Pleated Cartridges
- Made of washable polyester or synthetic media folded into pleats.This creates a large surface area.
- They offer high flow rates and a lower pressure drop.
- They capture dirt on the surface layer. Fine silt or clay can get trapped deep in the pleats and become hard to wash out completely.
Solid Cartridges
- Made of thermal-bonded polypropylene fibers forming a dense solid depth matrix
- They capture particles throughout the entire thickness of the filter, meaning great dirt-loading capacity.
- Once full of sediment it is unable to be cleaned and would have to be replaced.
Cartridge Replacement:
Press the pressure relief button on the housing cap to depressurize. Use the included filter wrench to unscrew the sump. Remove the old cartridge and drop in a new one. Re-tighten the sump hand-tight, then a quarter turn with the wrench. Open the water and press the relief button again to bleed air. The whole process takes about 5 minutes.
Housing Inspection During each cartridge change
When the sump is off, inspect the O-ring on the housing head for cracks or flat spots. Apply a thin coat of food-grade silicone lubricant to the O-ring to maintain a good seal. Check the sump interior for any buildup or discoloration.
Pressure Drop Monitoring Ongoing
If you notice reduced water pressure in the house, the cartridge is likely loaded with sediment and needs changing. Heavy sediment wells may need more regular changes.
20-Micron Filter (Coarse)
- What it catches: Sand, large rust flakes, heavy grit, and coarse sediment.
- Water flows through easily, causing very little pressure drop. It takes a long time to clog because it only stops larger debris.
5-Micron Filter (Fine)
- What it catches: Finer silt, smaller rust particles, cloudiness, and suspended dirt.
- Catches tiny particles down to the size of a single human hair.
1-Micron Filter (Very Fine)
- What it catches: Extremely fine clay silt, microscopic haze, and some larger cysts (if rated absolute)
- Provides the highest level of physical particle clarity for your water. However, It loads up and clogs very quickly if your water has a normal amount of dirt. It also causes a noticeable drop in water pressure over time as it clogs.
