Strainers are important components of piping systems to protect equipment from potential damage due to dirt and other particles that may be carried by the process fluid. Strainer is also a filter; however, it uses a perforated plate or screen mesh to remove larger particles from a process stream.

The major advantage of a Strainer is that it is reusable. There are three levels of straining a) coarse, b) medium, and c) fine. During system start-up and flushing, Strainers may be placed upstream of pumps to protect them from construction debris that may have been left in the pipe. Strainers are applied both in residential and industrial facilities.