Looking for CA Ware 4-1/2 × 20 water filter housing

[jrsavoie]

The thread on the clear bowl of some of the CA Ware water filters in our 7 flter bank have gone away.

Does anybody have any info on finding complete CA Ware 4-1/2 × 20 filter housings or just the bowls?

I will not be able to swap out to a different brand for many months. I'm not sure who I could hire in the mean time. I haven't had much luck hiring things done.

Guess I'd better get used to that.

The other brands of filter bowls have different threads on the bowls.

This is what I have: https://www.h2odistributors.com/ytb-20-cb1-pr

 

[rburke65]

I have NO idea of what you speak. Sorry. I’m sure someone else will chime in.

 

[Git]

Well, it looks like your water filter uses 4.5 x 20" Cartridges, which are pretty standard. If you just search on that term, there are a couple of options. Here is one. There is a chance that actual clear 'bowl' part may just screw into your existing piece, if not - replace the whole thing?

More:

Amazon.com : 4.5 x 20-inch water filter housing

 

[jrsavoie]

Replacing the whole thing is the issue. I will not be able to do any replacing of anything for months.

I have a bank of 7 filters. So if the filter head doesn't match up, it will be more work yet.

That is why I am specifically looking for the CA Ware filter housing or bowl to fit one. I haven't been able to find a customer service number, ner nuthin.

I have no idea who I would hire to do the work if I have to go with a different brand housing.

 

[Git]

That one filter I posted a pic about has 'Free Returns'. You could buy it and see if the clear part fits your existing housing, if not - just return it. In my area, all I have to do is drop it off at the nearest ups store, they will box it up and ship it back to Amazon for full credit and you don't have to pay for the return shipping

 

[tonyciambrone]

Trying to find a replacement is going to be a crapshoot but if you want to do it quick you need to take good clear photos of the head design, threads inside the head, pictures of a sump with the threads intact etc with a good ruler in the photo for comparison purposes.

Then I would start messaging major filter manufacturers help desks etc to try and find who's might match up.

These housings are all meant to fit 4.5x20" cartridges but there is no standardization on threads, flange, O-ring etc from brand to brand. Even within a company like Flowmatic there are several styles over the years. You will just have to try and figure out who is buying them from the same factory.

Show us some pictures of the installation- might not be that hard to change one or two out. whatever you end up doing I would suggest not using a clear sump bowl in the future. These plastics are typically more brittle and prone to damage than their opaque counterparts.

 

[jrsavoie]

That one filter I posted a pic about has 'Free Returns'. You could buy it and see if the clear part fits your existing housing, if not - just return it. In my area, all I have to do is drop it off at the nearest ups store, they will box it up and ship it back to Amazon for full credit and you don't have to pay for the return shipping

Thanks. I'll see if that is doable.

 

[jrsavoie]

Trying to find a replacement is going to be a crapshoot but if you want to do it quick you need to take good clear photos of the head design, threads inside the head, pictures of a sump with the threads intact etc with a good ruler in the photo for comparison purposes.

Then I would start messaging major filter manufacturers help desks etc to try and find who's might match up.

These housings are all meant to fit 4.5x20" cartridges but there is no standardization on threads, flange, O-ring etc from brand to brand. Even within a company like Flowmatic there are several styles over the years. You will just have to try and figure out who is buying them from the same factory.

Show us some pictures of the installation- might not be that hard to change one or two out. whatever you end up doing I would suggest not using a clear sump bowl in the future. These plastics are typically more brittle and prone to damage than their opaque counterparts.

Yep. I realize that about the clear filter housings. But we like to be able to see what things look like.

I'm about fresh out of time and might not be able to get back to this for months or at least several weeks.

Have you ever heard of a bowl popping off?

How do the water leak detectors work at shutting water off for a major leak?

 

[tonyciambrone]

Yep. I realize that about the clear filter housings. But we like to be able to see what things look like.

I'm about fresh out of time and might not be able to get back to this for months or at least several weeks.

Have you ever heard of a bowl popping off?

How do the water leak detectors work at shutting water off for a major leak?s

Stuff looks clean at first then looks dirty later- that's about all you tell from a clear housing. Filters should typically be changed and evaluated based on pressure differential or flowmeter readings

Never seen it happen. I have seen sumps and bowl strainers explode before but not typically shoot the threads out.. and almost always this is a guy shutting isolation valves for service, cleaning the bowl strainer or replacing the filter, put it back together and WHAM OPEN THE INLET VALVE FAST!

I have a bank of 3 in my house and there is a union between each housing. Much easier to splice in a piece of pipe with union ends if one fails then to run on bypass indefinitely.

If you do end up needing to replace this system feel free to PM me and I may be able to help

 

[Git]

How do the water leak detectors work at shutting water off for a major leak?

That is going to depend on how much time and money you spend on it.

I already had a Z-Wave system to control my lights, etc and when I saw some water leak components on sale I went ahead and added them to my system

For the main water valve, I have a 'motorized' controller. No plumbing is required, it fits over the existing ball valve and has a lever that will shut the valve off. They do make 'inline' type devices, which would require some plumbing, but the way my pipes are run, I didn't have enough room. It already saved me some grief. Garbage disposal in the sink started to drip water out of the bottom, and the sensor caught it before it ruined the cabinet

There are other types of 'systems' out there - wifi, etc, you just need to google it and look around

 

[claymont]

The thread on the clear bowl of some of the CA Ware water filters in our 7 flter bank have gone away.

Does anybody have any info on finding complete CA Ware 4-1/2 × 20 filter housings or just the bowls?

I will not be able to swap out to a different brand for many months. I'm not sure who I could hire in the mean time. I haven't had much luck hiring things done.

Guess I'd better get used to that.

The other brands of filter bowls have different threads on the bowls.

This is what I have: https://www.h2odistributors.com/ytb-20-cb1-pr

I'd guess that their 10" filter housings will fit
Clear Filter Housing for 10" Full Flow/BB Cartridges

Inlet/outlet size shouldn't matter; the housing sizes will be the same. Just have to buy a lot more cartridges. Those clear housings are made our of a stiffer, more brittle plastic than the blue ones; if it was me, I'd use the blue ones. Get some of that O-ring lube they sell and lube the threads a bit.

Or buy the lube from Amazon Super Lube 56204 O-Ring Silicone Lubricant, Clear

 

[jrsavoie]

Stuff looks clean at first then looks dirty later- that's about all you tell from a clear housing. Filters should typically be changed and evaluated based on pressure differential or flowmeter readings

Never seen it happen. I have seen sumps and bowl strainers explode before but not typically shoot the threads out.. and almost always this is a guy shutting isolation valves for service, cleaning the bowl strainer or replacing the filter, put it back together and WHAM OPEN THE INLET VALVE FAST!

I have a bank of 3 in my house and there is a union between each housing. Much easier to splice in a piece of pipe with union ends if one fails then to run on bypass indefinitely.

If you do end up needing to replace this system feel free to PM me and I may be able to help

Thanks. I have 1 - 5 micron filter for a start. Then a parallel 3 filter bank. Both starting with an Iron filter, then carbon block filter, finishing with a 1 micron filter. About 20 gpm.

We recently sent water samples in for testing. Just got results today. I would like a high capacity water treatment.

The mounting brackets that came with the filters did not allow for unions in between the filters.

We've had 3" of clay in the bottom of the filters. In a matter of a few days. Not enough flow restriction to notice anything was up.

 

[dcg9381]

Those do look very similar to the geekpure stuff, but I agree that the best bet is probably trying the 10" filters - those (for me) have been compatible between 10 and 20 inch with the same manufacturer.

 

[jrsavoie]

The regenerating filter in the middle is abandoned. The water tested worse after it than before it.

 

[jrsavoie]

This is what I have been using for lube. Good or bad?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WDU1J8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'd guess that their 10" filter housings will fit
Clear Filter Housing for 10" Full Flow/BB Cartridges

Inlet/outlet size shouldn't matter; the housing sizes will be the same. Just have to buy a lot more cartridges. Those clear housings are made our of a stiffer, more brittle plastic than the blue ones; if it was me, I'd use the blue ones. Get some of that O-ring lube they sell and lube the threads a bit.

Or buy the lube from Amazon Super Lube 56204 O-Ring Silicone Lubricant, Clear

 

[claymont]

This is what I have been using for lube. Good or bad?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WDU1J8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That'll work!

 

[rburke65]

The thread on the clear bowl of some of the CA Ware water filters in our 7 flter bank have gone away.

Does anybody have any info on finding complete CA Ware 4-1/2 × 20 filter housings or just the bowls?

I will not be able to swap out to a different brand for many months. I'm not sure who I could hire in the mean time. I haven't had much luck hiring things done.

Guess I'd better get used to that.

The other brands of filter bowls have different threads on the bowls.

This is what I have: https://www.h2odistributors.com/ytb-20-cb1-pr

Sor4y....I had no idea what a CA Ware 4 1/4” was. I got it now.

 

[jrsavoie]

Sor4y....I had no idea what a CA Ware 4 1/4” was. I got it now.

I appreciate any attempt at help that is offered.

I'm fresh out of time for this project, for now. Hopefully it won't be too long.

 

[My Old Tools]

Caware Filtering Corporation​

• TEL : +886 7-374-0998
• FAX : +886 7-374-1318
• [email protected]
• ADDRESS : #123, Ta Jing 1st street, Ren Wu, 814, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

 

[jrsavoie]

Caware Filtering Corporation​

• TEL : +886 7-374-0998
• FAX : +886 7-374-1318
• [email protected]
• ADDRESS : #123, Ta Jing 1st street, Ren Wu, 814, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Thank you very much. I have not had time to do any further research.

 

[jrsavoie]

Finally recovering some and getting back to things. This and PT are tops on my list right now.

I sent a message to Caware.

I have a replacement filter bank in my Amazon cart that looks very similar to what we have installed now.

We are still looking for a high volume / commercial water purification system. And an auto shut off valve.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LFLQTOI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jrsavoie]

Well, it looks like your water filter uses 4.5 x 20" Cartridges, which are pretty standard. If you just search on that term, there are a couple of options. Here is one. There is a chance that actual clear 'bowl' part may just screw into your existing piece, if not - replace the whole thing?

More:

Amazon.com : 4.5 x 20-inch water filter housing

I actually like the Geekpure filter heads better than what I have now. They have a brass insert in 1" or 3/4" npt. The caware filter housings I have, have soft plastic threads prone to leaks.

Is there a good way to install a brass insert into the heads I currently have?

I also suspect that they might have better filter bowls. The Geekpure filter bowls have different threads and more of a blueish tint. Leading me to think they might hold up better than the caware filter bowls.

For simplicity's sake I ordered more filter bowls from Express water. The only place I could find the clear bowls we like. Other than the caware filter housings there is much to like about their stainless filter stand.

Standard 3 Stage Whole House Water Filter

Let the Whole House System eliminate harmful contaminants from your home’s water. 3 Stages of Filtration removes over 52 contaminants! Learn more today.

www.expresswater.com

I am now back in need of a regenerating iron filter or something.

I contacted cleanwaterstore but wasn't able to check out their recommendations or follow up on them.

I wish I could just find somebody that would price me what I want to buy, get it here and install it or not. Once it's here, I'm sure I could find somebody to install.

The problem with cleanwaterstore is their recommendations disappear before I have a chance to check them out and sort through them. I am limited in the amount of time I have to pursue this.

https://cleanwaterstore.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

 

[jrsavoie]

Is there a way to install the 1" npt brass threaded inserts into the filter heads I have?

On the installation instructions for the Express Water Whole House filter bank - 1" npt into the plastic threaded heads - it says to give 14 - 24 rounds of teflon tape - that sounds hugely excessive to me. I've always been a 3 round type of guy.

Unless they are referring to the stranded stuff. But it clearly says teflon tape.

I think it is to void the warranty. I have seen a lot of these plastic threaded heads - without the brass thread inserts - like the Geekpure filter housings have - leak. They are almost notorious for leaking.

I seriously doubt anybody would use 14 rounds of tape on 1" copper into plastic and they could deny warranty for not following directions.

Any opinions? Whole house 3 stage. Excessively pricey, but the threads match and all I had to change were the filter bowls. No plumbing. It would have been cheaper and better to switch to the Geekpure filters. and replumb them in. I might regret going this route in the future, but it should get me by for the time being. It has taken 5 days to feel good enough to just tackle changing the filter.

Express Water's stainless filter racks are very nice.

Manual Search

At Express Water, we provide top-quality reverse osmosis water filtration systems. Ensure clean, pure drinking water for your home with our trusted water filters.

www.expresswater.com

---

instructions