Water filters are of many different types. One of them includes a cartridge filter. If you don’t know what it is, then here are things to know about this water filtration system and how it removes contaminants from the water.

Cartridge Water Filters

A cartridge water filter is a regular water filter with either filter media or a cylindrical filter, but the difference is that it is encased in a cartridge and it can be popped on and off, depending on what the filtration assembly is.

A cartridge water filter is very easy to use and you can simply snap it on and off onto various filtration systems to get clean, pure and clear water.

A cartridge filter gets rid of the suspended particles and metals in the water by the action of gravity and sieving the materials out of the water.

Types Of Cartridge Water Filters

There are mainly two types of cartridge water filters, which are as follows:

Surface Filters

Surface cartridge water filters allow the water to pass through a material that restricts the water from going any further. Think of surface water filters as large sieves that prevent the materials, suspended particles and other impurities from mixing in with the water.

These filters capture the unwanted sediments and once the filter gets old, it needs to be replaced, so that the water doesn’t get murky.

Depth Filters

Depth cartridge water filters are filters that consist of a long line of several different filtration media. The filtration media are of different sizes and they let the water and other impurities pass.

The mechanism is that the larger particles are restricted by the larger media capable of holding them back and then the rest of the water flows down. As the water trickles down, the media gets more and more restrictive and once it reaches the end of the line, that is where the water is completely free of all kinds of impurities. It is generally a better filter option to go for, since it works so efficiently.

Components Of A Cartridge Filter

In order to understand a cartridge filter better, you need to know how each of its components work. Here are all of the key components of a cartridge water filter.

Filter Media

This is probably the most important part of a cartridge filter. It is essentially the medium that prevents the suspended particles in water from going any further.

A filter is essentially useless without a filtration media. Sometimes, the medium can be of one type, but sometimes, it can be of several different types, depending on the efficiency of the filter and what it is designed to do. You can even turn it into a water softener system Erie by using a water softener cartridge to remove minerals from the water.

End Cap

The next very crucial bit of a cartridge water filter is the end cap. This is basically a seal of sorts that keeps the filtration media in place. The filter media is not free to move inside the casing of the cartridge filter and the reason why it is in place is because of the end cap.

The end cap also provides a seal that prevents water from moving from the actual cartridge and into the filter housing. So, everything stays put and contained with an end cap and if this part malfunctions, then you probably need a new filter, because the whole assembly will be destroyed.

Cartridge Core

The cartridge core is the backbone of the filter and it provides strength to the body of the filter. When you pass water through a filter, the velocity of the water is enough to make the flimsy filter collapse. However, that doesn’t usually happen and that is because of the cartridge core.

It provides a solid foundation for the filter to stand tall and it also prevents the filter from moving around too much. A cartridge core is the ride or die for any filter.

Gaskets

Also known as O-rings, gaskets of a cartridge filter basically make it leak proof. It provides a water tight seal in the filter and makes the water stay within the filter core and not slosh about anywhere else. Sometimes, when you face the problem of a filter leaking, it’s mainly because of either the gasket or the end cap.

If the water from inside the filter is leaking out, then the gaskets are probably loose and you need to either get it fixed or get a new filter altogether, because it is not so hard to change a cartridge filter, at the end of the day.

Support Cage

Lastly, the outermost casing of the filter is the support cage. This is what you handle when the filter is in your hands. This outer body protects the inside of the filter assembly and it also helps to give that extra support when the filter is in the midst of operation. Like the core, the support cage prevents the filter from collapsing under the high pressure of water.

The support cage of a filter doesn’t usually get damaged and it stays in good condition for longer. When the filter media is all used up, you have no choice but to buy a new filter altogether.

How To Clean A Cartridge Water Filter?

You can clean the cartridge filter but it is better if you replace the cartridge. There is specialized cleaning equipment in which the filter can be cleaned and spun around to get rid of any built-up dirt and debris in the filter media.

In some cases, the filter media can also be replenished. If the filter media is made out of polypropylene, or even carbon, there are ways to replenish it so that the filter is up and ready to do its job again.

Maintenance & Replacement

Maintaining a cartridge filter is easy, if you know the right way to do it. The instruction manual provided with the filter will be a lifesaver for you and you will be able to understand what the filter really needs, in order to work efficiently.

Some filters can be maintained, cleaned, used and repeated over and over, especially stainless-steel cartridge filters that are meant to last forever.

However, some filters are not meant to be maintained and they need to be replaced, once their filter media is all used up, which is also pretty easy to do.

When it comes to replacing a cartridge filter, the most important thing to go over is the longevity of the filter itself. When will you know the filter needs to be changed? Well, this is where the instruction and user manual will help you out.

Usually, a cartridge filter can last anywhere between 30 to 45 days, so after this time bracket, you can change the filter as you please. Changing out the filter timely will ensure that everything runs smoothly and you won’t have to deal with unwanted problems, because your water is clean and there’s literally no hassle in it.

Conclusion

A cartridge water filter is easy to use and it really doesn’t need a lot when it comes to safe and clean water. You have a whole house water filtration Meadville system installed to have access to uncontaminated water at all time.