Of the things sold to go on the end of an outside tap, a sediment cartridge is the one that most consistently justifies itself. It does not soften, it does not disinfect and it does not remove chlorine, but it protects a specific and expensive class of equipment from a specific and common failure, which is more than most hose accessories manage.
What it is protecting
Anything with a passage narrower than a pinhead. Drip emitters and micro sprinklers block on particles far too small to see, and clearing a blocked drip line is considerably more work than changing a cartridge. Misting nozzles are worse. Pressure washer pumps wear on grit and their unloader valves stick. Garden sprayer nozzles clog. In every case the filter costs a fraction of what it protects, and the failure it prevents is annoying out of proportion to its size.
Choosing the rating
Match it to the smallest passage downstream rather than buying the tightest rating available. Drip emitters usually specify a filtration requirement in their own documentation and that is the number to use. Too coarse and the emitters still block; too fine and the cartridge blinds within weeks and the irrigation system loses pressure, which on a drip layout shows as uneven watering long before it shows as no water. On dirty supplies, two stages coarse then fine is better than one very fine element.
Format and flow
Disposable sealed cartridges are convenient for short seasons and mobile use, with very little media and correspondingly short life. A small refillable housing takes standard cartridges, costs far less per change, holds much more media and lets the rating be changed later. Check the flow rating either way, since a filter that starves a sprinkler zone or a pressure washer is worse than none, and small disposables restrict more than most people expect.
Mounting and winter
Support the housing on a bracket or on the ground rather than letting a full canister hang on the tap thread, because the leverage of a charged hose works the connection loose over a season. A short flexible whip between tap and filter takes that strain out. And no outdoor housing should be left full of water over winter, since freezing splits it and the failure shows up as a soaked wall on the thaw. Our sediment filter guide covers indoor installations.
Questions people ask about sediment filter for garden hose
What does a hose sediment filter actually protect?
Drip emitters, micro sprinklers, misting nozzles, pressure washer pumps and sprayer nozzles, all of which block or wear on grit.
Which micron rating should I choose?
Match the smallest passage downstream, usually specified in the drip system's own documentation, rather than the tightest available.
Disposable cartridge or refillable housing?
Disposable for short seasons and mobile use. A refillable housing holds far more media and costs much less per change.
Can it stay outside over winter?
Not full of water. Freezing splits the housing. Drain it, remove the cartridge and store it dry until spring.