Water filter cartridge is essential parts of water filtration systems. They could be used for pre filtration systems, RO water purifiers, under sink and countertop water filters as replacement accessories. There are dozens of different water filter cartridge replacements on market classified by pore sizes, filter medias and manufacturing techniques.

Water Filter Cartridges by Medias

Since impurities and contaminants exist in home water are different and ever-changing, water filter cartridges have been classified into various groups for sellers and buyers to choose the suitable ones.

1. Polypropylene Cotton Sediment Filter
2. Activated Carbon Filter Cartridge
3. PP Pleated Water Filter Cartridge
4. String Wound Sediment Water Filter

Polypropylene Cotton Sediment Filter

PP cotton water filter cartridge is the popular option of first pre filtration for most domestic water filtration systems. It is able to intercept and block most visible sediments in water includes rust, sand, debris and some other large particles. Relatively speaking, purpose of PP water filter cartridge is large substances filtration and make the water purer compared with unfiltered water. After that, the second and third filter cartridge can filtered the water well. This water filter cartridge has a wide range of utilization in both domestic and industrial water filtration. To make it convenient to use, manufacturers and factories design different end caps so that the filter cartridge can be easily connected with fittings, water pipes and plumbing systems.

Activated Carbon Filter Cartridge

This water filter cartridge mainly used to eliminate residual chlorine, bad taste and unusual odor exist in tap water. Activated carbon has a great adsorption effects on odors, free chemicals and water discolorations. Besides that, it also effectively filters out water-borne organisms, pesticides and herbicides. Carbon water filter cartridges can be seen usually in tap water filters, reverse osmosis systems, refrigerator water filters and countertop water purifiers.

PP Pleated Water Filter Cartridge

Most families use municipal tap water as the main life water source, but well water is also a choice some other homeowners prefer. When talking about well water filtration, it comes the PP pleated water filter cartridge. Unlike tap water, well water contains plenty of large particles like gravels and grit. Due to those large-sized sediments in well water, pleated water filter is created to deal with them. There are many dense folds and gaps on the surface of pleated filters which give the cartridge a better dirt-holding ability and a higher filtration efficiency than normal sediment filter cartridges. Another advantage of pleated water filter is the filtration life. When sediments and contaminants block the cartridge, users could rinse the cartridge and reuse it.

String Wound Sediment Water Filter

Manufacturing technique of string wound water filter is different from other water filter cartridges. It is made by weaving strings around an inner core repeatedly and form into a filter cartridge eventually. Compared with all above filter cartridges, string wound water filter has several Pros listed as below.

1. High Filtration Accuracy

Filtration micron rating is controlled by using different strings patterns which is easy and convenient. The filter microns of string wound filter cartridge ranges from 1 μm to 300 μm which can eliminate micro particles and impurities in water and some other liquids. With the fine micron rating, filtration effects would be increased a lot.

2. Strong Corrosion Resistance

Strings used to make wound water filter cartridges could be polypropylene or absorbent cotton. No any additives or agents used during the whole production and that brings the wound cartridge high resistance of corrosion and high temperature. With the help of high stability and resistance to corrosion and temperature, it is wildly used in electroplating, electronic and medicine liquid treatment and filtration.

3. Simple Maintenance

Weaving manufacturing process helps guarantee no any cracking or fragmentation even after long time of using. It can be easily washed and rinsed by air or water to prolong its service life.

Water Filter Cartridges of Various Filtration Systems

Different water outlets require different water filter systems. POE filtration system, RO purifier system and under sink & countertop system are main types of home use water filter systems. These systems need to match with proper water filter cartridges to reach high performance.

POE Filtration System

Also known as whole house water filter system (Point-of-Entry), which is installed at the entry of home water plumbings and pipes. Main filtration objects of POE filtration system are sediments of rust, sand and debris. It requires rough rather than fine filtration. PP sediment filter cartridge is usually the optimal choice for a POE filtration system. And if the water comes out a well, then PP pleated water filter cartridge would be another ideal option.

RO Water Purifier System

A reverse osmosis filter system easily generates safe drinking water with its powerful filtration functions and effects. Thus requires it has an all-sided filtration performance towards sediment, chlorine, bacteria and more contaminants may exist. Normally, a reverse osmosis system has 5 different water filter cartridges and the most essential parts are first 3 filter cartridges. Abbr of the three water filter cartridges respectively are PP, CTO and GAC water filters. PP belongs to polypropylene cotton sediment filter; CTO and GAC belongs to activated carbon filter cartridges.

PP water filter intercepts most sediments larger than 5 μm as the first stage.

GAC water filter reduces chlorine, taste, odors, organisms as the second stage.

CTO filter cartridge filter out residues or chlorine, harmful chemicals as the third stage.

Under Sink & Countertop Systems

In some countries and areas with good water quality, most families only needs to install single-stage or dual-stage water system for drinking water. Since the water doesn’t contain much contaminants, a CTO or GAC carbon water filter cartridge is enough. The carbon water filter cartridges helps filter out residual chlorine exist in the water and improve drinking water taste.

Talk a Look at the Whole Content

Water filter cartridges can divided into categories with different filer medias and filtration functions. They play different roles in each step of the whole water filtration process. Some of them used to deal with aesthetic objects while some others mainly filter out specific health-related sediment and contaminants.