Beginner’s Guide to Water Filter Pitchers
What Is a Water Filter Pitcher?
The removal of contaminants from your source water may be accomplished in a non-permanent and uncomplicated manner with the help of a water filter pitcher. They are favorable to one’s wallet, simple to use, not difficult to maintain, and operate faultlessly with no hiccups.
There is a wide price range for filter pitchers, ranging from $20 to $175. Warning: there is a spoiler ahead! There is no guarantee that the costliest ones are also the best.
The best model for you is the one that efficiently filters out as many potentially hazardous elements as possible from the tap water or well water that you use in the shortest amount of time feasible. Having a bigger filtration capacity is always a good improvement, so that goes without saying.
By eliminating contaminants like chlorine that cause unpleasant odors, the vast majority of filter pitchers on the market today are able to significantly enhance the flavor and aroma of the water you drink. On the other hand, there are high-quality ones that furthermore target heavy metals, pesticides, disinfection byproducts, PFAs, pathogens, and a great deal more!
How Do Water Filter Pitchers Work?
Pitchers that filter water often include compact filtration media that can treat water both at home and when the user is away from home. To make the pitcher, all you need to do is pour some water into it. The next step is to wait for it to make its way into the reservoir after going through the filter cartridge.
You may have access to water that is filtered, clean, and clear in less than fifteen minutes, without spending the exorbitant amount of money that is often connected with purchasing bottled water.
It should come as no surprise that water filtration pitchers are seeing a meteoric rise in popularity given the increasing number of individuals who are now innately interested in tiny technology. Nevertheless, the most pressing issue is, how exactly do water filter pitchers function? To tell you the truth, there is no special ingredient that makes it work.
Stay with us as we explain how filter jugs may meet all of your unanticipated demands for water at a cost that is just a fraction of a dollar.
What is the Function of a Water Filter Pitcher?
All water filter pitchers adhere to the same fundamental standards when it comes to the filtration of water. The water travels through a filter cartridge that contains filter media, which prevents the passage of contaminants by restricting, adsorbing, absorbing, or rejecting them. The process of chemical filtration is used by certain filters, while others rely on the physical filtering method.
The majority of people are perplexed about the efficiency of the filtering procedure since the medium that is employed is so minute. The question makes complete and utter logic. The reason for this is because these pocket-sized filters are only able to purify a little volume of water at a time and need to be changed after as little as one or two months have passed.
The majority of water filters that are installed beneath sinks employ the same filtering technology, but they have larger filter cartridges, thus they last far longer. As a result, achieving optimal performance requires that filter pitcher cartridges be replaced at the appropriate intervals.
There Are Many Different Types of Water Filter Pitchers.
Because there are many different filtering technologies now available, the effectiveness of different types of filter pitchers in removing pollutants may cover a wide range. As a result, you need to purchase intelligently and evaluate the various filters by reading impartial evaluations and NSF certifications.
As is customary, well-known businesses such as Brita use flowery language as a smokescreen while painting an optimistic image. But what exactly is it that their pitchers are supposed to remove? The vast majority of the time, there is nothing, but chemicals present, which causes unpleasant odors and tastes.
You will find that the majority of water filter pitchers use carbon as their filtering medium. Unfortunately, while activated carbon filters are efficient at removing chlorines and reducing trace amounts of certain heavy metals, this is where their benefits stop.
Since of this, we are huge fans of pitchers made by Clearly Filtered because they use a multi-stage process to eliminate over 365 different pollutants that are often present in tap water. The filter cartridge that we use has a ceramic filter layer, granular activated carbon, ion exchange, and many more filtration components than that.
In addition to this, The NSF has validated Clearly Filterer’s claims by testing the company’s water pitchers. When compared to typical filter pitchers available on the market, which, on average, can only treat 40 gallons of water, the cartridges have a lifespan that is far longer (100 gallons).
In a similar vein, if you are concerned about the amount of acidity in your tap water, you may want to look into purchasing an alkaline water filter pitcher.
In a nutshell, the most important step is to determine the types of toxins that are present in your water supply before selecting the appropriate filter. Having stated that, let’s move on to the most widespread pollutants that water filter pitchers are able to eliminate or significantly decrease.
What Is It That They Filter Out?
According to the results of a poll conducted by Consumer Reports, water filtration systems are the second most common form of water treatment procedure.
The success of the steeping is in part attributable to the comfort and convenience that is provided by these helpful devices. In addition, certain cutting-edge filters are able to eliminate the two issues that people complain about the most when it comes to bad tasting and odorous drinking water.
Some of the higher-grade ones go above and beyond this and get rid of hazardous chemicals that cause sickness as well. So, what exactly are some of the impurities that water pitcher filters can remove? Here is a list that covers everything.
Various Pollutants Found in Public Water Supplies
The following is a list of typical pollutants that may be removed from city water by using various types of water filter pitchers.
- Chlorine
- Chloramine
- Lead
- Chromium 6
- Cadmium
- BPA
- Pharmaceuticals
- VOCs
- Semi-volatile compounds
- PFAS
- Fluoride
- Nitrates
Pollutants Discovered in Private Wells
The following is a list of toxins that are often present in well water that may be reduced by using a water filter pitcher:
- Nitrates
- Arsenic
- Lead
- Coliform and other bacteria
- TDS
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
- Mercury
Maintenance and Adjustments to the Filters
In order to maintain them in the best form possible, your water filtration jugs, just like all of the other equipment and devices in your home, need a little bit of care.
Cartridge replacements are the most critical feature involved with any and all water treatment methods. The kind of filter you have, how long its service life is, the quality of the water you use, and how frequently you should change the filter cartridge are all factors that should be considered.
In contrast, an Epic Pure water filter pitcher may treat up to 150 gallons of water before it has to be changed. Brita filters, on the other hand, need to be replaced every 40 gallons.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to carry out the procedure in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. You should also be on the lookout for telltale symptoms that your filter needs to be changed. Some of these signs include decreased flow and an unpleasant taste.
In order to avoid the formation of live organisms inside the grooves and crevices of your filter pitcher, it is imperative that you keep it clean. We recommend cleaning once every week using soap, water, and an additional toothbrush. In the end, you should let your pitcher air dry before reassembling all of the pieces to guarantee an endless supply of water that is free of contaminants.
The Many Advantages of Employing the Use of a Water Filter Pitcher
There are millions of individuals all over the globe that choose water filters over purchasing bottled water due to the fact that water filters provide a more affordable alternative. In point of fact, there is an unending number of advantages connected with the use of these ground-breaking devices.
What’s the catch? The need for frequent cartridge changes may get tiresome in a short amount of time, and low-quality models offer little to enhance the taste of the water. However, all of these issues may be readily remedied by investing in a high-quality water pitcher filter that has prolonged cartridge replacement intervals.
In the grand scheme of things, the benefits of use filter jugs much exceed any potential drawbacks. Here are some of the reasons why you should also acquire one for yourself right now!
Pure Water for Consumption
Imagine taking a sip of water, only to have it be followed by a swirl of crud, silt, or other particles that have not dissolved. That doesn’t appeal to anybody, does it?
With the advent of filter pitchers, you no longer have to drink muddy, sediment-filled water.
If you were to hold a glass beneath running water, sediment would eventually fall to the bottom of the glass, however sediment may be successfully removed from water using water filter pitchers. Your water will be cleaner, crisper, and healthier as a result of their use in addition to the fact that they remove visible particle matter.
Better Taste and Odor
Because the majority of water filter pitchers are designed to eliminate chlorine as well as other pollutants, they are quite effective at enhancing the flavor and aroma of the water you drink.
Here is a simple experiment that you should do to demonstrate how much of an improvement there has been in the flavor and aroma of your drinking water after it has been filtered. One of the glasses should be filled with water from the tap, while the other should contain water from a filter pitcher. You will be able to distinguish between the two in terms of flavor, appearance, and fragrance. The second option will have a more pleasant flavor and will be more recent.
Portability while maintaining a low weight
The mobility of a filter pitcher stands out as maybe the most important benefit it offers in comparison to other kinds of domestic water filters. It fully removes the need for installations as well as time-consuming alterations to the plumbing.
Because they are so portable, you can bring them with you almost everywhere, including to the workplace, the beach, on excursions, or on vacation.
You not only save spending money on pricier bottled water while you’re on the road, but you also get complete and total piece of mind as a result.
Cost-Effectiveness
Filtration of water is not always an inexpensive process. For instance, the majority of under-sink water filters and whole-house water filters may cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000. When you include in the expenditure of installation as well as the cost of replacing cartridges, the total cost quickly balloons. In a similar vein, the expense of purchasing bottled drinking water might easily exceed one thousand dollars over the course of a year.
In contrast, water filter pitchers and cartridges are available at very reasonable prices. You won’t have any trouble finding a pitcher of respectable quality for less than one hundred dollars. It is possible to simply save a significant amount of money on replacements if you shop intelligently for cartridge bundles.
It may be stored inside the refrigerator
The vast majority of filter pitchers are designed to be easily pulled into refrigerators. You may choose a pitcher that is on the smaller side even if your refrigerator is on the more compact side since it will still be able to accommodate it.
Because of the space-saving nature of these devices, you will always have access to ice-cold filtered water, regardless of where you are.
Stop Buying Water in Bottles!
To create a single year’s supply of bottled water for the United States alone, seventeen million barrels of oil are required. This sum does not take into account the carbon footprint caused by transporting the items to their final destination.
In addition, the majority of these bottles wind up in landfills, where they will remain for thousands of years before finally breaking down, which contributes to the steady poisoning of our world by waste plastic.
The situation is made even worse by the fact that a significant quantity of bottled water is actually just treated tap water. When you introduce a filter jug into your house, it goes without saying that you will no longer need to purchase bottled water, which will help you save both money and the environment.
Final Thoughts
In closing, water filter pitchers offer a simple, budget-friendly, and effective solution to remove contaminants from source water. They improve the taste and odor of drinking water, while also being portable and easy to maintain.
By choosing the right filter pitcher and following proper maintenance, users can enjoy clean and safe water without the need for bottled water, contributing to a greener environment.