The home is on a well and has sat empty for roughly 2 years. One of the things I've been working on is the water softener. Before purchasing the home I had the well checked to make sure the water was OK, and also had the well bleached. The home currently has a 2 tank softener installed and I have regenerated both tanks hoping this would get them working. I believe the softener is working, however there is also a sediment filter right before the softener and upon inspection it looks as if the filter hasn't been changed in quite a while. I dumped "chocolate milk" water out of the filter, bought a new one and started over. I also ran the faucets in the home for about 15 minutes to clear the pipes, however, I'm still getting a lot of "brownish water" and lots of sediment in the bottom of the bathtub and any buckets I used to fill up from the faucets? Could the problem be that the filter has allowed sediment to travel throughout the house and I just need to run the water for a long time to clear those pipes?

Your filters should have cleared the water up the first day, Bypass the softeners and see if the brown water continues, Let me know the results. Tom

Yesterday I bypassed the softener and let the bathtubs run for about 15 minutes, water is still brown. My gut feeling (which is 0 plumbing knowledge whatsoever) is that there is sediment in the pipes throughout the house. Just not sure if letting the water run for an hour or so might help? I feel like the pipes might have sediment in them and just need cleared??

Well, your "brown" water issue is associated with house being out of service for 2 years. Disconnect that filter and let water run for extended period until water runs clean.

Also, check your pipes. There may be portion of pipe heavily corroded discoloring your water. Question: what kind of pipes do you have ? ( galvanized, copper, PEX or PVC type). Back to you. Milo

Well, your "brown" water issue is associated with house being out of service for 2 years. Disconnect that filter and let water run for extended period of time until water runs clean.

Also, check your pipes. There may be portion of pipe heavily corroded discoloring your water. Question: what kind of pipes do you have ? ( galvanized, copper, PEX or PVC type). Back to you. Milo

Should I replace the filter with a new one and then let the faucets run for awhile?

No, with so much dirt in your pipes, that filter gets clogged within few minutes. Run water w/o filter and for long time. Run both hot and cold since your water heater may be part of the problem. Run it full blast in the tub, not through faucets. Once water runs clean, install new filter. Back to you. Milo

Should I bypass softener?

Yes, bypass softener, too...

Looking here, it doesn't look like I can bypass filter, I could just not put the filter in there??

Fred, take a sample of water from the filter, which you should be able to do by simply removing the filter element and turning the water back on. Is it brown, such as is in the house? If not, then you can figure the house is your problem. If so, then the problem is before the filter, which could possibly involve the tank or the well itself. I would think crud in the housepipes would at least BEGIN to clear up after running water for thirty minutes or so.

Most cartridge filters have a bypass on the top, You turn it to off, bypass, or on.

Two questions: How old is the pressure tank? Is the pump above ground or in the well?


Run water w/o filter and for long time. Run both hot and cold since your water heater may be part of the problem. Run it full blast in the tub, not through faucets. Once water runs clean, install new filter. Back to you. Milo

Really good advice.

Take the filter out, close the cartridge. Let water through.
Water Softener: there is a By-Pass valve on the unit. Push it to By-Pass.

Hope that helps. Milo