How Often Should I Change My Filter?
Like all water filters, Clearly Filtered water filters must be replaced regularly to maintain peak performance and guarantee the cleanest tap water. Think of your water filter as a battery. Exactly how often you need to replace an old filter with a new filter primarily depends on usage, or gallons filtered. To help you get the most clean water out of every filter (and ensure you never go back to dirty water again), keep reading to discover when to change your Clearly Filtered water filter.
How Long Do Water Filters Last?
All of our filters are carefully constructed and independently tested to guarantee performance and ensure maximum contaminant removal over the course of their lifespan. Every filter’s lifespan is measured by gallons filtered. And that number is unique to each water filtration system.
Not only are our advanced filters stronger and smarter than typical activated carbon filters and reverse osmosis systems, our filters tend to last as long, and in many cases far longer, than these inferior options. Let’s take a look at how long each of our filters last, so you know when you’re due for a filter change.
Pitcher Filter
The most powerful pitcher filter on the planet, our breakthrough water pitcher filter boasts an extended 100-gallon filter life.
Use the simple chart below to quickly estimate when your water filter needs to be changed, measured in months.
How to use the chart:
- Step 1. Determine how many people use the pitcher (Bottom of chart).
- Step 2. Estimate how many glasses of water each person uses per day (Side of chart).
- Step 3. Trace your inputs to determine when you’ll need a filter change (Middle of chart).
This tracker is included in both our digital product guide (linked here) as well as the printed product guide shipped with every pitcher. Both guides also include a fillable schedule to capture your filter installation date and estimated replacement date. The majority of pitcher users post this tracker, along with the fillable schedule, on their fridge, so they never forget to change their filter.
As an alternative, you can calculate the exact number of days between filter changes using the equation below.
Since our breakthrough pitcher filters can filter up to 100 gallons of drinking water, and every pitcher’s reservoir holds approximately one-half gallon of water, you can expect to fill your pitcher 200 times before needing a filter change.
Determine the number of days between filter changes by inputting your average fills per day into the equation below:
200 / # Of Fills Per Day (On Average) = Days Between Filter Changes
Let’s say you fill your pitcher twice a day: 200 / 2 = 100 Days. Therefore, your filter should be changed every 100 days.
Click here to get replacement pitcher filters.
Water Bottle Filter
All of our filtered water bottles, regardless of size and material, use the same advanced filter to produce the cleanest drinking water. Each filter boasts an extended 25-gallon filter life.
The quickest and easiest way to determine when you’ll need a filter change is to estimate timing based on average fills per day:
32oz Bottles (Replace Filter Every 100 Fills)
24oz Bottle (Replace Filter Every 133 Fills)
20oz Bottle (Replace Filter Every 160 Fills)
12oz Bottle (Replace Filter Every 265 Fills)
Click here to get replacement bottle filters.
Inline Fridge Filter
The majority of built-in refrigerator water filters are standard carbon filters that allow hundreds of dangerous heavy metals, chemicals, and pollutants like lead and fluoride to pass right through. Our inline fridge filter filters 46.5x more contaminants than typical refrigerator water filters—including lead and fluoride—to provide the cleanest water straight from any fridge’s water dispenser. Plus, our fridge filter boasts an extended 365-gallon filter life.
Use the simple chart below to quickly estimate when you’ll need a filter change, measured in months.
How to use the chart:
- Step 1. Determine how many people use the filter (Bottom of chart).
- Step 2. Estimate how many glasses of water each person uses per day (Left side of chart).
- Step 3. Trace your inputs to determine when you’ll need a filter change (Middle of chart).
This tracker is included in both our digital product guide (linked here) as well as the printed product guide shipped with your system. Both guides also include a fillable schedule to capture your filter installation date and estimated replacement date. The majority of inline fridge filter users post this tracker, along with the fillable schedule, on their fridge, so they never forget to change their filter.
Click here to get replacement fridge filters.
3-Stage Under-The-Sink Filter
Our breakthrough 3-stage under-the-sink filtration system is made up of three advanced sink water filters (a pre-filter/premium sediment filter cartridge that targets sediment, build up, and other impurities, a heavy metal + VOCs filter cartridge that targets lead, PFAS, and more, and a post-filter cartridge that targets fluoride) that provide the cleanest water from any faucet. Each of these three filter cartridges boasts an extended 2000-gallon filter life. Therefore, all three filter cartridges are changed at the same time to guarantee the best water quality.
Use the simple chart below to quickly estimate when you’ll need to change the filters, measured in months.
How to use the chart:
- Step 1. Determine how many people use the filter (Bottom of chart).
- Step 2. Estimate how many glasses of water each person uses per day (Left side of chart).
- Step 3. Trace your inputs to determine when to change water filters (Middle of chart).
Click here to get replacement sink filters.
Filter Speed Is Not An Indicator Of Filter Life Or Water Quality
Despite what you may have heard, there’s no guarantee your filter will slow down when it’s ready for replacement. In fact, depending on the type of water filter, it may speed up. The bottom line is, you should not rely on filtration speed as an indicator of filter life nor wait for your filter to slow down before replacing it.
Why Filter Status Lights Are Almost Always Inaccurate
Most filter status lights, like the ones on typical, low-cost carbon filters sold by leading brands (and included in many refrigerators), are nothing more than timers. Remember, all water filters are rated for gallons filtered, not time. That’s why time-based status lights are both misleading and inaccurate. And that’s why we intentionally do not include a time-based filter status light on our filtration systems.
Because filter life expectancy is measured by (and rated for) gallons filtered, we encourage you to estimate gallons filtered using the tools above to ensure you change your filter at the proper time.
Special Considerations
If you have hard water or severely contaminated water (i.e. excessive sediment or solids in your water supply), your filter may need to be replaced more frequently as it works even harder to clean your water. Enter your zip code here to review your local water treatment data and see what’s in your water.
Save 10% On Replacement Filters Right Now
If you haven’t already, you can enroll in our free filter subscription service anytime to automatically save 10% on every replacement filter for any of our water filtration systems.
Subscriber Benefits
- Save 10% on every replacement filter.
- No contract or fees.
- Customize your shipping frequency.
- Pause, skip, or cancel anytime.
- Free shipping (U.S.A.).
Give us a call at +1 (877) 876-2740 to get enrolled and get your discount, or click here for more information. Don’t be afraid to stock up now or order early. There’s no need to worry about shelf life: Replacement filters kept in a cool, dry place will not expire.