The Brita pitcher sitting in the refrigerator door has become a household staple for millions of Americans. It is affordable, it requires no installation, and it makes water that tastes noticeably better than straight tap water.
For a rental apartment or a temporary fix, it serves its purpose reasonably well… but for homeowners looking for a long-term solution, a pitcher filter falls short in ways worth understanding.
In this brief article brought to you by Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we give you a rundown on what pitcher-filters offer and what they can’t. We’ll also highlight some comprehensive and cost-effective ways to purify your home’s water supply.
If you’d rather consult an experienced plumber in Asbury, PA, then contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing to speak with a member of our team. We can schedule an appointment or arrange urgent assistance.
What the Pitcher Filter Does Well
Pitcher filters use activated carbon (typically in the form of granulated or block carbon) to improve the quality of water poured through them. That carbon does a genuinely effective job on several common tap water concerns:
- Chlorine and chloramine taste and odor improve dramatically
- Heavy metals including lead, copper, and mercury reduce significantly
- Microplastics also reduce through pitcher filtration
For a majority of households primarily concerned with taste, odor, and basic filtration, a pitcher filter delivers real value at a low upfront cost.
Where Pitcher Filters Fall Short
For illustration, let’s compare pitcher filters to a whole-house water filtration installation or even a point-of-use system:
- Pitcher filters do not sterilize water. Activated carbon removes many contaminants but does not kill bacteria, viruses, or other biological pathogens.
- Pitcher filters do not remove all minerals. Hard water minerals, like calcium and magnesium, pass straight through activated carbon and into the glass.
- Pitcher filters only treat water at one point. The water coming out of the shower, the water filling the dishwasher, etc. all remain entirely unfiltered.
- Pitcher filters require consistent maintenance. Filter cartridges need replacing every 40 to 120 gallons depending on the model. That’s roughly every month for an average household.
- The cost adds up over time. Replacement cartridges for a quality pitcher filter cost between $40 and $80 annually.
Thinking a whole-house solution might make more sense for the household? Our water filtration installation service sets up the right system from the start. Call or message us today to get in touch!
What a Whole-House Filtration System Delivers
A whole-house water filtration installation treats every drop of water before it reaches any faucet, any appliance, or any pipe in the building.
- That means the drinking water is filtered.
- The shower water is filtered.
- The water filling the dishwasher, the washing machine, the water heater, and even the toilet is filtered.
Moreover, the filtration technology in a whole-house system is more advanced. Reverse osmosis systems take filtration several steps further. They remove dissolved solids, nitrates, fluoride, and a broad range of contaminants that activated carbon does not touch.
A whole-house softening systems can even address the hard water minerals that pitcher filters ignore entirely.
Hire a Trained and Experienced Plumber
With all of that said, the performance of a water filtration installation depends heavily on the quality of the installation. It is always advisable to hire a uniformed plumber from a reputable, licensed, and insured company.
A licensed plumber who understands the home's water chemistry, plumbing configuration, and household demand can more accurately recommend the right combination of filtration, softening, and purification for your particular situation.
Whether you need urgent plumbing repair service or want to consult a plumber about a filtration system, the team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing are always ready and happy to help.
