Sediment is a common cause of water quality issues in both municipal and well water systems. These small, suspended particles — such as sand, silt, rust and dirt — can enter your water supply from natural or man-made sources, clogging faucet aerators, causing wear on appliances and impacting your overall water quality.
To prevent sediment-related problems, the best approach is to get a whole-house water filtration system that begins with a sediment filter. This step helps protect the efficiency of your broader filtration system while improving the clarity and quality of the water you use every day.
Whether you rely on city water or a private well, it’s important to understand how sediment filtration works and how the right sediment filter can protect your home’s water.
What Is Sediment?
Sediment refers to small, solid particles such as sand, silt, rust flakes and dirt that can sometimes be found in your tap water. These particles typically originate from natural sources — such as groundwater movement or surface water runoff — but can also enter your water supply due to aging pipes, corrosion or maintenance work on municipal distribution systems.
Is Sediment Harmful?
While sediment is not always harmful on its own, it can serve as a vehicle for other contaminants leading to reduced water clarity, poor taste and decreased system efficiency. Sediment buildup may also contribute to clogged aerators and fixtures, reduced water flow and wear-and-tear on household appliances. In some cases, sediment can introduce discoloration or an unpleasant texture to your drinking water.
What is Sediment Filtration?
Sediment filtration is a type of mechanical water filtration that uses a physical barrier to filter solid particles from water. This process plays a vital role in protecting both point-of-use and whole-home filtration systems by capturing debris that could otherwise reduce efficiency or cause long-term damage.
Sediment filters are especially important in multi-stage point of use filtration systems. They serve as the first line of defense for improving water quality and extending the life of downstream technologies, including carbon filters and reverse osmosis membranes. They are also commonly used prior to UV treatment systems.
By investing in a well-matched sediment filter system, homeowners can reduce sediment buildup, protect infrastructure and ensure cleaner water throughout the home.
How Do Sediment Filters Work?
As water flows through the system, particles like sand, silt, rust and dirt are captured by a porous filter medium. This medium may be made from polypropylene, ceramic, cellulose or spun fibers, and its pore size determines what the filter can remove.
The filter medium catches particles in one of two ways:
- Surface filters capture larger particles on a single surface media, much like a screen. These are typically pleated to increase surface area and maximize sediment retention.
- Depth filters trap sediment within the layers of thick, fibrous material. These are ideal for filtering out a wide range of particle sizes and are often used in whole-house water filter systems.
What Do Sediment Filters Remove From Water?
A sediment filter targets physical contaminants that can impact your home’s water quality, water appearance and plumbing systems. These include:
- Sand and grit
- Some forms of silt and clay
- Rust flakes from aging pipes
- Organic debris
- Other suspended solids
While sediment filters improve the clarity of your water and help prevent sediment buildup in your plumbing, they are not designed to remove harmful contaminants such as lead, bacteria or dissolved chemicals. However, by removing larger particles, sediment filtration enhances the performance and longevity of downstream systems — including carbon filters, reverse osmosis membranes and other advanced water filtration technologies.
The effectiveness of a sediment filter depends on its micron rating, which represents the smallest particle it can block. For instance, a 5-micron filter addresses particles larger than 5 microns, including many types of sediment buildup and debris found in household water supplies.
What Micron Size Should a Sediment Filter Be?
Choosing the right micron size means balancing filtration precision with water flow. Filters with smaller micron ratings offer finer filtration but may reduce water pressure if not properly matched to your system.
Here are some common micron sizes and their uses:
- 50 microns: Best for removing larger particles like visible debris, sand and grit
- 20 microns: A common choice for general sediment filtration in whole-house systems
- 5 microns: Ideal for protecting reverse osmosis membranes and carbon filters from fine sediment and as pre-filtration for UV light systems
- 1 micron or less: Effective at capturing fine clay, silt, rust particles and other microscopic debris but may clog prematurely
Selecting the appropriate micron size depends on your water source, the amount and type of sediment present and the configuration of your filtration system. A Culligan expert can help assess your needs and recommend a sediment filter that maintains cleaner water without sacrificing water pressure.
How Often Do Sediment Filters Need To Be Replaced?
Like any filter system, a sediment filter requires regular maintenance to remain effective. Over time, the filter becomes saturated with particles, reducing its ability to capture new debris and it will restrict water flow.
How often you need to replace your sediment filter depends on several factors:
- Type of filter and micron rating
- Level of sediment in your water supply
- Household water usage and flow rate
As a general guideline, sediment filters should be replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. In homes with high sediment levels, especially those using well water, more frequent replacements may be necessary.
Cartridge filters may need to be replaced every 6 to 12 months. However, Culligan’s Aquasential Smart High Efficiency Whole Home Filtration Systems use a speciality filtration media rather than a cartridge. That media can last for several years.
Watch for signs that your filter needs replacement, such as:
- Noticeable drop in water pressure
- Discoloration or cloudiness in drinking water
- Clogged or dirty filter cartridges during inspection
Maintaining a regular replacement schedule ensures your house water filter continues to perform reliably, protects downstream systems from buildup and supports a steady flow of cleaner, filtered water throughout your home.
How To Choose the Right Sediment Filter for Your Home
Choosing the right sediment filter starts with understanding your water — where it comes from, what it contains and how it flows through your home.
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Water Source
If you rely on city water, your system may carry rust flakes or sand from aging pipes or hydrant flushing. If you use well water, you may face higher levels of sediment, including organic debris, silt or grit. Different water sources require different filter types and micron ratings to handle varying levels of sediment buildup.
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Type and Size of Sediment
Larger particles like sand or rust flakes can typically be managed with a coarser filter, such as a 50-micron cartridge. However, finer particles like silt and clay may call for a depth-style sediment filter with a tighter micron rating of 5 microns or less to ensure effective filtration.
Flow Rate
A filter with pores that are too small may restrict water pressure if undersized for your system. That’s why it’s important to strike a balance between micron rating and flow performance, especially in high-demand households.
Placement in Your Home
Point-of-entry filters treat all the water entering your home, while point-of-use filters are installed at specific taps or appliances. Many homeowners choose a whole-house water filter system to address sediment at the source and protect plumbing, appliances and additional filtration units downstream.
If your home includes a reverse osmosis system, carbon filtration or UV treatment, pairing it with the right sediment filter can dramatically improve longevity and performance. Sediment can clog or degrade more sensitive systems if not properly addressed upfront.
Test Your Water
Because every home is different, professional water testing is the first step toward selecting the right filter system. A Culligan expert can analyze your tap water to determine what types of particles are present, identify the ideal micron size for effective filtration and assess whether other filtration technologies are needed.
From there, your local Culligan dealer can recommend a solution tailored to your home and water supply, ensuring your system is properly sized, installed and maintained for long-term performance.
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Protect Your Water With Culligan
Sediment may seem like a small issue, but over time, it can lead to bigger problems — from appliance damage to frustrating drops in water pressure. Installing a high-performance sediment filter is a simple, proactive step that can help you maintain better water quality, protect your plumbing and extend the life of your home’s entire filtration system.
At Culligan, we make it easy to get started. With our proprietary Filtr-Cleer® four-in-one filtration technology, expert system sizing and professional installation, we deliver customized whole-home solutions built for your water and your needs.
