Where can I buy a Washer water inlet hose filter?

[tecnopolis]

We are on a well and have had the water inlet valve clogged up by deposits slowing the flow of water to a trickle on our top-load washer. Is there a water filter I can install in-line with the water suppy hose?
Thanks!
-Alex

 

[stevet]

Do yourself a favor!

Get yourself a nice large sediment filter and attach it to the incoming water line into the house from the well. That way you will protect all your plumbing in your house from excessive sediment and debris. Take off the washer hoses, clean the screens and reinstall them after you install the sediment filter. You will be amazed at how much it will catch before the water goes into the house. If you have a dishwasher, you may want to clean the inlet screen on the fill solenoid too. It is probably clogged up as well.

Another good thing to do would be to drain out your hot weater heater and get rid of the debris that passed into the tank too.
It will pile up on the bottom of the tank and impede the flow of heat from the gas burner if so equipped or will accelerate the demise of the tank if electrically or gas heated.

Make sure you turn off the circuit breaker to the tank on an electric unit or turn off the thermostat on a gas unit before draining it. That will prevent dry firing of the elements or the burner. Refill the tank and then apply the power to it or turn the thermostat back on and you should be good to go!

I always recommend removing the factory plastic drain valve and replacing it with a 3/4 inch brass nipple and a ball valve at the end so that the water can empty quickly and take the larger debris with it. You can attach a hose adapter to the ball valve so it makes it easier to get the water out of the area.

 

[goatfarmer]

There are hose washers available that have a mesh screen in them.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I agree with Stevet

Here in Charlotte a great many of the outlying communities have or had well water as the only option. My parent's current home is a perfect example. We had to install a filter system, which has elements that look like rolls of twine or yarn. Mom's washer was clogging up at the inlet valve, just like yours, about monthly until we installed the filter. They later got a softener as well. We've had no filter related problems since.

Steve's point about keeping the rest of your faucets and water using appliances cleaner is a great one, and this is especially important for the water heater. They can quickly become inefficient when sediment builds up and I believe this can lead to premature water heater failure.

Your problem seems significant in how you describe it, and I think a well filter would be an outstanding investment which you'd appreciate daily and may honestly pay for itself quickly. In my view this would be something that you could add as a line item when selling your home eventually.

Gordon