In any water filter system, the micron rating of the filter is very important. So, before you begin looking for water filters for your home, you should understand the physics of filter micron ratings.
The micron rating aids in determining the quantity and size of material that is removed from liquids by filtration or extraction. Micron ratings can provide valuable information simply by stating their numerical value.
Reading and interpreting micron values properly helps you make more informed decisions when comparing different filtering choices.
In the section below, we have talked about some of the most common micron ratings used in industrial-grade filtering systems, the difference between nominal and absolute micron ratings, and how to select the appropriate micron rating for your water filtration needs.
What Is A Micron Rating, And How Does It Work?
In order to fully understand what a micron rating is, we must first know what a micron actually is. A micron is an abbreviation for a micrometer, which is equal to one millionth of a meter. It is simply refers to as a minuscule unit of measurement
A micron rating is a unit of measurement used to describe the distance between filter media components. This controls the size of particles that can flow through the filter before it becomes blocked.
A filter with a 50 micron rating will allow bigger particles to pass through than a filter with a 5 micron rating. Micron ratings for filters are commonly found in the ranges of 100 to 0.5.microns
What Is Micron Rating For Water Filters?
When it comes to water filters, the micron rating is a generalized method of describing how well the filter can get rid of impurities based on the size of the particles that are removed.
For example, a filter with a micron rating of 7 will filter out impurities with a diameter of 7 microns or bigger, whereas a filter with a micron rating of 3 will filter out particles with a diameter of 3 microns or larger. The term "filter efficiency" refers to a measurement of the retention efficiency of a filter.
Micron Dimensions: Particle Size Distribution By Diameter
- 1 micron is equal to one million of a meter.
- 1 micron is equal to 1 thousand of a millimeter.
- 1 micron is equivalent to 39 millionths of an inch (0.000039).
- 25.4 Micron is equal to Visible when Magnified
- 40 microns is equal to visible without magnification.
- Between 40 and 90 microns is the diameter of a human hair.
What Exactly Is A Micron Filter?
A micron filter is a form of water filter that is commonly classified according to its micron size. Most of the filters in the stores will have their micron ratings displayed on them. This will help the buyer figure out how big or small the pores of a filter are, as well as which pollutants it can remove.
Filters are available in many sizes, with common micron ratings ranging from 0.5 to 100 microns in size. A common water filter will have a micron rating of between 0.5 and 20 microns, which shows how small it is.
In general, the lower the micron rating, the more types of impurities can be removed (both big and small) from the water. This does not imply, however, that being smaller is always advantageous in every situation.
Higher micron-level filters may be clogged by bigger particles such as silt, which prevents them from filtering any water through them. The importance of selecting a filter capable of handling particles of a suitable size for the substance with which you are dealing is underscored by the fact that
Types of Micron Size Rating
Micron size ratings are commonly found in two forms:
- Absolute micron size ratings and
- Nominal micron size ratings.
When doing your search, look for both types of micron size ratings.
Distinction Between Nominal Micron Ratings and Absolute Micron Ratings
Filters function in a number of ways to remove toxins from what they are used for. The quantity removed during water filtration is dependent on the type of filter employed.
Nominal Micron Ratings
In terms of maintaining the majority of particles in the specified micron size range, a nominal micron rating reflects how well a filter works in this regard..
This number varies between 60% and 98% depending on the test conditions, filter manufacturer, and pollutant concentration.
Nominal rated water filters are utilized for a variety of purposes, including disinfection and removal of particles, chlorine and its byproducts, chemicals, as well as taste and odor control. Carbon filters can be regarded as nominal-rated filters in some situations.
See Recommended: NU Aqua Platinum Series 5 Micron Carbon Block Filter
Absolute Micron Ratings
An absolute micron rating, as the name implies, is one that keeps 100% of a particle at a certain micron level.
There are a few conditions that must be met in order for an absolute micron filter to work seamlessly. They include particle size, pressure, concentration, and the technology used to identify the pollutant being filtered.
These technologies are mainly applied where it is necessary for all impurities to be eliminated, such as sterilization and ultimate filtering, where these water filters are employed. Pleated filters can be termed "absolute-rated filters" because of their pleated design.
Absolute micron filters are used in circumstances when a certain sort of pollution must be fully eradicated, such as when water is being sterilized, to achieve this result. An example of this type of filter is a pleated filter, which may be found in many places.
The Most Commonly Used Micron Ratings
Some of the most commonly used micron ratings are discussed below for a better understanding of what micron ratings for water filters are.
50 micron
A micrometer rating of 50 microns is the ideal compromise between some of the much lower micron ratings and some of the bigger micron ratings available.
Filters having a 50 micron pore size only filter out particles that can be seen with the naked eye. Nonetheless, this rating is capable of filtering material with a diameter greater than the diameter of a human hair and bigger.
The major advantage of this micron rating is that it filters a large amount of liquid without causing the clogging problems associated with lesser micron ratings. Because of its adaptability, this grade is popular across a wide range of sectors.
Get the: NU Aqua 4.5" x 20" 5 Micron Whole House Sediment Filter
25 micron
This micron rating has the potential to filter out everything that is larger than the size of a white blood cell, hence it is ideal for use in medical settings.
Because of their capacity to filter tiny particles without becoming clogged, 25 micron filters are ideal for use in the chemical processing industry, among many other fields of use.
When used in conjunction with other filters, they become much more effective. Using this micron scale, which is the biggest available to us, we can filter out trash that cannot be seen by the naked eye.
Get the: NU Aqua 4.5" x 20" 5 Micron Whole House Sediment Filter
10 Micron
It filters somewhat less than the 5 micron grade. However, 10 micron filters may remove certain invisible particles from liquids, but they are incapable of removing germs or viruses from the liquid.
However, 10 microns is still a relatively tiny size that may help a wide range of sectors, from oil to chemical facilities, due to its capacity to filter a large amount of material. 10 micron rated filters, like those with micron ratings lower than this, tend to clog more easily.
Get the: NU Aqua 4.5" x 20" 5 Micron Whole House Sediment Filter
5 Microns
Filters having a 5 micron rating are capable of removing a significant quantity of impurities from fluids.
Even if there are additional, lesser micron ratings available, filters with micron ratings of less than 5 are more susceptible to extreme clogging or rapid debris accumulation.
The smaller the micron rating, the faster the filter fills up with contaminants. When there are a large number of particles, dirt, and debris to be filtered, it is occasionally recommended to use more than one filter in order to prevent clogging of the filter.
A 5 micron rating can be used in a lot of different places, including the food and beverage industry, as well as many other industries.
Get the: NU Aqua 4.5" x 20" 5 Micron Whole House Sediment Filter
0.5 - 1 micron
Systems with a particle size of around 1 micron or 0.5 micron are the most effective when installed at the end of a filter system and used to deal with tiny particles, based on the manufacturer's guide.
A 1-micron product might be useful for eradicating bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens from the environment. However, it may cause some clogging trouble in rare cases.
Get the: NU Aqua 4.5" x 20" 5 Micron Whole House Sediment Filter
Choosing the Appropriate Micron Rating
Here are some factors to think about when determining the micron rating for your water filtration system.
1. Understand What Needs To Be Brought To Light.
Identifying what contaminants are present in your water is the first step in establishing what micron rating your water filter should have. It is crucial to emphasize how important it is to completely eliminate all pollutants.
Consider whether a nominal micron rated filter will be enough, or whether an absolute micron rated filter is necessary.
2. "Smaller" Does Not Always Equate To "Better."
The lower the micron rating, the greater the amount of contamination that will be eliminated. Having stated that, there is a chance of flow rate loss.
It is important to have a filter with a higher micron grade or a bigger pump to make sure that there is little to no flow loss.
3. Filters get clogged with time.
Everything that comes out of the water is retained in the filter system. If the filter has a lower micron rating, it may need to be replaced more frequently depending on the condition of the water that is passing through it.
There is always a filter with the ideal micron grade for each filtering job, no matter how difficult it is..
What Is A Micron Filter?
Micron filters are a type of water technology used to remove dirt, debris, and even minute particles from water. The pore size of a filter cartridge is measured in microns, which is the smallest unit of measurement.
The lower the micron rating, the finer the particles that are eliminated from the system. The size of the micron filter that you require is determined by the size of the smallest particle that has to be removed from your water.
A 5-micron filter, on its own, is capable of removing particles as fine as 5 microns from the airstream. Anything that is smaller than a human hair can as well pass through the pores. Sediment filters are the most prevalent form of micron filter found in the environment.
Sediment filters are similar to screen doors in that they allow air to pass through while keeping pests out. However, the detritus that is prevented by the filter is minuscule in size.
See Recommended: NU Aqua Platinum Series 1 Micron Sediment Filter
