Fine Filtration for Industrial & Food Applications

5 Micron Filter Bags

CLARIBag's 5 micron filter bags provide general particulate removal in water, chemicals, paints, coatings, oils, food & beverages. These filter socks are available in polypropylene felt, polyester felt, or nylon mesh (on special order). Available in both felt media for depth-loading and mesh media for surface retention.

Industry sizes: 1, 2, 3 and 4
Diameter: 4" and 7"
Lengths: 9", 15", 16", 32"
Collars: Universal W Type, Eaton H Type, Stainless Steel Ring, Draw String
Compliance: EC Regulation 1935/2004 for food contact
Individually wrapped to avoid contamination

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Frequently asked questions about 5 micron filter bags

Basic Understanding

A 5 micron filter bag has pores sized to
capture particles as small as 5 microns (5 micrometers). One micron equals
one-millionth of a meter, so 5 microns is about 1/14th the width of a human
hair. This makes 5 micron filters effective at removing fine sediment and rust
particles, while maintaining good flow rates.

Here's a helpful comparison:

  • Human hair: 70-100 microns
  • Fine dust and silt: 1-10 microns
  • Large bacteria: 2-5 microns
  • Red blood cells: 6-8 microns
  • Pollen: 10-1000 microns
  • White blood cells: 25 microns A 5 micron filter captures particles visible under a microscope but invisible to the naked eye.

5 micron filter socks effectively remove:

  • Medium to fine sediment and silt
  • Rust and scale particles
  • Fine dirt and debris
  • Sand particles
  • Some algae
  • Suspended solids in liquids
  • Industrial particulates and contaminants

Nominal 5 micron rating means the filter
removes up to 95% of particles at 5 microns in size. Absolute 5
micron rating means 99.9% or more of 5-micron particles are removed. Most bag
filters use nominal ratings, so some particles smaller than 5 microns may pass
through, especially under varying flow conditions.

Performance & Effectiveness

Yes, 5 micron filter bags are excellent for
sediment removal. They effectively capture fine sediment, silt, sand, and
suspended particles that cause water cloudiness. They're particularly effective
for general sediment control without excessive flow restriction.

5 micron filter socks do not remove chlorine, chemicals, or dissolved contaminants that cause taste and odor issues. They are purely mechanical filters for particulate removal. For taste and odour
improvement, you need activated carbon filters or specialised chemical removal
systems in addition to sediment filtration.

Flow & Performance Issues

5 micron filter socks provide a good balance between filtration and flow rate. While they create more restriction than
larger micron filters (10-50 micron), they maintain much better flow rates than
finer filters (1 micron). Most systems can accommodate 5 micron bags without
significant pressure issues.

5 micron filter bags clog faster than 10-50
micron filters due to their smaller pore size, but much slower than 1 micron filters. Clogging rate depends on water quality - in moderately contaminated water, they typically last 2-4 times longer than 1 micron bags while providing significantly better filtration than 10+ micron options.

Pre-filtration is recommended when dealing with heavily contaminated water or high sediment loads. Use 25-50 micron
pre-filters to remove larger particles first, extending the life of your 5 micron bags and maintaining better flow rates. This staged approach is more cost-effective for challenging water conditions.

Replacement & Maintenance

Replace when you notice:

  • Decreased water flow or pressure
  • Increased pressure differential across the filter (max dp 1 bar)
  • Return of sediment or cloudiness in filtered water
  • Visible contamination or discoloration of the bag
  • Foul odors (indicating bacterial growth)
  • Physical damage to the bag material
  • Reaching recommended service interval – every 3 months

Change filter bags when differential pressure reaches 1 bar or every 3 months.

Some 5 micron filter bags made from materials like nylon mesh can be cleaned and reused. However:

  • Cleaning effectiveness decreases with each use
  • Filtration efficiency may be reduced after cleaning
  • Felt bags are typically single-use only
  • Cost of cleaning versus replacement should be considered Always follow guidelines for your specific bag type.
  • Weekly: Check system pressure and flow rates
  • Monthly: Visual inspection of housing and connections
  • Every 3 months: Replace filter bags (or as needed based on pressure)
  • During each change: Clean filter housing interior
  • Annually: Inspect housing seals and system components
  • Ongoing: Maintain spare bags and monitor water quality

Comparison & Selection

Choose bag filters for:

  • High flow rate requirements
  • Cost-effective operation
  • Easy maintenance and replacement
  • Variable contamination loads
  • Industrial and commercial applications

Choose cartridge filters for:

  • Longer service life requirements
  • Higher filtration efficiency needs
  • Consistent contamination levels
  • Space-limited installations

Use 5 micron when:

  • You need removal of fine sediment and particles
  • Water clarity is important
  • Protecting sensitive downstream equipment

Use 10 micron when:

  • Basic sediment removal is sufficient
  • Maximum flow rate is priority
  • Pre-filtering before finer filtration
  • Longer service life is needed

Material & Construction

Common materials include:

  • Polypropylene (PP): Excellent chemical resistance, cost-effective, good for general use
  • Polyester (PE): High temperature tolerance, good chemical resistance, durable
  • Nylon: Strong, reusable, good for food and beverage applications
  • PTFE: Superior chemical resistance, high-temperature applications (On special order)
  • Nomex: High-temperature resistance for specialised applications (On special order)

Polypropylene is better for:

  • Chemical processing
  • Cost-sensitive applications
  • Broad chemical compatibility
  • General water treatment

Polyester is better for:

  • High-temperature applications
  • Industrial processes with thermal cycling

Felt bags:

  • Depth filtration (particles trapped throughout the material)
  • Higher dirt-holding capacity
  • Better for variable particle sizes
  • Thicker construction

Mesh bags:

  • Surface filtration (particles trapped on the surface)
  • Higher flow rates
  • Easier to clean and reuse
  • Thinner, more uniform construction
  • Better for consistent particle sizes

Yes, common ring types include:

  • Polypropylene collars: Chemical resistant, cost-effective
  • Stainless steel rings: High strength, food grade, high temperature
  • Carbon steel rings: Standard industrial use
  • Plastic rings: Lightweight, corrosion resistant

Choose ring material based on your application's chemical compatibility, temperature, and strength requirements.

Use this text to answer questions in as much detail as possible for your customers.

Applications & Suitability

5 micron filter socks can improve drinking water quality by removing sediment and fine particles. However, they should be part of a comprehensive treatment system that may include:

  • Pre-filtration for larger particles
  • Carbon filtration for chlorine and taste
  • UV or chemical disinfection for complete microbial safety
  • Post-filtration for final polishing

All Polypropylene, Nylon and Polyester filter bags supplied by CLARIBag are food grade.

Excellent industrial applications include:

  • Cooling water systems
  • Process water pre-treatment
  • Chemical processing (with compatible materials)
  • Paint and coating filtration
  • Oil and coolant filtration
  • Food and beverage pre-filtration
  • Equipment protection systems

Yes, 5 micron filter bags are excellent for
well water treatment, especially for:

  • Sediment and sand removal
  • Rust and scale particle removal
  • Protecting appliances and plumbing
  • Pre-treatment before finer filtration
  • General water clarity improvement They work well as first-stage filters in multi-stage borehole water systems.

5 micron filter bags work best with:

  • Moderate sediment levels
  • Water requiring clarity improvement
  • Pre-filtration applications
  • Systems with adequate pressure
  • General purpose water treatment needs They may not be suitable for heavily contaminated water without pre treatment.

Installation & Compatibility

Common housing sizes for filter bags:

  • Size #1: 7" diameter x 16" length
  • Size #2: 7" diameter x 32" length
  • Size #3: 4" diameter x 9" length
  • Size #4: 4" diameter x 15" length

Choose housing size based on your flow rate requirements and available space.

All CLARIBag filter bags are designed to fit standard industrial housings for 7" or 4" diameter filter bags.

Installation steps:

  1. Follow instructions for bag filter housing operation by the manufacturer (do not open pressurised vessels without instructions supplied by the housing manufacturer)
  2. Remove old filter bag if replacing
  3. Clean housing interior
  4. Insert new bag ensuring ring sits properly in housing groove
  5. Check for proper sealing around ring

Yes, if your current system uses standard
4" or 7" diameter bag filters, you can typically retrofit with 5 micron bags. Consider:

  • Current housing compatibility
  • System pressure and pump capacity
  • Expected increase in pressure drop
  • More frequent maintenance requirements
  • Possible need for pre-filtration Consult with your system manufacturer if unsure about compatibility.

Cost & Value

Consider:

  • Filter costs: Moderate, more than coarse filters but less than fine filters
  • Replacement frequency
  • Labor: Minimal, simple bag replacement
  • Energy costs: Low pressure drop impact
  • System protection: Reduced downstream maintenance
  • Performance value: Good balance of quality and economy

Troubleshooting

Possible causes:

  • Filter is already loaded and needs replacement
  • Particles smaller than 5 microns causing turbidity
  • Bypass around filter due to poor sealing
  • Wrong filter type for your specific particles
  • System flow rate too high for effective filtration
  • Need for finer filtration (1 micron)
  • Dissolved contaminants requiring different treatment

Immediate actions:

  1. Stop system operation
  2. Inspect installation for proper seating
  3. Check for pressure surges or system issues
  4. Examine water quality for unusual contamination
  5. Verify bag material compatibility
  6. Consider pre-filtration if water is heavily contaminated

Common causes:

  • Rapid filter loading due to high contamination
  • Undersized housing for required flow rate
  • Wrong bag material for application
  • System pressure issues
  • Need for pre-filtration
  • Bag installation problems
  • Housing design limitations

Best practices:

  • Use appropriate pre-filtration for heavily contaminated water
  • Size system properly for flow requirements
  • Monitor pressure differential regularly
  • Replace before complete clogging occurs
  • Keep spare bags in stock
  • Maintain upstream system components
  • Choose quality bags appropriate for your application

Consider staged filtration for challenging conditions



Testing methods:

  • Visual inspection: Compare filtered vs. unfiltered water clarity
  • Pressure monitoring: Track pressure differential across filter
  • Particle counting: Professional testing for particle concentration
  • Turbidity testing: Measure water cloudiness before and after
  • Flow rate monitoring: Declining flow indicates filter loading
  • Regular water quality testing: Monitor key parameters over time

For critical applications, consider
professional water testing services to verify filter performance.