How Long Does a Brita Water Filter Last?

The life of a Brita water filter depends on three things: the quality of the filter, the quality of the water being filtered, and the amount of water being poured through the filter. A water filter is an efficient filtration system, common in water pitchers and under-sink filters. It absorbs contaminants like heavy metals, chlorine, chemicals, tastes, and odors.

There are three types of filters commonly used by Brita. They include the Basic/Standard filter, the Stream filter, and the Long-last filter. They all have different lifespans. The Long-last has the longest lifespan. Below is a guide of how often they should be changed. This is for a family which uses approximately eleven glasses of water per day.

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Based upon the three types of water filters available from Brita, here is when you should change the water filter.

This is the most popular, also known as the “white” filter. This filter is usually found in pitchers, faucets, and dispensers. The purpose of this filter is to remove any smell and/or foul taste. The lifespan of this filter lasts two months or a maximum of 40 gallons of water. One way to begin your journey to a clean water source is through the standard Brita Maxtra filter.

The “gray” filters are specifically created for dispensers and pitchers. They provide filtered water faster. They also have a lifespan of about two months or 40 gallons of water, just like standard filters.

Because of pleated technology, these filters have longer life spans and are more effective at filtration since more surface area is covered. These filters are commonly known as “elite or blue filters” and have a life span of six months, filtering about 120 gallons of water.

You can get Brita filters from Waterdrop at an economical price. For faucet filters, you should consider the Brita Faucet 36311 filter. There are other Brita filters that are replacements at very low prices.

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However, Brita employs granulated activated carbon or carbon block filters to eliminate impurities and odor from tap water. Granulated activated carbon is processed from crushed carbon treated with oxygen to form pores, which increases the surface area to absorb impurities.

Carbon block filters filter out smaller impurities that may not be caught by granulated carbon filters. Carbon blocks are made by pressing carbon particles together at high pressure into a solid block form. There are fewer carbon block filters than granulated carbon filters, and they can filter out more impurities and may be more costly.

The life span differs and depends on some factors. These include:

The kind of water you use to pass through the filter has a large impact on saturation levels. If you use tap water that has a lot of contaminants like metal, chlorine, sediment, or chemicals, you may need to change the filter oftener. Tap water that has fewer contaminants may give you a slightly longer life for the filter

It is also important to consider if it is hard water or soft water. Hard water has magnesium and calcium that easily saturates the filter.

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The life span calculation is based on an average consumption rate of about 11 glasses per day. The life span of the filter could be substantially less should your water usage be higher.

To keep your filter in the best possible condition, you should always rinse the filter with cold water and make sure the dispenser is always clean.

Some pitchers and dispensers come with an indicator, in the form of stickers or electronics, that shows when it is time for a replacement. Another method of determining when the water has to be changed is by the smell and taste.

Replacing a Brita water filter is quite easy and quick. In case you are going to replace the regular filter, you need to look out for the availability of the Brita filters in your location to purchase them. Then:

• Take out the old filter from your pitcher or dispenser.
• Rinse the new filter with cold water for 15 seconds.
• Put in the filter with the groove facing the ridge.
• Pour cold water into the pitcher to obtain filtered water.
• Throw away the first three full carafes of water, as they could contain carbon dust.
• Remove the two screws at the top of the
• Drink from the pitcher in the fourth fill.

However, for a Brita steam filter, you do the following: rinse the filter, then assemble the filter by placing it inside the cage with the blue ring up, pushing down until you hear a click, turning the lid to lock the cage, and finally using the filter by filling it up.

Using a filter beyond its intended lifespan can be more detrimental to your health than beneficial. A filter that has lived out its usefulness can be a haven for bacteria, contributing to the problem you are trying to solve. It has been shown that the amount of bacteria in an old filter can be exponentially higher than in tap water. In addition to replacing your filters, give them an occasional cleaning.

Additionally, Brita has a recycling program for old filters in partnership with TerraCycle. They recycle all Brita filters, including pitcher filters, dispenser filters, and faucet filters. This is also a rewards program in that you collect Brita reward points that can be redeemed for charitable donations. To recycle through Brita, you need to request participation in the Brita recycling page and ship at least five pounds of filters.