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Product Review: PUR Water Filter

2007_09_07-PUR.jpgLucky winner Sally of our PUR water filter giveaway last month has followed up with a review. Her boyfriend, if you remember, insisted on bottled water and Sally wanted to do a blind water swap to wean him off the bottled stuff. Did it work? Read on...

When my PUR water filter arrived, I conspired to trick my boyfriend into drinking a bottle filled with the filtered water rather than his usual brand, and he didn’t bat an eye. We both then did a blind taste test with tap, filtered, and bottled water. He liked both the filtered and bottled water, and I was surprised to find that I preferred the filtered water.

 
 

Besides taste, the PUR filter is easy to use. All it takes is a flip of the switch.

However, there are drawbacks. It takes away a good two inches of height in the sink, making it difficult to deal with a large pile of dishes. Another drawback is that despite the inclusion of multiple adaptors, o-rings, and plenty of tightening, I cannot get it to stop leaking. This means that when a glass is filled, some water will manage to escape down the drain.

I don’t appreciate the wasted water, but I assume it is better for the environment not to use bottled water, and if having the PUR will get my boyfriend to drink from the tap, then a few wasted drops will have to do.

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Thanks for the review, Sally! Anyone have any help for her on the issue with the leaking attachment?

(Image credit: All photos by SassySally)

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Appliances - small, Beverages

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Comments (12)

I want to post that my mom, Lynne Ford, took the main picture of the filter with the glass of water. She's just taking up photography, and I wanted to give her due credit, and thanks for letting me use her fancy camera.

posted by SassySally on September 7th 2007 at 5:43am
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Teflon tape on all the threaded joints should stop the leaking. It's cheap and handy to have around.

posted by One Eyed Daruma on September 7th 2007 at 6:26am
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Mine has never leaked. Odd.

It's a necessity where I live just for taste reasons. My city's water has the distinct flavor of dirt (thanks to all the algae in the source water apparently). Filtering seems to pull that flavor out.

posted by verily on September 7th 2007 at 7:36am
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Ours leaks everywhere too. I just stopped using it and started drinking straight from the faucet. No problems-- Boston water is fine!

posted by aleec on September 7th 2007 at 8:20am
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I always thought that Detroit water was all right, at least better than the El Paso water I grew up with, but I was very surprised when I installed the filter to learn that Detroit water smells. I always sensed the off smell in my dish rags, but assumed it was because they were sitting around too long, but apparently it was the water. While installing the filter, I noticed the smell, and then went to the bathroom to see if the water smelled there too, and it did! The filter did get rid of the smell. I would have mentioned that in the review, but I only had 200 words.

posted by SassySally on September 7th 2007 at 12:28pm
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Mine always leaked no matter what I did, my mom has gone through 2, and I've had one, and they always leak a little for me. Sometimes though if I turn the filter as well as the whole faucet to the right or left a bit then fill, it won't leak. Then I just turn it back when I'm done filling something. I just got a Brita filter, as my current sink can't have a Pur filter, and I prefer it much better.

posted by woodt3 on September 7th 2007 at 3:01pm
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Oh and I didn't read long enough LOL, I agree with One Eyed Daruma (Nice name BTW) that teflon tape did help, but one of them still leaked

posted by woodt3 on September 7th 2007 at 3:02pm
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Got one as a birthday gift a while back. None of the adapters included in the package fit the Ikea faucet we have. Returned the Pur for a refund, broke faucet aerator trying to reassemble, and keep forgetting to get a new one.

Bought a Britta pitcher a few days ago on clearance at CVS for $6.40. This is probably a good time to go fill it up.

posted by BonivaGScott on September 8th 2007 at 10:52am
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Mine worked fine at first but when I had to replace the cartridge, it started leaking (I can usually get it to stop eventually) and some replacement cartridges (though brand new) do not work or only produce a very slow trickle. I've had one replacement cartridge work perfectly for only a two weeks and then the light indicator told me it was time to replace it and the trickle got very week. Basically every time you need to replace the cartridge, you might need 2 or 3 replacements before you find one that will work and last as advertised.

posted by joebelt on September 11th 2007 at 4:47am
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Since the tap water in DC leaves hard water stains it didn't feel safe drinking straight from the faucet. We bought PUR water filter for the kitchen faucet, but none of the adapters or calling the company helped. In the end we got a Brita Slim Pitcher which has worked great.

posted by kbittner on September 3rd 2008 at 9:26am
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I had a similar problem after I moved. Teflon tape kept my filter from leaking in the old apartment, but the leak came from a different part of the filter (where new rubber seals and teflon tape wouldn't help) after I installed it in my new kitchen. I called PUR, and they said it sounded like an interior crack - and that a coupon for a brand new sink unit is in the mail! They'll also help with different adapters if the standard ones don't work on your sink.

posted by newly chicagoan on September 3rd 2008 at 11:19am
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I bought several Pur filters and now bought another Pur faucet filter holder. Lately these keep filling up with water is this normal for it to do this and does not show the charcoal coming out with first few times used when new. I am frustrated as have wasted so much money on these even though bought them on ebay so is cheaper way. I bought a counter top one now hope that is better for me. I used to have no problem with the whole unit but now I do don't get it. I replaced the adaptor and it leaks yeah but not bad.

posted by mary125 on January 24th 2009 at 4:24pm
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