Water Filters

[Tompson]

Hi, does anyone know if water filters become unsafe to use afte a certain amount of time (even if they have not used all their filter capacity)?

I was always under the impression when they say change every 4 weeks or 8 weeks it was only because they estimate you'll use X Litres of water a day so after that time the filters capacity will be used up.

But some only list a capacity not a time like that stand water cooler at aldi it says each filter can filter 450L. So if you only used say 1L of water a day would it be safe to still be using that filter after a year since it will still have plenty of filter capacity left or should you still change it every so often regardless of how much filter capacity it has left?

[Hailstorm]

Hiya Thompson welcome to IP, I have NO idea about water filters but I'm sure some of our members do! Why don't you pop on over to our Introductions forum (http://www.intuitiveparenting.com.au/forumdisplay.php?13-Introductions) and introduce yourself so we can give you a proper welcome :)

[Rinelle]

No, water filters are based on a capacity they can flow (and to be honest, this differs depending on what's in your water and how much is being filtered out, as it's the filter clogging up that is the problem). We have whole house filters, and we change them when we start to lose water pressure because they've become clogged up.

[Tompson]

Okay so you could just use the same filter for years if you were not putting that much water through it?

What about bacertia could it build up in the filter? Even though tap water shouldn't have any living bacteria in it what the water is stored in with the filter isn't sterile. I'm guessing it only would only build up if you let the same water sit in it for a while and don't keep it continually flowing through?

Would would there still be a general time you should change filters in jugs etc incase of bacterial buildup even if being continually used or is it perfectly safe to just keep using the same filter untill its obviously gone over its capacity as you can start to taste the difference?

Basically we're looking at that Aldi water cooler to save money. Can't stand the taste of the tap water in the house so we get a 15L bottle filled up about every 2 weeks. That water cooler at Aldi comes with 2 filters that can filter 450L each so going by 15L every 2 weeks one of the filters should last us a year or longer depending on the water.

The problem is Aldi said they do not sell the replacement filters for them and I can not find any on the internet anywhere (i've found that problem with alot of the lumina stuff Aldi sell that have consumables, you can get them for a few months then you can't get them anywhere anymore) so it could be a matter of paying $129 for the cooler and 2 filters and never being able to use it after they are finished.

If we can safely use the 1 filter for a year (so have the filtered water from it last 2 years with both filters) then that wont be a problem as it will still be alot cheaper then the cost of buying the 15L of water every 2 weeks for 2 years.

I just dont want to get it then even though by volume the filter should last us a year or so end up having to change the filter after say 2 months because of either possible bacterial build up or the materials used to filter break down or something and start polluting the water etc so then having shelled out $129 for just 3 or 4 months worth of water.

[Rinelle]

I can't see a year being a big problem. If you're filtering town water, you shouldn't have any bacteria, as that is what the cholorine (that makes the water taste bad) is there to prevent.

Chances are the filters are a standard size, and can easily be replaced from somewhere else if you take the old one in. I'd check though, because for $129 you can get a small britta jug, or probably one of those ceramic water filters from somewhere else.

[Tompson]

Well want this one since its a dispencer and cooler :P as well as the long life of the filters (can't say i've seen another one that lasts anywhere near 450L)

We've had some brita jugs and other ones before but while not being overly expensive it still cost more spending $10 - $15 a month on a filter then buying the water. If it was like the other lumina filter jug Aldi had where the fitlers were 10 for $20 then it would of been a different story but being a dispencer and cooler as well is going to be a nice bonus ontop of the cheap cost of the water.