3-Stage 20" x 4.5" Big Blue Whole House Water Filtration System with 1" NPT Ports
Improve the water quality throughout your home, cottage, office, restaurant, or light-commercial property with the Max Water 3-Stage Big Blue Whole House Water Filtration System.
This high-capacity system combines sediment filtration, coconut-shell granular activated carbon, and a coconut-shell carbon block filter to help reduce dirt, rust, chlorine, unpleasant taste, odor, and selected organic contaminants before the water reaches faucets, showers, appliances, and connected water-treatment equipment.
Three full-size 20" x 4.5" Big Blue cartridges provide greater dirt-holding and media capacity than standard slim-line filters. The 1" female NPT inlet and outlet ports support many residential and light-commercial plumbing installations when the system is correctly sized.
Three Stages of Whole House Filtration
-
5-Micron Polypropylene Sediment Filter
Part No. 104112 . Captures sand, rust, dirt, silt, and other suspended particles. This first stage helps protect the two carbon cartridges from premature clogging. -
Coconut-Shell Granular Activated Carbon Filter
Part No. 104113 . Reduces chlorine, unpleasant taste, odor, and selected organic compounds while allowing water to move through loose granular carbon media. -
5-Micron Coconut-Shell CTO Carbon Block Filter
Part No. 104114 . Provides a denser final polishing stage while reducing residual chlorine, unpleasant taste, odor, and selected chemical contaminants.
Why This System Uses Two Carbon Stages
The GAC and CTO cartridges perform complementary functions. The granular activated carbon stage provides broad chlorine, taste, and odor treatment while supporting strong flow through loose carbon media.
The carbon block stage provides a more uniform and finer final filtration path. Placing the CTO cartridge after the GAC stage helps polish the water and reduce remaining chlorine, taste, odor, and fine particles.
Key Features and Benefits
- Whole-house filtration: Treats incoming water before it reaches faucets, showers, appliances, and plumbing fixtures.
- Three complementary stages: Combines sediment, GAC, and CTO carbon block filtration.
- High-capacity Big Blue design: Uses standard 20" x 4.5" replacement cartridges.
- Dual carbon treatment: Provides additional chlorine, taste, and odor reduction compared with a single carbon stage.
- 1" female NPT connections: Suitable for higher-flow plumbing installations when correctly sized.
- Double O-ring housing seals: Help provide a secure seal when properly installed and maintained.
- Pressure-relief buttons: Help release trapped pressure before filter maintenance.
- Replaceable cartridges: Allow each filtration stage to be serviced separately.
- Complete installation package: Includes the filtration assembly, filters, bracket, wrench, ball valve, and listed fittings.
Helps Reduce
- Sand, dirt, rust, silt, and suspended sediment
- Chlorine taste and odor
- Unpleasant tastes and smells
- Turbidity caused by suspended particles
- Selected volatile organic compounds
- Selected pesticides and herbicides
- Selected trihalomethanes and organic chemicals
- Fine particles captured by the nominal 5-micron carbon block
- Particles that may contribute to staining or appliance buildup
Package Includes
- Three 20" x 4.5" Big Blue filter housings
- Double O-ring housing seals
- Pressure-relief buttons
- One 5-micron polypropylene sediment filter
- One coconut-shell granular activated carbon filter
- One 5-micron coconut-shell CTO carbon block filter
- Heavy-duty steel wall-mounting bracket
- Filter housing wrench
- Heavy-duty PVC ball valve
- Hex nipple fitting
- Installation hardware
- One-year manufacturer's limited warranty
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| System Type | Three-stage whole house sediment and carbon filtration system |
| Filter Cartridge Size | 20" x 4.5" Big Blue |
| Number of Filter Stages | 3 |
| Inlet and Outlet Connections | 1" female NPT |
| Sediment Filter Rating | 5 micron nominal |
| Carbon Block Rating | 5 micron nominal |
| Recommended Sediment Filter Replacement | Approximately every 6 months* |
| Estimated Carbon 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 System Flow | Up to 40 GPM under suitable operating conditions* |
| Approximate Dimensions | 27.5" H x 24.5" W x 8" D |
| Approximate Weight | 42 lb. |
*Actual filter 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 consumption, and cartridge condition. Maximum housing flow does not represent guaranteed contaminant-reduction performance at that flow rate.
Recommended Applications
- Residential whole-house water filtration
- Municipal and chlorinated city water supplies
- Homes with chlorine taste or odor concerns
- Cottages and vacation properties
- Offices and small commercial buildings
- Restaurants and food-service facilities
- Prefiltration before compatible reverse osmosis systems
- Prefiltration before compatible UV water-treatment systems
- Equipment and appliance protection
- Selected manufacturing and process-water 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.
- Confirm the directional flow markings before connecting the inlet and outlet plumbing.
- Install the sediment filter first, followed by the GAC cartridge and then the CTO carbon block cartridge.
- 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.
- 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 pressure before opening any filter housing.
- Lubricate O-rings only with food-grade silicone lubricant. Do not use petroleum-based lubricants.
- Flush both carbon cartridges thoroughly before placing the system into normal service.
- Replace the sediment cartridge when water flow declines or the pressure loss across the system increases.
- Replace the carbon cartridges when chlorine, unpleasant taste, or odor begins to return, or when their estimated service capacity is reached.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this system use both GAC and CTO carbon filters?
The GAC cartridge provides broad chlorine, taste, and odor treatment while supporting strong water flow. The CTO carbon block provides a denser final polishing stage for additional chlorine, taste, odor, and fine-particle reduction.
Is this system mainly designed for municipal water?
Yes. This filter combination is especially suitable for chlorinated municipal water where the main concerns are sediment, rust, chlorine, unpleasant taste, and odor.
Will it reduce chlorine throughout the house?
The GAC and CTO cartridges are designed to reduce chlorine taste and odor in water passing through the system. Actual performance depends on the chlorine concentration, flow rate, water usage, and cartridge condition.
Which filter usually needs replacement first?
The first-stage sediment cartridge often requires replacement first because it captures dirt, rust, and suspended particles before they reach the carbon stages.
Can each filter be replaced separately?
Yes. Each cartridge can be replaced independently. The sediment filter may clog before the carbon media is exhausted, while the carbon filters may require replacement when chlorine, taste, or odor returns.
How do I know when the carbon filters are exhausted?
Carbon exhaustion may not cause a noticeable pressure drop. The return of chlorine smell, unpleasant taste, or odor is a common sign that one or both carbon cartridges require replacement.
Does this system reduce water hardness?
No. Sediment and carbon filters do not remove calcium or magnesium and do not soften water. Hard-water treatment requires a water softener or a suitable anti-scale system.
Does this system reduce TDS?
No. Sediment, GAC, and CTO filtration do not substantially reduce total dissolved solids. Reverse osmosis or another membrane process is required when significant TDS reduction is needed.
Can it be used with well water?
It may be used as part of a properly designed well-water system, but the source water should first be tested for iron, manganese, sulfur, hardness, bacteria, tannins, nitrate, and other contaminants that may require dedicated treatment.
Will it remove iron or rotten-egg odor?
It is not a dedicated iron or sulfur treatment system. The sediment cartridge may capture some oxidized iron particles, but dissolved iron and hydrogen sulfide normally require specialized treatment.
Can this system be installed before a reverse osmosis system?
Yes. The sediment and carbon stages can help reduce particles and chlorine before water reaches compatible reverse osmosis equipment, which may help protect prefilters and chlorine-sensitive membranes.
Can it be installed before a UV system?
Yes. Sediment and carbon filtration may improve water clarity before compatible UV treatment. The source water must still meet the UV manufacturer's specific quality and flow requirements.
TDS = Total Dissolved Solids. GAC = Granular Activated Carbon. CTO = Chlorine, Taste, and Odor.
Filter Replacement Options and Alternatives for Item Number:103361~104592~105363
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