supply such as removing sediment or odors.
Readers concerned with water purity or water potability should also see Filters for Drinking Water Purification for a discussion of portable and emergency water filters that are designed to purify drinking water, including portable ceramic water filters, silver ceramic filters, magnetic (bogus) water purifiers, paper and polypropylene water filters, etc. See WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES for details on other water treatment options besides filters.
A clogged water filter can block water flow between a pump and water tank or between a water tank and
the rest of the building.
Try changing the water filter by installing a new cartridge; temporary diagnosis can be
made by simply removing a suspect water filter cartridge from its canister entirely.
We have also seen a clogged
water filter cause water pump short cycling, with a rapid "on-off" pump cycle (which is bad for the pump and
pump relay switch.) See WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING for details.
If this is your situation try first changing out the water filter for a clean one.
Technical note: the same clay, silt, or other debris that clogs a water filter
can clog up the pressure sensing opening in the bottom of a pump pressure control switch, as we discussed just above.
So if you are looking for a clogged filter, if changing
the water filter does not correct a problem with the water pump cycling operation, also consider a possibly-clogged pump pressure switch.
The sketch at left shows the basic parts and functions of a typical cartridge-type water filter.
Detailed descriptions of other water system parts and controls, valves, switches, pumps, piping, etc. are provided in the
various sections of this article and are listed just below.
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General water testing and corrective measure advice: contact your local health department.
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