How We Test Water Filter Pitchers v1.0
We buy and test popular water filter pitchers for filter strength, filter life, filtration rate, and usability to find out the ones most worth buying.
As concerns about water quality continue to rise, individuals and households are increasingly turning to water filter pitchers as a convenient and affordable solution for purifying tap water.
With a multitude of water filter pitcher options available on the market, it becomes crucial to evaluate their effectiveness and performance in delivering clean, good-tasting water. As a pitcher is something you’re likely to use multiple times a day, good design and usability are also important factors to consider when buying one.
In this article, we aim to shed light on the methodologies and standards employed to assess filter pitchers’ capabilities, usability, and design. From assessing the removal efficiency of chlorine to analyzing the pitcher's flow rate and lifespan, comprehensive testing allows us to gauge the overall quality and reliability of these water purification devices. This gives us data and the confidence to make recommendations for you.
Overall Score Weighting
We test water filter pitchers in three main areas: Performance, Usability, and Design. The overall score is a rating on a scale of 1 to 10. Of these, each makes a different score weight.
- Performance: 50%
- Usability: 30%
- Design: 20%
Performance (50%)
We rate the performance of a water filter pitcher by its effectiveness in filtering chlorine, the lifespan of its filter, flow rate, and the water aesthetics post filtration.
Below is a breakdown of the criteria and their score weights.
50% - Chlorine Removal, 30% - Filtration Rate, 10% - Filtered Water Taste & Smell
Chlorine (50%)
Chlorine is a common disinfectant in tap water. Unfortunately, this chemical comes with a distinctive taste and smell that can put some people off. We run heavily chlorinated water through every filter pitcher to see how effective it is at removing the disinfectant.See details
Flow Rate (40%)
What It Is
How long it takes the pitcher to produce filtered water.
Why It’s Important
Filtration speed is an important factor to consider when choosing a water pitcher. A faster filtration speed means that the pitcher can produce a larger volume of water more quickly, which is especially useful if you need clean water quickly or have a large household with high water consumption. A high speed is also preferred if you're using the pitcher for cooking or other purposes that require a large amount of clean water.
How We Test
We fill each filter pitcher with chlorinated water and note down the time it takes for the pitcher to filter all of it.
How We Score
A filter pitcher that has a flow rate of 8 - 10 milliliters per second gets 10 points. A flow rate of below 4 milliliters per second receives 1 point, as it means the filter pitcher takes more than one minute to produce one standard glass of clean water (8 fluid ounces or 237 milliliters).
Flow Rate (ml/s) | Score |
|---|---|
10 | 10 |
9 | 9 |
8 | 8 |
7 | 7 |
6 | 6 |
5 | 5 |
4 | 4 |
3 | 3 |
2 | 2 |
1 | 1 |
Taste & Smell (10%)
What It Is
Whether or not the water has a pleasant taste and smell after being filtered.
Why It’s Important
Most people buy a water filter pitcher with hopes that it will improve the aesthetics of their drinking water. Crisp, clean water can encourage you and your children and pets to drink more water and stay hydrated.
Because taste and smell perception is subjective, however, this criterion only has a 10% score weighting.
How We Test
We run tap water through the pitcher and ask three members of the team to assess the taste and smell of the filtered water independently, then rate them on a scale of 1 - 10.
How We Score
The final score is the average of the scores given by three testers.
TDS
We present the TDS (total dissolved solids) reading of the filtered water as it seems to matter to some people when buying a water filter pitcher. However, it is not a scoring factor in our rating because TDS is not a reliable criterion when determining water safety.
According to the EPA, an elevated TDS level does not necessarily mean that the water is toxic. It could in fact indicate that the water contains beneficial minerals or other compounds. On the other hand, the water could be contaminated with hazardous materials and still have lower TDS values.
Usability (30%)
A water filter pitcher is an item you will be using multiple times in a day. As such, it is important to find one that’s easy to hold, assemble, use, and maintain, so you will enjoy using it and drink more water.
Here are the criteria we use to evaluate the usability of a water filter pitcher and their respective score weights.
- 20% - Assembling
- 25% - Refilling
- 35% - Dispensing
- 20% - Cleaning
Assembling (20%)
We assemble and disassemble the upper reservoir and filter several times to see if it’s easy to do so, especially when it comes time for cleaning and filter replacement. Some pitchers have an intuitive design with grippy parts that make them easy to work with, while others require excessive force. We also note down if any parts seem fragile or prone to damage during disassembly.
Refilling (30%)
We check if it’s convenient to refill the pitcher to its maximum capacity and if there’s any chance of leaking or splashing during refilling. We also note down the number of times we have to refill before the lower reservoir is full, or if it’s not possible to reach the full capacity.
Factors we consider include:
Scoring Table for Refilling
Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
Refill mechanism (lid, spout, handle) and whether we can fill the pitcher single-handedly | 5 |
Whether the lower reservoir can be filled completely. | 3 |
A filter tray:pitcher capacity ratio that’s close to 1. | 2 |
Total | 10 |
Dispensing (40%)
We try getting the filtered water from the pitcher when the filter tray is half full and rate how easy it is to do so. We note down if the lid and spout are sturdy, and if there are any leakage during pouring. We also check if the pitcher can be emptied completely—some have designs that always keep some bit of water in the reservoir.
Scoring Table for Dispensing
Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
Ability to get filtered water while the filter tray is half full. | 3 |
Sturdy lid during pouring. | 4 |
Anti-splash spout. | 2 |
Ability to completely empty the pitcher. | 1 |
Total | 10 |
Cleaning (10%)
We check the external and see if the pitcher is prone to collecting dust, dirt, or fingerprints. We clean the filter pitcher by hand and check it for edges or grooves that can be tricky to reach and clean.
A pitcher gets extra points if it’s dishwashable.
Design (20%)
A well-designed pitcher should last a long time and function properly and efficiently throughout its lifespan. It should also be intuitive, easy to use, and visually appealing enhances the overall user experience.
We assess the design of a water filter pitcher using three criteria:
- 30% - Build Quality
- 20% - Conveniences
- 50% - Filter Piece
Build Quality (30%)
The material quality and design are great indicators of the durability of a filter pitcher. Most filter pitchers are made of some kind of plastic for its light weight; however, they differ a lot in terms of thickness, durability, and aesthetics. We give better scores to products that are not made with BPA; however, it’s not a major factor since these pitchers only handle cold water from the tap, and not hot water.
Fit and finish, meanwhile, is an important criteria. Pitchers scoring high in fit and finish are attractive to keep on your counter, dining table, or other areas of your home, which may motivate you to drink water more often.
Scoring Table for Build Quality
Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
Strong handle with a firm grip | 3 |
Catchy design, nice colors, and a sleek finish | 3 |
Thickness and robustness | 2 |
BPA free materials | 1 |
Tightly and seamlessly fit cover and upper tray | 1 |
Total | 10 |
Conveniences (20%)
Small conveniences can make a big difference in a water pitcher and influence the practicality and usage of the product. These minor features affect how convenient it is to use, and that the pitcher looks attractive on your countertop.
Here’s a breakdown of our scoring criteria.
Scoring Table for Conveniences
Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
Pitcher ergonomics: Is it stable? Does it fit in a fridge door? | 4 |
Replacement indicator: Is it reliable? | 3 |
Others: Spigot, anti-splash spout, etc… | 3 |
Total | 10 |
Filter Piece (50%)
The filter is arguably the most important part of the pitcher. A well-designed filter not only works effectively in removing the intended contaminants, it should also be strong, sturdy, and easy to install and remove.
When assessing the design of the filter, we also test to see if it leaks filtration materials, such as activated carbon, into the water. Another factor to consider is if it clogs before the intended replacement time or on the other extreme, lets water through without processing.
Filter Scoring Table
Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
Sturdy, easy to assemble/disassemble | 3 |
Well sealed, doesn’t leak materials | 3 |
Does not clog or let unprocessed water runs through | 4 |
Total | 10 |
Test Developers
Anh Ngo is a writer with 9 years experience at different media outlets, covering from public news and events to product testing and analysis. At HealthyKitchen101, she works across different departments, communicating closely with its network of writers, editors, and health, tech, and search engine experts to provide a meaningful and pleasant reading experience for visitors.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
