Rusco

Russ Welte founded Rusco in late 1983 after recognizing a gap in the market for an efficient inline screen filter to remove sediment from water lines. The company began by developing and distributing its filters across Florida, a state known for persistent water sediment problems, before expanding nationally. Rusco remains privately held and family-run across three generations, with manufacturing kept in the United States.

Product Lines

Rusco's product line centers on Spin-Down sediment filters, built around the cyclonic Spin-Down feature the company introduced in 1986 to reduce clogging during filtration. Sediment Trapper filters extend that filtration approach across additional pipe sizes and mesh ratings, while the Hot Water Spin-Down filter, introduced in 1997, uses materials rated for higher heat and chemical exposure. The Automatic Flush Valve, added in 2002, automates sediment flushing for lower-maintenance operation.

Why Contractors Specify Rusco

Plumbers working on well water or municipal supplies with sediment issues turn to Rusco filters because the housings clean and reuse rather than requiring cartridge replacement after every service cycle. Mesh and micron options ranging from 24 mesh down to 1000 mesh give installers a filter rated to the specific sediment particle size found in a given water source. Hot Water Spin-Down models extend that same filtration approach to applications where standard filter housings cannot tolerate the temperature.

How to Choose Rusco Products

Mesh and micron rating should match the sediment particle size in the water supply, with finer mesh counts like 250 or 500 catching smaller particles at the cost of needing more frequent flushing. Pipe size and flow rate matter together: a 1 inch model handles lower flow applications, while 1.5 inch and 2 inch models support higher gallon-per-minute demand in larger households or commercial settings. Standard Spin-Down filters suit cold and ambient water lines, while installations on hot water lines call for the Hot Water Spin-Down model built with heat-tolerant materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Spin-Down feature do?

The Spin-Down feature creates a cyclonic motion inside the filter housing that separates sediment more effectively and reduces how often the filter screen clogs compared to a straight inline screen.

How is a Rusco filter cleaned?

Rusco filter screens are designed to be removed, rinsed, and reused rather than replaced, and the optional Automatic Flush Valve can flush accumulated sediment without manual disassembly.

What mesh size should be used for well water with heavy sediment?

Coarser mesh ratings, such as 24 or 30 mesh, handle larger sediment particles and higher flow with less frequent flushing, while finer mesh ratings target smaller particles in cleaner source water.

Can a standard Spin-Down filter be installed on a hot water line?

No, standard models are built for cold or ambient temperature water. Hot water applications require the Hot Water Spin-Down filter, which uses materials rated for higher heat and chemical tolerance.

What size Rusco filter is needed for a given flow rate?

Filter size should match the system's peak flow demand in gallons per minute, with 1 inch, 1.5 inch, and 2 inch models rated for progressively higher flow capacities.