Well Water Filter Clogging almost daily
Gre0145
a basic sediment filter installed on the line coming off the bladder
that feeds the house. In the past I would change the filter every 4
months. Everything seemed ok until last week when I changed the filter
as I normally would. After changing, I noticed several days later the
water pressure in my house was about gone. I checked the filter and
sure enough it was clogged with what looks like iron. I just changed
the filter and will see how long it lasts but my guess is not long.
Does anyone know what may be the problem or what I can do to fix?
Elmo
that when it does, you'll find out where it broke. In the meantime
you could install a pre-filter screen that strains out the really
big hunks and is easy to clean. A standard filter housing with a
screen that fits over the outlet hole shouldn't be all that hard
to put in-line.
Gre0145
So you think it could be rust rather than something coming out of the
ground? I read about shocking the well with chlorine but I'm not sure
it would work.
Bob Noble
It jams filters and makes a mess where ever it drips, so if you are seeing
it on the shower wall, in time, this is what you have.
Now, most iron cannot be removed with just a filter as it's just too small
to filter.
So, what they do is inject a little bit of air into the water which causes
the iron to change to larger particles, which a filter can remove. The
filters usually have back flushing for them, which can be automatic. And if
you are doing the house and yard water, the filter would have to be some
size, say like for a swimming pool.
So, if you also have rusty spots on the shower wall or where any water drips
and meets the air, such as around a built in sprinkler system, you have iron
in the water, a very common thing these days around here.
--
Bob Noble
http://www.sonic.net/bnoble
"Gre0145" <gmoneyw...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ef2c5c21-13c4-4f7a...@35g2000pry.googlegroups.com...
On Feb 3, 8:06 am, Elmo <ElmoHateS...@noSpam4U.org> wrote:
> Gre0145 wrote:
> > I live in a house that's about 40 years old. I use well water and have
> > a basic sediment filter installed on the line coming off the bladder
> > that feeds the house. In the past I would change the filter every 4
> > months. Everything seemed ok until last week when I changed the filter
> > as I normally would. After changing, I noticed several days later the
> > water pressure in my house was about gone. I checked the filter and
> > sure enough it was clogged with what looks like iron. I just changed
> > the filter and will see how long it lasts but my guess is not long.
> > Does anyone know what may be the problem or what I can do to fix?
>
>
Elmo
If nothing else has changed, and it looks like iron, I go with rust.
You know -- when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras unless
you're on the Serengeti plain.
rjma...@yahoo.com
Did you happen to switch to a different filter perhaps ?
Maybe to a micro fiber filter instead of a normal filter ?
Gre0145
The filter was the same. I thought about it and when I replaced this
filter I had trouble with the pressure release button. It took several
minutes of releasing the pressure and adjusting the filte to get it on
correctly. Maybe that stirred up the residue at the bottom of the
well. After the filter was on I did clohes the rest of the night so if
the well was stirred and paricles everywhere then they would have
been sucked up quickly with all the water use. Does that make any
sense?
rjma...@yahoo.com
That doesn't make sense to me but .......
I accidently picked up the wrong filters once. They looked the same
but weren't. Ended up having the same problem you're having.
Randy
Gre0145
>
> - Show quoted text -
I'll double check to make sure. Hopefully that's what the issue is.
Gre0145
> On Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:55:57 -0800 (PST), Gre0145
> you said, the tank is before the filter, RIGHT?
> Drain that tank !!!!
>
> Connect hose to tank and let it flow for 5 to 10 minutes or more with
> the valve fully open. If you have a septic, run the hose outside so
> you dont overload the septic.
>
> Shut off the valve, and turn off the power to your well. Now drain
> this tank completely, but this time, do NOT raise the hose above the
> level of the bottom of the tank. In other words, let the water flush
> out the bottom of the tank so any crud in the tank can exit. If you
> can, remove the hose entirely and let the water drain in a pail, cat
> litter pan, or just let it run on the basement floor if there is a
> drain nearby. If you see lots of crud, let tank drain completely and
> briefly turn on the pump, and keep draining it until you dont see crud
> anymore. You may have to do this several times. If the valve plugs
> up, your tank is really full of crud, and you may have to remove the
> valve and let water drain directly out of the pipe.
>
> While you're at it, drain your hot water heater too. This should be
> done at least yearly.
>
> Let us know how much crud comes out of the tank.
>
> Not only should this solve the filter clogging, but will extend the
> life of your bladder tank, and possibly the pump too.
>
> There is the possibility that the pump is too low in the well (too
> close to the bottom of well). But you did not have this problem
> before, so it's more likely crud buildup in the tank.
>
> LM- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
That makes a lot of sense. I'll give it a shot and see what happens.
Sheldon
I'd say your well has a classic case of screen rot. Contact your
local well driller, I'm sure when you tell him over the phone what you
say here he will immediately concur.
http://www.lifewater.ca/Section_7.htm
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/water/pubs/fs_div/fctsht07/tabid/4088/Default.aspx
The Reverend Natural Light
> I checked the filter and
> sure enough it was clogged with what looks like iron. I just changed
> the filter and will see how long it lasts but my guess is not long.
> Does anyone know what may be the problem or what I can do to fix?
If you ran a bunch of extra water the night you changed the filter,
then it could absolutely stir things around in the well and bring up
extra junk.
My 40 year old well does that. The water gets worse and worse as I
use it and then gradually clears up if I keep running it. So I run an
un-filtered garden hose out on the driveway for a couple of hours two
or three days a week. Neighbors told me the previous owner used to do
the same thing. Know the recovery rate before you try that.
Have you had your water tested? It might be clay from a broken well
casing.
Gre0145
wrote:
Water has been good since Monday night. Clogged today. Chnaged filter
with 5 micron filter (same I think?). Clogged in 10 minutes. I checked
water at hose pipe outside which bypasses filter, bladder, etc. Brown,
brown, brown with particles in it. Rust? Iron? I let the water run
from the hose for 5 minutes full blast and still brown. Any ideas?
Reggie
call your well contractor and see what he thinks. We had to have an acid
treatment of our well when we had what your problem seems like.
brooklyn1
"Gre0145" <gmoneyw...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:71313518-abec-45d0...@v19g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...
The most likely path for particulates to enter your system is through the
well point screen, unless there's a cracked casing pipe, which is unlikely.
A 40 year old screen is probably shot, and long overdue for replacement. If
you don't replace the screen you will pretty soon be spending more on filter
cartridges than it will cost to replace the screen. Excessive particulates
will also destroy your well pump.
Colonel Edmund J. Burke
> Hi, I have similar problem , I would switch to a 20 or 40 micron filter. When I tried a 5 micron filter it was clogged after 2 days.
>
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