You have a visit from a Kinetico salesperson and they say that their system will need a sediment filter installed before the water softener.
You’re not crazy about the idea of having to change a water filter every few months, does a Kinetico water softener really need a filter?
A Kinetico water softener needs a carbon prefilter to remove chlorine or a sediment prefilter to prevent sediment from getting into the system. Sediment can clog screens, cause poor water pressure, and lodge in the gears of a Kinetico control valve causing the control valve to stop functioning.
So, you’re in the market for a new water softener and are looking for one that will not need constant attention. Having to change a Kinetico prefilter every few months doesn’t sound too bad but do you really need a prefilter for a Kinetico water softener?
Why Does A Kinetico Water Softener Need A Sediment Filter?
Because a Kinetico water softener works solely by water flowing through the control valve to turn impellers and gears, if any sediment gets into the control valve, it could get lodged in the gears and the system will stop working.
Although an occasional piece of sediment will often pass through a Kinetico water softener valve without causing an issue if one little piece of sediment stops the valve from working, it may mean an expensive service call.
What Type Of Sediment Filter Is Best For A Kinetico Water Softener?
Because a Kinetico water softener requires a strong and steady flow of water to perform its regeneration cycles, we want to use a sediment filter before it that will restrict the flow of water as little as possible yet still be fine enough to filter out any sediment that could cause problems with the Kinetico water softener.
I recommend using a reusable “polypropylene” sediment filter that is between 20 and 30 microns so it will filter out sediment but still not be too dense so that it will cause restriction of water flow or get clogged too quickly.
A Kinetico sediment filter is a reusable string wound 20-micron sediment filter that works just like any standard reusable string wound 20-micron sediment filter except they can cost as much as $49.00 each from a second party online seller and their price can vary from one Kinetico dealer to another.
You can also find a 6-pack of standard reusable string wound 20-micron water-sediment filters that will work the same as a Kinetico sediment filter online for considerably less.
Sediment Can Clog The Resin In A Kinetico Water Softener.
Sediment in your water can also get impacted (lodged between the resin beads) in the resin of a Kinetico water softener which can lead to a drop in water pressure.
Kinetico resin tanks are typically filled right to the top of the tank and the resin does not get circulated like in most standard water softeners.
This means that the resin can work like a filter that can get clogged by sediment filling in the gaps between the resin.
Because the resin does NOT get mixed up, the sediment can continue to accumulate leading to a continuing drop in your water pressure.
Why Would A Kinetico Water Softener Need A Carbon Prefilter?
Carbon water filters are often used for municipal water that has been treated with chlorine to disinfect the water to make it safer to use.
The resin in a Kinetico water softener can be damaged by chlorine over time.
Chlorine can cause the water-softener resin to become soft and expand which can lead to the resin beads taking up more space in the resin tank which can lead to poor water pressure.
Chlorine can also cause water softener resin to lose its ability to remove hard minerals from your water.
Chlorine is a corrosive substance that can damage water-softener resin when it is exposed over time.
Do You Need To Use A Kinetico Filter For A Kinetico Water Softener?
A Kinetico water filter housing is very much like any standard water filter housing.
Kinetico filter housings unscrew so that you can remove and replace the filter cartridge and they use a rubber seal to make them watertight.
A BIG difference between a Kinetico water filter housing and a standard water filter housing is the price of the housing and the price and availability of the filter cartridges and O rings.
When you purchase a Kinetico water filter housing you are locking yourself into ONLY being able to use Kinetico replacement water filter cartridges and Kinetico water filter O rings.
Because Kinetico does VERY little to regulate the prices that their dealers charge for their systems and replacement parts, you may find yourself paying considerably more for a Kinetico brand filter cartridge or O ring.
Installing a standard water filter housing will allow you to easily find and purchase replacement water filter cartridges and O rings at potentially considerable savings compared to Kinetico brand housings and O rings.
Check Out This Quick Video On How To Change A Conventional Whole House Water Filter!
What Can Happen If You Don’t Have A Filter For A Kinetico Water Softener?
Dirt and sediment in your water can get into your Kinetico water softener!
- Your Kinetico water softener could stop working (Hard Water)
If just a single piece of sediment causes a gear or impeller in your Kinetico control valve to seize, the system will no longer regenerate its water-softener resin.
When the water softener resin in your Kinetico water softener does not get regenerated, it will no longer be able to remove hard minerals from your water.
Because a Kinetico water softener control valve relies on all of its intricate parts to be working freely, just a single piece of sediment getting into the control valve can cause the entire valve to stop working.
- Loss of water pressure due to sediment clogging the water-softener resin
If sediment gets lodged in between the beads of resin in a Kinetico water softener, the water will have less area to flow through as it passes through the bed of resin.
As more and more sediment gets lodged in the resin, the water will have less and less area to flow through and therefore your water pressure will deplete as time goes on.
Once enough sediment becomes lodged in your Kinetico water softener’s resin, it can not be easily removed and you will need to have the resin replaced which can cost you a pretty penny.
- Loss of water pressure because your Kinetico water softener won’t stop regenerating
Sediment getting into a Kinetico water softener control valve can cause the water softener to stop advancing during the regeneration process which means that your Kinetico water softener will not stop regenerating.
Your Kinetico water softener will continue to use water which can cause a drop in your home’s water pressure, lead to an expensive water bill if you are on municipal water, or drain your well dry if you get your water from a private well.
- Expensive repair bill
No matter what problem occurs from getting sediment in your Kinetico water softener, it will most likely lead to an expensive service call and potentially the replacement of some expensive parts.
For less than the price of an average Kinetico service call, you could install a sediment filter yourself and still have plenty of money left over for many years worth of replacement sediment filter cartridges.
- Total replacement of your water softener
There can come a point where not having a water sediment filter for your Kinetico water softener could lead to needing to replace the whole water softener.
If sediment regularly flows through your Kinetico water softener control valve, it can wear at the moving parts of the valve as well as the body of the valve itself.
Sediment can settle into every area in a Kinetico water softener control valve where water flows through.
Over time there could be so much sediment in your Kinetico control valve and water softener resin that the cost of repairing the system is more than the cost of an entirely new water softener.
Can I Install A Water Filter For A Kinetico Water Softener Myself?
Installing a water sediment filter before your Kinetico water softener is quite simple and you can even do it without the need to do any soldering or special plumbing.
By using quick-connect fittings, you can install a standard water sediment filter for your Kinetico water softener in less than an hour in many cases.
You just need to shut off the water, use an inexpensive pipe cutter to cut the water pipe going to your Kinetico water softener, and push the quick-connect fittings over the existing pipe.
To Sum Up:
I HIGHLY recommend that all Kinetico water softeners have a sediment filter installed before the system.
Kinetico water softeners need to have a filter if there is ANY possibility of sediment or debris getting into the water softener.
Although a standard water softener generally does NOT need a water filter installed, if you are considering a Kinetico water softener, I highly recommend having a sediment filter installed before the water softener.
Hi Paul, since Kinetical sediment cartridge is expensive and have to go through them, is it possible to replace the entire filter by something else?
Thanks
Hello Tungster and thank you for the question.
You can replace your Kinetico sediment filter housing with a universal filter housing so you can use standard sediment filter cartridges.
It should be very simple to replace the housing and it should only take a short amount of time to switch it over.
Check out my recommended water filter housings for a new simple to use and install housing.
I hope this was helpful.
Paul
Hi Paul, Thank you…this information was helpful. I replaced a filter today (Kinetico® 20 Micron 10″ Pleated Mach Filter Cartridge) but I cannot find this model at Home Depot or Ace Hardware. The only place online that sells it is eBay. Why does Kinetico make it difficult to buy these filters?
Hello Mal and thank you for the question.
Kinetico wants to ensure that ONLY their Kinetico dealers can profit from selling Kinetico products and parts. This encourages water treatment companies to become Kinetico dealers and this way Kinetico and Kinetico dealers can keep profiting from their customers and keep all the profits.
You can change your existing Kinetico water sediment filter to a standard type housing, allowing you to purchase standard filters online or in your local hardware store. That way you would no longer be locked into Kinetico and have to pay whatever price they feel like charging for their filters.
In the meantime, the Kinetico filter cartridge that you are using should be a polyester filter that you can rinse off and reuse several times. Check the packaging if you still have it to make sure that it says polyester and if it is, you should be able to reuse it many times before you will need to replace it.
I hope this was helpful.
Paul
Hello,
We have had a Kinetico system for over 20 years. Does Kinetico have a carbon filtration system? I have been told carbon filtration is the best source for good, clean drinking water.
Thanks
Hello Trina and thank you for the question.
Kinetico does have a whole-house carbon filter but carbon alone does not ensure quality drinking water.
A carbon water filter will remove gasses and fine particles that can cause odors in water or affect the taste of the water but not necessarily improve the quality of the water. Carbon will NOT remove dissolved solids like sodium from your water or harmful impurities from your water.
If your water already tastes good and has no unpleasant odors, a carbon filter will not improve your water for drinking purposes.
If you are only looking to improve your water for drinking, you should consider a reverse osmosis drinking water system which would greatly reduce the sodium and other dissolved solids in your water along with improving the taste and removing odor from your water because most reverse osmosis systems have a carbon filter on them.
I hope this was helpful!
Paul