Do Water Filter Pitchers Have To Be Refrigerated?

Water filter pitcher is one of the most preferred water purifiers all across America. Especially students and middle incomer office workers are the most targeted purchaser of this gadget. Because of its low prices and minimum maintenance cost, people are feeling like including a water filter pitcher among their household accessories.

Mineral and chemical substances like chlorine, zinc, iron, hydrogen sulfide, and other contaminants are currently available in 80% tap water of all over the world. In Europe and America, purified water is more expensive than milk and bear, in some areas the situation is worse than this.

Sometimes you may get a glass of germless water that smells like sewage. That is one of the top reasons why filter pitchers are the second-most favored class among other water purifiers. On the contrary, a typical water filter pitcher costs only $40, and a filter pump which you have to change after a couple of months’ costs only $6-$15.

So, what are you waiting for? Get one and try odorless purified water, but one thing keeps in mind is that you do not need to keep it in the refrigerator for proper functioning. It is a common myth among consumers that the refrigeration process improves the pitcher’s function.

Key Takeaways

• Water filter pitchers remove contaminants through gravity and gravity does not need cold temperature. You just need to fill them at the tap.
• You just need to be careful about exposing the filter pitcher direct sunlight. Sunlight helps grow microbes in still water.
• You can keep a water filter pitcher in the refrigerator for long-term use. This whole procedure will increase your purified water’s viability.
• The main objective of a water filter pitcher is to eject contamination and smell from tap water or nothing else.

How does a water filter pitcher function?

Let’s have a detailed look at the filter pitcher’s function. As a filter pitcher uses gravity force thereby you have to fill it from your faucet and wait until the water flows through the cartridge.

Water filter pitcher functions following some systematic steps:

1. First of all, you have to fill the top chamber of the filter and put the lid on it.
2. The cumulated water will pass through the filter cartridge and then into the lower chamber.
3. Depending on your water quality, pitcher’s volume and longevity, this whole process will consume 20-25 minutes at every shift.
4. The purifier inside the cartridge will remove contaminants through water tension and at the bottom, the water which flows is filtered.
5. Updated water filter pitchers are cross-contamination proof, therefore when you pour water from a pitcher it will only spout from the bottom chamber.

See Also: Is Carbon Dust From Water Filters Harmful?

Does the refrigeration process improve water quality?

Inside the Brita water filter leaflet, there is a clear instruction to put the pitcher inside a refrigerator. They request their customers to do so because of getting clear and crisp spring-like water. However, the water tastes like only normal water.

But the truth is, if the water-filled filter remains in place for a long time, the clear water turns into a cloudy form because of the dominance of antibacterial microorganisms which have been spreading inside the filter. Though these organisms are mostly harmless algae they have an unpleasant smell and cloudy presence inside the pitcher. In that case, you have to replace your filter cartridge immediately. No way!

That is the top reason behind keeping the pitcher in the refrigerator otherwise there is nothing beneficial you will get from this process. Similarly, bottled water also needs this procedure to remain fresh.

Is it necessary or unnecessary? – a debate continues

Although a large number of people argue on this topic there is no solid evidence in favor of the point that water filter pitchers need refrigeration. However, there is trouble, any type of water-filled jar can turn into a microorganism-filled colony when it is exposed to direct sunlight or left at 30-35 degrees Celsius room temperature. Though bacterial invasion is invisible and most of them are harmless, there is no guarantee that one can pose a direct health risk.

Therefore, leaving left-out filtered water at room temperature is not a suitable idea. You are strongly discouraged about this. By the way, you can leave your water filter pitcher at room temperature during winter, it is okay. But in summer it is better to keep it in the refrigerator.

Except for some manufacturers, most of them highly recommend refrigeration though they cannot guarantee on safety and health of consumers. 

See Also: What Is The Black Stuff In My Water Filter?

How much time does it need to be refrigerated?

Brita Smart Pitcher OB39/42632 manual suggests that water filter pitchers require a cool environment. And when it is left for a long time, it should keep in the refrigerator to get excellent spring water. There is no fixed timing. You can use it at your convenience.

Consumer Lab testing report on water filter pitchers

According to consumer lab testing reports, all water filter pitchers are not equally capable of purifying water. Only two water filter pitchers can remove microplastic substances and some add a large number of carbon particles.

Each performs a praiseworthy job of removing chlorine, arsenic, and other contaminants from water. Some filters need to be changed after purifying 220-gallon water while others can filter up to 330 gallons.

At the same time, they remove fluoride from water which is added to water for teeth protection.

Top rated water filter pitchers

One of the renowned American consumer labs has evaluated the water filter pitcher’s efficiencies. They have tested how effectively filter pitchers remove impurities and smell from water. Do you know what they have found? They have found only two brands are capable of doing what they promise.

They have also created a combined rating for impurity and smell ejection. PUR brand has earned excellent ratings and Aquasana, Brita, and ZeroWater have earned very good ratings.

See Also: Dishwasher Air Gap And Water Filter Faucet Combo

Disadvantages of a water filter pitcher

One of the difficulties of using a water filter pitcher is its complete dependence on gravity while other filters use water pressure to force water flow from top to bottom. On the other hand, filter pitchers have less density than other plumbed-in filters which means that their efficiency relatively changes according to water’s contamination. As well as they take much more time to purify water and need refrigeration for a longer time reservation.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Most American tap water has a 15% presence of cadmium, iron, fluoride, and mercury. Similarly, a high amount of chlorine is also dissolved in tap water for purification, which compels consumers to take other supplementary purifiers. That is the main reason water purifiers growing in popularity nowadays. On account of this, water purifier pitcher becomes must having kitchen essential.

If you get one, try to operate it according to the user manual, and also you can refrigerate it if necessary.