The invention relates to a filter apparatus together with a method for the filtration of liquids, such as, in particular, water, with a housing (1) with an inlet (4) and a filtrate outlet (7) for filtered liquid, with a filter means (31) which is arranged in the flow path of the liquid between the inlet and the filtrate outlet for filtering out particles from the liquid, and with a dirt discharge (9) via which filtered-out particles can be discharged from the housing, the filtrate outlet (7) being assigned an outlet valve (12) and the dirt discharge (9) being assigned a discharge valve (13). According to the invention, the outlet valve (12) and the discharge valve (13) are coupled in such a way that the discharge valve (13) opens the dirt discharge only when the outlet valve has at least partially shut off the filtrate outlet, in order thereby to generate a cleaning pulse.