Water filter pitcher: change it at 40 gallons or about 2 months, and check the label for what it removes

Why filters wear out

NSF explains that a carbon filter works two ways. Some contaminants get caught in its pores, and others stick to the surface of the filter material. Over time that surface fills up and can’t hold any more, or the pores clog. [S4]

• You can’t see it fill up. NSF says a full filter surface is hard to notice, which is why makers set a service cycle in gallons or months. Clogging is easier to spot because the water flows more slowly. [S4]
• Taste isn’t a safety test. CDC says taste, smell and appearance aren’t always good signs of water safety, because harmful germs and chemicals often don’t change them. [S3]
• Slow can mean sediment. Brita says an Elite filter should take at most 10 to 15 minutes to filter a full reservoir, and that sand or rust in tap water can clog a filter and shorten its life. [S1]
• Shake a slow PUR filter. If water filters more slowly than normal, PUR says to shake the filter until you hear the granules move. [S2]

When to change it

1. Brita Original and Stream. Every 40 gallons, about 2 months, Brita says. [S1]
2. Brita Elite. Every 120 gallons, about 6 months. Brita says older pitchers may say Longlast+ instead of Elite, and both are set for 120 gallons. [S1]
3. PUR pitchers and dispensers. PUR says replace the filter after 2 months or 40 gallons, or when the red Filter Change Light flashes. [S2]
4. Sooner with heavy use. Brita’s month estimates assume 11 glasses a day for an average household, and it says hard water may mean changing more often. [S1]
5. Anything else. NSF says service cycles vary by product and are set in gallons or months. Follow the maker’s interval for your filter. [S4]

Stocking up on spares? Brita says an unused filter has an indefinite shelf life as long as its pouch is intact and sealed, and it suggests pre-soaking older Original filters in water for 15 minutes before use. [S1]

Putting in a new filter

1. Rinse or soak it first. Brita says flush Original and Stream filters under cold water for 15 seconds. PUR says soak a PUR PLUS filter in cold water for 15 minutes, then hold it under cold running water for 10 seconds. [S1] [S2]
2. Toss the first fills. For Original and Elite pitcher filters, Brita says to discard the first three containers of filtered water, or use them on plants. It says carbon dust in the first few fillings is normal. [S1]
3. Reset the reminder. On Brita’s electronic indicator, hold STATUS for 2 seconds for an Original filter or 6 seconds for Elite. On PUR models, hold the reset button for at least 5 seconds if the light is out or the green light isn’t flashing after you pour. [S1] [S2]
4. Use the matching cartridge. Brita says Stream pitchers only take Stream filters. NSF warns that a non-certified cartridge that only looks like the right one can let water flow around it, or add impurities. [S1] [S4]
5. Wash up afterward. CDC says wear gloves when changing a filter and wash your hands afterward, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid changing filters themselves. [S3]

Pitcher care

• Cold water only. PUR says filter only cold water and never water above 82°F (28°C). It also says don’t use its filters with water that’s microbiologically unsafe without disinfecting it first. [S2]
• Hand wash it. Brita says its pitchers and dispensers aren’t dishwasher safe; hand wash with mild detergent and no abrasive cleaners. PUR says some newer PUR models are dishwasher safe, so check your manual. [S1] [S2]
• Keep it out of the sun. Brita says store the pitcher in a cool, dim place and out of bright sunlight, which can cause algae to grow, and refrigerate it if you’ll be away for more than a couple of days. [S1]

Keeping the pitcher in the fridge? Our fridge thermometer guide covers the 40°F check. Storing water for an outage is a different job: our emergency water guide covers 1 gallon per person per day.

Reading the label

CDC says start by learning what’s in your water. Public water systems publish an annual water quality report, and private well owners should test every year. If your water is free of harmful germs and chemicals, CDC says you may not need a filter at all. [S3]

• NSF/ANSI 42. CDC lists this standard for taste and odor, which is what most carbon pitcher filters are built for. [S3]
• NSF/ANSI 53. CDC lists this standard for cyst reduction, and EPA says lead reduction claims are certified against it. [S3] [S6]
• For lead, look for both. EPA’s consumer tool points to filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 to reduce lead to 5 ppb or less, and to NSF/ANSI 42 for Class I particulates. [S5]
• Where to find the claim. EPA says look on the package for a certification mark, the standard and a lead reduction claim. Details may also be on the performance data sheet or in the certifier’s online listing. [S6]
• Same brand, different claims. Brita says all its filters are certified to reduce chlorine taste and odor, and some also reduce metals such as lead. So check the specific filter, not just the brand. [S1]
• Germs are a different job. CDC says most pitcher and fridge filters aren’t designed to remove germs. For bacteria it lists reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration or filters with an absolute pore size of 0.3 micron or smaller. [S3]
• Filters can remove good things too. CDC notes some filters remove helpful chemicals too, like chlorine, which kills germs, or fluoride, which prevents cavities. Brita says its filters keep a healthy level of fluoride in fluoridated tap water. [S3] [S1]

Living in an older home? Our lead paint guide covers what EPA and CDC say about pre-1978 paint.

Your filter

Pick your filter and what you want it to do. The answer puts the maker, CDC, NSF and EPA steps from this page in one place. [S1] [S2] [S3]

Pitcher filter checklist

Quick answers