Is my water filter housing prone to cracking?

[WilburMcG]

I installed this American Plumber brand whole house water filter about 18 months ago to trap sediment (I'm on a 120-family community well system). It has the clear styrene acrylonitrile filter housing which I like because I can see the filter and collected sediment.

Are the clear housings more susceptible to cracking at the top? I know they also make an opaque polypropylene housing and have been told they are less brittle. I'm wondering if I should install the polypropylene housing?

Any advice on the right filter cartridge to use? I usually use a W20CLA pleated cellulose filter rated for 20 microns, which I have replaced at 4 month intervals even though I didn't notice any water slowness. Frankly I was surprised they lasted that long as I thought our water was pretty silty and iron-stained. Recently I switched to a Whirlpool WHKF-WHWC which has carbon and rated for 2 microns. I'm not sure how long it will last and jury is still out if it improves the water taste. Cost difference is negligible to me. Just curious what a more knowledgeable person would recommend I use as I don't know much about this.

Thanks!

 

[Reach4]

If the housings are compatible, you might consider having that polypropylene housing standing by. Is there an O-ring? You should have a spare. You should lube your O-ring with plumbing silicone grease whenever you go into the housing.

Regarding the filter element, you should not use cellulose elements unless the water is chlorinated or equivalent.

I am not a very knowledgeable person person on filters, but I have read some.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[WilburMcG]

Thank you! My water is chlorinated, but good tip on the o-ring and grease.

I may consider having the poly housing on standby although my bigger fear is a catastrophic failure from a crack and I get flooding inside the house while I am not home. I don't know if that is a legitimate concern for the clear housing or not but have seen it mentioned.

 

[Reach4]

See https://terrylove.com/forums/index....hen-used-in-softener.55968/page-3#post-412551 (post 56 on the thread) and https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/filter-housing-help.28431/

It would seem that your concern is justified.

 

[WilburMcG]

Hmmm, unsettling. That one plumber suggested failures were due to UV exposure over time which weakens the clear housing. At least mine is behind a louvered door in a dark closet.

A plumber actually installed it and discarded the packaging so I don't know what, if any, disclaimer the manufacturer may have stated. The vendor website does not list any disclaimers on their website for my specific model WC34-PR...

 

[Craigpump]

We see hundreds of these a year, no one has ever reported that they had an issue with clear housings.

I would caution you against over tightening the housing, there is a possibility that an over tight housing plus the system pressure could crack the housing.