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Overflowing

sunfire | Posted in General Discussion on January 6, 2007 09:26am

The water from the water heater is piped to the humidifier(attached to the furnace)
and from the humdifier to the floor drain
out to the septic tank. The water comes from a well. Sediment from the well is deposited in the pipes by the flowing water. Every 6 months I disconnect sections of the piping and blow thru it to dislodge the accumulated sediment. Otherwise the sediment will block the pipe completely and flood the basement floor.

Is it feasible to insert a filter between the water heater and the humidifier to capture the sediment and replace every 6 months or so. Also would it minimize the problem if the piping was set at a greater downward angle?

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  1. john7g | Jan 06, 2007 09:54pm | #1

    I take it you don't already have a sediment filter installed in the plumbing from the well already.  The sediment filters should be found at the BBs and for sure at plumbing supplies. 

    Ought to look something like the attached pic.

     

    1. sunfire | Jan 07, 2007 04:38pm | #3

      Great help!
      I appreciate the picture. What's a BB? Is there a name for this set up so I can do more research. Is this something a plumber just does or can you buy a kit.Bob ####

      1. john7g | Jan 07, 2007 05:04pm | #5

        It shouldn't be that hard for a decent DIYer to install. 

        BB = Big Box aka Home Depot or Lowes, etc. 

        A good plumbing supply would be of greater assistance since the guys at the counter should be able to get you everything you need with just a basic explanation from you.  You'll need to know the pipe sizes that you have and a picture is worth 1k words. You should be able to just ask for sediment filter for your well and that should be all you need.  Odds are against that kind of service at a BB (although I wouldnt be too surprised at my local Lowes). 

        I'm kind of surprised your supply line from the well doesn't already have one installed prior to any of the "users."  I'd wonder about how much sediment has collected at the bottom of the water heater. 

        BTW, if it's not obvious the line off the bottom of the filter is a drain that needs to run to a drain or outside. The filter won't inlcude the valve.  I used several threaded connections on this so I could remove the filter bowl to thoroughly clean (& maybe eventually replace) the filter after intitial assembly. 

  2. DanH | Jan 06, 2007 11:54pm | #2

    If you're feeding hot water to the humidifier, you'd have to find a filter rated for hot water, at least in theory. In practice I think most would work, whether speced for hot or not, though paper cartridges might tend to come apart (but you probably wouldn't want to use paper filters anyway).

    Of course, it would probably make more sense to put in a whole-house filter, or at least one for the pipe feeding the water heater. This will improve water heater life considerably.

    Note that a filter won't do much about hard water, however, and some of your problem could be hard water deposits. (What color is the sediment?)

    Definitely try to have the humidifier drain line have a constant downward slope. Sediment will accumulate fastest in any dips in the line and any areas with flat slope.

    Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm but the harm does not interest them. --T.S. Eliot
    1. sunfire | Jan 07, 2007 04:49pm | #4

      Sediment that accumulates is brown goey and slimey. I had my water tested 2 years ago and its within the norm as far as hardness is concerned. Could this change with time? Your suggestion of a whole house filter appeals to me - do you have a brand name?Bob ####

      1. DanH | Jan 07, 2007 05:56pm | #6

        There are lots of different filters available, from simple cartridge filters to more complex "water treatment systems". With your level of gunk probably a filter similar to the one John illustrated would be good -- it's likely more expensive than a replaceable cartridge unit and probably doesn't filter quite as finely, but you flush it with the valve at the bottom rather than replacing the cartridge, so it's easier and cheaper to maintain.You can get a basic replaceable cartridge filter starting around $25 for the units that are about 2..5" in diameter. However, for whole-house use the larger (approx 5" diameter) filter is a better choice in terms of flow rate and frequencey of replacing the media. These run $50-75. I don't know about the sort of unit in John's picture, but I'm guessing they start around $100.You can spend thousands for a "water treatment system", of course.

        Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm but the harm does not interest them. --T.S. Eliot

      2. User avater
        BillHartmann | Jan 07, 2007 06:10pm | #7

        "Sediment that accumulates is brown goey and slimey. I had my water tested 2 years ago and its within the norm as far as hardness is concerned."That sounds like you have some organic material. It if is big enough then sediment filter can help. But it would have a problem plugging up, maybe too quickly.I would get a full lab test on the water. Not just for hardness, but all all of the organic compounds, ph, etc.You might have other, and more serious problems with the water.And yes wells can change..
        .
        A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

  3. sunfire | Jan 11, 2007 04:18pm | #8

    Based and all the replies I'm going to place a sediment filter (5") between the well and the pressure tank. I'll use a cartridge type filter so that I can just throw it away. It was suggested to have my water tested which I will do. Thank you to all for your suggestions - it really helped especially the picture.

    Bob A (sunfire)

    1. McPlumb | Jan 11, 2007 05:25pm | #9

      Never put a filter between the well and pressure tank. Best place for a filter is where water leaves pressure tank or just before a softner. A filter before a pressure tank can plug and not alow pressure switch to sense pressure the pump will continue to run. This can and has caused many expensive and messy problems not to mention much job security for me.

      1. john7g | Jan 11, 2007 05:43pm | #10

        Bob's right.  It's not what I wrote (in error) but it's what shows in the pciture I posted. 

    2. BryanSayer | Jan 11, 2007 06:18pm | #11

      I don't have a well, but I've installed these whole house filters on two houses and I'm happy with it,
      #WWHC from http://www.plumbingworld.com/housingsandfilters.htmlAbout $280 for the full set. Replacement filter sets are about $100. It uses two stages, paper to get out particles and radial carbon to get out bad taste, like chlorine.If that stuff is gunking up your humidifier, what's it doing to the rest of your plumbing?

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