Why is my brita filtering so slow

I kept a log to see if my Brita filter slow performance was real or just my imagination. So far I have found the results to be clear and repeatable. Every advanced filter I have used in my Brita Pitcher has clogged after 6 to 10 gallons or about 2 to 3 weeks.

If I were filtering muddy water from a stream, these results would not surprise me at all. But I am filtering water I have distilled from Fort Collins, CO tap water. The city water has a very high quality, repeatedly ranking among the best in the US. I distill the water to remove minerals, chlorine, fluoride and most everything else that might be present. The Brita Pitcher is just the final polishing step in the process to slightly improve the taste.

What goes into the Brita filter is very close to pure water. And yet, somehow, the new advanced filters clog very quickly. The old filters never clogged. They kept working for up to 4 months and close to 100 gallons when I forgot to change the filter on schedule.

Have a look at this video to see the progression.

Brita Filter Slow Performance Data

While I was logging the number of gallons filtered I also recorded the time it took to filter one quart of water. As the total number of gallons filtered increases, so does the time it takes to filter a quart. When it gets up to about an hour I know that by the next day the filter will be so clogged it hardly works at all.

This graph combines results from the two filters I tested at room temperature.

Loading chart…

Epic Water Filters

13 April 2018 – I’m testing an Epic Water Filters pitcher, which appears to be a superior product over Brita and I’ll post the results here on Helioza. Use coupon code HELIOZA for a 15% discount on any purchase from Epic Water Filters. If you decide to buy an Epic product, I will earn a commission on your purchase. If you don’t, I earn nothing. I’m doing these tests because I am disgusted with Brita and think the Epic products will perform much better. That discount code again, helioza on the checkout page.

Distiller Good Brita Alternative

The best way to end frustration with slow Brita Pitcher filters is to switch from filtering to distilling. A good water distiller produces pure water with virtually no contaminants. Bacteria cannot survive the distillation process and an activated carbon filter removes most chemicals that evaporate with the water.

Many brands and models are available. I have owned a Waterwise 9000 distiller for over twenty years. I bought a replacement unit a few years back when the old one finally reached the end of its life. I think it has been an outstanding health investment and I highly recommend it.

“Brita” is a registered trademark of Brita LP.

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Ray N. Franklin lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. He has been a software engineer, granola entrepreneur, and internet marketer. Now he edits palindrome anthologies at Palindromedary.us and writes science fiction. Helioza.com is the place to find his stories and SF news. When not writing software he might be gardening or cooking up a mystery soup.

why does filter drain slowly into pitcher

asked on February 1, 2013

Showing 1-10 of 26 answers

I've had my 24 cup spout filter for only about an hour. Noticed right off that there is no vent to equalize the pressure so your displacing air with water and it cant escape. This will slow it down. Fix: Tilt the fill reservoir towards the filter end this will leave an air gap. Next, I have very hard water and the screens over all 4 drains scale up. Fix: Wash the screens from bottom frequently. Finally, refill as you use so you don't have to start from empty all the time.

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The water takes hours to filter through the new filters which are supposed to take the lead out of the water. The old filters worked great, so do my PUR filters. But these new expensive filters have lasted about 2 weeks then go so slow I had to get another filter so I can fill the dogs bowl and get my water bottle filled before I go to work. I think there is a problem because it is supposed to last for about 3 months.

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I have the same problem with the one I just bought. Less than one month of use and the water if dripping very very slowly through filter. I will try suggestion of shaking/tap filter upside down

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https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140620162659-105135096-gravity-filters-why-air-locking-is-an-issue

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I agree that it takes time to filter. But I also want to mention something I discovered accidentally. The first time I put a filter in, I thought I did it right, but months later, when I went to change the filter, I realized that the first filter had not been installed properly. On my pitcher, there is only one correct… see more I agree that it takes time to filter. But I also want to mention something I discovered accidentally. The first time I put a filter in, I thought I did it right, but months later, when I went to change the filter, I realized that the first filter had not been installed properly. On my pitcher, there is only one correct way to put the filter in. At first glance, you may think there are two ways to put it in (not counting upside down). But if you look closely at the well where the filter sits, there is a rib that sticks out, and this determines the correct orientation of the filter. If you don't pay close attention, you can put the filter in wrong, and you might even think it is in there correctly, but it won't be fully seated in the well. If it is not seated properly, water can flow around it rather than through it. This is great if you want your pitcher to filter water quickly -- except that actually it is not filtered at all. After months of using the pitcher with an improperly seated filter, I am dismayed to find that a) my water has not been going through the filter, and b) now that I know how to put the filter in, I am going to have to be a lot more patient with filling the pitcher. see less I agree that it takes time to filter. But I also want to mention something I discovered accidentally. The first time I put a filter in, I thought I did it right, but months later, when I went to change the filter, I realized that the first filter had not been installed properly. On my pitcher, there is only one correct way to put the filter in. At first glance, you may think there are two ways to put it in (not counting upside down). But if you look closely at the well where the filter sits, there is a rib that sticks out, and this determines the correct orientation of the filter. If you don't pay close attention, you can put the filter in wrong, and you might even think it is in there correctly, but it won't be fully seated in the well. If it is not seated properly, water can flow around it rather than through it. This is great if you want your pitcher to filter water quickly -- except that actually it is not filtered at all. After months of using the pitcher with an improperly seated filter, I am dismayed to find that a) my water has not been going through the filter, and b) now that I know how to put the filter in, I am going to have to be a lot more patient with filling the pitcher.

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If you want slow water filtering, buy a Zero Water System. I have one (Zero) but the filters are expensive. I use two of the Brita Pitchers and compared to the other water system I mentioned, this one I consider to be quite a bit faster in filtering the water into the pitcher. I guess you pay for what you get in this case. It does a fine job for me and not quite so expensive.

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I have experienced the same thing when I compare these to the previous style Brita filters. I think it must capture air bubbles or something so it gets a little air locked. I find it slows down after the receptacle on top is about 3/4 drained. It's a pain when I'm waiting to filter water for my coffee maker...

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Mine drains slow, but not so slow that it's annoying. These are pretty good filters, I'm not sure what's specifically in these but filtering through the sand and charcoal and stuff takes time. I used to have a 5-piece filtering system attached to my sink and when it would run out of water it would take around a half an hour to fill back up.

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To all the people saying that it's just "filtering out impurities", I promise you that in no way excuses the filter letting single droplets out every 2 seconds. At that rate, there is an issue. No filter, no matter how many impurities it is filtering out, should take an entire day to cleanse water.

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I have been using a Britta water pitcher for years never had a problem recently I bought the new longer-lasting filter after about two weeks it takes hours to filter just one cup this is not a reasonable amount of time. I will be complaining directly to Brita and I will not be buying the long lasting filters again

Why is my Brita not filtering fast?

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