How often do you change your brita filter

So a few years ago I moved to a new place that happens to be right around the corner from a water treatment plant. Needless to say, my tap water is very chlorinated/fluoridated and tastes very harsh. I never bothered buying a filter because, in the past, I never found that it changed the taste of the water. Cue me buying bottled water for 2 years straight.

Decided to get a filter jug because it's been 10 years and I figure they probably work better now, and there was one on sale so might as well. Read the instructions, set it up, taste the water and it's okay. Not as good as bottled, but better than straight from the tap. Letting it sit in the fridge overnight helped a lot with the chlorine taste as well.

Anyway, the light indicator on the jug stopped working after a week, but I remember the pamphlet saying to replace the filter every 2 to 3 months. Do you REALLY need to replace it that often? To be honest, I've been using the same filter for 4 and a half months now and it tastes fine. If anything, it tastes better than when it was new.

Tldr: how long do you actually have to change a Brita filter? Mine is 4mo and tastes fine. Is the 2 to 3 month suggestion just a marketing ploy? Assuming a full jug (4L) every 1.5 days.

There are different types of mechanism deployed by Brita to keep track and remind user on the time required to change the filter cartridges

Brita pitcher filters may feature two different ways of noting when to change your filter. The filter cartridges should be replaced after 100 Litres, which the average family should use in 4 weeks, according to Brita.

The first method Brita uses is a fairly basic one. You just indicate the month you started using that filter, and then change it yourself after two months.

a) BRITA MEMO

How often do you change your brita filter

The first method is a bit more accurate. The Smart Pitcher series like Aluna, Fjord and Marella uses an electronic change indicator, called Brita memo. When you first press the start button, all four bars will flash, showing that you have full filter life.

Every week, one bar will disappear to show the remaining cartridge life.  After four weeks, all four  bars will disappear. This, and a flashing arrow, indicate that the cartridge should now be changed.  Insert a new cartridge according to the instructions, and reactivate the Memo as described above .

Unfortunately, since both methods operate on time and not on how much water has passed through, neither are entirely accurate. That being said, they do give a good idea of when to change your Brita pitcher filter.

How do I activate BRITA MEMO?

Simply press and hold the start button on the lid until four bars appear on the display and flash twice. Now BRITA MEMO will start the countdown. The flashing dot in the display’s bottom right-hand corner indicates BRITA MEMO is working. The number of bars on the display indicates the remaining lifetime of the cartridge in weeks, with one bar disappearing each week.

You should replace your filter cartridge at least every four weeks. That way you’ll enjoy optimum performance from your BRITA cartridge.

b) Brita Elemaris meter 2

How often do you change your brita filter

The BRITA Elemaris Meter XL jug has an intelligent indicator for optimum BRITA water quality. It measures water hardness, volume and time.

c) Brita Style Jug’s Smart LED 

How often do you change your brita filter

As filtered water consumption is increasing, Brita recommend replacing your MAXTRA+ filter every 4 weeks or 150 litres of water usage. This is based on the average  household size of 2.6 people* and consumption of the recommended intake of 8 glasses per day** (based on an average glass size of 240ml).

As a starting point, Brita had developed the table below to help you calculate the recommended filter exchange frequency for your household. Of course, this timing can vary per household depending on your family size and water drinking rates of each person. At a maximum, we recommend to replace it no longer than 8 weeks to maintain optimum filtration results.

How often do you change your brita filter
How often do you change your brita filter

Don’t worry if you can’t keep track of when to replace your MAXTRA+ filter, BRITA has specifically designed a filter reminder indicator built into the BRITA STYLE water jugs to remind you when it’s time to replace your filter. 

This is developed to help families make better decisions on when to replace their filter in order to maintain optimal levels of filtration.

How do I activate or re-set the BRITA smart light?

Press and hold the LED button on top of the lid until you see the light blinking 3 times in green. The BRITA Smart Light is now set and ready to use. The LED button will start flashing yellow during usage if it is time to stock-up with a new cartridge. As soon as it is flashing red, it is time to replace your cartridge. 

How can I monitor the status of my filter performance?

You can check the status of your filtration performance any time. Simply press the LED button on top of the lid to see the current filter status. 

What do the different colours of the Smart Light system mean?

Green light: MAXTRA+ Universal cartridge filters with optimum performance.  Yellow light: It is nearly time to replace your cartridge, please stock up. Red light: Please exchange your cartridge. (This will be the case after either 4 weeks or 150L of filtered water) 

How long does the filter change indicator last?

Approximately 5 years.

How long does a Brita filter really last?

The Brita Standard Filter (white) should be replaced after every 40 gallons or about every two months. The Brita Longlast Filter (blue) needs to be replaced after every 120 gallons, or approximately every six months.

How often should a Brita water filter be changed?

The Brita Standard Filter (white) should be replaced after every 40 gallons, or about every two months. The Brita Longlast Filter (blue) needs to be replaced after every 120 gallons, or approximately every six months.

What happens if I don't change my Brita filter?

Contaminant Build Up And aside from sediment, a carbon water filter that is used beyond its days can collect a build-up of other materials and contaminants. This build-up of contaminants often looks like 'goop' and can even leak into your supply of drinking water.