289702 Sun Jun 30 22:24:02 -0700 2002 5 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1569569 I'm thinking about purchasing one of these faucet-mounted water filters. Right now, we average about $15/month for water delivery. Local water tastes crappy, so it's bottled or filtered. Which one? I'd like to know your experiences with the PUR system. How much do you REALLY spend on replacement filters and how often? Does that big filter head get in the way while you're doing dishes, etc.? Does it actually make your water taste better? I also read that you have to run water through the filter for a while to "activate" it. That seems kinda wasteful. . . Your thoughts, please? Thanks! Sun Jun 30 22:24:02 -0700 2002 0 LisaPizza 1 1569573 I don't know about the Pur kitchen filters but they originally made filters for wilderness expedition use, and those were some of the best on the market. They could make dirty, muddy water taste great, so I bet their kitchen ones are pretty good. As a company they really do try to make quality stuff. I did some field testing for outdoor gear over the years and they really listened to feedback and made changes upon that feedback. Sun Jun 30 22:35:18 -0700 2002 1569569 0 the rogue 1 1569574 My girlfriend just got the PUR Ultimate faucet-mount. It does a very good job of getting rid of chlorine which is the main problem she has with her water. You only run the water for about five seconds before each use, so there isn't much waste. The filters typically last two to three months depending on how much water you use. Sun Jun 30 22:45:18 -0700 2002 1569569 0 Andy T 1 1569575 I'm not familiar with PUR water filters, but I have a couple of Multipure water filters (sits over the counter)that I like. Their main point is in using a solid block of carbon instead of the common method of using loose pieces for filtering.The filter replacement is once a year, for about $40 dollars. For someone who drinks a lot of tea(and coffee), this really makes a world of difference in taste. When I go to other people's house where those pitcher filters are used, I can really smell the chlorine even after it's been filtered. Also, it's always nicer to get fresh water off the tap WHEN you need it, instead of getting a pitcher of it, and let it sit around. Same goes for bottled water. They get stale, and the plastic seem to get smelly, too. Sun Jun 30 23:09:34 -0700 2002 1569569 0 HLing 1 1569578 My mother has a PUR water filter on her kitchen sink. San Diego water is pretty awful; the water filter seems to help. It makes decidedly bad tasting water taste only marginally bad. It is not the ultimate solution, however, to the bad tasting water in SoCal. How long each filter lasts will depend upon how much you use it. The more frequently you activate the filter, the more quickly it is used up. My mom uses hers for drinking water and cooking and each filter lasts about 2-3 months. Filtering hot water through it will use up the filter faster. Costco offers a 4-pak of filter replacements for $40. I've seen single pack filters replacements as high as $19.99. They *are* cumbersome and do get in the way, but you get used to it rather quickly and find ways to work around it. This is my biggest complaint with the product. But other than that, it works well, is economical and makes yucky water taste better. Mon Jul 01 00:26:49 -0700 2002 1569569 0 Gayla 2 1569738 Thanks, everyone. Some things to think about. I do use bottled water for cooking, drinking, tea, coffee, etc., so we go through a lot, but it sounds like 2-3 months is standard for most people. I did see the four-pack at Costco; that's what prompted me to do some research. I guess the bottom line is that, if I DON'T like it, I didn't spend a fortune on it in the first place. Which is why I don't want an under-sink complicated kind of model. Will give this some more thought! Wed Jul 03 21:07:07 -0700 2002 1569578 0 LisaPizza