BRITA Water Filter FAQS
1. I already have a plumbed in water filter that is not made by BRITA - can I use BRITA cartridges in it?
BRITA offers a range of 3 water filter cartridges - Inline, P1000 & A1000. The Inline and P1000 filter cartridges will only fit BRITA dispenser systems, however, the A1000 is available to connect to your existing tap.
2. Who tests the BRITA water filter cartridges?
All BRITA products are regularly tested in our own laboratories and by external institutes:
Strict internal quality controls of the raw materials and the finished products as well as the production process are performed continuously and conscientiously to meet the high demands in the BRITA organisation.
3. Where can I buy replacement dispenser water filter cartridges?
You can buy your replacement water filter cartridges directly from BRITA by
clicking here or by telephoning 0845 0770 035
4. How do I exchange my dispenser water filter cartridge?
All of our filter cartridges are quick and easy to exchange. Please
click here to watch our installation videos or alternatively, please refer to your installation book.
5. Why is my filtered water grey/blue in appearance?
The particles that you are seeing in your filtered water are carbon dust, which are part of the cartridge contents. Before arriving at your home, the cartridge may be passed through numerous chains of delivery and sometimes during this process the contents of your cartridge may become dislodged. When preparing your cartridge you may see a fine dust, which during the first few litres of filtered water can discolour your water a blue/grey. These are fragments of carbon, which may have rubbed off during the transit process. To eradicate any carbon dust which may be present, preparation of your cartridge is crucial. Please prepare as per your cartridge instructions.
Please be assured that the contents of the cartridge are food grade and completely harmless to yourself and if accidentally consumed will be harmless to health. Their presence will not affect the performance of the cartridge. If there are still dust particles or particles after this initial preparation, then we would suggest that the cartridge is re-prepared by flushing through a further two litres of water through the cartridge.
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6. How long will my filter cartridge last?
Water quality varies considerably from place to place and even from day to day in the same place. This in turn has an effect on the life of a cartridge. To make sure you always have great tasting water, you need to change the BRITA cartridge on a regular basis.
All BRITA dispensers are equipped with an electronic exchange indicator to indicate when the cartridge should be changed. Our cartridges have the following lifetime:
Inline filter cartridge -
It is recommended that the cartridge is exchanged every 3 months, which for an average family equates to approximately 500 litres, depending on local water quality.
P1000 filter cartridge -
It is recommended that the cartridge is exchanged every 3-6 months, depending on your local water quality. Soft water: 1000 litres/6 months, Hard water: 500 litres/3 months.
A1000 filter cartridge -
It is recommended the cartridge is exchanged every 6 months.
7. What happens if I go on holiday and my filter cartridge hasn't expired? Can I still use it when I get back?
Should your BRITA system not be in use for a prolonged period, for example whilst away on holiday, you can use your current cartridge on your return.
On your return simply flush at least 5 litres of water through the water filter cartridge to remove any water which may have sat in the cartridge whilst not being used.
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8. What does a BRITA filter reduce from the water?
The majority* of BRITA cartridges improve the taste and appearance of tap water by reducing:
- Limescale (temporary hardness)
- Chlorine
- Lead
- Copper
- Pesticides
*A1000 cartridge only removes Chlorine.
9. Are BRITA filters recyclable?
All components of BRITA water filter cartridges are recyclable.
Cartridges returned to BRITA will be recycled in our own recycling plant in Germany,
where the component parts are separated and processed for secondary use. Please
visit www.brita.co.uk/recycle to find you're nearest recycling point.
10. Do BRITA cartridges remove fluoride?
The BRITA cartridge is not designed to remove fluoride. Some fluoride is naturally present in tap water, whilst some water companies add fluoride to the water. If you are concerned about the presence of fluoride in your tap water, you should check with your water supplier.
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11. Why do I need a BRITA water filter?
Tap water, whilst safe, may contain substances, which affect its taste and odour. BRITA water filter products use replaceable cartridges that reduce these substances, thereby improving the taste and appearance of tap water for drinking and food preparation. Over 40 years of research and development have resulted in the range of BRITA water filter dispenser and their unique BRITA cartridges, designed to filter better for longer.
BRITA filtered water will provide you and your family with clean, clear and fresh tasting drinking water:
- Makes great tasting cold drinks, tea and coffee
- May improve the colour and texture of food cooked with water
- Protects your domestic appliances against limescale build up
- Costs much less in comparison to alternatives
- Is a favourite with family pets, who can be sensitive to chlorine in tap water
- Helps cut flowers to last longer and household plants thrive
Impurities that affect your tap water's taste, odour and colour include:
- Chlorine: Many water suppliers use chlorine as a safe disinfectant. It has an unpleasant taste and odour.
- Sediment: This is inorganic matter or natural vegetation. Sediment can cause build up in household pipes and unpleasant tastes and odours.
- Water hardness: Hard water contains dissolved minerals such as magnesium and calcium. These 2 elements in time cause limescale build up in kettles and hot water appliances. It also creates unpleasant taste and the unsightly scum on tea and coffee.
12. How does a BRITA water filter cartridge work?
The majority of BRITA cartridges contain a combination of ion exchange resin and activated carbon. The carbon absorbs chlorine, pesticides and organic pollutants, improves taste and eliminates odours and discolouration. It also contains an inhibitor that prevents bacterial growth. The ion exchange resin reduces temporary hardness, which causes limescale. It also significantly reduces levels of metals such as copper and lead.
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13. What is the difference between a water softener and a water filter?
Water softeners are usually plumbed into the mains water system and are used to remove temporary hardness from the water to prevent limescale build up in plumbed in household appliances, central heating systems, showerheads, etc.
Some water softeners use a form of ion exchange resin but this is regenerated using common salt (sodium chloride), which is added to the softener regularly. In this way the calcium ions in the temporary hardness are replaced with sodium ions, thereby increasing the sodium content of the water. Due to the increased sodium it is not recommended that sodium softened water is used for drinking, cooking or food preparation. A separate tap with untreated water should be provided.
BRITA water filters reduce the amount of temporary hardness in the water but do not remove the permanent hardness. This is called decarbonisation rather than water softening. BRITA filters do not add sodium to the water.
14. If I have a water softener on my water supply, can I still use a BRITA water filter dispenser?
Sodium regenerated water softeners can add sodium to the water and for this reason it is not recommended that
sodium softened water is used for drinking, cooking or food preparation. A separate tap with untreated water
should be provided. It is possible for this untreated water supply to be from a BRITA water filter dispenser.
Filtering the untreated supply will reduce the level of temporary hardness in the water and reduce other impurities,
which can affect the taste and appearance of tap water.
15. How do I install my BRITA dispenser?
All BRITA dispensers can be installed by yourself or by our partner Streamline.
Please click here to watch your product installation video or alternatively, call Streamline on 0845 0770 035.
16. Who is Streamline?
Streamline is a carefully selected company that carry out installation of BRITA water filter dispensers on BRITA's behalf. Their friendly team of engineers is comprehensively trained by BRITA, Pegler & Paini to ensure you receive the best possible standard of installation and level of customer service. Streamline offer a nationwide installation service and an emergency call out service in the unlikely even that you should encounter any problems with your BRITA filter dispenser once installed.
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For further information about BRITA filtration, please visit www.brita.co.uk
