Grit Catcher Saves Water Filters

Grit Catcher Saves Water Filters FARM HOME Miscellaneous 31-4-31 Grit in the water line can mess up water heaters and plug lines. Filters take care of the grit, but excessive grit shortens filter life. Everette Ponder came up with a simple way to pull out grit before water reaches the filter. "The area I live in has a lot of grit in the water," explains Ponder. "I knew that when water goes into a larger pipe, it slows down and the grit should fall out, so I added a larger diameter pipe between the pump and the filter." To capture the grit and make it easy to remove, Ponder used a T design. The standard 1-in. line coming from the water pump is interrupted by a section of 2-in. line to slow the water. The 2-in. T installed in the line has a 10-in. long section of pipe extending down to a 2-in. ball valve. "As water passes across the top of the T, the grit drops out and down to the ball valve," says Ponder. "To empty the grit, I simply open the valve. I don't have to shut off the water or anything." Ponder suggests mounting the T and ball valve high enough so a bucket can be placed beneath it. The entire apparatus cost him about $25. Savings in extended filter life quickly paid for it. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Everette Ponder, Jr., 3 Paramount Drive, Leicester, N.C. 27848 (ph 828 683-1694).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.