Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - using water softener to replace sand filter

I have a well and septic tank. My water supply is loaded with sand so I have a sand filter ahead of my water softener, which works fine. I have to change the filter every 2 weeks. The water softener will take care of the sand without the sand filter ahead of it, but the discharge is into my septic tank, which I’m afraid would become clogged in no time. I would like to put the sand filter on the output of my water softener, which only runs every 4 days. Does anyone have any idea as to why this would not work? It would save having to replace the sand filter every 2 weeks. Another advantage would be not having to shut down the water supply to replace the filter. Thanks in advance.

Bad bad bad idea! You do not want sand loading up your softner....eventually it will get packed in resin bed to where you will not get any pressure.....not to mention the damage it does to your control head......my suggestion is to use 2 galvanized tanks as a sand trap/pressure tank setup.....I have to take my son to a school thing right now, but if you're interested in how to set it up, let me know, I'll post it :coffee:

We have a fairly bad sand problem, too (In Florida, DUH :rolleyes: ). The standard installation around here is as jdp mentions - two pump system with a settling/aerating tank. Well pump keeps tank filled and is controlled with a simple float switch and house pump draws water from the tank. Incoming water enters via a spray grid at top of tank (for aeration purposes) and any sand in the water settles out to bottom of tank. I drain the tank and wash out the sand collection a couple of times a year. Tanks around here are fiberglas.

Personally, I don't filter sand. I strain it. What's the difference? Well, in my humble opinion a strainer uses a mesh screen that is just smaller than the smallest grain you want to prevent from passing. Then this strainer can be easily 'backwashed' to drain without even taking the unit apart. A typical Y type strainer fits the ticket for me. One with inlet/outlet size the same as your tank inlet size and positioned between your tank and a check valve. (pump > check valve > Y strainer > tank) It should be installed with a valve on the bottom so that when you open it the water from the tank backwashes it clear. But, only open that valve when the pump is not running.

A filter is a fiber wound or pleated paper cartridge that has to be replaced by turning off the pump and water supply, opening up the unit, and changing the cartridge.

A strainer makes much more sense, if it will do the job for you.

Actually, while both suggestions work well, I prefer to use mother nature to do the work......what I would do is......from the pump, pipe into the side of a galvanized tank.....put blow down valve at the bottom of the tank......pipe from the top of the tank into the top of the second tank.....pipe from the bottom of the second tank into the softner as you would usually do.....install your avc on the second tank......when you activate the pump, the water will fill up the first tank (instead of allowing an air pocket) while the sand settles to the bottom......occasionally you will shut down the pump and drain the newly built sand trap......use these times to chlorinate your holding tank:coffee:

Boy, am I glad I asked the question. I thought for sure I could bypass the filter and go directly into the water softener. Thanks for all the answers.
JDP38 - if you could post the info, I would certainly take a look at it. I don't know if i could set up the systems of the other respondents. I don't have much room to add another tank. Thanks again for the responses.

ajb5440,

I agree that a softener used for purposes other than what it is designed for would be more problematic than solving anything. Here is a link of a sand separator that we have used a couple of times. It is very effective and not difficult to maintain.

http://www.lakos.com/hiw.htm

Filters are always designed but what they are to remove from the water. I have made a couple of sediment filters out of 20" x 5" Big Blue filter housing using a softener riser tube and fine mesh basket. You can adapt it with a manual backwash valve also. If you are interested, I can email you pictures and you can make one yourself.

Take care,
Andy

andyC
I would appreciate the help. Please send me the info you suggested. Thanks.

ajb5440

Please check private messages.

Thanks
Andy

If you really have a bad sand problem you might be a candidate for a centrifugal sand separator. They are all over the net from $50 to $1000