Buyer's
Guide: Pitcher Water Filters
In This Buyer's Guide:
- Why should you buy a water filter
pitcher?
- Top Pitcher filter
brands
- Brita
- Mavea
- PUR
- 3M Filtrete
Water Station
- Reasons to Buy a
Water Pitcher
Filter
- Reasons Not to Buy a
Water
Pitcher Filter
- Related
Links
Water
pitcher filters are among the most common methods of household water
purification on the market today. They offer cold, filtered water at a
fraction of the
cost of bottled water, and without the environmental plastic waste and
are simple to use. You just pour water from the tap into the top of the
pitcher. The water travels down through a filter cartridge into the
canister below. Filtered water pitchers can hold anywhere from 5 to 18
8-oz. glasses of filtered water and may be conveniently stored inside
any refrigerator or displayed on a tabletop while entertaining guests.
Many come with filter life indicators that let you know when it's time
to change the filter. Each water filter cartridge lasts approximately
1-2 months (or 40 gallons), in most pitchers. Typically, these filters
reduce bad taste and odor associated with chemicals like chlorine and
its byproducts. In some cases, the more advanced filter cartridges may
even remove other contaminants, such as microbiological cysts and
pharmaceutical residues.
( Back to Top)
Top Pitcher filter brands
With
over 16 different styles to choose from, it's no wonder the Brita brand
is so popular. Seven out of ten pitchers sold in the U.S. bear the
Brita name. Each Brita pitcher filter reduces copper, chlorine taste
and odor and mercury. Brita's smallest-sized pitcher is the " Slim"
model, which holds up to five 8-oz. glasses of water and saves space
inside your fridge (See Fig. 1). Brita's largest model, the " Ultramax"
one-touch dispenser, is perfect for families and may be stored on any
counter or refrigerator shelf (See Fig. 2). Like most water pitcher
filters, Brita
pitchers have a filter life of approximately 40 gallons and should be
changed every1-2 months. The Brita smart pitchers have an electronic
filter life indicator that lets you know when it's time to change the
filter.
( Back to Top)
Fig.
1: Brita Pitcher "Slim" Model
Fig. 2: Brita "Ultramax" One-Touch
Dispenser
Seven
years after Brita sold the sole rights to it's brand to the Clorox
company in 2000, the Mavea brand was launched by former Brita CEO,
Markus Hankhammer. Mavea now proudly claims to be ahead of the game in
terms of technology and design in the water filter pitcher market. The
popular " Elemaris"
pitcher is priced from $32 to $40, holds up to nine 8-oz. glasses of
filtered water, and has a sleek design perfect for any tabletop (See
Fig. 3).
However, Mavea does not carry nearly as many styles or colors as the
classic Brita brand, and may not be considered as affordable to many
consumers. These pitchers reduce chlorine taste and odor, as well as
mercury, cadmium, and particulates such as sediment, dirt, rust and
limescale. Mavea water pitchers have a unique micromesh filter that
prevents carbon fragments from escaping into the water. The Mavea MAXTRA replacement filter
cartridges should be changed every 1-2 months.
( Back to Top)
Fig. 3: Mavea "Elemaris"
Water Pitcher
PUR
water pitchers are certified to reduce three times as many contaminants
as the leading pitcher. The 2-stage water filter reduces sediment, as
well as chlorine taste and odor, chlorination byproducts,
microbiological cysts, lead, and agricultural and industrial
pollutants. PUR carries three models: the PUR Filtered Water Pitcher,
PUR Filtered Water Pitcher with LED light
filter life indicator, (See Fig. 4) and the PUR Filtered Water Pitcher with Flavor
Options (See Fig. 5).
Each pitcher holds up to seven 8-oz. glasses of purified water, and the
pitcher with Flavor Options allows you to add a splash of strawberry, raspberry, lemon or grape flavor to your water at the
push of a button. The filter cartridge should be changed every 40
gallons or 1-2 months.
( Back to Top)
Fig. 4: PUR
Pitcher w/ LED Light
Fig. 5: PUR Flavor Options Pitcher
The
Filtrete Water Station has recently added some competition to the water
pitcher scene (See Fig. 6). Rather than simply filling up one pitcher
to store in
your fridge, this 4 bottle water filter allows you to fill up to 4
bottles of purified water simultaneously, allowing you the convenience
of bottled water without the uncessesary added expense and
environmental plastic waste. Simply fill the top of the station with
water from your tap, and the filter reduces sediment and chlorine taste
and odor in seconds. The Filtrete water bottles
are BPA-free and dishwasher safe and hold up to 16.9 oz. of filtered
water. The filter features a filter change indicator that lets you know
when it's time to change it. Typically, the cartridges last up to 100
gallons and should be changed every three months.
( Back to Top)
Fig. 6: Filtrete Water
Station
Reasons to Buy a Water Pitcher
Filter
- Available in a variety of colors, styles and sizes.
- Can be stored inside the fridge, yielding filtered water
that is ice-cold.
- Inexpensive
- Significantly reduces chlorine taste and odor in tap water
- Can be displayed on a tabletop for entertaining guests
- No changes in plumbing required
- Cut down on plastic bottle waste
Reasons Not to Buy a Water
Pitcher Filter
- Not as long-lasting as some other filtration methods
- Less advanced filtration technology - will not remove
certain contaminants
- May take up needed space inside refrigerator
- Frequent refilling may be necessary in larger households
Related
Links
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