We tell you if a filter won't help
Rust from galvanized pipe inside the house won't stop at a filter by the meter. We say that up front instead of selling one anyway.
Sand, silt, and rust
Sediment Filtration in San Mateo
From older houses along Alameda de las Pulgas to wells up in the hills, we stop sand, silt, and rust before it reaches your fixtures in San Mateo.
Where the grit comes from
Clogged aerators. A toilet fill valve that keeps running. Brown water after the street mains get flushed. San Mateo Water Filtration fits sediment filtration for San Mateo homes that see this, and the cause usually falls into one of two camps.
In town, it's often older galvanized supply lines in neighborhoods like Baywood, San Mateo Park, and Sunnybrae shedding rust. Out toward Half Moon Bay and in the hills, it's sand and silt from a private well. On the visit we look at the debris, measure pressure, and tell you whether a filter helps or whether the pipe itself is the real problem.
What we install and check
Sediment filtration is simple equipment. Getting the micron rating and the placement right is the part that matters.
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Debris inspection
We pull an aerator or open a valve screen and look at what's in it. Sand, rust flakes, and fine silt each point to a different setup.
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Spin-down filters
A clear-bowl spin-down with a stainless screen catches heavy sand and grit. You flush it with a quarter-turn valve instead of buying a new cartridge.
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Cartridge housings
Big whole-house cartridge housings handle finer silt and rust. We pick a micron rating that catches the problem without choking water pressure.
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Two-stage setups
On sandy wells a spin-down goes first and a finer cartridge second. Each stage does less work, so the cartridge lasts longer between changes.
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Pressure gauges
A gauge before and after the filter shows the pressure drop as the cartridge loads up. When the gap between the two readings widens, it's time for a change.
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Bypass valves
A three-valve bypass lets you swap a cartridge while water still reaches the house. Nobody ends up stuck in the shower waiting.
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Protection for other equipment
Sediment fouls softener resin, RO membranes, and UV quartz sleeves. A prefilter in front of them keeps that equipment working the way it should.
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Galvanized line advice
A filter at the main can't catch rust that sheds from pipe downstream of it. If that's what's happening, we say so and suggest point-of-use filters or a repipe conversation with a plumber.
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Cartridge change schedule
We leave you a change interval based on the gauge readings and the debris we saw. Spare cartridges are standard sizes that are easy to find.
From first look to filtered water
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Find the source
We check aerators, screens, and the water at the hose bib closest to the meter or well. You see the debris we collect and hear what we think it is. Pressure readings tell us how much restriction the house can tolerate. This part takes about half an hour.
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Pick the setup
Based on what we found, we recommend a spin-down, a cartridge, or both. You get a written quote with the micron ratings and parts listed. If the rust is coming from pipes past the main, we tell you a whole-house filter won't fix it.
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Fit and flush
Most sediment filters go in during one visit, usually in a couple of hours. We plumb in the bypass and gauges, flush the lines, and clean out the aerators the old grit already clogged. Then we show you how to flush the spin-down and change a cartridge yourself.
Why Choose San Mateo Water Filtration for Sediment Filtration
Right micron, right pressure
Go too fine and you lose pressure in the shower. Go too coarse and the grit gets through. We match the rating to the debris we actually collected at your place.
Easy upkeep
Clear bowls, gauges, and a bypass mean you can see when service is due and handle it yourself. Standard cartridge sizes keep the running cost down.
- Written pricingParts and micron ratings listed
- Pressure readingsBefore and after the filter
- One-visit installMost jobs, without a wait list
- NSF/ANSI 42 cartridgesRated for particulate reduction
Stop the sand before it reaches the tap
Gritty aerators and running toilets usually have a simple fix. Book a visit, and we'll find the source, fit the right filter, and show you how to keep it clean.