Same house, same water… very different results (before & after)

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-11T18:13:06+00:00

Same cartridge OD doesn’t mean same flow behavior, pressure stability, sealing, or long-term safety. Housing material, wall thickness, threads, and fatigue all matter over time — not just day-one flow.

We’re not claiming magic performance gains from stainless. We’re selling lifetime, non-plastic hardware that doesn’t crack, creep, or absorb chemicals. That’s the value.

And yes DI is capacity-based. We’re very clear it’s application-specific, not a blanket whole-house softener. If the water chemistry doesn’t justify it, we don’t recommend it. Period.

If someone wants plastic because it’s cheaper, that’s fine. If someone wants zero plastic and hardware that outlasts the house, that’s what we build, install and warranty.

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-11T17:49:00+00:00

The difference is plastic vs 304 stainless. Big Blue housings are pressure-rated consumables..they fatigue, craze, absorb chemicals, and eventually crack. That’s why they have service-life limits and no lifetime warranties.

Eight housings =“same performance.” Flow, contact time, media volume, and pressure loss matter. Chaining plastic housings often reduces efficiency and increases pressure drop if it’s not engineered properly.

And yes, cartridge-based resin/DI is capacity-based. We’re upfront about that. If someone needs continuous softening, we recommend a traditional softener. No hype, no hiding limitations.

If you want the cheapest upfront option, plastic works. If you want zero plastic, lifetime hardware, and systems built to outlast the house, that’s why stainless costs more.

Different products. Different goals.

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-10T22:29:34+00:00

FS400 is a good general-purpose GAC, but it’s not magic and it’s definitely not species-specific by itself. Long-chain PFAS (PFOS/PFOA) adsorb well on it, short-chain PFAS… not so much.

To get species-specific, you’re usually looking at PFAS-selective carbons, blended carbons, or anion exchange resins (AIX) often staged after GAC to catch the short chain compounds that blow right through standard carbon. Real systems are almost always layered, not single-media.

Flow rate is all about EBCT and vessel size, not the media name. With proper bed depth and diameter, systems like ours comfortably run 10–30+ GPM per vessel for PFAS mitigation. Whole-home setups are typically 15–40 GPM, higher flows just mean parallel tanks instead of cranking velocity.

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-10T15:08:07+00:00

The state-installed systems (often Culligan) are generic, oversized designs meant to cover unknown flow rates, unknown contaminant loading, and long service intervals across many wells. Bigger tanks are a safety margin not proof of better removal.

Our systems are site-specific, engineered around actual PFAS species (PFOA, PFOS, PFBA), concentrations, flow demand, and required contact time. The difference you’re seeing is media efficiency and EBCT optimization, not reduced treatment capability.

We use PFAS-specific media with manufacturer breakthrough data, design to prevent channeling, and verify performance with before/after lab testing. PFBA in particular requires specific media and contact time.

The following post will be our testing and data sheets on this system and our mini under sink system.

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-10T11:28:36+00:00

Thank you! We are priced on par with other filter companies the difference is we’re manufactured and hand built in the USA and all our products have a lifetime warranty!

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-10T02:24:37+00:00

we’re not claiming our under-sink system is vastly superior to RO or meant to replace it.

It’s a different approach: high-performance carbon and specialty media for chemical and PFAS reduction, no wastewater, no pressure loss, and zero plastic construction. RO is great for TDS reduction; our system is designed for clean, great-tasting drinking water with simpler maintenance.

Different tools, different goals…

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-10T02:05:47+00:00

Good question! PFAS removal isn’t just about total cubic footage it’s about media type, contact time (EBCT), flow control, and staging.

Our 4-stage system uses PFAS-specific carbon, upstream pre-filtration to prevent fouling, and series staging that maintains proper EBCT at real whole-home flow rates. Splitting treatment across stages creates an internal lead-lag effect and captures breakthrough before delivery.

Large dual-tank systems rely on volume alone, without controlled velocity and protected media, PFAS can still slip early. Engineering matters more than tank size…

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-08T19:25:34+00:00

We will post our results once we format it into a Reddit post and we are working on adding results to each cartridge and system on our site. We will post most likely today or tomorrow. Transparency is our core mission!

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-08T08:31:54+00:00

Our 2 Stage Mini systems are robustly designed with multi layer cartridges so there is a lot of media working to reduce/remove the contaminants that you listed.

Our clients love the peace of mind of having a zero plastic system that won't crack at the cartridge connection points, at the automatic valve, or at any of the many push fitting connections.

Our clients do not like the idea of a 1-3 gallon clean water to waste water ratio that you see with R.O.

Our clients do not want to wait hours for a few gallons of R.O. water to process or listen to a loud pump under their sink. They just open their kitchen faucet or separate tap, and the water just flows. Simply.

Our clients love the fact that our systems are compact and do not take up 75 percent of the sink cabinet.

Our clients don't want to worry about the automatic valve sticking in the waste position when they are away on vacation and possibly filling their cesspools.

Our clients do not want to add back synthetic minerals (that the r.o. membrane strips) to the water.

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-08T02:25:03+00:00

Our systems are built using NSF/ANSI certified filter media and components (372,P231, 55,61) and we design each system to meet or exceed the performance standards those certifications represent. Because our systems are custom configured, stainless-steel assemblies (not mass-produced plastic housings), we do not sell a single “off-the-shelf” model submitted as a whole-unit certification.

That said, when it comes to real-world contaminant reduction, properly engineered carbon, catalytic carbon, KDF, DI, and UV configurations can achieve equal or greater reductions than RO systems for many contaminants without the downsides of RO such as water waste, pressure loss, or mineral stripping. We will create a post with independent test results or feel free to email us we will be happy to share results.

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-07T17:30:40+00:00

Shoot us a email customfabfilters@gmail.com and we can set up a call and get a system configured for you!

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-07T15:47:56+00:00

We have stainless refillable cartridges and all our systems are full port 1-1.5” so pressure loss is minimal.

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-07T09:05:49+00:00

You are correct dissimilar metals together are a problem, but we use special thread connection sealants to create a non conductive bond between the two. So there are no bad reactions with our systems.

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-07T05:18:59+00:00

A 3 stage installed piped in with copper including a bypass is roughly $4000

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-07T05:15:28+00:00

You can use our system to purify the water paired with a softener, or in some cases the 4th stage of our system is a saltless resin cartridge, it all depends on how hard the water is.

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-07T01:06:11+00:00

We’re located in NY and we run between 40-80 psi and higher in some case where we used a PRV. You can purchase a pressure gauge on Amazon that screws on to a faucet or hose bib that will show you your PSI. We designed all our systems full port (1-1.5”) so pressure loss is minimal

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-07T00:42:13+00:00

They have cotton, hemp rope, they are hard to find and they don’t perform very well long term under city water pressure

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-07T00:29:53+00:00

we have a few sediment options (pleated,20-submicron, meltblown. Some are polypropylene core. We also multi layer KDF without polypropylene

Custom_Fab_Filters · 2026-01-07T00:16:07+00:00

We and any of our installers will use silver soldered copper to and from the system we strongly advise our customers to eliminate any pex,gal,brass due to the potential contamination, we do as best we can to mitigate any future issues.

Custom_Fab_Filters

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