I live in a rural area, and have a well that seems to have fairly hard water. I have recently updated my well pump, tank, and service line to the house. At my home, it all goes through a rather basic but good main house sediment filter that one can purchase at The Home Depot.

My outdoor faucets also have water going through this filter, and since I primarily use those for irrigation purposes, I'm going to plumb a line prior to the filter just to these faucets. This way, I'm not filtering water that otherwise doesn't need to be, extending the filter cartridge's life...

However, since I also wash my MINI and other rides from this outdoor faucet(s), I certainly don't want any fine sediment, rust or other particulates making matters worse. I thought I would simply hook-up an appropriate filter to be used just for these detail sessions. Just not sure what to get! I'm guessing a sediment filter, then after that, something else? I know that popular wash system these days makes use of a filter to aid in spot prevention...

I appreciate any input you gurus might have. Thank you!

 

Girot's Garage sells something that looks like a large in-line Mr Clean filter for you exterior water hose. It is like $130. Seems sort of expensive. You may want to check it out!

 

my family business is commercial water filtration. Pretty much what you can do if you want to get rid of the minerals and stuff that will leave spots is get a fine particle filter. Since you're not going to use it too much the filters should last a while (I'd change every 6 months regardless). Try this link http://www.keystonewaterfilter.com/home_b_2.htm or find something similar elsewhere if you can get it cheaper. What you want is the small size 5 micron filter. the minimum order is $75 so you can get the housing as well as a few extra filter cartridges.

What you want to do is then create a pipe loop with 2 ball valves and you can open the one to the filter and close the valve to the bypass when you want to use wash the car... then just close the valve to the filter and open the bypass for irrigation. here is a (very) crude diagram

 

Funny, I had drawn-up a bypass type system. Not quite like yours, but same idea! But, since this will be a terminal point, I thought that it might be best to just use a "T" or "Y" with a faucet on each. I can put the filter system on the faucet I use to wash the cars... 5 micron

Acutally, I think I might run two pipes; one on the main house filter, and one with no filter, for irrigation. Then, I'll put a 5 micron filter at the end of the one going through the main filter so as not to clog-up the 5 micron one so fast with heavy stuff...

Thanks again!

 

theroyalwe, thanks. I’m also in an area that has very harsh water. Very simple and very efficient.

 

a Y is usually better, but I wasn't figuring on it being easy to just have another pipe. At my house I would have to drill through 3 layers of brick to put another pipe outside.

That is a very good idea if you're running two pipes. It will make the 5 micron last a lot longer. I'm used to large installations but they usually involve nothing more than a really large 25 micron filter at the water main and then filter housings of varying sizes depending on what the need is there. If you really want to see something sick, I run the car wash water at my parents house through a full filter system ending in deionization tanks. You can literally wash a car and let it dry in the sun and NEVER see a water spot. but yeah, a 5 micron is definately a major improvement over tap water or well water.

 

no problem at all. Just remember that a 5 micron filter will need replacing much quicker the worse the water is. If you find you're going through the cartridges too fast you can also put two housings in series and run a 10 micron before the 5 to make it last longer.

 

theroyalwe, thanks much, again!

I'm just going to have the pipes exit out one of the many crawl space vents that we have on homes out here. I'm guessing in most areas actually... Just need to cut-back the wire mesh a bit, and achor the pipe(s) to the wood frame (2x4's typically) for the vent.

Not looking forward to going under the house though! Thanks again.