If you’ve got a Zero Water pitcher, you already know the filtration is impressive. But even the best filters slow down over time, and knowing how to clean a Zero Water filter can save you from buying replacements sooner than you need to.
Filtered pitchers are one of the most affordable and convenient ways to get clean drinking water at home. Zero Water takes it a step further with their 5-stage process. Before you pick any water filter, though, think about whether you need something for a single tap or a whole house water filtration system.
Here’s the full guide on cleaning and maintaining your Zero Water filter.
What Are Total Dissolved Solids?
Total Dissolved Solids, commonly known as TDS, are non-organic impurities found in water that contribute to its polluted taste. Dissolved solids enter our water supply through old piping, road salt runoff, pesticides, fertilizers, and more. A good sediment water filter can help remove some of these particles.
How To Measure Purity
The purity is measured by doing a TDS test. TDS is an abbreviation of Total Dissolved Solids.
TDS means all the solid substances which are present in the water in a dissolved form.
TDS is measured in parts per million, or ppm.
A TDS score shows the purity of the water. Many people around the world use a simple pitcher with a carbon filter.
But a normal carbon block water filter only reduced the water’s TDS up to 90 which means that there are still a lot of harmful particles that are present in your water which can prove to be life-threatening for you.
Types of Drinking Water
Now that we’ve discussed TDS scores, let’s talk about water itself. There are different types of drinking water available, and people around the globe prefer different types.
The preference depends on the TDS score of the tap water.
Tap Water
In many developed countries, the quality of tap water is fairly good thanks to government-installed filtration plants. The tap water in places like Europe is partially filtered, which doesn’t be sure to the absolute purity of water.
However, the water does have some harmful particles and chemicals. People in many regions use carbon filters to make sure the purification of water as an additional layer of protection.
Water in Bottles and Cans
Water supplied by companies through bottles and cans is a popular alternative, but it still can’t guarantee complete purity. Sometimes the quality of bottled water is actually worse than tap water.
The reason is that plastic particles from the bottle or can sometimes leach into the water.
Filtered Water
Throughout the world, filtered water has become the preference over bottled and boiled water. Bottled water may have plastic particles that are harmful to the body.
Boiled water can eliminate necessary minerals that are actually healthy.
Filtered water strikes a balance by removing harmful contaminants while preserving beneficial minerals, depending on the type of filter used.
Boiled Water
On the Asian continent, the quality of drinkable water is very poor. People look for different alternatives to obtain drinkable water.
Most of the low-income households boil tap water to purify it.
One of the biggest drawbacks of boiled water is that it eliminates substances that are beneficial for the human body. Sometimes, by boiling the water, some of the minerals form a layer at the bottom of the water.
Consumption of such minerals can affect your health.
Types of Filters
After purchasing the best choice available in the market, the last thing which you need to do regularly is cleaning the water filter. Now let’s move to a detailed guide on how to clean a water filter.
But before moving on how to clean a water filter, let’s discuss the types of water filters. There are multiple types of water filters on the market.
Carbon Filters
Carbon filters generally remove large particles like sediment and silt from water. They attract and absorb these particles for purification.
These filters make water cleaner and improve taste by reducing the presence of chlorine and other particles.
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis filters are highly efficient because they remove virtually all particles that endanger your health. These filters make sure the water is clean and odor-free. If you prefer a smaller setup, consider a countertop reverse osmosis water filter.
Alkaline
Alkaline filters, also called water ionizers, are extremely efficient at purifying water. They use a process called electrolysis, which separates water into two streams when it hits electric plates.
This makes the water less acidic, which is considered more beneficial for the body.
UV Filters
UV filters, or ultraviolet filters, eliminate life-threatening bacteria by using ultraviolet radiation. They’re highly effective against biological contaminants.
Infrared Filters
The main purpose of infrared filters is to soften water. These filters use heat and electric charges to reduce water hardness. You might also want to learn about water softener vs filter differences.
PUR
PUR is one of the leading brands in the world offering water filtration products. Their filtered pitchers are among the best on the market.
It’s easy to use and the products of PUR are rated between 3.5 out of 5. PUR products are one of the most highly recommended products available.
PUR makes sure purification of drinking water and a crisp taste. PUR admits that their products can remove more than 95% of mercury, 96% of chlorine, 83% of zinc, 98% of cysts, 91% of atrazine, 92% of cadmium, and some other substances which are present in your water and can prove to be life-threatening.
PUR uses a filter based on MAXION technology, which uses coconut shells and carbon to purify water. If you’re having issues with your PUR filter, see our guide on how to change a PUR filter. PUR claims their filter can last up to two months or 35 gallons of water.
PUR products also have a LED indicator that notifies you regarding the filter’s life. The LED indicator has three types of notification.
If the indicator is green, it means that the filter is working fine and no changes are required. If the indicator is yellow, then it means that the filter needs to be changed.
If the indicator turns red, then it means that the filter isn’t working.
PUR’s 11-cup pitcher is one of their best-selling products. It’s compact and easy to use, and its compact size makes it easier to store purified water in refrigerators.
PUR’s products are overall good products, but their only drawback is that the filter purifies water at a relatively slow speed.
Brita
Brita is one of the best-known brands in the water filter industry. They offer a vast variety of products including filtered pitchers, filtered water bottles, and full filter systems.
Brita claims that their products remove almost 97.6% of the contaminants in the water which can prove to be harmful to the human body. Brita makes sure its products remove chemicals, dirt, and heavy metals and eliminates bad smells and bad taste which are present in unpurified water.
Brita uses carbon filters which are improved through ion exchange resin which helps with the removal of water-hardening materials which can prove to be life-threatening. One of the biggest advantages of purchasing Brita products is that they filter water at a very high speed.
Effectiveness of Brita Filters
Brita is highly effective at purifying water, backed by NSF certification. The NSF certification confirms that Brita filters can remove chemicals, matter, and metals including lead and mercury.
Features
Brita products are designed for easy pouring. Their filters eliminate chlorine taste and odor, as well as impurities like copper, mercury, and cadmium.
A LED indicator is present on the water filter. The LED indicator has three types of notification.
If the indicator is green, it means that the filter is working fine and no changes are required. If the indicator is yellow, then it means that the filter needs to be changed.
If the indicator turns red, then it means that the filter isn’t working. A Brita filter lasts for 2 months or 40 gallons.
Brita keeps its users that their products eliminate all harmful contaminants, but the Brita filter only reduces a small proportion of fluoride. The reason behind this is that Brita believes that fluoride is essential for the human body and fluoride makes teeth strong and prevents any dental problems.
But on the other hand, doctors believe that high fluoride levels in water can result in multiple diseases including debilitating bone disease, kidney issues, cognitive impairment, hyperthyroidism, osteoporosis, cancer, and even depression. If fluoride is a concern, check out our guide on the best fluoride water filter options.
Cons
One of the biggest problems of the Brita filters is that these filters are unable to completely remove fluoride from tap water. Many users don’t consider it as one of the cons of the product but most people prefer such filtered pitchers which can remove fluoride too. You can learn more in our article on does Zero Water filter remove fluoride.
Another con of the filters is their lifespan. Brita claims their filters last either for 2 months or about 40 gallons.
Considering this, the replacement of the filters looks to be very expensive, which can make users look for cheaper alternatives.
One of the biggest flaws of the Brita filtered pitchers is the design. The flawed design increases the chance of spilling of water.
However, the body of the pitcher seems to be quite good but its weight makes the pitcher imbalanced making it spill water.
Is Brita Healthy?
Now the million-dollar question, are the filtered pitchers of Brita healthy? The answer is yes, Brita filtered pitchers are certified by NSF which claims that the Brita filtered pitchers are healthy.
Zero Water
Zero Water is a company which was established in 1990 and their products in the market are water bottles, water coolers, and water pitchers which are used to dispense and clean hard particles which are present in water and can prove to be life-threatening. When Zero Water first launched their products, they were only entertaining commercial clients, but now Zero Water has expanded their clientele to individuals.
Zero Water claims to eradicate 99.6% of all solid contaminants from normal water. Understanding what filtered water is can help you appreciate this achievement.
Zero Water offers multiple filtered jugs ranging from 6 cups to 40 cups. The 10-cup filtration jug is their best seller.
Features
Zero Water products rise above the rest from the competition in several ways:
- This filtration jug makes sure that you’ve pure and clean water in your fridge
- The included, free water quality meter lets you test your water so you never have to wonder about its quality
- It’s different from all the water filters which are available in the market
- Uses a 5-stage filtration process to provide you with clean, healthy, purified, and tasteful water
- Filters water through ion exchange technology instead of using carbon filters to purify tap water
- Zero Water filters are certified by NSF which claims that Zero Water filters can almost eliminate all heavy metals making tap water pure by 99.6%
- It removes more impurities from your water with Zero Water’s unique 5-stage filter system
- With a variety of options, you can have cleaner water anywhere, from pitchers, bottle filtration systems, or portable on-the-go cup filters
- The only pour-through filters NSF Certified to remove chromium and lead
- Their pitchers, tumblers, and dispensers remove virtually all solids for the purest tasting water
- It’s a multi-stage water filter which is more full than conventional 2-stage filters
Speed of the Filtration Process
The speed of Zero Water’s filtration process is comparatively slow when compared to traditional filtering pitchers. The reason is that Zero Water uses a 5-stage process while traditional pitchers work on a 2-stage process.
The extra stages provide significantly better filtration but require more time for the water to pass through all five layers.
Does Zero Water Reduce the pH of Water?
Once the filter reaches its end of life, you may experience an acidic taste in the water. Once the digital meter indicates the filter is expired, stop using it immediately and replace it with a new one.
Zero Water filters have an end-of-life indicator that standard filters don’t have. Continuing to use an expired filter will further damage the ion beads and may reduce the pH level.
The reduction in pH isn’t life-threatening, but under extreme filter exhaustion, the pH levels may drop to a point where you notice a taste difference. This typically occurs at a meter reading below 1 or 2.
How to Clean the Zero Water Filter
Here is the step-by-step process for cleaning your Zero Water filter:
Test the Filtration Speed
Add water into the filtered pitcher and record how long the filter takes to purify water. Zero Water filtration is naturally slow, but a dirty filter can take hours to process the same amount.
Check for Air Clogs
Check whether the water filter is clogged with air, which can slow down the filtration process significantly.
Unscrew and Reattach
Unscrew the filter and reattach it where it was. This can release trapped air pockets. If the problem is resolved after this step, you're done.
Poke Small Holes
If the problem persists, poke multiple small holes on the front of the filter using a needle or a pair of tweezers. These holes must be poked with extreme care.
Do Not Poke Too Deep
Make sure you don't poke the holes too deep. Poking too deep can destroy the filter or puncture the internal layers. If you puncture the screen, the filter will stop filtering water effectively.
Test with Tap Water
After poking holes, run tap water through the filter to check whether the obstruction has been cleared and the filtration speed has improved.
Measure TDS Levels
If the problem persists, measure the TDS level of the unfiltered water. Tap water can contain from 25 to 500 mg per liter of water.
Check Filter Performance
Zero Water filters are supposed to bring the TDS level down to zero. The higher the TDS concentration before filtering, the harder the filter is working.
Determine if Replacement Is Needed
If the TDS levels aren't being reduced to zero or near zero, it means the filter has reached the end of its useful life and is no longer fit for use.
Replace the Filter
At this point, replacing the filter is easier and more effective than continuing to try to clean it. Install a new Zero Water filter following the manufacturer's instructions.
Process of Zero Water Filtration
Understanding how the 5-stage process works helps you maintain your filter better:
- Stage 1: Water passes through a coarse filter screen that removes small particles and sediment. A spin down water filter works on a similar principle 2. Stage 2: Water passes through a foam distributor that evenly distributes water for more efficient use of the filter medium. This boosts the ability of the water filter to remove contaminants 3. Stage 3: The multi-layer activated carbon and oxidation reduction alloy comes into the process.
This multi-layer filters out different types of harmful organic substances, chlorine traces, and heavy metals while preventing the potential forming of mold 4. Stage 4: The water is passed through the dual detailed ion exchange resin. This negative and positive ion exchange resin strips foreign ions from the water molecules and returns them to a pure state 5. Stage 5: Layers of ultra-fine screening and non-woven membranes eradicate all remaining ultra-fine particles to create the purest water experience
Frequently Asked Questions
Replace it when your TDS meter reads above 006. How long that takes varies a lot depending on your local water quality. If you're in an area with high TDS, you'll burn through filters faster. The digital meter that comes with Zero Water pitchers takes the guesswork out of it.
That acidic taste means your filter's exhausted. The ion exchange beads are spent and can no longer balance the water properly. Stop using it right away and swap in a fresh filter to get the taste back to normal.
In terms of raw filtration power, Zero Water wins. Its 5-stage process beats Brita's 2-stage setup and is NSF certified to remove 99.6% of solid contaminants, including chromium and lead. The trade-off? Zero Water filters much slower, and you'll need to replace filters more often.
Sort of. You can unclog one to restore flow speed by removing air pockets or carefully poking tiny holes in the front. But Zero Water filters aren't meant to be reused forever. Once the TDS meter shows it's exhausted, no amount of cleaning will bring it back. Time for a new one.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to pitcher filters, Zero Water genuinely stands apart. That 5-stage filtration process and 99.6% contaminant removal aren't just marketing talk. The built-in TDS meter is a nice touch too, taking the guesswork out of knowing when your filter needs attention.
The downside? These filters don't last as long as some competitors, and the slower filtration speed can test your patience. But if water purity is your top priority, it's hard to beat what Zero Water delivers.
Knowing how to clean your Zero Water filter helps stretch its life a bit further. Keep that TDS meter handy and don't ignore the signs when it's time for a replacement.
Zero Water filters use a 5-stage filtration process to remove 99.6% of contaminants. Clean your filter by removing air clogs and testing TDS levels regularly. When the TDS meter reads above 006 or the filter slows dramatically, it's time for a replacement.
