Why Micron Size Matters: The Real Difference Between a 5 Micron and a 0.22 Micron Whole Home Filter System

Discover how ultra-fine filtration with the Hydro-Flow 0.22 micron cartridge outperforms standard 5-2 and 1 micron filters — and why the Vortex-Pro-III offers 9 customised filter kits solutions for real Aussie water conditions.

Micron size matters in water filtration. Learn how the 0.22 micron Hydro-Flow filter compares to 5 micron filter system, and why WaterFilter.Direct's Vortex-Pro-III system offers 9 tailored cartridge kits for Australian water.

Not All Micron Water Filters Are Equal

When it comes to whole house water filtration, most people focus on what they’re filtering. But the smarter question is:

"How fine is the filter?"

Because when it comes to protecting your health, plumbing, and appliances — micron ratings matter. And the gap between a 5 micron filter and a 0.22 micron filter is wider than most realise.

📏 What’s a Micron in Water Filtration?

A micron (µm) is one-millionth of a metre. To put it into real-world context:

• A grain of sand = ~90 microns

• A human hair = ~70 microns

• A red blood cell = ~7–8 microns

• Most bacteria = 0.5 to 3 microns

• Viruses & PFAS particles = under 0.3 microns

• The Hydro-Flow filter cartridge = 0.22 micron

That’s 220 nanometres — a size so fine, it’s approaching medical-grade water filtration.

🆚 5 Micron Filters vs 0.22 Micron Filters

Traditional 5 micron filters (often found in off-the-shelf filter systems) are built to catch:

• Dust

• Rust

• Sediment

• Visible debris

But here’s what they miss:

• Bacteria like Giardia and Cryptosporidium

• Sub-micron microplastics

• PFAS chemicals, pesticides, and pharmaceutical residues

• Sub-micron heavy metals and organic compounds

🔬 Filter Performance Comparison

Filter	Pore Size	% Larger Than 0.22 Micron	What It Removes
5 Micron	5,000 nm	2,172% larger	Dirt, sand, rust
1 Micron	1,000 nm	355% larger	Sediment, some cysts
0.5 Micron	500 nm	127% larger	Some bacteria & cysts
0.22 Micron	220 nm	Reference Point	Bacteria, microplastics, PFAS

• A 5 micron pore is 518 x larger in surface area than a 0.22 micron pore

• You can fit 22 Hydro-Flow pores into a single 5 micron opening

This isn’t a small upgrade — it’s a total leap in protection.

💡 The Technology Behind the Hydro-Flow 0.22 Micron Filter Cartridge

The Hydro-Flow filter isn’t just about fine filtration — it’s a high-performance engineered cartridge design built for real Australian conditions.

Key features:

✅ Depth-loading filtration — removes particles progressively to reduce clogging

✅ Coconut shell carbon media — naturally enhanced chemical adsorption

✅ Mixed media solutions

✅ Thermally bonded structure — durable under pressure

✅ Anti-channeling design — maximises media contact

✅ Low pressure drop — despite ultra-fine filtration

✅ Hi grade raw material and world lead filter media

✅ 7000% more external surface area

✅ The Vortex-Pro-III filter system, it’s designed to polish the water — not just filter it.

🌏 One Cartridge Doesn’t Fit All:

Why Custom Filter Kits Matter

Here’s the truth:

Australia doesn’t have one water quality. It has hundreds — suburb to suburb, farm to farm, tap to tank.

That’s why the Vortex-Pro-III offers 9 tailored filter cartridge kits options — instead of one off-the-shelf combo.

Each configuration is designed to match specific water challenges:

• Rural tanks

• Town water

• Bore water

• High sediment zones

• Hard water areas

• PFAS or chemical-affected supplies

🧪 Custom Cartridges = Better Outcomes

Every Vortex-Pro-III cartridge kit includes a combination of the right cartridge for each stage, here are a few standouts.

• Multi-stage PPMD grooved sediment filters (5 > 3 > 1 micron)

• MetSorb® media for PFAS, arsenic, and chemical reduction including heavy metal removal

• D-TAC anti-scale media for hard water

• Double Activated Carbon block filtration for taste, odour, and chlorine

• Hydro-Flow 0.22 micron final polish

This means plumbers and installers can spec the right kit for the job, not rely on one-size-fits-none.

🛠️ Designed by Plumbers — for Plumbers

At WaterFilter.Direct, we build every product around how real tradies work in the field, from concept to commissioning we consider the entire application

• 10-year system warranty

• Lifetime tech and trade support

• Designed to exceed Australian plumbing standards

• Easy-install systems with robust stainless steel components

• Filter kits that match site conditions, not marketing fluff

When you install a Vortex-Pro-III, you’re not guessing — you’re specifying.

🔧 The Hydro-Flow Advantage in Whole House Filtration

By finishing your POE system with a Hydro-Flow 0.22 micron filter, you gain:

• Industry-best sub-micron particle removal

• True protection against pathogens, PFAS, and microplastics

• Longer-lasting performance thanks to layered cartridge design

• Cleaner, safer water at every outlet — tap, shower, laundry, garden

✅ Final Word: Micron Ratings Matter More Than You Think

If your system stops at 5 microns……it's not a filter system.... it's a sieve.

Hydro-Flow finishes the job. It doesn’t just filter water — it polishes it.

📞 Get Trade Support or Find a Distributor

Whether you’re quoting a rural install or supplying a single dwelling or 500 unit complex, we’ve got your back.

🔗 Visit www.waterfilter.direct📞 Speak to a trade specialist📍 Find a local distributor near you