Brita water filters: how long do they really last?

[zenie]

I get mine from Amazon when they have a deal on. I think I got 6 for £18 last time I bought some. Never used the Optima ones. I had a look but there were more negative reviews for them than the Brita ones so I didn't bother. I just use them until the water starts tasting bad.

For people who wonder why bother: the water in the UK is perfectly fine to drink wherever you are from the point of view of contaminants but my water tastes really bad and the filter sorts it out. I had never heard of tap water tasting bad before I moved here but a quick google shows that it's quite common.

Yeh I will probably just go for Brita. Like the sheeple that I am.

I can drink tap water unless I'm hungover...tap water the day after a piss up games straight back up. Weird.

 

[bmd]

I think if you get them when there's a deal on then you won't pay more than the Optima ones.

 

[openmindedguy]

It's a myth that water filters soften water. Salt is needed to soften water hence water softeners.

 

[Greebo]

It's a myth that water filters soften water. Salt is needed to soften water hence water softeners.

In that case, why can you buy water filters specifically for use in hard water areas?

 

[5t3IIa]

That's a point. I've been thinking my new kettle scales up quicker than the old one......


When did I last change that filter *muses*

Have you changed it yet?

 

[quimcunx]

Have you changed it yet?

I reckon I've changed the filter maybe 3 times and the jug once.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Think I need to pick one of these up, its been 2 and half months in the new and the kettle is full of absolute shite

 

[lowik]

For people who wonder why bother: the water in the UK is perfectly fine to drink wherever you are from the point of view of contaminants but my water tastes really bad and the filter sorts it out. I had never heard of tap water tasting bad before I moved here but a quick google shows that it's quite common.

bmd yes "water in the UK is perfectly fine to drink" they only poison it with sodium fluoride and other toxic chemicals... i love when people who have no idea start talking crap

now about the brita filters i change mine ever few months

 

[Roedy Green]

Whan I lived on an island and got my water from a well, the Brita filter would completely clog up in less than a month. Now I live in a city, I cannot detect any deterioration or slowing for many months at a time. Any rule of thumb about when to change them is primarily motivated by the desire to sell more filters.

 

[Treborus]

Have bought a new Brita water filter jug to replace knackered old one

It has an electronic indicator on that goes from 100% filter strength to 0% over about a month to indicate when the filter needs replacing. It is using those Maxtra filters

Is that just a scam (replacing roughly monthly) to make me buy more filters? How long are they actually effective for? Prob gets filled around 5 times a day, our water is a bit hard I think (Herts) but I always suspect they could last longer

Anyone know the science on these things?

This is the kind of middle class consumerist bullshit that bugs me frequently so thanks for any info[/QUOT

 

[UnderOpenSky]

What's wrong with the stuff out the tap?

So many years on I get why you might do this. Living in the North where the water is great, I find the stuff in Northampton where I'm originally from really grim. Guess it's what your used to.

 

[Treborus]

Have bought a new Brita water filter jug to replace knackered old one

It has an electronic indicator on that goes from 100% filter strength to 0% over about a month to indicate when the filter needs replacing. It is using those Maxtra filters

Is that just a scam (replacing roughly monthly) to make me buy more filters? How long are they actually effective for? Prob gets filled around 5 times a day, our water is a bit hard I think (Herts) but I always suspect they could last longer

Anyone know the science on these things?

This is the kind of middle class consumerist bullshit that bugs me frequently so thanks for any info

We live in a VERY hard water area (UK) & it rapidly coats any kettle or steamer element & I found these filters really cuts it to almost zero , plus on it's month life -it's "possible" because of how it works it "might" remove the chlorination which we have here & could let bacteria build up - we had in my job to run water tapes & or drain them monthly to prevent Legionella .That can kill you!