Over the past few years, more and more Americans have begun using water pitchers as a means to filter their tap water. The Environmental Protection Agency says that “water filtration pitchers are an affordable and commonly used free-standing home water treatment device.” Not only can these pitchers help your water taste better, but they can also help remove bacteria and microbes as well.
If you have never purchased a water filter before, or are looking to upgrade your existing unit, you may find it difficult to choose the right model. You’re likely to come across dozens of water filters when browsing online or at your local convenience store. One of the options you’ll likely come across is a Brita water filter pitcher. Below, you’ll find out everything you need to know about Brita water filter pitchers.
What is a Brita Water Filter Pitcher and How Does It Work?
Brita water filter pitchers allow you to cleanse your water before drinking. The method by which the filter does so depends on the type of filter you choose. By having a better understanding of the different kinds of Brita pitchers, you’ll be able to make a better-informed buying decision. On the Brita website, there are multiple options available, including:
If you opt for a pitcher with a Brita Standard Filter, a mesh screen will filter large, black flecks from your water. The pitchers also contain activated carbon granules which can remove the taste and odor of chlorine from your water. If you would prefer a Longlast filter, you’ll come across a unit with a blue screen that contains proprietary active filtering agents.
Lastly, there is a unique type of filter exclusive to a few products, the Stream filter. Brita says that its’ Stream filters contain a dual-carbon form that works to reduce the impurities in your water. The carbon is active, which allows it to work like a sponge. In doing so, it can improve the taste of your water significantly, cutting down on the effects of chlorine in your water.
What Makes a Brita Water Filter Pitcher Unique?
For more than two-and-a-half decades, Brita has been working to provide in-home purified water that not only tastes great but is healthy as well. According to the Brita website, all of their products are free of BPA. BPA is a chemical that typically found in plastics. It can seep from the plastic into food or water, causing severe health concerns.
Brita says that their filters are unique because they used an activated carbon that is coconut-based, in conjunction with an ion exchange resin, to help filter your water. The company says that in addition to minimizing the taste and odor of chlorine, their filters can also remove mercury, copper, cadmium, and zinc. Additionally, Longlast filters can remove benzene, asbestos, and other particulates.
The Longlast filter is unique to Brita. The company says that by using a Longlast filter in your water pitcher, you will have to replace the filter every six months. This is three times as long as other Brita filters, which you must typically replace every two months. In addition to lasting longer than other filters, the Longlast filter can also reduce additional contaminants such as lead.
Both the Water Quality Association and the National Science Foundation have certified water filter pitchers from Brita, indicating that the products met their standards and that the information included on the company’s product labels and performance sheets is accurate. This can help customers make an informed decision, as they can rest assured that any information they come across is accurate.
Pricing
- The slim, BPA-free Metro water pitcher with filter...
- Get great-tasting water without the waste; by...
- This space efficient Brita pitcher fits perfectly...
- Brita is the number 1 water filter, reducing...
- Compatible with Longlast and Standard water...
The price of a Brita water filter pitcher depends significantly on which model you choose. For instance, the cheapest models available on the Brita website are the Metro and the Soho, which cost just under $. The most expensive model available is the Stainless Steel, which requires just under $. So, there’s a good chance that you can find a unit based on your needs and budget.
Additionally, a significant portion of the upfront cost is for the pitcher. Customers can purchase replacement filters for their units on the Brita website. Customers need to be careful to choose the screen that fits their device, but doing so could help extend the lifespan of their pitcher exponentially. The cost for a new filter ranges from about $ for non-Stream pitchers to $ for a Longlast screen.
Furthermore, if you are not satisfied with your product, Brita offers a 30-day, 100 percent money back guarantee. The company also covers their water pitchers under a 90-day warranty, which starts from the day you purchase the product. The warranty covers any parts that may have broken as a result of shipping, manufacturing, or other accidents. Brita will replace the required part free of charge.
You may also find Brita pitchers available for purchase at other locations. For example, Amazon and Target are both reputable dealers that are licensed to sell Brita products. The prices tend to be comparable, but you could potentially find a sale at one of the retailers that could help reduce your cost. Be sure to consider all options when purchasing a Brita filter.
Public Perception
When browsing online, it appears that many customers view water filter pitchers from Brita favorably. For instance, the Monterey pitcher, which contains a Longlast filter, has a 4.3-star rating on the Brita website with more than 135 customer reviews. Of those who reviewed the product, 99 percent indicated that they were satisfied with their purchase.
Many customers indicated that there was a noticeable difference in the taste of their water after they used the pitcher, with some saying that they “had no idea how good tap water could taste.” It appears that the less-than-favorable reviews were because of two issues. One, some did not care for the product’s shape and design. Two, some felt that the pitcher was too slow at filtering water.
Another product, the Stream Cascade, also appears to be well-liked by Brita customers. More than 115 customers reviewed the product, giving it an average of a 4.6-star rating. Of those who considered the product, more than 95 percent indicated that they were satisfied with their purchase. Additionally, only two people gave this product a one-star rating.
Customers appeared to be impressed by the fact that the pitcher filtered water as they poured, and that the filtration time was nearly instantaneous. Others customers remarked that the 12-ounce size of this pitcher was ideal for their needs and that it fit inside of their refrigerator perfectly. It seemed as though those who had owned past pitchers from Brita preferred this model.
Lastly, the Grand pitcher, which the company indicates is their most popular, also rates well on the Brita website. The product has earned a 4.6-star rating with more than 920 customer reviews. Of those who reviewed the product, just under 95 percent indicated that they were satisfied with their purchase. Nearly 690 customers gave the Grand a five-star review. More than 150 gave it a four-star rating.
Like most of the pitchers on the site, customers were impressed with the taste of their water. Some customers said that they replaced the filters regularly, as recommended by Brita, and that their pitcher lasted them a few years as a result. However, other customers had some complaints about the design of the lid, indicating that it did not fit correctly.
However, when looking at the products on Amazon, it appears as though the results are not quite the same. Ratings were generally lower on Amazon than they were on the Brita site. The Monterey model had a 4.2-star rating on Amazon with more than 300 customer reviews. The Stream and Grand models had a 3.7-star rating with 475 customer reviews and more than 215 customer reviews, respectively.
It appears that the reasons for the lower ratings on Amazon were because customers were more critical of the design flaws of the pitcher. For instance, many customers remarked that their pitcher filtered water too slowly and that there were times when they were waiting on the filter to have access to fresh water. Additionally, many customers were quite disappointed with the lid of the Grand model.
How it Compares
- FAUCET WATER FILTER REPLACEMENTS – Enjoy...
- REDUCES 70 CONTAMINANTSȽ – PUR PLUS faucet...
- EASY TO INSTALL – Twist back cover off your PUR...
- COMPATIBLE DOES NOT MEAN COMPARABLE – Be...
- #1 SELLING BRAND IN FAUCET FILTRATION** –...
Another popular water filter that you will likely come across during your search for a pitcher is PUR. When comparing the Brita Everyday model to the PUR Basic model, the Brita comes out ahead. The Brita pitcher contains a water pitcher capacity of ten cups, while the PUR basic has a size of seven cups. The water filling tank capacity is more prominent in the Brita model as well.
Furthermore, the Brita Everyday model filters water at a rate of just over a cup per minute, while the PUR model filters water at a rate of .8 cups per minute. If customers were dissatisfied with the filtration rates of a Brita filter, they would likely not find much luck by choosing a PUR option instead. It’s also worth noting that there are different PUR models, just as there are different Brita models.
Both pitchers also rely upon an activated-carbon filter and an ion exchange resin to purify the water. However, there are a few noticeable differences between the two. First, we found that it is much easier to refill the PUR pitcher than the Brita pitcher. We could refill the PUR pitcher through the top of the lid without having to remove it. This is unlike the Brita pitcher, which required you to remove the cover.
PUR also offers a lead-reduction filter, designed explicitly to remove lead from the water. Brita standard filters do this, but their Longlast screens do not. Brita Longlast filters and all PUR filters remove benzene, while a Brita standard filter does not. However, Brita is the only water filter that can remove asbestos and Class I particles from your water, a noticeable advantage over PUR.
What We Think
If you believe that your tap water is not pure and that you need a water pitcher filter to provide fresh, clean drinking water for your family, then Brita should be an option worth considering. Their products are a bit expensive, but there is a wide-enough discrepancy between models that you should able to find the unit that will fit your family’s needs.
When browsing customer reviews online, it appeared as though Brita had exceptional customer service. In our mind, this countered any complaints about poor manufacturing, which only seemed to come about on a few models. If you have an issue with a Brita filter, you should be able to contact customer service to resolve the problem quickly.
Because of this, we were impressed with the durability of the pitchers. If you maintain your pitcher as suggested, there is no reason why it cannot last for a few years. Remember the cost of a filter, which lasts for a couple of months, ends up breaking down to pennies a day, which is significantly cheaper than buying bottled water or the health care costs that come as a result of drinking unpurified water.
Coupons and Deals
Right now, customers can sign up for the Brita Rewards Program on the company’s website. Immediately upon joining, new customers will receive a $ coupon that they can apply toward their next purchase. Upon making their first purchase, customers will begin earning points in their Brita account. Customers can also earn points by writing reviews of their product or uploading purchase receipts.
Brita Rewards Program members can also redeem their points for various products and coupons. For example, customers can purchase a Hard-sided Water Bottle after earning 100 points. After gaining 35 points, customers can receive a card for $5 off any pitcher. And after a mere 20 points, customers can earn $4 off a filter. Joining the rewards program before purchasing a new pitcher could be worthwhile.