Replacement for the Pentair Clean & Clear Drain Plug Cap

[rodaniel]

I had my hands full so with less than optimal supervision, my helpful but overzealous young son put the drain plug cap back on our Pentair Clean & Clear cartridge filter a few months ago. Due to the maze of plumbing, it's a Twister-esqe, laying on the concrete ordeal, so I was happy to have a helper. But he used channellock pliers instead of the correct 7/8" wrench on the top nut so that fairly soft plastic got a bit mangled and rounded.

Since I'm just about ready to clean the filters again (ugh!) I thought it might be prudent to replace the stripped out cap. The OEM part (Pentair 190030 Drain Plug Cap Assembly) is just under $34 on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VU8NEA/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6QP9RASY14WTMHQS57XS

But there are knock-offs like this Val-Pak V38-147 FNS Plus Filter/Clean & Clear Drain Plug that's $20:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076R6GJ2G/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_JS9H6J2JJ049VC0XRD83

Am I gonna regret NOT spending nearly twice the price for the OEM part? Does anyone know if the knock-offs of comparable quality? And I've noticed that the OEM part doesn't come with an O-ring, but some knock-offs do. I honestly can't remember if my current drain plug had one or not.

 

[magiteck]

Either should be fine. Have you thought about instead adding a drain valve? Below is how mine is set up, it allows me to easily direct the drainage with a garden hose.

 

[Newdude]

Am I gonna regret NOT spending nearly twice the price for the OEM part? Does anyone know if the knock-offs of comparable quality

Is $14 really worth finding out ? I'm all for saving a buck, believe me I am, but much less so in the literal sense for an actual buck. (Or 14 of them. )

 

[1poolman1]

Val-Pak makes excellent replacement parts for considerably less than OEM. Their Whisperflow sealplate is much better than OEM. Amazon also has OEM for $20.00. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VU8NEA/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6QP9RASY14WTMHQS57XS?th=1