The Standard 1" Rusco ($145) is right for smaller homes (1 to 2 bathrooms, 1 to 3 occupants), cabins, RVs, and as a post-softener resin trap on residential systems. It threads directly into standard 1" lines with no PVC work. The Large 2" Rusco ($165) handles 4x the flow rate (18 to 100 GPM vs 1 to 25 GPM) and is the right choice for 3+ bath homes, sprinkler systems on the well, agricultural use, or any whole-house pre-filter where flow matters. The Large uses 2" slip PVC connections (typically reduced to 1.5" or 1.25" for residential).

Three common scenarios. (1) After your water softener, to catch any resin that escapes through a worn distributor before it reaches your faucets and water heater. (2) Before a UV system, as a final polish so no particle shadows the lamp. (3) As a sediment pre-filter on a smaller well that gets occasional sand or scale. If you have heavy continuous sediment, a 20" Big Blue cartridge filter or a backwashing sediment filter usually does a better job for the price.

The filter ships with 100 mesh (~150 micron) polyester, which catches sand, grit, scale, and softener resin escapes. That covers most well water uses. If you see fine silt slipping through, step down to 140 mesh (~105 micron) or 200 mesh (~74 micron). If the screen clogs in days because of heavy coarse sediment, step up to 60 mesh (~250 micron) or 24 mesh (~705 micron) to catch only the big stuff. Stainless steel screens are available for hot water or high-iron applications.

Look at the clear sump. When you can see a layer of sediment building up at the bottom, open the 1/2" flush valve for 5 to 10 seconds. Most homes flush once a week to once a month. If you find yourself flushing daily, you have heavy sediment and either need a coarser mesh or should add a larger pre-filter (like the Large 2" Rusco or a 20" Big Blue) upstream.

Yes. This is one of the most common reasons we sell it. When a water softener distributor wears out, tiny amber resin beads can sneak past the screen and end up in your faucets, washing machine, and water heater. Putting a Rusco filter on the OUTLET of the softener traps those beads in the clear sump where you can see them, instead of letting them clog appliances downstream.

Yes. Water flows IN through one port, hits a vortex deflector, spins down (centrifugal action), and the sediment drops into the clear sump. Filtered water rises through the polyester screen and exits the OUT port. The housing is marked with arrows showing the correct flow direction. Mount it with the sump pointing straight down so gravity helps the sediment settle and so you can flush it.

A clean Rusco screen causes minimal pressure drop, typically 1 to 2 PSI at normal household flow rates. As sediment loads on the screen, the pressure drop increases. The clear sump lets you see when it is time to flush before pressure drop becomes noticeable at the faucet. The 1" Standard is rated for 1 to 25 GPM. If your peak whole-house demand exceeds 20 GPM consistently, the Large 2" handles that flow with less drop.

Yes. Rusco housings carry a manufacturer warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. In addition, every order from Mid Atlantic Water comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and free lifetime tech support. If you have questions about installation, mesh selection, or troubleshooting, call or text Aidan at 800-460-5810.