PUR 18 Cup Dispenser with One Pitcher Filter DS-1800Z
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of PUR 18 Cup Dispenser with One Pitcher Filter DS-1800Z
Customer Review: A Better Choice
Summary: 5 Stars
I've used Brita filtered water pitchers for a number of years. While I have no problems with their filtering capabilities, pitchers invariably end-up becoming a hassle to use. The problem is simple. You want a glass of filtered water. You pour unfiltered water into the top of the pitcher. You can either stand there for several minutes waiting until the filter has finished doing its job, or start pouring when enough water has trickled-down through the filter to fill your glass. The top-heavy pitcher then ends-up dumping unfiltered water into your glass or the top of the pitcher falls off and spills water everywhere. This is common to all brands of pitchers I have seen, since NONE of them secure the lid to the top of the pitcher, let alone provide a water-tight seal. Being top-heavy also makes them prone to falling over.
The PUR DS-1800Z solves that problem quite easily. The unit simply sits somewhere in a corner of your refrigerator. It holds enough water that it doesn't need to be emptied out nearly as often as those small, filtered pitchers, and actually takes advantage of gravity (rather than being a victim of it) in order to keep the unfiltered water from making a huge mess. You can start pouring water into your glass as soon as you pour the unfiltered water in, with no messes.
I've found that it is MUCH easier to pour unfiltered water into the large top opening of this unit if you just leave the top that comes with it off all of the time. Objects from your fridge that could possibly fall into the unit will not contaminate the clean water, since it sits in a section that is isolated from the top half. Still, it's probably best to keep this on or near a top shelf. It will make filling the unit much easier, anyway.
Pitchers are a pain to fill-up with their much smaller openings on top and flaps that have a bad tendency to close just as you are pouring water into them (especially on Brita pitchers!). You could remove the lid, but you wouldn't be able to pour any water (without making a mess) with the lid off using one of the pitcher designs. The pitcher design really seems to stress form over function, IMHO. Pretty much all of them seem cheaply made and poorly designed, the PUR units included.
For most people, I think that the PUR DS-1800Z water dispenser is a much better choice than traditional pitcher-shaped water filters. It's gravity-fed filtering system should also lead to much cleaner water than you would expect from a filter that uses faucet attachments as well. Gravity-fed systems will not force pollutants through filters with the high water pressure that those units tend to operate under.
Complaints? About the only one I have is the lack of an easy way to tell exactly when it is that you should change filters. Unfortunately, this is common to ALL filtering systems of this type. Although Brita includes an "LCD Display" on some of its pitcher-shaped water filters, the only thing that this "display" actually measures is how long it has been since you replaced the last filter. It's really just a cheap gimmick. How often you need to change the filter is not something that can be measured by time. It really depends upon how often you use these units and how dirty your water is to begin with. Again, this is not a problem specific to this model (or brand) or filter though.
FYI, the DS-1800Z holds 18 cups of water. I didn't see that particular spec listed on the Amazon.Com description page. It does say so on the front of the box though.
Customer Review: THe concept is great; the dripping in my frig isn't so fun
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought the dispenser along with the pitcher. I have been watching this for months now and finally had the money to go for it. The concept is wonderful and the water tastes great. Although the city water where I reside is amazingly good, ever since they added chlorine a few decades ago when it was all the rage, I can not only smell it but taste it as well. Not everyone can but I find it a bit nasty esp. since I drink water constantly.
The ease of setting this up and using it is a dream. Pretty simple and the instructions are easy to follow. I mean, three steps - how bad could it be? Like many others, the size of each container is a lot larger than the water capacity it offers because of the design for the water to flow through the filter before being ready for use. I do like the pitcher and find it very easy to keep refilling when I use some. It is slender but not slender enough to fit on my frig door. For those who are curious, it is just a bit narrower than a gallon of milk and a teense taller.
Now for the dispenser. Again, I love the concept although it is bigger and a bit bulkier than I expected. It does fit on the top shelf in my frig, but barely. I had envisioned using a smaller vessel such as a spouted measuring cup to refill it while it is still sitting in the frig vs removing the entire dispenser to put under the faucet. That isn't possible with my frig. The dispenser just barely slides in along the side wall on the top shelf with less than 1/4" clearance at the top so refilling it by just lifting the lid and pouring in additional water say, from my tea kettle with a nice spout, isn't possible. Ican't move it to the center of the shelf because my frig has the temp control panel for it and the top freezer section hanging right there front and center (idiot design! wish I had noticed it before I bought the frig but I didn't). Anyway, I will need to remove the dispenser from the frig completely each time I need/want to replenish the water. Again, not a big deal for the convenience of healthy, clean water. However, my dispenser spout drips. Not a lot, but often. And not just after I have used it. It drips often enough and in a sufficient amount to warrant a coffee mug taking up additional space in my small frig on the next lower shelf to catch the drips. A 12oz mug is 3/4 full in a 7 hour period. I think that is a bit much for a brand new product so it is going back.
I do, however, like the pitcher so much that I am going to just get a second pitcher to keep where the dispenser was, thus eliminating the need for the coffee mug below.
As for PUR customer service, they are nothing short of stellar. When I contacted them via email to advise of the leaking dispenser that was less than 2 days old, they responded within 30 minutes. Yeah, 30 minutes! Amazing customer service. Offered me a coupon for free filters because I told them I would be returning the dispenser to Amazon asap.
I will definitely stick with this brand. I like the way it filters the water, the ease of use and handling, and the customer service. Aside from the bother of a trip to the post office with the return, I'm a happy gal with this purchase.
Customer Review: Amazed at the difference...
Summary: 5 Stars
I just bought mine yesterday at Target, on clearance for 25.97, and was excited to try it after reading all the great reviews here on Amazon. I got it home, washed the container, primed the filter by running it under water for a minute, and put it together. (Super easy) Once it was put in place on my counter, I used a very large pitcher to fill up the resevoir. Here are some of my first impressions.
First, the filtering process was quicker than I expected. I didn't time it exactly, but I would say the bottom resevoir was filled within 30 minutes. It's nice that once the bottom fills up, you can refill the top to keep it fully ready. Once it was ready, my girlfriend and I grabbed a glass, eager to try it and compare it to the water in my apartment.
I know the water at my place isn't great, but I drink it all the time so I'm very used to it. I wasn't sure how much of a difference I would taste immediately. But let me tell you, the difference about blew my socks off! The PUR water tasted great! Very clean and fresh, with no odor at all. I drank some and thought it tasted great. But, I didn't exactly feel blown away or anything...
Until...
Right after enjoying my first few guzzles of the PUR water, I tried my regular water for a comparison. Oh my God... When I tasted my regular tap water (the same I had drank for years) I almost wanted to vomit. It was so awful and tasted so nasty I almost gagged. Then, I tasted the PUR again, and it was like heaven on Earth. Amazing difference!
I had my girlfriend do the same. She had the PUR water first, then tasted my tap water and instantly made a disgusted face. We couldn't believe how much better and perfect this new filtered water tasted. I will NEVER drink my tap water again. NEVER. Then I did a taste comparison against a bottle of water I had in the fridge. I don't recall what brand it was, just whatever I got at the corner convenience store... One of the main brands. Anyway, a total difference. The PUR water is simply the best water I've tasted. Hands down. And it's not until you try it that you have a base of comparison.
The filters are designed to last an average of two months (for average useage, which I think is about right and fair) and the cost of the filters considering how long it will last is SO much more cost effective than buying water. So, I'm totally sold. I love the size, the look, the ease of use, the amount of water it holds, and how much more water I'm drinking already, just after one day.
Please, please, please, give this one a try and you'll love it. My girlfriend has a Brita pitcher, and it tastes great too. But, we both agree that this one just tastes overall more pure. Once again, hard to explain until you have something to compare it to. I highly recommend it. You won't be sorry.
Hope this helps...
Customer Review: Does exactly what I expected
Summary: 5 Stars
We've had this dispenser for a little less than three months now, and I just changed the filter for the first time today. The specs on the replacement filters say you get about 40 gallons out of a filter, but we got more than that, if you go by taste alone (I have no idea whether the other stuff is filtered out). The water starts off tasteless, which I actually don't like as much as I thought I would. I like a little flavor in my water, I guess. After about two months I could begin to taste a difference, somewhat resembling the "spring" water you buy in the bottle, just a hint of taste. Nothing recognizable, it just tasted more like water to me. That said, it's a wonderful mixer with whiskey, if you like that sort of thing.
I had no trouble installing the first filter, nor with the second one. I soaked the filter completely immersed in tap water for about an hour (the instructions call for at least fifteen minutes), discarded the water, turned the filter upside down to drain any residue, and simply placed it into the hole, turning clockwise until it locked into place. No leaks, no problem.
I fill the dispenser up at night and let it run, and so I've never timed exactly how long it takes to filter through. I'm guessing about an hour or less. With just two of us we don't use a half gallon a day, which is about what the dispenser holds when it is completely full. Since the bottom dispenser holds more than the upper reservoir into which you run tap water to be filtered, however, you have to run some through, and then fill up the top part again, in order to completely fill the bottom. I have not done this often, preferring to fill it up at night, place the dispenser back into the refrigerator where it fits nicely on the middle shelf, and have cold water waiting for me in the morning. I have had no problem lifting the full dispenser and placing it into the refrigerator. The top fits nicely, but not tightly, so if you aren't careful you can spill some water if you don't keep the dispenser level. Put less water into the upper reservoir, of course, and spillage is not a problem.
In sum I am completely satisfied with the product, and the cost is much less than buying bottled water. Counting the cost of the dispenser the cost for the first year will be about $5.60 a month, and about $3.30 a month the next year (assuming you change the filter every other month, and thus use six filters a year). Forty gallons may go more quickly for a family of four or five, but I believe a filter lasts about ten to twelve weeks for us.
Customer Review: Pleased - Highly Recommended!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have owned this Pur pitcher for over a month and I highly recommend this item for it's ease of set-up, ease of use and very good tasting water!
As a runner, I drink a lot of water (5-6 24oz bottles a day) and this Pur holds all of my daily water needs with one fill up. At set-up, I followed the directions for preparing the filter for 1st use and it went without a problem. Good filter flow. I own both Brita filters and Pur and I can easily tell the difference in water taste. The Pur filters are 2 stage filters (while the Brita filters I have are not) and the quality of taste is worth buying Pur over Brita. I now use my Brita filter for cooking water only and use Pur for all my drinking water needs. Because of how much I love this Pur item, I now own several Pur pitchers including a smaller normal pitcher that my husband tastes to work with him.
To note, I set my fridge shelf to a good height for this Pur Dispenser and am able to fill it up while it remains in the fridge without an issue. It sits slightly forward from the front edge of the shelf if desired which allows you to fill it in the fridge and the lid is slim and slides off (there is a bottom stop to keep you from pulling it too far forward). Saves me from having to carry it from the sink to the fridge which I prefer. No leaking issues and the tap you dispense from feels solid and takes very little force to use. I am pleased over the quality of this item and am buying my 2nd one for the fridge for a back up for guests and my family.
Highlights:
* Clear difference in taste and noticably better than Brita. Takes horrible West Palm Beach city water and gives you sweet, crystal clear water that does NOT leave an after taste. Unbelievable! Side by side using new filters, my Brita could not compete.
* Easy set up. I followed the filter directions to a "T" and have NO flow problems. 2 stage filters will always run slower than a 1 stage, if you are coming from a 1 stage Brita to a 2 stage Pur.
* Attractive design that is extremely easy to clean.
* Tap dispenser feels solid and makes water dispensing easy. You can drain almost to the last drop before refilling.
* Being able to fill it while still in the fridge is a plus to me as it sits slightly forward on the shelf and the lid slides off.
Cons:
After a month of use, I have no complaints. I love both this Pur and also the smaller normal Pur pitchers. I would not have believed the difference in taste between the Brita and Pur.