Liquid filtration systems, components, and methods

A method of assembling a filtration system, the method comprising:

• providing a filter having a passageway;
• providing a cap, the cap having an inner side, an outer side, a generally cylindrical outer projection including a peripheral groove configured to receive a seal, an inner projection, and a passageway extending through the outer projection and the inner projection to permit water to flow between the inner side and the outer side, the passageway having an outer passageway portion formed in the outer projection and an inner passageway portion formed in the inner projection, the outer passageway portion including a first transverse dimension and a second transverse dimension that is smaller than and inward of the first transverse dimension;
• engaging the inner side of the cap to an end of the filter;
• and
• positioning the filter and the cap within a filter chamber defined by a filter housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the second housing portion including a connection portion having a filter inlet, a filter outlet, and a filter valve coupled to at least one of the filter inlet and the filter outlet;
• and
• engaging the first housing portion with the second housing portion.

A filter assembly for use with a filter housing having a filter chamber, the filter housing comprising:

• a first housing member;
• a second housing member configured to be coupled to the first housing member and having a connection portion with an inner side and an outer side, the outer side configured to face away from the filter chamber, the outer side having a filter inlet and a filter outlet;
• and a filter valve coupled to at least one of the filter inlet and the filter outlet, the filter valve biased toward a closed configuration in which fluid communication is substantially prevented through the filter valve, where the filter valve comprises a valve body having a bore and a plunger, the valve body being fixed relative to the housing, the filter assembly including:
• a filter configured to be disposed in the filter chamber;
• and
• a filter cap engagable with the filter and configured to be positioned between the plunger of the filter valve and the filter to maintain the filter valve in an open position such that fluid communication is permitted through the filter valve between the filter chamber and at least one of the filter inlet and the filter outlet, the filter cap comprising:
• an outer side including an outer projection including an engagement portion configured to engage the connection portion to move the filter valve into the open position,
• an inner side configured to receive the filter and including an inner projection, and
• a passageway extending through the outer projection and the inner projection to permit water to flow between the inner side and the outer side, the passageway having an outer passageway portion formed in the outer projection and an inner passageway portion formed in the inner projection, the outer passageway portion including a first transverse dimension and at least one second transverse dimension that is smaller than and inward of the first transverse dimension.