Water Problem
Sediment is suspended solid material — sand, silt, clay, rust flakes or scale particles — carried along in the water. It clouds water, collects in fixtures, fouls aerators and wears on valves and equipment. Filtration is straightforward in principle, but the right filter depends on what the particles actually are and how much of them there is.
Air or sediment? Fill a glass and let it stand. Cloudy water that clears from the bottom up is air — harmless and common. Particles that settle to the bottom are sediment.
Step One
Step Two
Wells in sand, gravel or unconsolidated formations can pull fine particles, particularly as demand increases or the water table drops.
A deteriorating screen or casing can allow material into the well that shouldn't be there. Sudden sediment on a previously clean well is worth having the well itself looked at.
A pump set too low, or drawing heavily, can stir material from the bottom of the well — often noticed most during periods of high household demand.
On city water, sediment is often temporary and follows hydrant flushing, main repairs or pressure changes in the distribution system.
Older galvanised pipe can shed rust, and scale accumulated in a water heater can break loose. In those cases the source is inside the house rather than the supply.
Step Three
More on the process: how Gridline evaluates water. See also: why water testing matters.
Treatment may not be the first call. A change in what a well is producing can indicate something about the well itself — and that's a well contractor's trade rather than ours. We'll say so rather than filter around a problem that needs fixing at the source.
Step Four
Suitable for lighter, consistent loads. Lower upfront cost, replaceable elements, and no drain required. The trade-off is more frequent attention.
Depends on: particle size · load · how often you'll realistically change cartridgesFor heavier loads where cartridge changes would be impractical. The system cleans itself periodically, which means a drain connection and adequate flow to backwash properly.
Depends on: load · available flow rate · drain access · spaceFor larger, heavier material like sand. Often fitted ahead of everything else as a first line, with a flush valve rather than a replaceable element.
Depends on: particle size and weight · flow rateSediment filtration is almost always installed first — protecting softeners, media tanks and RO membranes from material that would otherwise foul them and shorten their life.
Depends on: what else is being installed · system layoutStep Five
FAQ
Cloudy water is commonly either suspended sediment or dissolved air. There's a simple way to tell: fill a glass and let it stand. If it clears from the bottom up, that's air escaping. If particles settle to the bottom, that's sediment.
No. Air in the water is extremely common and harmless, particularly after utility work or where pressure has changed. Sediment is solid material — sand, silt, rust or scale — that settles rather than clears.
It depends on the particle size and the load. Too coarse and the filter doesn't capture what's bothering you; too fine and it clogs constantly and restricts flow. Matching the rating to the actual material is the reason we look at the water rather than fitting a standard cartridge.
Any filter creates some restriction, and a clogged one creates a lot. A correctly sized system with an appropriate micron rating and a sensible service schedule shouldn't produce a noticeable pressure complaint. Undersizing for peak demand is the usual cause when it does.
Sediment filtration across Greater PhiladelphiaMatched to particle size and load, not a standard cartridge.
Next Step
Sand, rust or scale — each one points to a different filter and, sometimes, to a different problem entirely.
