Need a Big Blue 20 Micron Water Filter? Read This First!

So, the other day I decided it was time to tackle the whole house water filter situation. We’re on city water, but I’ve always been a bit paranoid about what’s actually coming out of the tap. After doing a bit of digging, I settled on a 20-micron Big Blue water filter. I figured it would be a good starting point to get rid of the larger gunk in the water.

First things first, I had to get my hands on the filter itself. I ended up ordering it online, and it was one of those big, 20-inch by 4.5-inch cartridges. It’s usually used as the first stage for these whole-house filter setups.

When it arrived, I got to work installing it. I’m not exactly a plumbing expert, but it wasn’t too bad. I put it in as the first stage before my other filters. This particular one I got was a dual-gradient melt-blown filter. It starts at 20 microns and goes down to 5 microns.

• Stage 1: Dual gradient melt blown that goes from 20 to 5 micron.
• Stage 2: I’m planning to add a carbon block filter later, probably around 1 to 5 microns, to really polish the water.

How I Install It

I turned off the main water supply to the house – that’s pretty important unless you want a surprise shower. Then I just followed the instructions that came with the filter housing. It involved a bit of pipe cutting and fitting, but nothing too crazy. Once the housing was in place, I popped the 20-micron filter cartridge in.

I turned the water back on slowly, checking for any leaks. Thankfully, there were none! After letting the water run for a few minutes to flush out any loose stuff from the filter, I took a look at the water.

Honestly, I didn’t see a huge difference in the water clarity right away. But I guess that’s because this filter is more about getting rid of the larger particles like sediment and rust. From what I’ve read, a 20-micron filter should trap anything that’s 20 microns or bigger. To give you an idea, a micron is like one-thousandth of a millimeter. These filters are supposed to last a good while, maybe even up to 10 years, according to the manufacturer, Pentair.

Overall, I’m pretty happy with the results so far. It gives me peace of mind knowing that at least some of the bigger stuff is being filtered out. I’m planning to add that carbon block filter soon, which should take care of any weird tastes or smells. Will keep you guys updated on how that goes!