Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 82
 Poor spigot design = leaking & inaccessible water. May 28, 2006
Francis Mataac (Mountain View, CA USA)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
This product is markedly inferior to its main competitor, the Pur 2-Stage Dispenser. Specifically, I found two main flaws:
1. The spigot draws water from at least an inch and a half up from the base of the dispenser. As a result, quite a lot of water is left inaccessible for drinking, even after tipping over the dispenser.
2. Even more infuriatingly, the spigot's connection to the main housing is so poorly designed that it eventually starts to leak water all over the place. The first dispenser I purchased started to leak after 1 week. I dutifully exchanged it for another one, which proceeded to leak after about 2 weeks. It appears that the "O-ring" that connects the spigot to the main housing shrinks when it gets cold. . . a rather fatal flaw for an item intended for use in a refrigerator.
Despite being a lifelong Brita user, I exchanged this product for a Pur 2-stage dispenser. I am now converted and will never go back. The dispenser is rock solid, and the water even tastes better!
Quite a few issues September 24, 2007
K. Kurpiel (IL United States)
12 out of 15 found this review helpful
With a product of this capacity I expected a better product. The current design had my common sense kick in to simply purchase a sink attachment filter after a few tests over a 90 day period. Well ok, the last 60 some odd days of use, the first thirty I mistakenly trusted the design to perform.
I like brita and filtered water, but I had to throw this out.
Mold, slimes, and a few other items that are hazardous to a persons well being are the main issue. Even with weekly cleaning there was some biological return. The worst was testing the filter after 58 days.
The filter itself contained a plethora of microscopic crawlies. Nothing fatal, but we cultured a bunch of varieties that cause bad breath, stomach, and throat issues. All of which were also found in the 'clean' water in the well below.
Three kinds of fungi had invaded a previously pristine, chef quality, fridge. All growing from the protected colony in this huge reservoir.
I'd have to recommend a smaller capacity pitcher or in a family sized home a faucet attachment. If you are going to pay for something to give you clean water, you might as well get clean water.
Mold March 4, 2007
B. Lee (fremont, ca)
9 out of 12 found this review helpful
Throughout the years I have used and owned many different versions of the Brita Pitcher Water Dispenser. All of these filtered water containers have been great. The only complaint I have ever had with these filters is size. The Brita Ultramax Water Filter Dispenser was supposed to answer this problem. Unfortunately due to bad design, it introduced a multitude of problems that never existed with past Brita products.
Pro:
Size: This water dispenser can definitely hold a lot of water. (Ironically, this is really a disadvantage; as you will find below.)
Con(s):
Mold: If you do not let this filter dry within a maximum of two days, you will get mold. This mold will probably make you ill (sore throat) (Conversely if you look at it from another point of view - it will strengthen your immune system). To avoid this problem, the water dispenser should be washed every week at very least (to safe you should wash it more often). I have never had this problem with Brita's other products (I have friends who never washed their Brita pitchers for months, and there is not even the slightest sign of mold when they do wash it).
Left Over Water: Due to the faulty design of the product, there will be left over water both above the filter and below it. Besides turning the product upside down, you cannot dispense all of the water. This is just stupid and hints at the lack of quality assurance testing of this product. Not surprisingly, this helps further contribute to mold growth.
Conclusion:
Save your money and buy Brita's other well designed pitchers or even Pure's pitchers. (The key word is pitcher.) You will only waste time and possibly your health with this poorly designed product.
 Previous version has worked for 10+ years, no mold February 5, 2007
Cosmo Kramer (Los Angeles)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I think some people are distorting reality on this product based on another problem in their refrigerator and blaming it on the Brita. I've used the previous generation of this product in all different parts of the USA in various refrigerators, and I've never experienced mold. I can't see why this design is fundamentally going to be different. My guess is people have a mold problem in their house/refrigerator and like any mold, it is seeking the moisture. CLEAN YOUR FRIDGE... ;)
I don't wash this once a week, more like once a month. The water doesn't pick up weird tastes or smells, but then again, my refrigerator is clean. I find it convenient to use, not so much to fill, but it still works as intended. The version currently for sale may have a leak problem, I can't say yes or no, but the one I have has not leaked in all the time I've had it other then once when I determined the spigot needed to be tightened.
All in all, if you are tired of filling up pitchers constantly, and find the full pitcher heavy and spill prone when you use it, this product is for you. Also, because you don't have to tip it, you can fill it with water and get a glass almost immediately even as the rest of the water is still filtering. In a Brita pitcher, you must wait for all the water to filter before you can even have a glass. This feature has come in handy when doing things like filling pet water bowls, fish tanks, etc.
I'd give it five stars, but I find it a bit cumbersome to fill.
 Great product! July 19, 2006
C. Feltz (Hudson, WI)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I live in a rural area and use well water. The Brita dispenser works great to filter impurities from the water. Easy to fill and use. I process about a gallon a day.
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