2-stage 20" x 4.5" Big Blue Whole House Water Filtration System with 2 Gauges 1" NPT Ports
2-Stage 20" x 4.5" Big Blue Whole House Water Filtration System with Sediment and GAC Filters
Improve the water quality throughout your home, cottage, office, or light-commercial property with the Max Water 2-Stage Big Blue Whole House Water Filtration System.
This practical two-stage system combines sediment filtration and coconut-shell granular activated carbon filtration to help reduce dirt, rust, suspended particles, chlorine, unpleasant taste, and odor before the water reaches your faucets, showers, fixtures, and appliances.
The system uses full-size 20" x 4.5" Big Blue cartridges for increased filter capacity, longer service intervals, and higher flow potential compared with standard slim-line filter systems. Its 1" female NPT inlet and outlet ports make it suitable for many residential and light-commercial plumbing installations.
Two Stages of Whole House Filtration
- 5-Micron Polypropylene Sediment Filter
Part No. 104112 . Captures sand, rust, dirt, silt, and other suspended particles while helping protect the GAC cartridge from premature clogging. - Coconut-Shell Granular Activated Carbon Filter
Part No. 104113 . Reduces chlorine, unpleasant taste, odor, and selected organic compounds while supporting strong water flow through the loose carbon media.
High-Flow Sediment and Carbon Treatment
The first-stage sediment cartridge captures larger particles before they reach the carbon media. This helps protect the GAC filter from excessive sediment loading and supports more consistent filtration performance.
The second-stage GAC cartridge contains loose coconut-shell activated carbon. Its high internal surface area adsorbs chlorine and selected taste- and odor-causing compounds as water passes through the filter.
Dual Pressure Gauges
Two vertical liquid-filled pressure gauges help monitor incoming water pressure and pressure after filtration. Comparing the readings can help identify increasing pressure loss across the filter cartridges.
A growing difference between the inlet and outlet gauge readings may indicate that the sediment or GAC cartridge is becoming clogged and requires inspection or replacement.
Carbon media exhaustion may not always create a noticeable pressure change. Replace the GAC cartridge when chlorine, unpleasant taste, or odor begins to return, or when its estimated service capacity is reached.
Key Features and Benefits
- Whole-house filtration: Treats incoming water before it reaches faucets, showers, fixtures, and appliances.
- Two essential filtration stages: Combines sediment protection and granular activated carbon treatment.
- High-flow carbon filtration: Loose GAC media supports chlorine, taste, and odor reduction with lower flow restriction.
- Simple maintenance: Uses only two replacement cartridges for a straightforward service schedule.
- High-capacity Big Blue design: Uses standard 20" x 4.5" replacement cartridges.
- Durable opaque housings: Help protect the cartridges from light exposure during normal operation.
- 1" female NPT ports: Support higher-flow plumbing installations when correctly sized and installed.
- Double O-ring housing seals: Help provide a secure seal when correctly installed and maintained.
- Pressure-relief buttons: Help release trapped pressure before filter maintenance.
- Dual pressure gauges: Help monitor operating pressure and cartridge restriction.
Helps Reduce
- Sand, silt, dirt, rust, and suspended sediment
- Chlorine taste and odor
- Unpleasant tastes and odors
- Turbidity caused by suspended particles
- Selected volatile organic compounds
- Selected pesticides and herbicides
- Selected trihalomethanes and organic chemicals
- Particles that may contribute to staining or appliance buildup
Package Includes
- Two 20" x 4.5" Big Blue filter housings with double O-ring seals and pressure-relief buttons
- Two 60 mm liquid-filled pressure gauges
- One 5-micron polypropylene sediment filter
- One coconut-shell granular activated carbon filter
- One reinforced heavy-duty PVC ball valve
- One hex nipple fitting
- One filter housing wrench
- One heavy-duty two-stage steel wall-mounting bracket
- Installation hardware for the filtration bracket
- One-year manufacturer's limited warranty
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| System Type | Two-stage whole house sediment and granular activated carbon filtration system |
| Filter Cartridge Size | 20" x 4.5" Big Blue |
| Number of Filter Stages | 2 |
| Flow Direction | Right-side inlet to left-side outlet |
| Inlet and Outlet Connections | 1" female NPT |
| Sediment Filter Rating | 5 micron nominal |
| Estimated Sediment Filter Life | Approximately 6 months* |
| Estimated GAC Filter Capacity | Approximately 20,000–35,000 gallons* |
| Maximum Operating Pressure | 90 PSI |
| Recommended Operating Pressure | 20–60 PSI |
| Operating Water Temperature | 40–100°F / 5–38°C |
| Compatible Feed-Water pH Range | 4.0–10.0 |
| Maximum Feed-Water TDS | 2,000 ppm |
| Housing Pressure Drop | Less than 1 PSI at 20 GPM, excluding cartridge restriction* |
| Maximum Estimated Flow Rate | Up to 40 GPM with 1" inlet and outlet under suitable operating conditions* |
| Approximate Dimensions | 27.5" H x 16" W x 8" D |
| Approximate Weight | 32 lb. |
*Actual cartridge life, capacity, pressure drop, and flow rate depend on incoming water quality, sediment concentration, chlorine level, plumbing size, operating pressure, water temperature, flow demand, total water consumption, and cartridge condition. Maximum housing flow does not represent guaranteed contaminant-reduction performance at that flow.
TDS = Total Dissolved Solids.
Recommended Applications
- Residential whole-house water filtration
- Municipal and chlorinated city water supplies
- Homes with sediment, chlorine, taste, or odor concerns
- Cottages and vacation properties
- Offices and small commercial buildings
- Prefiltration before compatible reverse osmosis systems
- Prefiltration before compatible UV treatment systems
- Equipment and appliance protection
- Selected manufacturing and process-water applications
- Selected recycled-water filtration applications
Installation and Maintenance Information
- Install the system on the main cold-water supply line after the pressure tank, when applicable, and before the water heater.
- Connect the incoming water to the right-side inlet and the filtered water line to the left-side outlet.
- Install the sediment filter in the first housing and the GAC cartridge in the second housing.
- Confirm all directional flow markings before completing the plumbing.
- Support the system securely using the supplied steel bracket and suitable mounting hardware for the wall structure.
- Leave sufficient clearance beneath the housings for cartridge replacement and routine maintenance.
- Use suitable thread sealant or PTFE tape on NPT connections. Do not overtighten plastic ports or fittings.
- Shut off the incoming water supply and release system pressure before opening either filter housing.
- Lubricate O-rings only with food-grade silicone lubricant. Do not use petroleum-based lubricants.
- Flush both new cartridges thoroughly according to the product instructions before placing the system into normal service.
- Replace the sediment cartridge when flow declines, the pressure difference increases, or the recommended service interval is reached.
- Replace the GAC cartridge when chlorine, unpleasant taste, or odor returns, or when its estimated service capacity is reached.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What type of water is this system best suited for?
A. This configuration is best suited for treated municipal water where the primary concerns are sediment, rust, chlorine, unpleasant taste, and odor.
Q. Why is the sediment filter installed before the GAC cartridge?
A. The sediment filter captures dirt, rust, and suspended particles before they reach the carbon media. This helps reduce premature clogging and allows the GAC cartridge to focus on chlorine, taste, and odor treatment.
Q. Does GAC reduce chlorine throughout the entire house?
A. The GAC cartridge is designed to reduce chlorine taste and odor in water flowing through the system. Actual performance depends on chlorine concentration, water flow, total usage, contact time, and cartridge condition.
Q. Why does the system use opaque housings instead of clear housings?
A. Opaque housings help limit light exposure to the cartridges and water inside the housings. Because the sediment cartridge is not visible, replacement should be based on pressure readings, flow performance, water quality, and the recommended service interval.
Q. How do I know when the sediment filter is clogged?
A. Common signs include reduced water flow and an increasing pressure difference between the inlet and outlet gauges. Shut off and depressurize the system before inspecting the cartridge.
Q. Can the pressure gauges tell me when the GAC media is exhausted?
A. Not reliably. The gauges can indicate cartridge clogging, but GAC media may lose chlorine, taste, and odor capacity without creating a noticeable pressure drop. Replace it when chlorine smell, taste, or odor begins to return.
Q. Is it normal to see black water after installing a new GAC filter?
A. small amount of black carbon fines may appear during initial startup. This is normal for granular carbon media. Flush the cartridge until the water runs clear before normal use.
Q. Can the sediment and GAC cartridges be replaced separately?
A. Yes. The sediment cartridge may clog before the GAC media is exhausted, especially when the source water contains heavy dirt or rust. Replace each cartridge according to its condition and performance.
Q. Does this system remove hard-water minerals?
A. No. The sediment and GAC cartridges do not remove calcium or magnesium and do not soften the water. Use an anti-scale system or properly sized water softener for hard-water treatment.
Q. Can this system remove iron or sulfur from well water?
A. It is not a dedicated iron or sulfur treatment system. The sediment filter may capture some oxidized iron particles, but dissolved iron and hydrogen sulfide normally require specialized treatment selected after water testing.
Q. Can this system be installed before a UV system?
A. Yes. Sediment and carbon filtration can help improve water clarity before compatible UV treatment. The water must still meet the UV system's specific water-quality and flow-rate requirements.
Q. Can this system protect downstream reverse osmosis equipment?
A. Yes. When installed upstream, the sediment and GAC filters can help reduce particles and chlorine before the water reaches compatible reverse osmosis equipment.
