topic Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana? in Home

Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

Moonchilde — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 18:29:20 GMT

Would love feedback from users of any of the above. I don't want a "connect to faucet" type water filter. Brita isn't cutting it and I am annoyed with the carbon bits. ZeroWater does the best job according to articles and feedback, but from what I've read you have to buy expensive new filters constantly (I have really ucky, rust-filled city pipes) or the filter makes your water taste fishy (srsly, many reviews state this). I've read complaints about the Aquasana not functioning well (broken pump, leaking) and of course needing electricity to work. Mavea sounds good to me, filters reasonably priced & reasonably available. But is is better than Brita, even if only a little?

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

NYwoman — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 19:04:29 GMT

I live in a well water area in the mountains. I use Pur filters right now. My g/f tried Aquasana and returned it. It was noisy and did not do the job well.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

Moonchilde — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 19:21:11 GMT

Thanks for the feedback. I have used PUR as well, but found them to be pretty much the same as Brita. What I really need is bottled water or a $300 system, but living in an upstairs apt makes neither practical :-(

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

Mominohio — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 19:54:25 GMT

I would offer up a different solution. We have a Culligan reverse osmosis system, and it has been here longer than the 20 years we have owned the house. We have well water with iron and this works great and gives us really great tasting water,

It contains 4 or 5 filters, but they only need changed yearly for us, even with heavy use of a family of 4.

Perhaps you could make a deal with the apt. owner, that if you paid for the unit, it would stay when you leave (if you plan on staying for a number of years, it might be the same cost overtime as trying all these different systems that haven't worked for you).

You may also be able to rent one, similar to the way the rent water softeners. It would be another option to research and price and see if it might meet your needs.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

PeterDM — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:19:45 GMT

I've been using a Brita for years, so I understand your frustration with the carbon bits. Last week I found a new style of Brita filter at Walmart that has a different "neck" on the top of it. It's a new version, and you don't get any black flecks. I also noticed an improvement in the taste of the water. I've been using it for a week, and I'm very satisfied. Before you invest in a whole new pitcher or a hard wired system, you may want to pay $6, and give this new cartridge a chance.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

Moonchilde — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:33:47 GMT

Mominohio, I just don't want to spend that kind of money. This is a very old building, with the possibility of sale or demolition hanging in the air. I do not expect to be here more than another 2 years tops. And I don't use enough water to justify a whole system. Water for coffee, the cats, cooking, and taking my pills. I'm a party of one.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

Moonchilde — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:35:01 GMT

I have more than one pitcher Peter, so I might do as you suggest for one of them.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

debic — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 21:58:35 GMT

I have one of the Aquasana's they had on here years ago that just a small part hooks to the sink, the base sets next to it. We fill up glass containers and put in the fridge. Works great.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

jackthebear — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 22:09:01 GMT

I have a ZeroWater filter that I use in our water dispenser, I like the way the water tastes, how often you change it depends on how much you drink. I used to order the filters from Amz, now I get them from BBBeyond works out to about the same.

If our dispenser were to breakdown I may try Brita, may be cheaper as they are always on special at Costco

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

jaxs mom — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 00:03:50 GMT

Personally I don't think any of the pitcher systems really do much. I recommend the Berkey water purification system, which is a free standing unit not attached to your faucet.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

Mominohio — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 01:19:32 GMT

On 3/14/2015 jaxs mom said:
Personally I don't think any of the pitcher systems really do much. I recommend the Berkey water purification system, which is a free standing unit not attached to your faucet.

These come highly recommended. We have one, still in the box, never used. Bought it mostly for emergency situations, as the reverse osmosis system works good when the power is up and we can pump water.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

jaxs mom — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 16:46:40 GMT

I've had mine for a few years and love it. I also use the second set of arsenic and fluoride filters.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

Marsha2003 — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 21:35:06 GMT

I bought a ZeroWater when they were sold on QVC because I never liked the taste of Brita water. I didn't like the taste of ZeroWater either. We've switched to using Bobble individual water bottles and I like the taste much better. I bought four large ones and use the lid color to designate which one belongs to which family member. Sometimes, I can find the replacement lids at HomeGoods and then I stock up.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

Bowwowluv — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 23:19:53 GMT

I have the zero water and I love it. Water tastes good, easy to fill. I recommend it.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

4uthebest — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 00:06:59 GMT

On 3/15/2015 bowwowluv said: I have the zero water and I love it. Water tastes good, easy to fill. I recommend it.

I absolutely agree and of the portable non attached units it is the best and WHEN it is set up correctly and working the taste of the water even rivals my 5 stage reverse osmosis unit. It literally can gets the ppm down to zero.

Re: Water Filter Pitchers - ZeroWater, Mavea or Aquasana?

debcakes — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 02:31:40 GMT

I have been looking at the old posts about this question as I am looking for the answers, too. I asked for a new filter pitcher for Christmas as my old Brita is broken. My mom gave me a Zero Water Pitcher. I had heard some negatives about the Zero, so I started doing some research. Posters have already mentioned the main negatives, which are cost and fishy smell.

The nice thing about the Zero Water is that it comes with a tester that measures the amount of Total Dissolved Solids in your water. My tap water measured in at 383 which is high. Most of the water in the US is between 051-300 according to the information included with the Zero Water. My Mavea pitcher tested at 370 which I did not like to see. Since I knew I was overdue to change the filter, I attributed the high reading to that and changed the filter. Now, with the new filter, I get 338 for the Mavea. So, we have a lot of something that the standard filters do not filter out. I have no way to know what that might be or whether or not it is harmful. I like the taste of the Mavea water best. My Brita filter tested at 386, so it was somehow adding solids to the water as that is a higher reading than my plain tap water. I think it is because of the old filter. It was really past due changing, but since I knew I was getting rid of it, I did not change it. That one has been thrown out. The water my husband buys for his coffee tested at 011. That is really good. It is from our grocery store and you fill your bottles there. It is tap water that they treat with reverse osmosis and lights to purify. That's pretty good for 39 cents per gallon.

My Zero Water did test at 000. I'll see how long the filter lasts.

I am particularly interested in filtering out salt that may be there as residue from our water softening system and molybdenum, which is high here. We actually have well water.

I am looking forward to seeing what some of you have discovered. Thanks