Pleated sediment filter cartridge 2-7/8 x 20 inch, single cartridge

Crystal Quest 5 Micron Pleated Sediment Filter Cartridge

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Crystal Quest®

$31.50

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Size 2-7/8” x 9-3/4” 2-7/8” x 20” 4-5/8" x 9-3/4" 4-5/8" x 20"

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🇺🇸 Made in USA

Description

This 5 micron pleated sediment filter cartridge is built for the problems you notice first: sand settling in the toilet tank, grit catching in the faucet aerator, or a SMART or carbon stage that clogs up far too early. Rust, silt and dirt make water look murky, but the bigger issue is what they do further along, where they pile up inside the more expensive filters. Stopping them before they get there is the whole purpose of a sediment stage.

Crystal Quest builds this cartridge from pleated cellulose, folded into a large filtering surface over a polypropylene core. In its own equipment, Crystal Quest places it first in the triple cartridge systems and relies on it to pre-filter sediment for its whole house and whole house RO systems, so the membrane, carbon and SMART filters that follow stay protected. You can choose from four sizes, covering countertop, under-sink, whole house and Big Blue housings.

Key features of this pleated sediment filter

5 micron rating: holds back sand, silt, rust and similar particles floating in the water.
More room for dirt: the folds multiply the filtering surface, so it can collect more before you see the flow go down.
A guard for later stages: sediment never reaches the SMART, carbon block or RO membrane filters behind it.
Solid build: a polypropylene core, with vinyl plastisol caps bonded to both ends of the media.
Available in four sizes, with a usual service life of 12 to 24 months.

How the cartridge is built

Look closely and you see deep folds, evenly spaced around the whole cartridge. The cellulose sits on a stiff polypropylene core, polyethylene mesh holds every fold in its place, and vinyl plastisol closes off both ends, leaving water no route except straight through the media.

Over time the white folds turn brown or grey with what they have trapped. It is a clear sign of how much dirt never made it into your plumbing.

How pleated sediment filtration works

Filtration by particle size

Sediment filtration is purely physical. While water flows through the cellulose, anything larger than 5 microns gets stuck. No chemicals are released and nothing is added; the cartridge just stops particles that are too big to fit through.

Why pleats outperform a flat wrap

Because the media is folded, a cartridge of the same dimensions offers far more filtering area. Water then moves through any single spot more gently, pressure loss stays small and the trapped dirt is spread out instead of concentrated. In practice that means steady flow and many months of use before the cartridge is full.

Dirt you can see

Most particles collect on the outside of the folds, where you can check them by eye. One look tells you how heavily your water loads the filter, so you know whether to swap cartridges sooner when your supply is especially dirty.

Why a pre-filter is worth it

The media in carbon and SMART cartridges, and the membrane in an RO system, exist to change what is dissolved in your water, not to catch mud. Any grain the sediment cartridge stops is one that can't plug or cover those stages. Changing the sediment filter on time lets the rest of the system reach its expected lifespan.

What this sediment cartridge removes, and what it doesn't

It takes out:

Sand, silt, dirt and rust particles (sediment)
Suspended particles as small as 5 microns

It does not treat dissolved substances. Fluoride, hardness, chlorine, VOCs, nitrate, pesticides and dissolved metals such as lead and iron go straight through, as do viruses and bacteria. Those jobs belong to the stages after it: reverse osmosis, specialty cartridges, the SMART Filter Cartridge and the Coconut Based 5-Micron Carbon Block Filter Cartridge.

About Crystal Quest

Specified in Crystal Quest's own systems. Their own system manuals name this pleated cartridge as the default sediment stage.
No bypass around the media. The vinyl plastisol caps are fused to the cellulose, which keeps water from leaking past the folds.
Serving customers since 1994. More than 1,000,000 people have used Crystal Quest filtration. The company follows ISO 9001 quality management and has produced its water filters in the USA for more than three decades.

Where it fits

Triple cartridge systems: stage one, ahead of SMART Plus and the carbon block
Whole house RO pre-filtration: housing one, ahead of SMART Plus
Whole house cartridge systems: fitted as the pre-filter for sediment
Which size goes where: 2-7/8" x 9-3/4" (CQE-RC-04001) in countertop and under-sink systems; 2-7/8" x 20" (CQE-RC-04015) in whole house cartridge housings; 4-5/8" x 9-3/4" (CQE-RC-04033) and 4-5/8" x 20" (CQE-RC-04034) in the larger compact, whole house and whole house RO housings

Common questions

What is this cartridge made of?

Folded cellulose media on a polypropylene core for rigidity, with vinyl plastisol sealing off each end. It is rated at 5 microns.

What makes a pleated sediment filter a good choice?

Folding the media creates a lot of filtering area. That gives it room to collect plenty of dirt while flow stays strong, even at 5 microns.

Pleated vs. spun polypropylene: which works differently?

With pleats, most dirt lands on one wide, folded surface. A spun polypropylene cartridge catches dirt inside a thick wound layer of fibre instead. For their sediment stage, Crystal Quest systems use the pleated cellulose version as standard.

Will it take out dissolved contaminants?

No. It only catches particles that float in the water. Nitrate, pesticides and dissolved metals call for a specialty, SMART or carbon cartridge.

When should a sediment filter be replaced?

Plan on every 12 to 24 months; most homes land around 18 months. Swap it earlier if you notice a change in taste, odor, flow or pressure. The real lifespan depends on the quality of your incoming water, how your system is set up and how much you use.

How do I pick the right size for my housing?

Measure the diameter and length of the cartridge you are replacing: 2-7/8" x 9-3/4", 2-7/8" x 20", 4-5/8" x 9-3/4" or 4-5/8" x 20". They fit, in that order, 2.5" x 10", 2.5" x 20", 5" x 10" Big Blue and 5" x 20" Big Blue housings.

Specifications

At a glance

Cartridge type: Pleated sediment cartridge
Format: Drop-in replacement cartridge
Micron rating: 5 micron
Media: Pleated cellulose on a polypropylene core
End caps: Vinyl plastisol
Netting: Polyethylene
Temperature rating: 40 to 145 F (4.4 to 62.8 C)
Typical replacement: 12 to 24 months, about 18 months for most homes

Sizes

All sizes are rated at 5 microns. Sizes are actual cartridge diameter x length.

SKU	Size	Fits housing	Micron	Typical replacement
CQE-RC-04001	2-7/8" x 9-3/4"	2.5" x 10"	5	12 to 24 months*
CQE-RC-04015	2-7/8" x 20"	2.5" x 20"	5	12 to 24 months*
CQE-RC-04033	4-5/8" x 9-3/4"	5" x 10" Big Blue	5	12 to 24 months*
CQE-RC-04034	4-5/8" x 20"	5" x 20" Big Blue	5	12 to 24 months*

Media and filtration

Media	Pleated cellulose on a polypropylene core
Micron rating	5 micron
Reduces	Sediment and suspended particles
Not designed for	Dissolved contaminants, chlorine, VOCs, metals, nitrate, microbiologically unsafe water

Operating conditions

Water temperature

40°F to 145°F (4.4°C to 62.8°C)

Construction materials

Fiber media: Cellulose
Core: Polypropylene
End caps: Vinyl plastisol
Netting: Polyethylene
Temperature rating: 40°F to 145°F (4.4°C to 62.8°C)

Dimensions are actual cartridge diameter x length in inches; nominal housing names are not cartridge measurements.

*Typically 12 to 24 months, about 18 months for most homes. Replace sooner if taste, odor, flow or pressure changes. Actual life depends on feed water quality, system configuration and usage.

Maintenance & care

When to replace it

Replace typically every 12 to 24 months, about 18 months for most homes. Replace sooner if taste, odor, flow or pressure changes. Actual life depends on feed water quality, system configuration and usage.
On whole house RO, change the pre-filters once a year on chlorinated city water as best practice, and sooner if the pressure gauges show a much bigger drop than with new cartridges.
If flow drops sooner than usual, your water may carry a heavier sediment load; replace the cartridge and check it more often.
Rated for water from 40°F to 145°F (4.4°C to 62.8°C).

How to replace it

Turn off the water supply to the filter and release pressure as your system manual directs. Place a drip pan underneath.
Unscrew the housing sump with the sump wrench and remove the used cartridge.
Wash the sump with mild soap and water and rinse it well. Do not use harsh or abrasive cleaners.
Check that the housing O-ring is in place and fully seated in its groove; lubricate it only as your system manual directs.
Remove the wrapping from the new cartridge and insert it centered and fully seated. If it is marked "This End Towards Cap", install it in that direction.
Reinstall the sump with the wrench. Do not cross-thread or overtighten.
Turn the water on slowly, check for leaks and flush the new cartridge for the time your system manual specifies before use.

Protect every stage behind it. Pair it with a SMART cartridge and a carbon block when your system uses them.

Compatibility

Which size do you need?

SKU	Size	Fits housing	Used in
CQE-RC-04001	2-7/8" x 9-3/4"	2.5" x 10"	Crystal Quest countertop and under-sink systems
CQE-RC-04015	2-7/8" x 20"	2.5" x 20"	Whole house cartridge housings
CQE-RC-04033	4-5/8" x 9-3/4"	5" x 10" Big Blue	Larger compact, whole house and whole house RO housings
CQE-RC-04034	4-5/8" x 20"	5" x 20" Big Blue	Larger compact, whole house and whole house RO housings

Match the actual size printed on your current cartridge or in your order history.

These are actual cartridge measurements. Housings are often described by nominal sizes such as 2.5 x 10 or 5 x 20, which are not cartridge measurements.

For a Pentair or other-brand housing, confirm its exact model, cartridge dimensions and seal design. A nominal housing size alone does not confirm the replacement.

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