How long do ZeroWater filters last? ZeroWater is on the leading edge of home filtering technology. Pioneering a 5-stage filtering process, they’re the poster child for convenient, safe, and tasty drinking water – growing ever more popular among households of all sizes.
They’re built for stability and longevity – but at some point, the harshness of your tap water will get the best of them. They’ll eventually need to be replaced. So how long are ZeroWater filters supposed to last?
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What Makes ZeroWater a Cut Above The Rest?
A typical water filter in the market usually features a two-stage water filter system. The first stage will be a metallic sedimentary filter that removes debris, and the second stage will consist of activated carbon that will remove excess chlorine, fluoride, and chemical contaminants.
ZeroWater Filters utilize a patented five-stage filter. A Coarse Filter Screen removes suspended solids like dust and rust, followed by a Foam Distributor that takes out the solids that managed to escape the first stage.
Multi-Layered Activated Carbon and an Oxidation Reduction Alloy is the third stage of this filtering process, and they remove organic contaminants like pesticides, herbicides, mercury, chlorine, and chloramine.
A Dual Comprehensive Ion Exchange Resin applies ion exchange technology to remove radiological contaminants and inorganic compounds. It will also remove aluminum, lead, zinc, nitrate, and other dissolved solids from the piping.
An Ultra-Fine Screen lined with Non-Woven Membrane Layers is the fifth and final stage. These layers remove the remainder of suspended solids while also keeping the ion resin bed in place.
ZeroWater filters also come with a free TDS Meter. TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids, and these solids come from the ground. They’re the inorganic impurities that affect the taste and quality of water.
To test for these dissolved solids, you place the TDS Meter in the water, and a reading of the dissolved solids is given in ppm (parts per million). ZeroWater has an instructional video on how to use their TDS Meter.
The combination of ZeroWater’s 5-stage filter and easy-to-use TDS Meter assures you of the improved quality of your water. Because it simplifies the water purification process, it gives you full control of the water you drink.
How Does TDS Affect My ZeroWater’s Lifespan?
ZeroWater’s peak performance is filtering about 25 to 40 gallons of water and removing about 18,000 milligrams of dissolved solids – assuming that the amount of TDS is within a moderate range.
Your ZeroWater filter is expected to last about six months, but this lifespan may vary. That is because the performance of a ZeroWater filter is dependent on the quality of your water.
If your tap water has a high amount of TDS, your water filter will likely wear out before six months.
A higher number of total dissolved solids means a shorter life for your ZeroWater filter.
Test your unfiltered tap water with your TDS Meter to know its quality. ZeroWater’s five-stage filter will be able to handle moderate to extreme amounts of TDS, but a higher TDS content means a lesser yield of clean water.
This chart shows the effect of high TDS water going through a ZeroWater filter. For example, a moderate amount of contaminants (around 002-050 reading on your TDS meter) will give you about 150 liters of clean water.
Meanwhile, a high reading (around 201-300) is expected only to produce 55 to 95 liters of clean water. In extreme cases where the TDS reading is 401 above, the anticipated quantity of clean water will only be 30 liters.
Continuously filtering high TDS water through your ZeroWater filter will decrease its expected lifespan. Test your tap water so you can replace your filter before it’s too late.
How Will I Know If my ZeroWater Filter Needs Replacing?
Now that you’re aware of your ZeroWater filter’s lifespan, you should know the signs to watch out for when a replacement is inevitable.
A sudden change in the taste of your water will indicate that your filter is now full of accumulated gunk. ZeroWater will start to taste acidic after a few months of use, and a fishy smell may arise. Once you spot this, you should replace your water filter immediately.
You can bring your TDS Meter to test the suspicious water for yourself. The ZeroWater website indicates that your TDS Meter reading should not go past “006.” If it does, you should have your filter replaced right away.
ZeroWater assures their customers that their filter cartridges are developed to inhibit bacteria growth, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Make sure to flush and rinse out your filter from time to time to ensure that it’s in good shape during its lifetime.
Is ZeroWater More Effective than a Reverse Osmosis System?
If you didn’t already know, Reverse Osmosis employs a process where water is pressurized onto a semipermeable membrane – separating water molecules from sediments, bacteria, and other contaminants. It’s said to be one of the most effective water purification methods out there.
While ZeroWater is also effective in providing you with clean drinking water, one key difference between ZeroWater and Reverse Osmosis is their convenience. Reverse Osmosis systems need to be installed properly and need electricity to operate. They also require a lot of water at all times to continually flush out the contaminants.
Compare this to ZeroWater’s stand-alone 5-stage filter that doesn’t need electricity, and it’s obvious now why ZeroWater has become more popular. It’s a practical device that’s easy to operate and maintain.
Is ZeroWater Better than Distilled Water?
The distilled water bottles that you see in supermarkets are notorious for their strange aftertaste. For water to be distilled, it first has to be boiled. The steam it produces is captured and made to condense back into liquid form. This liquid then drips into a separate container, where the result is called the distillate.
Distillation removes salt and minerals from tap water, which is usually hard water and turns it into soft water. The bland aftertaste comes from the lack of these salts and minerals.
Magnesium and calcium minerals contribute to the taste that you expect from water, and some of these are retained when you use a ZeroWater filter. In addition to making better-tasting water, ZeroWater filters can also remove the contaminants that Distillation overlooks.
In addition, I also have other water filtration solutions to replace your old ZeroWater filter. Please check my guide on the top-rated gravity water filters and the trusted fluoride water filters. Furthermore, if you like to travel and want to be sure about water’s cleanliness and safety, this article about water filters for travel will help you make the right choice.
ZeroWater For Life
The main selling point of ZeroWater Filters isn’t just clean drinking water. It’s also quality control at your fingertips. From testing to filtering to testing again – you are in charge of the improvement of your water.
If you follow these recommendations and keep a sharp eye out for any suspicious changes in your water, you can have your ZeroWater filter working better and lasting for longer.
How long do ZeroWater filters last? It’s encouraged that you read up on their ZeroWater’s TDS chart and get used to the relevant numbers. It takes minimal effort to be a master of your safety, so get to it and start filtering your water!
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